Southwest MN Hacks

About the challengeSouthwest MN Hacks: Marshall Editionis Marshall's first-ever student hackathon. A beginner-friendly, 12-hour event where students come together to turn ideas into real projects.Join us onSaturday, March 21, 2026 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)at the Upper Conference Center, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), Marshall, MN.Students from high schools, community colleges, and universities will work in small teams (up to 4 people) to build technology solutions to real-world problems. By the end of the day, teams demo what they built, whether that's a website, mobile app, automation tool, data project, or AI prototype.No experience necessary. This event is designed for first-time hackers just as much as experienced developers.Sponsor Challenge:Schwan's Company, our Platinum Sponsor, is providing a real-world business challenge. Details will be announced at the opening ceremony.What's Included (FREE)Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the dayT-shirts and event swagMentorship and technical support from SMSU Computer Science facultyWorkshops and starter resourcesPlaques and medals for the top 5 teamsGet startedWho Can Participate:Ages 14+ (high school, community college, and university students)All skill levels welcome, from complete beginners to experienced developersTeams of 1 to 4 people (solo participants will be matched with a team)How to Register:Visitsouthwestmnhacks.orgto register. Registration is free.ScheduleTimeEvent8:00 AMOpening Ceremony & Welcome8:30 AMTeam Formation9:00 AMHacking Begins12:00 PMLunch3:00 PMAfternoon Snacks5:00 PMSubmissions Due on Devpost5:15 PMTeam Demos & Presentations6:30 PMDinner7:15 PMAwards Ceremony & Closing8:00 PMEvent EndsHosted byETM Software Solutions|southwestmnhacks.orgFAQDo I need coding experience?Not at all! SouthwestMN Hacks is beginner-friendly. We'll have workshops, mentors, and resources to help you get started. No-code and low-code tools are welcome too.How much does it cost?Nothing. Completely free! Registration, meals, snacks, t-shirts, and all resources are included.Do I need a team?You can register solo and we'll help match you with a team during team formation. Teams can have 1 to 4 members.What should I bring?Your laptop, charger, and any devices you want to work with. We provide food, Wi-Fi, power strips, and workspace.How do I submit my project?All submissions go through this Devpost page. We'll walk you through the process at the event. Submit before 5:00 PM CT.Can I use pre-existing code or projects?You can use open-source libraries and APIs, but your project idea and core implementation must be new, started and built during the hackathon.