Sponsored by

24 Hour Student Hackathon

Friday, February 27th - Saturday, February 28th  

$10,000 Prize Pool 

Choose one of the two challenge tracks and build an AI solution that applies responsible AI to solve real-world challenges.

AI in Education (General Track)

FinTech Track 

Build AI-powered solutions that improve the student experience at Ohio State. Focus on challenges like advising, course planning, campus services, accessibility, or academic support, with an emphasis on practical solutions that could realistically be used on campus.

Design AI-driven fintech solutions or apply financial technology in creative ways to solve real-world problems. Projects may focus on areas such as budgeting, investing, financial access, automation, or data-driven decision-making.

Learn more → 

Learn more → 

All students, faculty and community members are welcome to join the morning Networking Session to explore AI and connect with IBM and technology leaders. 

The hackathon is open to all local college students across majors and backgrounds, including:

Computer Science, Data Science & Engineering

Students interested in building, coding, and applying AI and technical tools to real-world challenges.

Business & Industry Disciplines

Students who bring industry or domain knowledge to help define problems and shape practical solutions.

Design, Marketing & Communications

Students focused on UX/UI, product design, branding & storytelling to enhance the user and presentation experience.

Any Students Passionate About Exploring AI 

Students from any major who are curious about AI and want hands-on experience building real-world solutions.

Team size is 1–5 participants, solo participation is also allowed.

See below for the key benefits you will gain by participating in this AI-focused hackathon:

Total prize pool $10,000 USD. Prizes are awarded across two challenge tracks and special categories to recognize strong ideas, technical execution, creativity, and impact.

Total Prize Pool: $6,000

• 1st Place: $2,500
• 2nd Place: $2,000
• 3rd Place: $1,500

Total Prize Pool: $2,500

• 1st Place: $1,250
• 2nd Place: $750
• 3rd Place: $500

Total Prize Pool: $1,500

• Most Technical Product: $500
• Most Creative Video: $500
• Most Social Impact: $500

Teams of 1–5 people will choose one of the challenge tracks above and submit one project. 

See the following criteria that judges will use to evaluate your solution:

Technical Execution 

• Does the solution effectively use AI and the required technologies?
• How well does the prototype function and demonstrate its intended capabilities?
• Is the solution easy to use, navigate, and understand?
• Is the technical approach thoughtful, reliable, and well structured?
• Does the project follow responsible and ethical AI practices?

Innovation 

• Is this a unique approach or a new type of solution?
• Does the solution introduce creative or inventive uses of AI?
• Is it differentiated from existing tools, processes, or approaches?
• Does the project reflect original thinking or a strong reimagining of current solutions?
• Does the team demonstrate innovative problem-solving?

Challenge Track & Real-World Fit

• How relevant is the solution to the selected challenge track?
• Does the project address meaningful real-world needs and user pain points?
• Is AI applied in a way that enhances impact and aligns with real-world context?
• Is the solution practical, scalable, and suitable for real-world implementation?
• Does the team clearly articulate the problem, users, and value created?

Communication & Presentation

• Is the problem and solution clearly explained and easy to understand?
• Does the demo effectively showcase how the solution works?
• Is the presentation or video well structured and engaging?
• Does the team clearly communicate the value and impact of their solution?
• Are questions answered clearly, demonstrating understanding of the solution?

Hackathon Resources

Use these resources to understand the challenges, explore the technology, and come prepared for event day.

Pre-Hackathon Webinar Replay

Get everything you need to prepare, including the event schedule, challenge overview, judging criteria, and an IBM technical walkthrough.

IBM Orchestrate Student Trial

Create your free IBM Cloud student trial account with no credit card required so you can access the tools and services needed for the hackathon.

Getting Started with IBM Orchestrate Guide 

Follow this guide to set up and begin using IBM Orchestrate, including key features and steps to help you explore the platform before the event.

1/23

1/26

2/19

2/19

2/24

2/27

2/28

Registration Opens!

Students participate in SkillsBuild AI learning plan 

Pre-Event Hackathon Webinar @ 11am EST

Emails start to go out to collect RSVPs for onsite event

Deadline to submit RSVP & Complete required SkillsBuild learning plan

Onsite Hackathon at OSU kicks off

Team Demos, Judging & Winners Announcement!

IBM SkillsBuild is a trademark or registered trademark of IBM Corp., in the US or other countries or both.

Buckeye FinTech is Ohio State’s premier business-tech student organization focused on AI and software at the intersection of finance and engineering. We host large-scale events with industry partners that bring together technical and business-oriented students, with a strong emphasis on hands-on experiences tied to real-world industry use cases.

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