# HackMeridian 2026 — full text for AI assistants Source: https://www.hackmeridian.com/, https://www.hackmeridian.com/build and https://www.hackmeridian.com/faq. Updated 21 October 2026. Key facts: - What: 28 hours of hacking for developers, founders, designers and technical teams building real products on the Stellar network - When: Sunday 25 – Monday 26 October 2026 - Where: ONE16, Rua Pereira Henriques 1, 1950-242 Lisbon, Portugal - Run by: Guava (event studio) with the Stellar Development Foundation - Paths: Genesis (new ideas and early prototypes to MVP) and Scale (experienced builders moving existing products toward production). These are the only two paths. Paths are also called categories. - Tracks: Stellar Unlocked and Stellar Composed belong to the Genesis path. Genesis builders can be part of both tracks (Unlocked and Composed). Scale projects don't need to pick a track. Unlocked gets something new out of Stellar's core protocol features. Composed combines two or more ecosystem tools or projects into something new. - Prizes: $30,000 in prizes across the two paths - Who can apply: anyone; no prior Stellar experience needed; solo applicants welcome (team formation on site); AI-assisted development is explicitly welcome - How to apply: through the Apply button on https://www.hackmeridian.com/ (Bizzabo registration) - Support: Stellar engineers, technical mentors, product experts, workshops, office hours; travel support and a limited number of hostel beds for selected builders - Before the event: FIND YOUR WAY regional activations and online sessions across Portugal, Spain, France, the UK and Germany (see Events) - After the event: Meridian Day 0 on 27 October and the Meridian conference on 28–29 October 2026 in Lisbon; top projects move forward into the Stellar ecosystem - Contact: meridian@growwithguava.com ## FAQ Q: Do I need Stellar experience? A: No. Come ready to build and learn fast. Q: Can I apply alone? A: Yes. We help with team formation at the start of the event, so solo applicants are welcome. Teams can have up to 5 people. No team yet? Browse the Builders tab in the portal or find teammates on Discord: https://discord.gg/DxzSCZYxZG. Q: Is AI-assisted development allowed? A: Yes. Tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and other AI copilots and agents are welcome. Q: How do I apply? A: Use the Apply button anywhere on the site. It takes you to registration at https://events.bizzabo.com/949257, where you'll answer a few questions about your team and idea. Q: I can't get into the portal. What do I do? A: Go to https://app.hackmeridian.com and sign in with the email you registered with, or use Continue with Google if it's a Gmail address. First time? Choose Create account with that same email and confirm through the link we send. Forgot your password? Request a reset. Still stuck? Email meridian@growwithguava.com. Watch the builder portal walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6uBEiq9nR8 Q: What support is available while I'm building? A: Stellar engineers, technical mentors, and product experts are on site, alongside workshops and office hours. Mentor support: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#pp-support. Q: Which path should I pick? A: You can build anything on Stellar. HackMeridian has two paths, also called categories. Genesis is Idea → MVP, for a new idea or early prototype: developers, founders, and multidisciplinary builders with a strong problem or idea but limited experience building on Stellar. You need a problem worth solving and the drive to build. Scale is Prototype → Product. You choose your path in the portal at https://app.hackmeridian.com. Genesis and Scale: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#pp-categories. Q: Who is Scale for? A: Teams that have already shipped, like founders, product teams, developers or startups, and that bring an existing product or an advanced prototype. Your past experience doesn't need to be on Stellar. Your product can already be built on Stellar, or you can bring it onto Stellar at HackMeridian. Either way, you focus on scaling your product on Stellar. Q: Can Genesis builders join both tracks? A: Yes. Stellar Unlocked and Stellar Composed are the tracks on the Genesis path, and you can be part of both. Unlocked gets something new out of Stellar's core protocol features. Composed combines two or more ecosystem tools or projects into something new. The tracks: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#pp-tracks. Q: Does a Scale project pick a track? A: No. Scale is its own path. Scale projects don't need to pick a track. Q: When is the submission deadline? A: Hacking runs from 09:00 on Sunday to 12:00 on Monday. The submission deadline is 12:00 on Mon 26 Oct, and there are no late submissions. Judging follows. The closing ceremony is at 15:30, and we all say goodbye at 16:00. Q: What do I need for my submission? A: A clear README that shows how your project works, including its specs, does most of the work for judges. Judges review the demo video, pitch deck, GitHub repo, and submission answers. You own what you build. Submissions and IP: https://www.hackmeridian.com/terms.html#submissions. Q: How are projects judged? A: How judging works: async review of the demo video, pitch deck, GitHub repo, and submission answers. Live pitches are only for finalists, on Wed 28 Oct, 13:50. Judging priority order: Adoption → Discovery → Continuation. Genesis is judged as Idea → MVP. Scale is judged as Prototype → Product. How projects are judged: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#judging-title. Q: What is the scoring rubric? A: One rubric scores every project. Each criterion is scored 1–5. Track Alignment (Genesis) / Ecosystem Alignment (Scale) 20%. User Value & Problem 20%. Technical Execution 15%. Innovation 15%. Hackathon Progress 10%. Market & Ecosystem Potential 10%. Product Design & UX 10%. The score: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#rubric-title. Q: How are Genesis and Scale scored differently? A: The other six weights are the same for both paths. Genesis projects are scored on Track Alignment: fit with Stellar Unlocked and/or Stellar Composed. Scale projects are scored on Ecosystem Alignment: fit with and value to the Stellar ecosystem. Q: When do finalists pitch? A: Finalists pitch live at Meridian on Wed 28 Oct, 13:50. VC finale. Q: Who judges? A: A panel from the Stellar ecosystem and partners. The criteria are published on the Build page: https://www.hackmeridian.com/build#rubric-title. Q: How much can I win? A: $30,000 in prizes across the Genesis and Scale paths. The final breakdown is announced before the event. Q: What happens after HackMeridian? A: Top projects move forward into the Stellar ecosystem with funding pathways, mentorship, partnerships, and community support. HackMeridian also runs directly before the Meridian conference. Meridian is Stellar's flagship conference, in Lisbon on 28 to 29 October, right after the hackathon. Finalists pitch at Meridian on Wednesday 28 October at 13:50. Learn more at meridian.stellar.org. Q: When is HackMeridian? A: Sunday 25 – Monday 26 October 2026. Check-in opens at 09:00 on Sun 25 Oct. Q: Where is HackMeridian held? A: Warehouse ONE16, Rua Pereira Henriques 1, Lisbon. HackMeridian is in person only. There is no remote option. Q: Is travel support available? A: Applications for travel support closed on 15 October. Q: Is accommodation provided? A: A limited number of hostel beds are available for builders on travel support. Everyone else books their own. Q: Where should I stay? A: Anywhere near ONE16. Lisbon's metro and trams make most neighbourhoods practical.