Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- Aulden
- Opens
- 9/12/2026
In short
Southwest MN Hacks is a beginner-friendly 24-hour hackathon for high school, community college, and university students in Southwest Minnesota, offering non-cash prizes including plaques and medals for top teams.
Southwest MN Hacks
By Aulden
CompetitionOpens 9/12/2026Opens in 45 days
Sept 12-13, 2026
Dates
24 hours
Duration
Beginner-friendly
Skill Level
Plaques & Medals
Prizes
SMSU Upper Conference Center
Location
Free
Cost
Overview
Southwest MN Hacks is Marshall's student hackathon, a beginner-friendly 24-hour event where students unite to transform ideas into tangible projects. This event welcomes students from high schools, community colleges, and universities to work in small teams of up to four people, building technology solutions to real-world problems. Participants will tackle a challenge announced at the opening ceremony, drawing from issues faced by local and regional companies. The event takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Upper Conference Center, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), Marshall, MN. By the end of the hackathon, teams will demo their creations, which can include websites, mobile apps, automation tools, data projects, or AI prototypes. No prior experience is necessary; the hackathon is designed for both first-time hackers and experienced developers. It provides a supportive environment with workshops, mentors, and resources to help all skill levels get started and succeed. Meals, snacks, t-shirts, event swag, and technical support from SMSU Computer Science faculty are all provided free of charge.
What to build
Participants must build a new project that fits one of the challenge tracks announced at the opening ceremony. Each track will be based on a real-world business problem. Any programming language, framework, API, or tool can be used, including no-code and low-code solutions. The project must be started and built during the hackathon (September 12-13, 2026). While open-source libraries, templates, and APIs are permitted, the core project idea and implementation must be original work created during the event.
Prizes
1st Place
Engraved plaque + gold medal for each team member. Featured on the Southwest MN Hacks website.
Non-cash
2nd Place
Engraved plaque + silver medal for each team member. Featured on the Southwest MN Hacks website.
Non-cash
3rd Place
Engraved plaque + bronze medal for each team member. Featured on the Southwest MN Hacks website.
Non-cash
Key dates
- Check-in and breakfastSaturday, September 12, 2026, 8:00 AM
- Opening ceremony and challenge revealSaturday, September 12, 2026, 9:00 AM
- Hacking beginsSaturday, September 12, 2026, 10:00 AM
- LunchSaturday, September 12, 2026, 12:00 PM
- DinnerSaturday, September 12, 2026, 6:00 PM
- Submissions due on DevpostSunday, September 13, 2026, 8:00 AM CT
- Project demos and judgingSunday, September 13, 2026, 8:30 AM
- Awards ceremonySunday, September 13, 2026, 9:30 AM
- Event endsSunday, September 13, 2026, 10:00 AM
Eligibility
Participants must be 14 years or older. The event is open to high school, community college, and university students. All skill levels are welcome, from complete beginners to experienced developers. Teams can consist of 1 to 4 people; solo participants will be matched with a team. All countries/territories are eligible, excluding standard exceptions.
How to enter
- Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register for free.
- Attend the event at the Upper Conference Center, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), Marshall, MN on September 12, 2026.
- Form a team of 1 to 4 members (solo participants will be matched).
- Build a new project that fits one of the challenge tracks announced at the opening ceremony.
- Submit your project through the Devpost page by 8:00 AM CT on September 13, 2026.
Submission requirements
- Project name and description: Tell us what you built and why.
- Challenge Selection: Indicate which challenge your project addresses.
- Project link: A link to your live demo, GitHub repo, or video walkthrough.
- Screenshots or demo video: Show what your project looks like and how it works.
- Team members: List everyone on your team.
Judging criteria
- Innovation & Creativity (25%): How original and creative is the idea? Does it offer a fresh approach to the problem?
- Impact & Usefulness (25%): Does the project solve a real problem? Would people actually use this? How meaningful is the impact for the community, students, or businesses?
- Technical Execution (20%): Does the project work? Is it functional for a 24-hour build? We value effort and learning, not just code quality.
- Presentation & Demo (20%): Can the team clearly explain what they built, why it matters, and how it works?
- Completion (10%): Did the team finish a working prototype? We reward teams that ship something, even if it's simple.
Sponsors & partners
AuldenVisit Marshall
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Do I need coding experience?
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Not at all! Southwest MN 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?
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Nothing. Completely free! Registration, meals, snacks, t-shirts, and all resources are included.
Do I need a team?
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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?
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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?
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All submissions go through this Devpost page. We'll walk you through the process at the event. Submit before 8:00 AM CT on Sunday, September 13.
Can I use pre-existing code or projects?
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You can use open-source libraries and APIs, but your project idea and core implementation must be new, started and built during the hackathon.