Hack for RVA challenges participants to think creatively in addressing City challenges

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is proud to join AI Ready RVA, Plan RVA, and VCU School of Business to sponsor Hack for RVA, the City’s first-ever hack-a-thon dedicated to brainstorming and solving our community’s most demanding and persistent challenges.  

From March 27 – 29, 2026, participants will test their technological and creative skillsets to develop actionable, community-centered solutions to problem sets developed by City and community leaders in alignment with the seven pillars from Mayor Danny Avula’s Mayoral Action Plan (MAP) :

•    A thriving City Hall (that gets things done)  
•    Thriving neighborhoods (that meet our housing needs)  
•    Thriving families (where every child succeeds)  
•    A thriving economy (that leaves no one behind)  
•    Thriving and inclusive communities (where everyone’s rights are protected)  
•    A thriving and sustainable built environment (planned for future generations)  
•    A city that tells its stories (and tells the truth about its past)

“Richmond’s challenges are complex, and the best solutions don’t come from any one office or institution alone; they come from listening, collaborating, and acting together,” said Mayor Avula . “Hack for RVA reflects the kind of City we are working to build: one where residents, community organizations, and innovators roll up their sleeves and help shape solutions that are grounded in lived experience and focused on real impact.”  

Unlike traditional hackathons, which focus on speed or technology alone, this 48-hour event will challenge participants to prioritize people, place, and purpose. Creatives, technologists, nonprofit and civic leaders, storytellers, and community members will work across disciplines and lived experiences to dream and develop tech-oriented solutions to combat complex challenges in housing, business, sustainability, and more.  

The weekend will culminate in a round of presentations from each participating team and the awarding of $10,000 in prizes, including:

•    $5,000: Mayor’s Choice Award – Selected by committee  
•    $2,500: Moonshot Award – People's choice  
•    $1,000 for each of the seven MAP pillars

Learn more and register to participate at rvahacks.org.