# BenefitFinder

Matches students to aid programs they'd never find on their own.

- **Status:** Shipped
- **When:** Apr 2025
- **Category:** GT1 Hackathon Special
- **Headline result:** Best Beginner Hack — CruzHacks, Apr 2025
- **Tech stack:** Vite + React, Firebase, Gemini AI

## Impact

- Matching across 20+ eligibility criteria, built in 36 hours
- Gemini AI semantic search across federal, state, and nonprofit programs
- Featured by Santa Cruz Works as 1 of 5 projects with startup potential

## Background

[BenefitFinder wins at CruzHacks](https://suryapugaz.com/career/benefitfinder-cruzhacks)

Source page: https://suryapugaz.com/garage/benefitfinder