Code, Congress, and the Next Generation of Innovators: Highlights from #HouseOfCode 2025
#HouseOfCode 2025 has officially wrapped after two high-energy days inside the U.S. Capitol, and the future of tech has never looked brighter. Over 400 student coders from across the country descended on D.C. to showcase their award-winning apps, pitch their ideas to lawmakers, and connect with top minds in tech. It wasn’t just a celebration, it was a launchpad for the next generation of innovators shaping the digital future.
Jump Ahead
Stem Inspiration Fair
#HouseOfCode launched with the Inspiration Fair, a high-energy showcase where winners and their families connected with the innovators, educators, and institutions shaping the future of tech. Attendees explored pathways into STEM with admissions reps from universities and got insider advice from expert college counselors at CollegeWise. The U.S. Copyright Office and USPTO helped students take the next step by copyrighting their winning apps, turning code into real Intellectual Property. HackClub fired up the crowd with a call to action: bring hackathons home and build tech communities in your own backyard. In total, thirteen trailblazing organizations joined the fair to help students imagine what’s next.
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- CollegeWise
- Create & Learn
- George Washington University
- Girls Who Code
- HackClub
- theCoderSchool
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- George Mason University
- Kodeclik
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- The United States Copyright Office
Student Lightning Talks – The Future of Technology
In the auditorium, the spotlight shifted to the students themselves. Six standout winners, chosen by their peers, took the stage to deliver Lightning Talks: bold, four-minute visions of where they see technology heading next. From AI ethics to climate tech, each talk offered a unique glimpse into the future through the lens of youth innovation. A panel of experts from Meta, Infosys, AWS, and Hack Club provided real-time feedback, turning inspiration into actionable insight and sparking conversations that will continue far beyond the event.
Congressional Keynotes
Soon after, nine Members of Congress took the stage to deliver keynote remarks, celebrating the student winners and reflecting on the critical intersection of technology and policy making. Congressional App Challenge Co-Chairs, Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02), were joined by Reps. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), John Mannion (NY-22), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Bill Foster (IL-11) before a memorable closing from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11). Together, they spoke directly to the next generation of tech leaders, emphasizing the importance of innovation, civic engagement, and the role technology will play in shaping the future of democracy.
Speaking alongside the Members of Congress, industry leaders like Amazon Web Services’ Director of Applied Science, Dr. Sherry Marcus, discussed how the winners are the future of America’s tech space and how to develop their skills for a future career in STEM.
George Thuronyi, Deputy Director of Public Information and Education, from the U.S. Copyright Office. He informed students about the process to copyright their apps and any future projects to ensure they could secure their own IP.
Coder Connect presented by the Broadcom Foundation
To wrap up day one, students, with support from our partners at the Broadcom Foundation, had the opportunity to connect and unwind with fellow winners from across the country. Over pizza and desserts, they shared ideas, built relationships, and forged connections with like-minded, talented peers. Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) also made a surprise visit, inspiring the group to continue honing their skills and pushing forward with their STEM aspirations.
Student Demonstrations
At the center of #HouseOfCode 2025 were the Student App Demonstrations, a live showcase where this year’s top student coders presented their winning apps inside the U.S. Capitol. These young innovators tackled real-world challenges with serious tech solutions, from wildfire risk detection and ASL-to-text translation to driver fatigue monitoring, AR tools for neurosurgery, and more. Their work proved that the future of innovation is already here, and it’s being built by students.
On the demo floor, dozens of Members of Congress met with their student constituents, exploring their projects and engaging in conversations about how technology can shape the future of their communities. Representative Don Davis (NC-01) went the extra mile, personally interviewing as many students as possible to hear their stories firsthand.
In addition to showcasing their apps, students also got hands-on with the latest in emerging tech, including Meta’s VR headset and Snapchat’s interactive photobooth. Several Members of Congress joined in, highlighting just how engaged and excited they were about the future of innovation.
That’s a wrap on #HouseOfCode 2025. A huge thank-you to everyone who made this event a success, especially our incredible sponsors. We’re deeply grateful to the Broadcom Foundation, Infosys Foundation USA, AWS, Apple, theCoderSchool, Snapchat, Meta, ACT | The App Association, Comcast, and CGI for their generous support. Their commitment to student innovation and tech education helped make this experience unforgettable for every participant and attendee.
We are proud of each and every student who brought their vision to life and inspired all of us with their creativity and drive. If you haven’t already, make sure to pre-register for the upcoming Congressional App Challenge. We’re already looking forward to what you’ll build next!