University of Colorado — Hackathon
Social Impact BuildFest 2026 - CU Boulder
Design immersive experiences that foster a true sense of belonging.
Prize Pool
Non-cash Prize
Location
Online
Duration
2 days
Date
Apr 10, 2026 - Apr 12, 2026
About the Hackathon
Design immersive experiences that foster a true sense of belonging.
What is BuildFest?BuildFest is a weekend-long social impact build sprint where students use emerging technology to prototype solutions to real community challenges. It is designed to be welcoming, interdisciplinary, and hands-on.The Theme: BelongingThis year’s theme isBelonging. We are inviting teams to explore what it means to feel seen, accepted, and connected, and to design experiences that support more inclusive, empathetic communities.Who Should ParticipateBuildFest is open to students from all backgrounds and majors. No coding experience is required. We care more about curiosity, collaboration, and thoughtful ideas than technical polish.How the Weekend WorksFriday is for onboarding, ideation, and team formation. Saturday is for building your prototype with mentor support. Sunday is for presenting your work, receiving feedback, and celebrating what you made.Weekend ScheduleFriday3:30 PM: Check-in opens4:00 PM: Welcome4:30 PM: Scenery tech intro6:30 PM: Design workshop7:15 PM: Team formation/Introductions8:00 PM: Dinner8:30 PM: Creative brief development11:30 PM: Creative briefs dueSaturday9:00 AM: Morning arrival + coffee10:00 AM: Scenery team check-insDaytime: Build time with mentor support4:30 PM: Pitch workshopSunday9:30 AM: Final materials due10:00 AM: Presentations begin1:30 PM: Awards2:30 PM: Event close
Event Details
Format
Online
Prize Pool
Non-cash Prize
Currency
USD
Start
Apr 10, 2026
End
Apr 12, 2026
Duration
2 days
Organized by University of Colorado
Online · Ended
Timeline
Apr 10, 2026
EVENT STARTS
Hackathon kicks off. Join online and start building.
Apr 12, 2026
EVENT ENDS
Final submissions and judging period begins.