Hack Your Summer

What is Hack Your Summer?

Hack Your Summer is a 4-week program for college students to build undeniable proof of their capabilities and expand their professional networks.

This isn't a traditional internship. It's not a class. It's not a bootcamp. It's a structured sprint designed for students who want to tackle big challenges, and make real impact.

Whether you are coming from the lab, the terminal, the theater, the public square, or the studio, we provide the framework, community, and mentorship to turn your ideas into concrete, public-facing deliverables that bridge the gap between academic training and professional execution.

Why join us? 

This isn't a traditional internship. It’s a 4-week sprint designed to deliver:

• Real-world agency: You aren't waiting for an assignment. You are arriving with a problem you’ve been itching to tackle – or the drive to find one – and the hunger to see it through.

• Expert mentorship: Access a network of 90+ mentors and industry leaders (including DJ Patil) to offer guidance, pressure-test your logic, and help you unblock technical hurdles.

• Interview readiness: Practice crucial skills by talking through your experience, explaining your choices, and telling the story of what you built.

• Peer support: Make new connections to jump-start your professional network, beyond your home institution.

• Accessibility: Hack Your Summer is free + unpaid. 

If you’re eligible, you’re in.

You’ve applied to college. You’ve applied to clubs. You’ve applied for jobs. You’ve applied for internships. Enough. We believe in you!

This is not another hoop to jump through. We want you to build.

We’re keeping Hack Your Summer as open as possible because the point is not to impress us. The point is to create work that future employers, collaborators, and mentors can see.

What will you build?

You will build a public-facing project that proves exactly what you can do. This could be:

• Code & Tools: GitHub repository, browser extension, or public data dashboard.

  Analysis & Strategy: Investigative research report, white paper, policy memo, or operational playbook.

  Creative Content: Anthology / zine, curated digital collection, screenplay or podcast pilot.

  Journalism: Investigative or data journalism

  Community Initiatives: Implementation blueprint for social programs or organizations.

  Physical Prototypes: Functional hardware rig, robotics, 3D-printed enclosure, or printable tabletop asset.

We’ll bring in guest speakers and resources for inspiration and guidance across a range of core domains, including: Tech & Security; Science, Climate & Energy; Creative Media & Games; Policy & Community; and Healthcare & Public Health.

We’re not just looking for participants; we’re looking for builders who are ready to put their ideas into motion. There is something uniquely powerful about time spent building in the open, and we can’t wait to see the projects – and the professional confidence – you develop over these four weeks.