The 2025 RC China Hackathon has officially wrapped! Once again, the event brought together passionate minds across teams, offices, and time zones to explore one bold theme: Reimagining Communication with AI.

A record-breaking celebration of innovation

This year has marked a milestone in both scale and energy, with more than 200 innovators forming 54 teams for RingCentral’s most ambitious Hackathon yet. With a four-day qualifying round in Xiamen and Hangzhou, followed by a high-energy Finals event, this year’s Hackathon was more than a coding challenge — it was a platform for cross-functional collaboration, bold thinking, and breakthrough innovation.

From ideas to impact: Innovation that matters

Centered on AI’s transformative potential, the Hackathon challenged participants to reimagine how people connect and communicate. The results? A stream of inventive, product-relevant demos — from real-time agent assistance to AI-powered outbound platforms and smart meeting solutions.

“The ideas we saw this year not only showcase creative thinking, but many are directly aligned with our product vision and address real customer pain points,” said Marc Chan, VP and GM of Greater China. “It’s amazing to see how our teams are pushing us toward the future.”

A journey of five days, two cities, and endless creativity

The Hackathon began with a four-day qualifying round — three days in Xiamen and one in Hangzhou — where teams built and prototyped ideas from their home offices. After rounds of internal judging, the top 12 teams advanced to the Finals.

The finals: A showcase of world-class talent

Held on May 30 in Xiamen, the Finals featured an international panel of 30 judges, including 20 leaders from the U.S. and 10 from China. Several U.S.-based judges traveled to Xiamen in person — and left impressed:

Gary Chevsky, SVP of Engineering: “Extremely exhilarating experience… the energy overwhelmed me. The level of polish and technical depth was outstanding.”

Vlad Mezhibovsky, Sr. Director of Engineering: “An excellent experience. So much energy and innovation from all participants.”

Dwayne Mercredi, Director of Engineering Applications: “I’ve participated in hackathons for 15 years… what I’ve seen here is head and shoulders above.”

Projects recognized: From demos to real value

This year, a total of 27 projects were recognized — a record-breaking 50% of all submissions. In addition to the 12 finalists, 15 promising teams were selected for post-Hackathon follow-up and potential incubation.

The competition was so intense that judges awarded the Champion, 1 Silver Award, 2 Bronze Awards and 8 Excellence Awards to celebrate excellence.These projects stood out for their creativity, execution, and potential business impact — and some are already being considered for productization.

More than a competition: A culture of innovation

What truly made the Hackathon special wasn’t just the AI — it was the people. Throughout the journey, participants embraced new challenges, collaborated across boundaries, and supported one another with passion and grit.

From last-minute enhancements to high-stakes live demos, every moment became part of an unforgettable experience. As one finalist joked, “this Hackathon raised my blood pressure — literally!”

Wrapping up: Ocean, sunset, and innovation

After the high-stakes Finals, teams gathered for a seaside after-party in Xiamen. Laughter, sunset photos, and ocean breezes marked the perfect close to a month of innovation and teamwork.

What’s next?

The 2025 RC China Hackathon may have concluded, but its impact is just beginning. Winning ideas are already being explored for real product development — and even more importantly, the spirit of bold thinking and collaboration continues to thrive.

Here’s to big ideas, AI breakthroughs, and shaping the future of communication — together.

See you in 2026!

Originally published Jun 24, 2025