Computer-Use Agents SOTA Challenge: Hack the North + Global Online
Published on August 25, 2025 by Francesco Bonacci
We’re bringing something new to Hack the North, Canada’s largest hackathon, this year: a head-to-head competition for Computer-Use Agents - on-site at Waterloo and a Global online challenge. From September 12–14, 2025, teams build on the Cua Agent Framework and are scored in HUD’s OSWorld-Verified environment to push past today’s SOTA on OS-World.
Track A: On-site @ Hack the North
There’s one global leaderboard: Cua - Best State-of-the-Art Computer-Use Agent. Use any model setup you like (cloud or local). After projects are submitted, HUD runs the official benchmark; the top team earns a guaranteed YC partner interview (W26 batch). We’ll also feature winners on our blog and socials and kit the team out with swag.
Track B: Global Online - Cua × Ollama Spotlight
Running in parallel worldwide, Cua and Ollama will recognize the Best Application of Local or Hybrid Inference. Whether you’re competing on-site or hacking remotely, submit your Cua + Ollama (or Ollama Cloud) agent. Judges from Cua and Ollama look for creativity use cases of Computer-Use Agents, technical depth, and effective use of local/hybrid inference.
Prizes:
- 1st MacBook Air M4 (or equivalent value) + features in Cua & Ollama channels
- 2nd $500 CAD + swag
- 3rd swag + public feature
How it works
Two different tracks, two different processes:
On-site (Track A)
Build during the weekend and submit a repo with a one-line start command. HUD executes your command in a clean environment and runs OSWorld-Verified. Scores come from official benchmark results; ties break by median, then wall-clock time, then earliest submission. Any model setup is allowed (cloud or local). Provide temporary credentials if needed.
HUD runs official evaluations immediately after submission. Winners are announced at the closing ceremony.
Deadline: Sept 15, 8:00 AM EDT
Global Online (Track B)
Open to anyone, anywhere. Build on your own timeline and submit a repo using Cua + Ollama/Ollama Cloud with a short write-up (what's local or hybrid about your design). Judged by Cua and Ollama teams on: Creativity (30%), Technical depth (30%), Use of Ollama/Cloud (30%), Polish (10%). A ≤2-min demo video helps but isn't required.
Winners announced after judging is complete.
Deadline: Sept 22, 8:00 AM EDT (1 week after Hack the North)
Submission & rules (both tracks)
- Deadlines: Sept 15, 8:00 AM EDT (Track A) / Sept 22, 8:00 AM EDT (Track B)
- Deliverables: repo + README start command; optional short demo video; brief model/tool notes
- Where to submit: links shared in the Hack the North portal and Discord
- Commit freeze: we evaluate the submitted SHA
Rules: no human-in-the-loop after the start command; internet/model access allowed if declared; use temporary/test credentials; you keep your IP; by submitting, you allow benchmarking and publication of scores/short summaries.
Join us
Bring a team, pick a model stack, and push what agents can do on real computers. We can’t wait to see what you build at Hack the North 2025.
Discord channels
- Join the Discord first: https://discord.gg/5XUCBaQs
- #hack-the-north (on-site): https://discord.com/channels/1328377437301641247/1409508526774157342
- #global-online (Ollama × Cua): https://discord.com/channels/1328377437301641247/1409518100491145226
Contact
Questions on Hack the North? Email [email protected].
P.S. If you’re planning ahead, start with the Cua Agent Framework and OSWorld-Verified docs at docs.trycua.com; we’ll share office-hour times in both Discord channels.