Hack the Future

What Hack the Future does

Hack the Future is a student-run software development organization operating within Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, founded in 2021. The organization recruits 51–100 student volunteers to build custom digital tools — including websites, web applications, interactive maps, mobile applications, and back-office management systems — at no cost for local nonprofit organizations in the Greater Lafayette area. The model combines pro-bono engineering delivery with student-led team management, positioning the organization as a service provider rather than a product company.

The project's portfolio spans approximately nine documented engagements across nonprofit domains including historic preservation, housing assistance, healthcare education, leadership development, grant administration, conservation, children's services, and community fundraising. Technical delivery ranges from single-page informational portals with document-backed content management (e.g., the Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation interactive map) to more substantive applications such as housing-crisis portals, grant management systems, client feedback portals, and a mobile self-guided tour application built for NICHES Land Trust. The product stack is web-centric with limited disclosure of underlying frameworks, hosting, or platform architecture, though the organization maintains an active GitHub presence suggesting open-source or student-collaborative development practices.

Hack the Future operates a non-revenue, volunteer-funded model. All client services are provided free of charge, with no disclosed sponsorship, grants, or monetization mechanisms. Nonprofit clients are acquired through direct outreach and community word-of-mouth, while student developers are onboarded via on-campus callout events. The organization is affiliated with Purdue's student organization framework but is not described as a standalone incorporated entity, and there is no indication of funding rounds, paid staff, contracted external work, or AI/ML capability.

Name

Hack the Future

Legal name

Hack the Future

Website

https://htfpurdue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hack the Future is a Purdue University student organization, founded in 2021, that builds custom websites, web applications, and mobile applications at no cost for local nonprofit organizations in the Lafayette, Indiana area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Nonprofit Software Development

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABAFAA

Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Technical & IT Skills Training

SECONDARYEDAGAKAC

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Design & Content Development Services

Keywords

• Nonprofit software development
• Custom web applications
• Student volunteer software
• Pro bono development
• Community software solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

West Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Free Software Development Services: The organization provides software development services at no cost to nonprofits. As a student volunteer organization, there is no revenue generation. All services are delivered free of charge to support local community nonprofits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hack the Future is a student-run organization at Purdue University that develops custom software solutions—including websites, web applications, and mobile applications—for local nonprofit organizations. All software development services are provided at no cost to nonprofit clients, with projects delivered by volunteer student teams throughout the academic year. The portfolio includes interactive maps, bilingual websites, crisis portals, grant management systems, story collection platforms, funds allocation systems, and mobile tour guide applications.

Product overview

Hack the Future is a student organization at Purdue University that develops software solutions for local nonprofits at no cost. Their portfolio consists of custom-built web applications and mobile applications tailored to each nonprofit's specific needs. Products include interactive mapping tools, bilingual websites, housing crisis portals, grant management systems, client feedback portals, funds allocation systems, story management platforms, and mobile tour guide applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wabash Trust Interactive Map
• Latino Center for Wellness and Education Website
• LTHC Housing Crisis Portal
• Leadership Lafayette Storyboard
• HomesteadCS Grant Management
• Jessie's Kids Foundation Funds Allocation System
• HomesteadCS Stories
• NICHES Land Trust Mobile Application
• Lafayette Breakfast Optimist Club Fundraiser Application

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Catchafire: Catchafire is an online platform that matches volunteer professionals with nonprofits for pro bono projects, including web/software development. It shares HTF's pro-bono tech-for-nonprofits model but operates as a national matching marketplace rather than a student team.
• Taproot Foundation: Taproot Foundation is a nonprofit that connects skilled professionals with nonprofits needing pro bono services, including technology. It is comparable to HTF as a structured pro-bono delivery channel for nonprofits, though much broader in scope and professionally staffed.
• Major League Hacking (MLH): MLH is the official student hackathon league, supporting hackathons at universities worldwide. It is comparable to HTF as a student-run developer community that produces real software projects, though focused on events rather than sustained nonprofit engagements.
• Code for America: Code for America is an established nonprofit that uses technology to improve government and civic services, often via volunteer-led local Brigades. It overlaps with HTF on the civic-tech-for-good mission and volunteer-driven delivery, but operates at much greater scale and scope.

Others

• NetHope: NetHope is a consortium of NGOs and technology companies that builds technology solutions for the nonprofit sector. It is thematically related as a tech-for-nonprofits organization but does not directly compete for student volunteers or local engagements.

Direct peers

• Hack4Impact: Hack4Impact is a student-run 501(c)(3) organization with university chapters that build software for social impact organizations. It is the closest direct peer because it shares the same model: volunteer student developers delivering custom software to nonprofits at no cost.

Emerging players

• Civic Innovation Corps / Civic Tech Field Guide organizations: Local civic-tech brigades and university-based civic innovation groups build software for community and nonprofit stakeholders, mirroring HTF's mission. They are emerging, regional peers with overlapping volunteer-driven development models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Hack-the-Future
• Instagraminstagram.com/hackthefuturepurdue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hack the Future