• Inside Cursor CodeQuest, SL’s largest student hackathon

Sri Lanka’s student tech community is about to test what it can build under pressure, and with serious backing behind it. This May, Cursor CodeQuest brings together more than 300 undergraduate and postgraduate developers from over 30 universities for a 24-hour hackathon that is less about theory and more about execution.

Organised by TechTalk360 in collaboration with Cursor, the event marks a notable moment for the local ecosystem, drawing first-time participation from global tech players including OpenAI, Google, and ElevenLabs.

At the centre of it is founder Rasal Jayasinghe, who sees the hackathon as a deliberate shift away from passive learning. “We wanted to create something that reflects how people actually build today,” he said. “It’s fast, it’s collaborative, and it’s driven by tools that are constantly changing. The only way to keep up is to build.”

A 24-hour sprint to build, not just pitch

Cursor CodeQuest is structured to prioritise output over ideas alone. Teams of two to four will spend a continuous 24-hour period developing working prototypes, with each project required to align with a single track – from voice AI and automation workflows to deployment challenges and frontend builds.

“We’re not interested in polished presentations without substance,” Jayasinghe explained. “If it runs, if it solves something – even in a small way – that’s what we want to see.”

To enable that, each participant receives more than $ 400 in credits, contributing to a combined pool exceeding $ 200,000 in tools and resources. Winning teams stand to gain access to over $ 100,000 in additional premium credits, alongside exclusive merchandise and recognition from industry judges.

Global tools meet local ambition

One of the defining features of this year’s hackathon is the scale of its partnerships. Global technology players such as OpenAI, Google (through Gemini), and ElevenLabs are joining the event for the first time, alongside a wide network of developer-focused platforms.

The scale of partnerships sets this hackathon apart. With platforms spanning AI, development, deployment, and collaboration, participants are being given direct access to the same ecosystems shaping global tech.

“For a long time, access has been the biggest barrier,” Jayasinghe said. “Now, a student here can experiment with the same tools someone in Silicon Valley is using. What matters is what they choose to build with it.”

Tracks tied to specific platforms, ranging from automation tools to AI voice applications, ensure that projects are not just experimental, but grounded in real-world use cases.

Lowering the barrier to entry

Despite the high-calibre partnerships, the event is intentionally designed to remain accessible. Participation is free, with mandatory student verification ensuring that the focus stays on university talent.

Workshops leading up to the hackathon aim to prepare participants across skill levels, while mentorship during the event provides real-time guidance.

“There’s this idea that hackathons are only for the most experienced developers,” Jayasinghe noted. “We want to change that. If you’re willing to learn and put something together, you belong here.”

More than a competition

While the hackathon will culminate in live demos, judging, and awards, its broader aim lies in building a stronger developer community.

Putting hundreds of builders in the same physical space, coding, troubleshooting, exchanging ideas, creates a dynamic that’s difficult to replicate online.

While the competitive element remains strong, complete with judging panels, live demos, and awards, the underlying goal of Cursor CodeQuest is community-building.

“That energy matters,” Jayasinghe said. “You see what others are doing, you push yourself a bit further, and you leave with more than just a project. You leave with perspective.”

Where ideas meet accountability

A defining feature of Cursor CodeQuest is the emphasis on finishing what you start. In a space where many student projects stall at the idea stage, the hackathon introduces a level of accountability that pushes teams to deliver within a fixed window, no extensions, no rollovers.

“There’s a different kind of pressure when you know the clock doesn’t stop,” Jayasinghe said. “You’re forced to make decisions quickly, prioritise what matters, and actually ship something. That’s a skill in itself.”

The final stretch of the event will see teams presenting live demos to a panel of industry experts, founders, and technologists, with judging criteria focused not just on innovation, but usability and execution. It’s a structure that mirrors real-world product environments, where timelines are tight and ideas are only as strong as their implementation.

By placing equal emphasis on delivery and creativity, Cursor CodeQuest encourages participants to move beyond experimentation and into problem-solving with tangible outcomes, an approach that reflects the demands of today’s tech industry.

A signal of what’s next

Cursor CodeQuest arrives at a time when Sri Lanka’s tech sector is increasingly shaped by young developers who are self-taught, globally connected, and eager to build.

For Jayasinghe, the hackathon is a glimpse into that future. “This isn’t just about one event,” he said. “It’s about showing what’s possible when you bring the right people, the right tools, and the right mindset into one room.”

Whether participants arrive with fully-formed ideas or simply curiosity, the expectation is the same: show up, build, and push boundaries.

Because for 24 hours this May, the focus won’t be on what Sri Lanka’s tech ecosystem lacks, but on what it can create.