It's now your turn

MESHTASTIC
Build-Off
2026

Turn your idea into a real product—prototype with Seeed Studio and get the chance to bring it to market.

Participants can either form teams or compete individually.

Join the Challenge
MAY–AUG, 2026Timeline
GLOBALOpen Entry
$3000+In Prizes
HOSTED BY
👇 Click above to view organizer information

SEEED STUDIO

Seeed Studio is a leading open hardware company helping innovators turn ideas into real-world solutions. Since 2008, we’ve supported over 500,000 users with tools for sensor networks and edge AI. From prototyping to production, our modules, devices, and Fusion services enable you to build, scale, and bring products to market—powered by open-source, community, and platforms like SenseCraft.

SEEED FUSION — PCB FAB & ASSEMBLY

Seeed Fusion is Seeed's one-stop PCBA service — from rapid prototyping to global-scale production. Build-Off participants get exclusive manufacturing discounts to prototype faster and at lower cost.

  • ✓True one-stop PCBA: rapid prototyping to global production
  • ✓Free DFA and DFM reviews
  • ✓Global shipping supported
  • ✓50% OFF PCBA (up to $50) for all registered participants
LEARN ABOUT FUSION →

MESHTASTIC

Meshtastic is an open-source, community-driven project that enables long-range, off-grid mesh networking using low-cost LoRa radio hardware. Designed for hikers, skiers, emergency responders, and makers, it provides secure, decentralized communication without relying on cell towers or internet.

02 ·Why Join

Why Join the Challenge?

Let’s create something meaningful together—this is both a challenge and a space to exchange ideas.

HARDWARE PROTOTYPING
Access professional PCBA services to bring your schematics to life.
50% OFF FUSION SERVICES
All verified participants get a 50% discount on Seeed Fusion PCBA services. The coupon covers up to $30 — anything beyond that is not included.
GLOBAL EXPOSURE
Get featured across Seeed Studio's channels and the Meshtastic community.
COMMERCIAL LAUNCH
Selected co-creation projects may have the potential to become commercial products.
03 · What to build

What You Can Build & Requirements

Create real-world Meshtastic device/dev kit powered by Seeed Studio modules. Turn your ideas into working prototypes and explore the possibilities of connected mesh networks.

IT CAN BE:
  • Everyday carry node
  • Solar-powered repeater
  • Development board/kit
  • Mesh gateway
  • … or build something entirely new
Requirements you should know:
  • ▸ Choose one of the three modules for your project:
  • ▸ Your project must run Meshtastic firmware.
  • ▸ Please use the official silk-screening on the PCB board to ensure the authenticity and validity of your project.
  • ▸ A public GitHub repository is required for documentation and evaluation
  • ▸ At least 3 high-resolution photos and a demonstration video of at least 30 seconds are required
  • ▸ Solo or teams (max 3, one team per person). Total prize pool stays constant.
03 · How it works

Challenge Timeline

01
Register: May 8 – June 25, 2026

Sign up, join the official community, and receive your exclusive Seeed Fusion discount code.

Subscribe to stay updated on challenge news and announcements.

02
Design & Build: After Sign-up – June 25, 2026

Project Submission Method

Participants must create and submit their projects by opening a new GitHub Issue in this repository using the Project Submission form.

Do not fork or modify this repository directly. All projects must remain publicly accessible during the judging period.

Submit on GitHub
03
Prototype with Seeed Fusion: After Submission – July 31, 2026

Submit the following to design your hardware and prototype with Seeed Fusion:

1. Gerber files & BOM
2. Functional block diagram
3. PCB specifications
4. Assembly instructions
5. 3D enclosure files (STL / 3MF / STEP), if applicable
6. FUSION logo embedded in PCB silkscreen
7. Authenticity & Originality: To ensure project authenticity and prevent unauthorized reuse of others' work, you must include the official Seeed Fusion logo on your PCB silkscreen. This mark certifies your submission as an original entry to this challenge. Download logo file

Start Prototyping
04
Final Assembly: Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2026

Update your final project, including:

1. Functional test results
2. Photos & Demo video
3. Project overview (implementation, innovation, and social impact)

Open source optional (encouraged, but no bonus points).

Update Your Final Project on GitHub
05
Review & Results: Aug 8 – Aug 15, 2026

Winners will be announced on the challenge's GitHub README, and a dedicated showcase site will be launched to highlight all submissions in detail.

Don't miss a thing — subscribe via email to receive the latest updates as they happen.

04 · Awards & Criteria One Challenge. Unlimited

One Challenge. Unlimited Creativity.

Final score: 60% Expert Judging + 40% Community Voting.

Expert Judging (60%)
Community Voting (40%)

Projects will be judged by Meshtastic core team members—CEO Jonathan, hardware expert Ben, and Seeed Studio’s electronics engineering team.

Ben Meadors

Ben Meadors, known online as TheBentern, is a full-stack engineer and open-source firmware leader with a builder's instinct for connecting polished software to capable hardware. His work spans C++, C#, .NET, TypeScript, Vue.js, and other tools, moving comfortably from backend services and front-end experiences to embedded systems and developer tooling. In the Meshtastic ecosystem, Ben leads device firmware and web-flasher development, helping make off-grid mesh communication more approachable for hikers, tinkerers, emergency-preparedness groups, and radio enthusiasts who depend on resilient connectivity beyond cellular coverage. He also serves as CTO of Meshtastic Solutions, the commercial support corporation that backs the open-source project.

GitHub: https://github.com/thebentern

Community score is based on GitHub stars received by your submission repository.

  • • Promote your project on social media using #Meshtastic #BuildWithSeeed #Seeedstudio #SeeedFusion to increase visibility and GitHub stars
  • • Authentic build documentation and honest progress updates are encouraged
  • • Base score is 20. Total scores range from 20 (lowest stars) to 40 (highest stars), with others calculated proportionally.

Real builds. Real community. Real stars.

Build a Meshtastic-compatible device or development board that brings your ideas to life. Optional external peripherals can earn bonus points during expert evaluation.

PRIZE STRUCTURE
01
Unlocked at 10+ Participants
Winner also receives a $100 Seeed coupon
$300× 1 winner
02
Unlocked at 20+ Participants
Each winner also receives a $150 Seeed coupon + commemorative medal
$400× 2 winners
03
Unlocked at 30+ Participants
Each winner also receives a $200 Seeed coupon + trophy
$500× 3 winners
04
Unlocked at 50+ Participants
Each winner also receives a $200 Seeed coupon + trophy + official Seeed product kit & merchandise
$600× 5 winners
NOTES Seeed's judging panel will assess all submissions for commercialization potential. Selected co-creators may receive a 10–20% revenue share on any resulting product; exact terms will be agreed upon by both parties.
EXPERT JUDGING CRITERIA (100 Points)
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION WEIGHT
Meshtastic Implementation Correct use of Meshtastic firmware and mesh communication design
25
Hardware Design PCB design quality, schematic correctness, and build quality
20
Functionality Completeness and reliability of implemented features
20
System Integration & Completeness Level of system integration, including enclosure, peripherals, and end-to-end usability
15
Innovation & Use Case Originality of the solution and real-world relevance
10
Documentation Quality Clarity and completeness of project documentation
10
06 DISCLAIMER

Terms & Conditions

01

Prizes are not cumulative; only the highest-tier award will be granted per project. The organizer's decision is final.

02

All submitted Gerber files will undergo a standard DRC before fabrication. Production starts after approval.

03

No restrictions on product form factor or application. Participants are encouraged to explore real-world use cases.

04

Participants retain full IP rights. Organizers may use materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.

05

All work must be original. Plagiarism results in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of all awards.

06

The organizer reserves the right to adjust the timeline, award counts, and prize structure based on submission quality.