A high-energy, in-person hackathon where student teams go from raw idea to working prototype in a single day. Think like a founder. Build like an engineer. Pitch like it matters.
Iterate '26 is a high-energy, 6–8 hour hackathon where student teams build AI-powered startup ideas from scratch. No lectures. No filler. Teams pick a real problem, define an AI-driven solution, ship a working prototype, and pitch it to judges — all in a single day.
The goal is to think like founders: validate fast, prioritize ruthlessly, build something real and demonstrable, and communicate value in 60 seconds.
Teams tackle genuine, unsolved problems — not toy demos or contrived challenges. If it wouldn’t work in the real world, it doesn’t count.
Participants are pushed to think about users, market fit, and viability — not just working code. Product intuition is half the score.
6 to 8 hours is tight. Teams learn to cut scope, move fast, and ship — the most valuable skill in any engineering career.
Every product must meaningfully use AI — not as a buzzword, but as core functionality that makes the product actually better.
Create an AI-powered product that addresses a real-world problem — not a concept deck, a functional prototype.
Approach the problem with product thinking. Who uses this? Why does it matter? Is there a market? Can it scale?
Ship a minimum viable product within the timeframe. Real code. Real interface. Real users in mind.
"Build an AI-powered product that solves a real problem and has startup potential."
Participants are free to choose any domain, including but not limited to:
Open to technical and non-technical students. Developers, designers, and business thinkers — every role has a place on a team.
Come with your crew or form a team on the day. Solo registrations are welcome — we'll help you find teammates at the kickoff.
Use whatever tools, frameworks, and languages you're comfortable with. The product matters more than the stack.
// Timeline is a general guide — teams are not required to follow it strictly.
Rules, judging criteria, and expectations set. Mentors introduced. Team matching for solo participants.
Teams finalize their problem statement, validate the idea, and define their AI approach before any building begins.
The core sprint. Design, code, and iterate on your MVP with mentor support available throughout. Build, test, improve — repeat.
Finalize submissions. No new features — focus on presenting what you built clearly and confidently.
Each team pitches live to the judging panel. Winners announced at the close of the event.
A functional product — not slides, not a concept deck. Something that runs and demonstrates your idea in action.
A clear representation of your product's interface — how it looks and what it does for its users.
A sharp, concise pitch covering all four elements. Every second counts — be precise, be clear.
Walk the judges through your working product in real time. The demo must show core functionality — no screenshots.
| Criteria | Weight | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
|
Problem & Market Potential
Is the problem real and meaningful? Does the market opportunity justify building this?
|
30% |
|
|
AI Integration
Is AI core to the product — purposeful and functional, not just decorative?
|
25% |
|
|
Execution (Working Demo)
Does it work? Is the build quality and completeness evident in the demo?
|
25% |
|
|
Pitch & Clarity
Can you communicate the problem, solution, and value clearly and compellingly?
|
20% |
Distributed across six awards — three placement prizes for the top teams, and three special recognition awards for standout categories.
No. Iterate is open to all skill levels. Mentors will be on hand throughout the event to guide beginners. Curiosity and the willingness to build are all that's required.
Yes. Teams of 2–4 can register together. Solo participants are also welcome — we'll run a team-matching session at kickoff so you can find your crew on the day.
You can research problem spaces and think about domains you care about. All building must happen on the day. No pre-built code, prototypes, or prepared repositories are allowed.
Any AI-powered product with a real use case — web apps, mobile apps, LLM-based tools, automation products, etc. Projects are judged on real AI integration, execution quality, and potential impact.
Spots are limited. Registrations for Iterate '26 open soon — watch this space for announcements from ACM SHU.