about this event
Southwest MN Hacks: is Marshall's student hackathon. A beginner-friendly, 24-hour event where students come together to turn ideas into real projects.
Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Upper Conference Center, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), Marshall, MN.
Students from high schools, community colleges, and universities will work in small teams (up to 4 people) to build technology solutions to real-world problems. By the end of the event, teams demo what they built, whether that's a website, mobile app, automation tool, data project, or AI prototype.
No experience necessary. This event is designed for first-time hackers just as much as experienced developers.
The Challenge: Teams will tackle a real-world problem drawn from the kinds of challenges local and regional companies face. The challenge will be announced at the opening ceremony.
What's Included (FREE): Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the day; T-shirts and event swag; Mentorship and technical support from SMSU Computer Science faculty; Workshops and starter resources; Plaques and medals for the top 5 teams.
Who Can Participate: Ages 14+ (high school, community college, and university students); All skill levels welcome, from complete beginners to experienced developers; Teams of 1 to 4 people (solo participants will be matched with a team).
How to Register: Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register. Registration is free.
FAQ: Do I need coding experience? Not at all! Southwest MN Hacks is beginner-friendly. We'll have workshops, mentors, and resources to help you get started. No-code and low-code tools are welcome too.
How much does it cost? Nothing. Completely free! Registration, meals, snacks, t-shirts, and all resources are included.
Do I need a team? You can register solo and we'll help match you with a team during team formation. Teams can have 1 to 4 members.
What should I bring? Your laptop, charger, and any devices you want to work with. We provide food, Wi-Fi, power strips, and workspace.
How do I submit my project? All submissions go through this Devpost page. We'll walk you through the process at the event. Submit before 8:00 AM CT on Sunday, September 13.
Can I use pre-existing code or projects? You can use open-source libraries and APIs, but your project idea and core implementation must be new, started and built during the hackathon.
schedule
Day 1 - Hacking
Check-in and breakfast at 8:00 AM, opening ceremony and challenge reveal at 9:00 AM, hacking begins at 10:00 AM, lunch at 12:00 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM.
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUDay 2 - Demos and Awards
Submissions due on Devpost at 8:00 AM, project demos and judging at 8:30 AM, awards ceremony at 9:30 AM, event ends at 10:00 AM.
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUtickets
| Ticket | Price | Fee | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Free | No fee | Available | Registration is free. Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register. |