WHAT'S A HACKATHON?
BUT REALLY...
WHAT’S A HACKATHON?
A full weekend event that starts with “idea” and ends with solution.
Minimal resources,
maximum brainpower.
Hackathons at Cornell utilize skills of students from all degrees, majors and programs. We encourage diverse teams to build creative solutions, over the course of a single weekend.
A hackathon celebrates “hacking” in its most positive context: using minimal resources and maximum brain power to create outside-the-box solutions (“hacks”).
+ Food
+ MENTORS
+ SWAG
+ WORKSHOPS
+ PITCHING
+ MORE!
EDUCATION THAT'S EXPERIENTIAL.
AVERAGE MENTORS PER EVENT
50
AVERAGE
PARTNERS PER EVENT
12
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MAJORS
45
ANNUAL PARTICIPANTS
1,200
PRIZE MONEY AWARDED IN A SEASON
$45k
AWESOME SMART PEOPLE
a lot.
KICK OFF WITH INSPIRATION
The weekend starts with kick-off an dinner. Participants dive into the Fast Start Workshop, designed to accelerate team cohesion and solution design for the weekend sprint.
COLLABORATIVE MENTORSHIP
On Saturday, teams check in twice with a diverse array of mentors, who are subject matter experts from various fields. These mentors visit teams, providing invaluable feedback and guidance to help refine their projects.
DEMO DAY FINALE
The hackathon culminates on Sunday with Demo Day. Teams present their innovative projects through 4-minute demos to a panel of judges, competing for cash prizes. It's an inspiring showcase of creativity and hard work.
BEYOND THE HACKATHON
Sometimes projects commercialize, and sometimes students land jobs. But what always happens is that we have fun, learn new skills, and expand our circle of friendships. Our hackathons are more than just events—they are experiences that foster growth, innovation, and lasting connections.
It's a pretty cool experience.
But don't take our word for it!
"The impact of participating in the hackathon transcended both personal and professional dimensions, contributing significantly to my growth and outlook in entrepreneurship. On a personal level, the experience fostered a deeper connection with my team members in a relaxed setting, creating a collaborative environment that allowed us to collectively innovate and create something new."
- junior
"This one hackathon has really made me want to shift my career path to something involving entrepreneurship. My academic schedule is now full of business and entrepreneurial classes for the upcoming spring semester because of how much fun I had."
- junior
"The hackathon took me outside my comfort zone, and encouraged me to be creative and have fun."
- masters student
"This hackathon gave me direction in what I want from a career."
- freshman
Upcoming Hackathons
Participants can expect a dynamic experience filled with workshops, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge tools and technologies. It's a chance to gain valuable skills, work on exciting projects, and bring ideas to life.
An unparalleled opportunity to work with a global company, the J&J hackathon will solve for recruiting 2.0.
Fall 2026
New York, NY, USA
Innovating animal health with Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine.
January 2026
Schurman Hall, Tower Road Ithaca, NY, USA
Going 10 yrs strong, with the support of J&J this hackathon produces the most solutions that go on to commercialize.
March 2026
159 W 25th St, New York, NY, USA
Want to launch a food product? Reduce waste? Increase nutrition? This is your chance!
November 7-9, 2025
Stocking Hall, Tower Road Ithaca, NY, USA
Let's revolutionize food and ag systems with world-renowned science + tech!
February 2026
Schurman Hall, Tower Road Ithaca, NY, USA
Dive into the world of AI and level-up your skills. Amazing mentors & cutting edge tools.
Fall 2025
159 W 25th St, New York, NY, USA