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Zoho Developer Community

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2025

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Are you ready to become a ?

After a fantastic debut, the Zoho Developer Community Hackathon returns with even more excitement and challenges. This is your chance to push your limits, turn your creative ideas into impactful solutions using Zoho’s developer tools and platforms, and earn the title reserved for the community’s brightest innovators!

Categories

Extensions
 

SalesIQ
Zobot

Cliq
 

Catalyst
 

CRM
Functions

CRM
Widgets

CRM
Functions

CRM
Widgets

CRM
Client Script

IoT

Creator
 

IoT
 

Creator
 

What’s the entry fee?

There isn’t one! You can participate in this global virtual hackathon from anywhere, free of cost. The only prerequisite is to register yourself.

Who can participate?

  • This hackathon is open to individuals and teams of up to three members who are passionate about coding and building impactful applications, with an understanding of Zoho Developer Platforms.
  • Zoho employees, minors, and residents of restricted regions are not eligible. See Terms & Conditions for more information.

Note: We recommend familiarizing yourself with the developer tools offered by Zoho through any of these resources. Please contact us for more information to help you prepare for the hackathon.

What’s up for grabs?

  • Prizes worth $1000 and Zoho Developer Community Merchandise for the top 3 overall winners
  • Zoho Developer Community Merchandise for the top 2 submissions in each category
  • Certificate of participation for all valid submissions made before the deadline

What do we evaluate?

  • Problem Statement & Use Case – How efficiently your application addresses a real-world problem
  • Solution & Application Scope – Completeness of the solution and how effectively the app meets the intended objectives
  • Compulsory Sample Data – Inclusion and correctness of the required sample data in the application for testing
  • Presentation and Recorded Demo – Quality and clarity of the demo showcasing the developed solution
  • Product Flow Diagram – Clear and logical representation of the application’s flow and architecture
  • UI/UX – Design, usability, and user experience of the application
  • Innovation & Creativity – Novelty, unique features, and innovative use of Zoho products
  • Originality – No duplication of existing applications or submissions made to other competitions
  • Rate of Completion – The extent to which a functional prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) has been developed
Terms & Conditions

Phases

01

Registration

Nov 18 – Dec 02
  • Register for the hackathon.
  • After registering, you will receive an acknowledgement email. Your designated Zoho One test account enabled with the essential products to build your project will be shared when the Development Phase begins on December 03.
02

Development and Submission

Dec 03 – Dec 30
  • Develop your project in the designated Zoho One test account.*
  • Third-party service integration with your project is allowed.
  • Instructions to submit your project will be shared in an email.
  • Submissions after the deadline will NOT be allowed.

*Development must be done in this account to be eligible for evaluation. Technical support will be available on demand.

03

Evaluation and Results

Dec 31 onwards
  • The submission will be evaluated on multiple parameters by the jury of experts from different product verticals.
  • Winners will be notified via email.
  • An official announcement will also be made on this website, social media, and the Zoho Community platform.

Note: Uploading any submission constitutes entrants' consent to give Zoho Corporation a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, create derivative works from, and display such submissions in whole or in part, on a worldwide basis, and to incorporate it into other works, in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, including for promotional or marketing purposes.

Resources

Developer 101

Deluge

Cliq

Extensions

SalesIQ Zobot

Catalyst

IoT

Creator

Zoho CRM Developer

Client Script

Functions

Widgets

A pinch of inspiration from our 2024

testimonialimg

“Winning the ZDC Hackathon 2024 was an incredible milestone. The recognition from the judges was humbling and inspiring. It opened doors to collaborations, connections, opportunities, and global exposure. To all future participants: dream beyond the known — it can take you farther than you imagine!”

Nagarajan MSolution ArchitectZitraar Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
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“The hackathon validated my skills, inspired my colleagues, and boosted my confidence as a Zoho developer. Looking forward to the next one!”

Alex DillonIT Services ManagerMedbill
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“Winning wasn’t the end, it was a milestone. The hackathon gave me momentum to explore Zoho solutions deeply — from Creator to CRM to Catalyst.”

Wonderboy Thandanani MthiyaneSourcing CoordinatorWeThinkCode_
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“The hackathon gave me recognition, confidence, and new ideas to push the limits with Deluge and client scripts.”

Bhoomi Joshi Lead Technical ConsultantIntovex LLP
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“My first hackathon opened doors, gave me career growth, and inspired me to publish my own Zoho extension.”

Subhash KumarSenior Zoho DeveloperCygnet One
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“Winning was a turning point — it boosted my confidence, brought collaborations, and shaped my career in meaningful ways.”

Nagaraj SubramanianTechnical LeadDhruvsoft Services Private Limited
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“The hackathon boosted our visibility and confidence. It opened doors to bigger projects and made our CRM team stronger than ever.”

Aakib TaiProject Consultant & ManagerStrateworks Solutions
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“Winning gave us recognition in college and inspired us to keep expanding our project with Zoho tools.”

Selva Kirthick BStudentM.Kumarasamy College of Engineering
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“The hackathon was a WOW experience. From building IBOT to getting recognition and goodies, it gave us confidence and community connections.”

Naveen KumarStudentM.Kumarasamy College of Engineering

Their journey started here. Where will yours take you?!

Get tips, event updates, and community support at your fingertips. Join the Zoho Developer Community now!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I register multiple times or join different teams?

    To ensure fairness and allow everyone an equal chance of winning, multiple registrations and team changes aren't permitted.

  • Can I change my team after registration?

    Team changes after registration are not permitted.

  • Can I publish projects I've built for other coding contests or hackathons?

    No. To ensure a level playing field, we only accept projects developed specifically for this hackathon, using the Zoho One test account provided after registration.

  • Can I use my own Zoho account for development?

    For this hackathon, we'll provide a dedicated Zoho One test account to simplify the development process. It has everything you need to get started. Work submitted only through this account will qualify for evaluation.

  • How many projects can I develop?

    Applicants may work either individually or on only one team, and each team can submit only one entry, which should be from one or more of the nine categories mentioned above.

  • Can I edit my project after submission?

    The submission deadline marks the end of the development phase. To ensure timely evaluation, access to the test account will be revoked after the deadline. However, we highly recommend making a copy of your work beforehand if you'd like to continue working on it in your own account after the development deadline.

  • Can I access my project after the hackathon?

    We recommend making copies of your work as access to the test account will be revoked after the submission deadline. This way, your hard work isn't lost, and you can continue developing your project in your own account after the hackathon.

  • Can I publish my project on the Zoho Marketplace?

    Absolutely! We highly encourage submitting your projects, through your own account, for the Zoho Marketplace review process. Once approved, you can publish your creation and potentially reach a wider audience. If you'd like help setting up your own account, write to us and we'll guide you through the process.

  • Whom can I contact if I face technical challenges during the hackathon?

    Please reach out to zdc@zohocorp.com for any hackathon-related queries.

Contact us for more information

Past Events

Ready to code your way to victory?

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