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HACKCU 8

March 5 - 6

About

On March 5-6, we will be hosting our flagship annual hackathon, HackCU 8, in-person! You will have the chance to create projects in any of the provided tracks. Submit your project to win a number of special prizes, or attend a few of our many workshops and seminars. HackCU 8 will be hosted at the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building on CU Boulder East Campus. Space is limited so register as soon as possible!

Tracks

General

HackCU's general challenge includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners. This challenge will be evaluated based on the overall creativity of the team and their project, questions selected by HackCU organizers, as well as any additional criteria mandated by the judges.

All Beginner

Hackathons are a great way for beginners in technology—from the workshops to software resources provided by HackCU, we want first-time hackers to learn and build a project first hand. This track will assess the best hack created by a team of all beginner hackers.

Best UI/UX

No matter how complex the algorithms behind a technology are, a project has limited possibilities for success unless the user is considered. For the best engagement from users, it is necessary to have a good user interface that fits the needs of the user and enhances their experience. The track will be judged based on the aesthetic nature of the project's user design, as well as how effectively it amplifies the purpose of the project.

Social Impact

Technology is a powerful tool that allows us to identify and combat real-world problems that billions of people face around the world today. This track will be assessed based on the project's ability to propose a resolution for a social issue.

Games and Entertainment

Itching to bring your game ideas to life? Have the next great entertainment app idea? Want to design your own custom music platform? Then the games, music, & entertainment track is for you! Let your creative energy flow as you participate in this awesome track! The track will be judged based on the project's innovative and creative nature.

Our Story

HackCU was started in 2014 by a group of passionate students who wanted to provide other students the time and space to work on projects they don't normally work on through school. Since then we've been committed to fulfilling our mission of bringing you high-quality, inclusive events open to people of all levels of experience.

Why You?

Like to write programs? Dig into interesting datasets? Design creative works? Or maybe you've never written a line of code? We will provide the space and the resources for you to express your creativity, ingenuity, and determination to create anything you want to. Whether you're building your first website, dabbling in Photoshop, or hacking with an Oculus Rift, HackCU is for you. HackCU is for people of all backgrounds and experiences. So, come and join us!

FAQs

What is a hackathon?

A hackathon is best described as an “invention marathon”. Anyone who has an interest in technology attends a hackathon to learn, build & share their creations over the course of a weekend in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Who can attend?

We welcome any at the University of Colorado Boulder!

Do I need a team? How large are teams?

Don’t have a team? We got you covered. We will have time before hacking begins for hackers to get together and form teams. You can have a maximum of 4 members on your team.

Will you offer travel reimbursement?

Reimbursement applications are now closed!

What if I have another question?

Tweet us at @hackcu or drop us a line at [email protected]

What if I am not a student?

Be a mentor! Help out with our hackathon! Check out the mentor window below to sign up.

Can I reuse a previous project?

You can NOT use anything that you have started prior to the event. You can think of ideas for your project, but you must start from scratch when you arrive.

Do I have to be a programmer?

Absolutely not! It doesn’t matter if you are a designer, a writer, or a chemist. There is a place for you here. Prior to hacking, there will be a team formation session to help form teams.

Schedule

Day 1

TimeEvent

8:00 am

Arrival and Check-In

8:00 am

Breakfast 1

11:00 am

Opening Ceremony

12:00 pm

Lunch 1

12:00 pm

Team Formation

12:00 pm

Hacking Begins!

1:00 pm

Introduction to Git

2:00 pm

Introduction to Robotics

3:00 pm

Introduction to Project Management

4:00 pm

Bioinformatics and Genomics

6:00 pm

Dinner 1

8:00 pm

Harry Potter Trivia

9:00 pm

Desserts

10:00 pm

Face Masks and Yoga

11:00 pm

Movie

Day 2

TimeEvent

1:00 am

Midnight Snack

7:00 am

Morning Run

8:00 am

Breakfast 2

12:00 pm

PROJECTS ARE DUE

12:00 pm

Lunch 2

12:30 pm

Project Expo / Judging

3:00 pm

Closing Ceremonies

Sponsors