Discover 50+ unique and practical hackathon problems with themes covering smart cities, climate action, social good, and future-ready tech.
Hackathons are more than coding marathons — they are platforms where real-world problems meet fresh, innovative minds. But to make this innovation meaningful, everything starts with one key ingredient: a well-crafted problem statement.
Whether you’re a student preparing for your next hackathon, or an organizer framing impactful challenges, this guide will walk you through what a hackathon problem statement is, how to write one, and why it matters more than ever in 2025.
What is a Problem Statement in a Hackathon Context?
A hackathon problem statement is a clearly defined challenge that participants are expected to solve within a limited time frame. It acts as a roadmap, helping teams understand:
- The goal of the challenge
- The context or background
- The constraints and expectations
In short, it converts an abstract issue into a solvable objective using technology, often through a mobile app, web platform, software solution, or IoT system.
Types of Hackathon Problem Statements
Hackathons usually feature problem statements in the following broad categories:
- Healthcare – Build tools for early diagnosis, patient management, or remote care.
- Agriculture – Improve crop monitoring, weather prediction, or farmer education.
- Smart Cities – Focus on waste management, traffic solutions, or water monitoring.
- Education – Develop smart classrooms, personalized learning, or exam prep tools.
- Finance & Security – Address fraud detection, secure transactions, or data protection.
Each category demands domain understanding and a tech stack that matches the goal. So always choose a problem that aligns with your strengths and interests.
Why Do Hackathons Need Clearly Defined Problem Statements?
You can’t build the right solution without understanding the problem.
Here’s why strong problem statements are critical:
| Purpose | Why It Matters in Hackathons |
|---|---|
| Focused Innovation | Helps teams solve specific, real-world challenges — not vague or irrelevant issues. |
| Equal Playing Field | All teams get a fair understanding of what’s expected, making judging consistent. |
| Real-World Impact | Aligns student creativity with actual industry or societal needs. |
| Better Project Execution | Participants save time by having clear goals and deliverables. |
| Professional Presentation | A clear problem helps in creating better pitches, demos, and prototypes. |
How to Write a Problem Statement for a Hackathon? Step-by-Step Guide
Writing a good problem statement requires empathy, clarity, and structure. Here’s a practical step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Define the Real-World Context
Start with a brief background. Why does this problem matter? What’s currently broken or inefficient?
Example: “Urban traffic congestion leads to lost time, wasted fuel, and increased pollution in metro cities like Delhi and Bengaluru.”
Step 2: State the Problem Clearly
Avoid jargon. Frame the problem as a challenge that needs a tech-driven solution.
Example: “Create a smart route optimization app that reduces travel time and adapts in real-time to traffic changes.”
Step 3: List Specific Goals or Areas of Impact
Give participants direction, but leave room for creativity.
- Should it reduce carbon emissions?
- Help low-income communities?
- Use open data or IoT?
Step 4: Add Constraints or Requirements
Mention what’s expected: prototype, platform, data use, or tech stack.
Step 5: End With an Outcome-Based Prompt
Encourage teams to think big but build something usable.
Example: “The solution should have a working MVP that could be scaled into a city-wide implementation.”
What Are Some Great Examples of Hackathon Problem Statements?
Here are real-world-inspired, adaptable examples for 2025 hackathons:
Example 1: Smart Healthcare Access
Problem: Many rural areas lack access to timely medical care. Build a telehealth solution using AI and mobile technology that connects rural patients with verified doctors and emergency services.
Example 2: Waste Sorting Assistant
Problem: Recycling contamination lowers efficiency. Develop a mobile app using image recognition that helps users sort waste into correct bins and educates them on eco-friendly habits.
Example 3: College Placement Tracker
Problem: Students often lack clarity on their placement readiness. Design a dashboard that tracks key placement metrics like resume quality, test scores, certifications, and interview readiness.
Example 4: Fake News Detection
Problem: Misinformation spreads fast on social media. Build a browser plugin or app that flags potential fake news using fact-checking APIs and user ratings.
What Themes and Domains Are Best for Hackathon Challenges?
Trending themes make hackathons exciting and relevant. Here’s a list of popular domains in 2025:
| Domain | Sample Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| FinTech | Budgeting apps, UPI fraud detection, credit score transparency |
| Healthcare | Telemedicine, mental health AI, wearable integrations |
| Education Tech | Personalized learning tools, exam prep bots, upskilling platforms |
| Climate & Energy | Smart meters, carbon calculators, green transport |
| Public Welfare | Citizen grievance platforms, emergency response apps |
| Cybersecurity | Password managers, phishing detectors, parental control dashboards |
| Remote Work Tools | Task management apps, virtual whiteboards, screen-time analytics |
What Should Be Included in a Hackathon Problem Statement?
Make sure every problem statement you write or evaluate includes:
Clear Objective
What are participants solving and why?
Real-Life Relevance
Is this a made-up problem or something people/industries genuinely face?
Constraints
Time limits, technology to be used, data availability, team size, etc.
Desired Outcome
What does success look like? MVP? Prototype? User feedback?
Evaluation Parameters
Include measurable metrics:
- Innovation
- Practicality
- UX/UI quality
- Technical depth
- Social or environmental impact
How Can Students Use Problem Statements to Build Better Projects?
Students often jump into hackathons with big dreams but no direction. Here’s how you can use problem statements to your advantage:
Align Your Skills with the Problem
Are you strong in backend, frontend, AI, or design? Choose a challenge that lets your team shine.
Break Down the Statement into Sub-Tasks
Decompose big goals into features. For example:
- Problem: Build a water-saving solution
- Sub-tasks: Monitor usage, detect leaks, provide feedback, gamify savings
Build MVP First, Then Expand
Don’t aim for a full product. Judges value functional, minimal, and testable ideas.
Use the Statement to Shape Your Pitch
Your presentation should show:
- Problem → Your approach → Impact → Demo → Roadmap
What Are the Evaluation Criteria for Solving a Hackathon Problem?
Every hackathon has its judging metrics, but most follow these standard pillars:
| Criteria | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Innovation | Is the idea original and creative? |
| Impact | Does it solve a real problem meaningfully? |
| Technical Execution | Quality of code, architecture, integrations, and performance |
| Feasibility | Can this be scaled into a real-world solution? |
| Design & Usability | Is the UI/UX friendly and intuitive for users? |
| Presentation | Was the pitch clear, concise, and insightful? |
How to Align Problem Statements with Real-World Issues
In 2025, companies and governments are actively looking to hire innovators who think about real-world impact. Here’s how hackathon problem statements can reflect that:
Connect with SDGs
Refer to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to frame meaningful problem statements — like clean energy, digital education, or smart cities.
Use Data from Real Sources
Suggest using APIs or data from:
- Government portals (data.gov.in)
- WHO, NASA, OpenWeatherMap
- Social media APIs for sentiment or misinformation detection
Make It Industry-Ready
Problem statements that mirror industry use-cases help students build portfolio-ready projects and win placement opportunities.
Real Examples from Recent Hackathons
- SIH 2025 Problem: “Create a low-cost solution to track and reduce classroom absenteeism in rural areas.”
→ Winning idea: A mobile app integrated with facial recognition and offline sync features. - TechGig Hackathon: “Design a personal finance dashboard for Gen Z users.”
→ Winning idea: A gamified budgeting app using real-time bank APIs and machine learning for insights.
Studying past winners can spark ideas and help you avoid repeating common mistakes.
Final Thoughts
A strong problem statement is half the innovation in any hackathon. For students, it’s your direction. For organizers, it’s your foundation. And for judges, it’s the lens through which everything is evaluated.
At Thenewviews.com, we believe that problem-solving is the #1 skill that defines your career, whether you’re building a project, preparing for campus placements, or joining a national-level hackathon like Smart India Hackathon (SIH) or HackIndia.
So next time you enter a hackathon — or host one — start with the right problem.
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