HackWashU Fall AI Build Challenge

about this event

WashU Hackathon Fall 2026!!

📍 SEPTEMBER 25–27 · 48 HOURS · 250+ STUDENTS EXPECTED

NO TEAM? NO IDEA? NEVER BUILT WITH AI?

Perfect. Come anyway. We will have beginner-friendly workshops, mentors, office hours, and plenty of other students looking for collaborators.

🧩 NOT JUST FOR "AI PEOPLE"

The strongest teams rarely look identical. A designer notices the confusing part. A business student asks whether anyone needs this. A researcher brings domain knowledge. A developer makes the first version work. If you study engineering, business, design, the sciences—or something we forgot to name—you have a place here.

⚡ WHAT 48 HOURS ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE

Expect to sketch, prompt, code, test, break things, rename the project, change your mind, ask for help, and finally demo something that did not exist on Friday morning. This is not slide-deck theater: we want to see what you made, how it works, and what you learned while making it.

🚀 FRI, SEPT 25 · 5:00 PM — The official build window opens.

🛠️ SUN, SEPT 27 · 10:00 AM — Hands off keyboards; Devpost submissions close.

👀 SUN, SEPT 27 · 2:00 PM — Finalists are announced.

🎤 SUN, SEPT 27 · 4:00 PM — Finalist presentations begin.

🏆 SUN, SEPT 27 · 7:00 PM — Winners are announced.

All times are Central Time. Workshop, mentorship, and detailed venue information will be shared with registered participants.

🎒 LEAVE WITH MORE THAN A PROJECT

A project with a pulse—something people can try, not just an idea you talked about.

New people in your corner—teammates, mentors, and fellow builders from across WashU.

A better story about yourself—because "we built this in one weekend" is a pretty good conversation starter.

Come curious. Build boldly. Demo the messy, clever, surprising thing you made.

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