Emerson Ni, 17
The Grassroots Innovator: How Emerson Ni Is Championing Tech Accessibility
Whether advocating before their local city council or speaking to news reporters about making tech accessible, Emerson Ni proves that young builders don’t need to wait to make a real-world impact.
Emerson’s journey into tech began with a simple curiosity. "I first got into technology back in Grade 7, when I started building with LEGO kits and experimenting with simple mechanical designs," Emerson recalls. "I was mostly curious about how things worked, but that curiosity quickly turned into a deeper interest in creating my own systems." By Grade 9, that mechanical intrigue transitioned into joining their school’s VEX Robotics team. Stepping up as Co-President, Emerson scaled the program from 2 to 7 competitive teams, managed over $150,000 in annual funding, and organized daily operations for 80+ members. Under their leadership, the program reached 3rd in Ontario and qualified for both the 2025 and 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship. Driven to make engineering inclusive, Emerson also founded low-cost robotics camps for Black and Indigenous youth. “Leading others while continuing to refine my own technical skills solidified my passion for robotics and technology.”
Emerson’s entry into the hackathon scene was marked by healthy skepticism. Attending their first hackathon with a friend, they weren’t immediately hooked: "I was quite skeptical after my first hackathon as I didn't know much." However, that initial hesitation vanished after entering SpurHacks. Their team built Predictra - an AI-powered predictive maintenance platform that analyzes SCADA logs and sensor readings via LSTM Autoencoders to forecast machine degradation and estimate Remaining Useful Life. They secured the win for Most Scalable and 2nd Place in the AI Startup Tracks. It was a pivotal moment of validation, "an experience that completely changed our mindset and motivated us to take things more seriously." That momentum launched a run across 11 hackathons, earning over $15,000 in total team prizes. Highlights included winning first place at BramHacks 2025, taking first at Hack the 6ix 2025, tying for second at TerraHacks 2025, and placing second at IgnitionHacks v.6.
As their wins grew, so did their connection to the hackathon community. Now firmly embedded in this ecosystem, stepping into leadership as a Hack the 6ix organizer felt like a natural next step - allowing them to help foster the culture of belonging that defined their own journey. "What started as quick introductions between projects turned into real friendships, where we would catch up at each event, share what we had been building, and even support each other’s ideas during competitions," they note. "It created a sense of belonging that made each hackathon feel less like a competition and more like a reunion."
Driven by a desire to share those opportunities, Emerson actively works to make technology approachable far beyond traditional hacker circles. "A big part of my impact has been breaking down the stereotype that hacking is only for highly experienced programmers," they say. "I’ve consistently tried to make the community more accessible by showing that beginners can start with little to no experience and still build meaningful projects." Emerson presented Heimdall - the AI satellite repair robot that took home first place at BramHacks 2025 - directly to Brampton’s Mayor and City Council to advocate for youth STEM funding, earning features across regional news outlets.
Parallel to their civic advocacy, Emerson runs Students4Students, a free nonprofit organization where they personally teach math, public speaking, and coding to over 35 students each week. By designing custom software tools to streamline class operations and creating interactive learning modules, they equip emerging builders with real-world technical literacy. “Through Students4Students, I mentor younger learners, help them build confidence, and adapt lessons to their individual needs. Leading this nonprofit has taught me how to combine my technical skills with service, turning ideas into programs that have a real impact. Seeing my students grow and get excited about learning has shown me how technology and collaboration can empower others in meaningful ways.”
Through high-level advocacy, grassroots education, and relentless community building, Emerson continues to dismantle barriers across the tech ecosystem - demonstrating that dedicated leaders can drive profound, systemic change at any stage of their career.
Quick Facts
Emerson Ni, 17
The Grassroots Innovator: How Emerson Ni Is Championing Tech Accessibility
Whether advocating before their local city council or speaking to news reporters about making tech accessible, Emerson Ni proves that young builders don’t need to wait to make a real-world impact.
Emerson’s journey into tech began with a simple curiosity. "I first got into technology back in Grade 7, when I started building with LEGO kits and experimenting with simple mechanical designs," Emerson recalls. "I was mostly curious about how things worked, but that curiosity quickly turned into a deeper interest in creating my own systems." By Grade 9, that mechanical intrigue transitioned into joining their school’s VEX Robotics team. Stepping up as Co-President, Emerson scaled the program from 2 to 7 competitive teams, managed over $150,000 in annual funding, and organized daily operations for 80+ members. Under their leadership, the program reached 3rd in Ontario and qualified for both the 2025 and 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship. Driven to make engineering inclusive, Emerson also founded low-cost robotics camps for Black and Indigenous youth. “Leading others while continuing to refine my own technical skills solidified my passion for robotics and technology.”
Emerson’s entry into the hackathon scene was marked by healthy skepticism. Attending their first hackathon with a friend, they weren’t immediately hooked: "I was quite skeptical after my first hackathon as I didn't know much." However, that initial hesitation vanished after entering SpurHacks. Their team built Predictra - an AI-powered predictive maintenance platform that analyzes SCADA logs and sensor readings via LSTM Autoencoders to forecast machine degradation and estimate Remaining Useful Life. They secured the win for Most Scalable and 2nd Place in the AI Startup Tracks. It was a pivotal moment of validation, "an experience that completely changed our mindset and motivated us to take things more seriously." That momentum launched a run across 11 hackathons, earning over $15,000 in total team prizes. Highlights included winning first place at BramHacks 2025, taking first at Hack the 6ix 2025, tying for second at TerraHacks 2025, and placing second at IgnitionHacks v.6.
As their wins grew, so did their connection to the hackathon community. Now firmly embedded in this ecosystem, stepping into leadership as a Hack the 6ix organizer felt like a natural next step - allowing them to help foster the culture of belonging that defined their own journey. "What started as quick introductions between projects turned into real friendships, where we would catch up at each event, share what we had been building, and even support each other’s ideas during competitions," they note. "It created a sense of belonging that made each hackathon feel less like a competition and more like a reunion."
Driven by a desire to share those opportunities, Emerson actively works to make technology approachable far beyond traditional hacker circles. "A big part of my impact has been breaking down the stereotype that hacking is only for highly experienced programmers," they say. "I’ve consistently tried to make the community more accessible by showing that beginners can start with little to no experience and still build meaningful projects." Emerson presented Heimdall - the AI satellite repair robot that took home first place at BramHacks 2025 - directly to Brampton’s Mayor and City Council to advocate for youth STEM funding, earning features across regional news outlets.
Parallel to their civic advocacy, Emerson runs Students4Students, a free nonprofit organization where they personally teach math, public speaking, and coding to over 35 students each week. By designing custom software tools to streamline class operations and creating interactive learning modules, they equip emerging builders with real-world technical literacy. “Through Students4Students, I mentor younger learners, help them build confidence, and adapt lessons to their individual needs. Leading this nonprofit has taught me how to combine my technical skills with service, turning ideas into programs that have a real impact. Seeing my students grow and get excited about learning has shown me how technology and collaboration can empower others in meaningful ways.”
Through high-level advocacy, grassroots education, and relentless community building, Emerson continues to dismantle barriers across the tech ecosystem - demonstrating that dedicated leaders can drive profound, systemic change at any stage of their career.
