What is a hackathon?

At a hackathon, small teams build something new to solve a problem, and then share it with the community. It’s a contest in which the best ideas win. Although hacking has a reputation for being a criminal activity, that’s not what a hackathon is about at all. Instead, a hackathon gets to the original roots of hacking — solving a problem through “playful cleverness” or overcoming challenges by exploring new limits and boundaries.

Why are we doing this?

We think that participants in the event will enjoy the chance to meet new people, share their wild ideas and have an opportunity to impact the OSU community in a positive, innovative way. From OSU’s perspective, this is a chance to foster innovation and collaboration, create and strengthen cross-organizational relationships and have fun.

How long do I have during the event?

In order to leave time for presentations at the end, we ask that you be finished and ready to present at 3:30pm on the day of the event. In the interest of good sportsmanship, it is important that you also not begin work on your project in earnest until hacking begins at about 9am.

What are the requirements for teams?

Participants can join the Hackathon solo, or with a group. We are pretty flexible on team size, but generally recommend 3-6 people. However, your project may have unique needs!

What kinds of projects can I do?

The Hackathon enables you to work on projects that you wouldn't normally get to work on. Projects should be close to you and your work, but could affect many people at OSU. Still struggling to find the perfect project for your team? Check out the winners from last year's Hackathon.

I'm interested! Now what?

Save the date! Talk to your supervisor about the event and get their permission to participate. Start planning your efforts. Brainstorm ideas. Come to our Hackathon mixer on April 8. Talk to others and form a team. And don't forget to register.