Overview

Welcome aboard. This event will be split into 3 parts!

1. Design & build projects (May 1st-July 31st)

The first step is designing and building hardware projects! Submit designs to collect funding. Build them to collect points.

Collect at least 12 points to qualify to the event. Get more points for more travel stipend!

When you submit your project, you can submit your project for one of 3 different tiers:

Tier 3, trinkets & small items! ($35 total) 4 pts

Get up to $25 for the initial design, and then $10 to make changes after building your project!

Tier 2, gadgets n’ gizmos! ($150 total) 12 pts

Get up to $120 for the initial design, and then $30 to make changes after building your project!

Tier 1, machines and arcane science ($350 total) 20 pts

Get up to $300 for the initial design, and then $50 to make changes after building your project!

feel like this funding isn’t enough? dm @alexren!

To qualify for Open Sauce, you’ll need to collect at least 12 points! This also comes with a $75 USD travel stipend. Every extra 4 points (on top of the original 12) qualifies you for another $75 USD domestic / 150 USD int’l

Needs based stipends available!

2. Sauceathon! (July 15-17th)

After collecting 12 points, bring your projects and join 70 other teenagers for the very first teen-only sauceathon. The pitch? For the next 3 days, build the booth that you’ll demo at Open Sauce.

3. Open Sauce! (July 18th-19th)

You and your teammates will be demoing at 1 of 20 booths in a special Hack-Club only section at Open Sauce! Good luck!

The first step is to come up with an idea. Send a project you’re thinking of in #open-sauce-2026-ideas!