Unlike traditional university-level hackathons that often intimidate younger coders, TMHacks22 was designed with a foundational premise: "You don’t need to be a expert. You just need curiosity."
While many hackathons have come and gone, the legacy of TMHacks22 continues to influence how young developers approach problem-solving. Whether you were a participant, a sponsor, or someone looking to understand the peak of virtual hackathon culture, revisiting TMHacks22 offers a masterclass in rapid prototyping and collaborative spirit. TMHacks22 was the second iteration of the "Toronto Metropolitan Hackathon" (formerly RyersonHacks), organized primarily by students at Toronto Metropolitan University but targeted specifically at high school students across North America and beyond. The "22" in the keyword denotes the 2022 edition, which took place fully online due to the lingering shifts in post-pandemic event culture. tmhacks22
By reviewing the tmhacks22 tag on social media or browsing its Devpost, you can see exactly what a 15-year-old with 6 months of coding experience can build in a weekend. It is simultaneously humbling and inspiring. TMHacks22 was the second iteration of the "Toronto
For organizers, TMHacks22 serves as a blueprint for how to run a high-quality, inclusive, virtual event on a student budget. For developers, it is a treasure trove of open-source learning material. It is simultaneously humbling and inspiring
So, whether you are looking for project inspiration, a nostalgia trip, or a case study in hackathon management, remember – the little hackathon that proved that distance is no barrier to innovation. Have a story from TMHacks22? Share it using the hashtag #TMHacks22Memories. The code may be old, but the community lives on.
The event ran for 36 hours, from a Friday evening to Sunday afternoon (EST). It featured a slate of workshops, mini-events, and a final submission round where teams of 2-4 students built software or hardware projects from scratch. One of the standout features of TMHacks22 was its thematic tracks. These guided participants toward solving real-world problems rather than falling into the trap of building "yet another to-do list app."
Several alumni of TMHacks22 have gone on to intern at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Shopify. Many credit the hackathon's pressure-cooker environment for giving them the confidence to pursue computer science in university. If you are a high school student reading this in 2025 or beyond, you might wonder why you should look back at an old hackathon. The answer is simple: The projects and patterns from TMHacks22 represent the baseline of what is possible.