2025 ASIAN CREATIVE FESTIVAL
Social Impact Hackathon
May 23 - 25, 2025 | Pratt Institute
Join us for the 2025 Social Impact Hackathon, where AAPI creatives, nonprofits, and businesses come together to tackle real-world challenges. Through storytelling, social media campaigns, and digital solutions, participants will collaborate with seven nonprofits to drive awareness and impact!
What's included?
Create. Collaborate. Make a social Impact. Team up with four creatives, tackle real-world challenges for nonprofits, join expert-led workshops, and pitch your ideas for exciting prizes.
Collaboration
Team up with 4 other creatives to solve real world problems and assist non profit organizations
Workshops
Learn from industry experts and gain hands-on skills such as brand strategy and social media.
Keynote Talks
Gain insights from professional speakers on technology,design and social impact
Pitch & Prizes
Present your solution to judges, compete for prizes, and bring your ideas to life with non-profit
Non profits
We’re a hackathon with social good at its heart. Our nonprofits have presented several problem areas and projects to tackle their most pressing needs. Here are the incredible organizations that we’ve partnered with:
Community
Welcome to Chinatown
ensures Chinatown’s future remains vibrant and resilient through tailored support and community-driven initiatives.
Arts & Culture
Asian American Arts Alliance
fosters collaboration, representation, and advocacy in the arts, ensuring diverse voices are heard and celebrated.
Mental Health
Asian American Mental Health Collective
focuses on accessible care by providing culturally informed clinical services, virtual peer support, and resources for Asian mental health providers.
Career Advancement
Asian American Dream
empowers underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) undergraduates through mentorship, professional development, and career advancement opportunities.
Animal Welfare
PAWS NYC
is dedicated to helping New York City’s most vulnerable residents stay with their pets through critical programs and services.
Community
Project Barkada
unites communities by amplifying voices, empowering individuals, and sharing the Barkada Spirit of collaboration and support.
Community
Kageno
works in Kenya and Rwanda, we empower communities with resources to build a better future.
Judges & Mentors
Guided by industry pioneers, participants will receive expert mentorship and feedback to help bring their ideas to life.
Gabrielle Zevin
New York Times best-selling novelist whose books have been translated into forty languages. Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a SundayMore.
Jiaoying Summers
Chinese-American stand-up comedian, actress and producer. She is best known for her TikTok videos and her focus on combating Asian racism and promoting Asian representation.
Lee Sung Jin
Korean-American writer and director. He is known for creating the Netflix series Beef, for which he received the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards for directing and writing for a limited series.
Rich Tu
First-generation Filipino-American, award-winning designer, and artist based in Brooklyn, NY, serving as Partner and Executive Creative Director at Sunday Afternoon
Helena Berbano
Second-generation Filipina American with 10+ years in nonprofit management, civic engagement, and political campaigns, and a seasoned speaker and trainer.
Susana Chen
Founder of Never Have I Ever Shop, the first artist-licensed press-on nail brand, driven by passion, creativity, and innovation.
Sally Chung
Founder @Designpreneurs Hackathon. A NYC-based design leader, educator, and startup advisor, Sally teaches interaction design at Parsons and SVA, shaping the next generation of designers.
Ian So
CEO of Chicken & Rice Guys and the National Asian Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, Ian is a recognized Boston business leader and a Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
Hackathon Schedule
Day 01
Fri, May 23
Check-in
6:30 PM
Kick-off - intro, rules, prize
7:00 PM
Team greeting
8:00 PM
Mentor check-in
8:30 PM
Day 1 ends
9:30 PM
Day 02
Sat, May 24
Check-in
9:00 AM
Workshop
10:00 AM
Keynote speakers & sponsors
11:00 AM
Lunch break
12:00 PM
Hacking
1:00 PM
Submission
4:00 PM
Pitch presentation
4:30 PM
Ceremony
8:00 PM
Mentor check-in
8:30 PM
Frequently asked questions
Join Now
This year, we are shifting our focus toward actionable initiatives that give back to our community. The hackathon provides a unique opportunity for creatives, technologists, and change makers to collaborate, innovate, and craft impactful solutions. Inspired by the power of technology and storytelling, teams will develop creative strategies and digital solutions that amplify the missions of these organizations.
Our Sponsors
Our Sponsors
