MIT Reality Hack Emerges as a Hub for East Coast XR Developers and Entrepreneurs

Nestled on the West Coast, the XR industry’s major players might feel like the stars of the show, but on the East Coast, the MIT Reality Hack hackathon is stealing some of that spotlight. Now celebrating its eighth year, this event has become a crucial gathering point for XR developers and entrepreneurs. Thanks to the concurrently held EXPERIENTIAL Conference, this year’s event was bigger than ever, brimming with opportunities for industry dialogues and networking. Executive Director Maria Rice gives us the lowdown on this year’s hackathon and its standout winners.

Maria Rice, the woman behind MIT Reality Hack’s success, isn’t just an organizer; she’s a visionary. Maria has been pivotal in establishing the hackathon as the world’s leading community for experiential technology through innovative programs like the EXPERIENTIAL Innovation Conference, the Reality Scholars diversity fund, and the Reality Hack Founders Lab for budding startups.

This January, from the 23rd to the 27th, the MIT campus turned into a hive of activity as hundreds of top-notch hackers, tech veterans, and startup founders flocked to the eighth annual MIT Reality Hack. Known as the premier hackathon in the experiential tech space, it attracted sponsorship from global giants at the crossroads of XR, AI, and deeptech. AI development support came from Lambda Labs, while participants got to create functional prototypes using Meta Quest 3, Snap Spectacles, Qualcomm’s RB3g2 robotics kits, ShapesXR, Cognitive 3D, and STYLY.

An exciting element of this year’s hackathon was the introduction of cutting-edge hardware kits. This included AR lenses from Maradin, a haptic exoskeleton by Haptikos, and OpenBCI’s neurosensing gear, such as the Galea biosensing headset, signaling a year of innovation.

What truly set MIT Reality Hack apart was not just the tech, but the vibrant atmosphere fueled by the commitment to “hacking for good.” Over five days, approximately 600 participants pushed their limits, birthing 78 innovative XR applications and ideas. The winners showcased remarkable projects: YEIGO, an AR tool ensuring mobility aids are used with proper posture; CAREGIVR, an immersive platform for preparing for end-of-life care; and Tac-Man, a haptic device perfect for VR sculpting.

Dive into the complete list of 2025 winners across hardware and software categories for more inspiration.

A fresh addition to this year’s event was the EXPERIENTIAL Conference, expanding MIT Reality Hack with industry discussions and networking opportunities. Held alongside the hackathon, this event stitched a rich tapestry of global innovation, likened to a ‘Davos of the spatial tech industry.’ Attendees shared and debated pioneering research within contexts like educational innovation, vertical applications, and global development.

Sponsored by IEEE Spectrum, Qualcomm, and Distance Technologies from Helsinki, the EXPERIENTIAL conference supported the ‘hack-to-market’ goals of the Founders Lab, with two standout company launches: Limit Labs’ RoomSeed, a groundbreaking genAI tool, and Haptikos’ new hand exoskeleton, combining affordability with precision in XR experiences.

The conference was a hotbed for startup demonstrations featuring MIT spinout Three Space Lab, and AI innovations from AUR+A, and Meta Intelligence from Taiwan, in line with pushing Reality Hack’s inclusive tech focus far beyond just hacking. The program explored academic and business frontiers alike.

The conference began with an intriguing fireside chat between industry stalwarts Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies and Anshel Sag of Moor Insights & Strategy, skillfully moderated by AR icon Dan Cui.

Bajarin, also a first-time judge at the Hack, shared his reflections in Forbes, calling the experience “one of the highlights of my career” despite over four decades in tech.

Qualcomm’s Senior VP & GM of XR, Ziad Asghar, delivered the keynote, highlighting AI’s growing role in XR and the vital incubating impact of events like MIT Reality Hack on ideas and talents shaping our tech landscape.

Further into the event, an engaging panel called “Global Initiatives Towards a Sustainable Future” featured representatives from the UN, the World Bank, Inclusive AI Lab, Qualcomm, and Alvin Wang Graylin from HTC. These experts talked about using experiential tech and hackathons to empower creator communities, foster economic growth, and spark more inclusive human experiences worldwide.

As Ori Inbar, AWE co-founder and Reality Hack partner, passionately noted: “XR is going mainstream, but truly reaching that goal requires seasoned and newcomer XR builders to craft spatial experiences resonating with everyone. That’s how you conquer the mainstream!”

For companies eager to be part of the 2026 MIT Reality Hack and EXPERIENTIAL Innovation Conference, don’t hesitate to reach out and get involved. There’s plenty more innovation to come!