​About the Event

​Autonomous AI agents are running on laptops, connecting to real tools, and completing real tasks. Now it's your turn to build one.

​In this 24-hour hackathon hosted by NVIDIA, your challenge is to build a working autonomous agent application using OpenClaw and NVIDIA Nemotron models. We want agents that take action, handle live data, and execute complex multi-step workflows. The use case is yours to define.

​The Deliverable

​Your submission needs to be a deployed, working OpenClaw agent powered by Nemotron that autonomously handles a task with persistent memory, multi-step reasoning, and live tool use. Not a prototype. Not a pitch deck. Something that runs.

Choose Your Compute Path

​On-device: Build locally on ASUS Ascent GX10 (DGX Spark).

​Cloud: Build via fully sponsored compute instances on NVIDIA Brev.

​The Three Prize Tracks

​Cloud Track: Brev-driven project for OpenClaw and NVIDIA Nemotron Models.

​Edge Track: ASUS Ascent GX10-driven project for OpenClaw and NVIDIA Nemotron Models.

​Bonus Track (Best Use of NemoClaw): Want to go further? Deploy your agent using NVIDIA NemoClaw for an additional prize category. NemoClaw wraps your OpenClaw agent in a hardened sandbox with policy-based security and privacy guardrails, running Nemotron locally on-device. Teams that deploy via NemoClaw and demonstrate its security controls will be judged separately for this track. (Note: NemoClaw is currently in early preview so some rough edges are expected).

BONUS Hack.dev Track (Best Use Case for UCSC): Identify an issue at UC Santa Cruz and come up with an impactful and innovative solution for students.

​The Details

​Who: Open to UC Santa Cruz students of all experience levels. No prior OpenClaw experience required. A getting-started guide will be shared before the event. You can work in teams of 1-4.

​Food: Fully catered for 24 hours. Energy, caffeine, and meals are on us.

​Title Sponsors: NVIDIA, ASUS, Baskin School of Engineering.

​Prizes:

​The ASUS Ascent (DGX Spark) (Valued at $4000)

​Jetson Nano Orins

​Exclusive Premium NVIDIA Swag

​High-Value Brev.dev Compute Credits

​Career Fast-Tracking: Direct portfolio reviews and internship pipeline opportunities with NVIDIA Hiring Managers

• Creativity
  The project's originality and innovative problem-solving approach in addressing a challenge
• Functionality
  The projects functional prototype, live demonstration of effectiveness and stability, ensuring meaningful integration of tech stack.
• Scope of Completion
  The project's completeness, polish, and user experience, ensuring a seamless and well-structured workflow.
• Presentation
  Clear, engaging, and well-structured presentation that effectively communicates the project core use case, technical depth, and business impact to diverse audiences.
• Use of NVIDIA tools
  A team's effective, impactful, and innovative integration of NVIDIA NIM, SDKs, libraries, and tools to enhance their projects. With the additional use of Nemo Claw/Open Claw, if applying for the Nemo Claw track.
• Use of NVIDIA Nematron Models
  The team's effective, impactful, and innovative integration of NVIDIA's Nemotron models to enable sophisticated reasoning and agentic capabilities within their project.
• Use of Brev
  The team's effective, impactful, and innovative integration of NVIDIA Brev.dev to enable sophisticated reasoning and heavy capabilities with their projects