All Iowa State University students are welcome to participate in the Ivy Hackathon — coding skills are not required. Earn cash prizes, enjoy free food, and connect with senior executives.
Ivy Hackathon
Join us September 9
Creating business solutions to support youth mental health
Mental health is a vital part of overall well-being. For young people especially, strong mental health lays the foundation for learning, growth, and building a fulfilling future. Join us for an exciting student hackathon focused on creating business solutions to support youth mental health. Working in teams, participants will explore innovative ideas, strategies, and approaches to address one of today’s most pressing challenges—youth mental health.
Don’t miss this opportunity to create meaningful impact and gain valuable experience in the process.
Schedule of events
The Ivy Hackathon will take place on Tuesday, September 9 at the Kingland Hub in the Gerdin Business Building. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free lunch and beverages will be provided during the event, followed by dinner and networking. The case will be released during a short reception on Monday, September 8 at 4:30 p.m. If you have classes during the hackathon, you may leave the event and return after class.
| Date/Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday, September 8 | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Case will be released during a short reception. Cookies provided. |
| Tuesday, September 9 | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Teams will have access to the Kingland Hub to work on the cases. |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 3:00 p.m. | Students submit their case in Canvas. |
| 3:10 – 5:05 p.m. | Each team will pitch its solution to a panel of judges comprised of senior executives from leading companies who are passionate about connecting with our students. |
| 5:35 p.m. | Top four teams announced along with four honorable mentions, recognizing teams whose ideas stand out for their innovation, feasibility, and impact. |
| 5:40 p.m. | Dinner and networking |
| 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. | Top four teams will pitch their solutions to all judges. Followed by announcing final team placements. |
Prizes
Cash prizes will be awarded:
- First place team: $1000.
- Second place team: $600.
- Third place team: $300.
- Honorable mentions: Five teams will receive a $100 prize.
Registration and team formation
Registration is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Iowa State.
- You may register as a team with up to three members, or individually, in which case we will pair you with other participants.
- Coding skills are not required; creativity and a passion for the challenge are what matter most.
- We encourage the use of AI tools, such as Meta AI, to enhance your ideas and presentations.
Registration will close at noon on Friday, September 5.
Extra credit opportunity
For undergraduate students majoring in business analytics or management information systems, professors of selected courses may offer extra credit for participating in the Ivy Hackathon. Details regarding which courses offer extra credit can be found on the registration form.
Sponsorship
The 2025 Ivy Hackathon is sponsored by the Ivy College of Business and the Business Analytics and Digital Strategy Forum.
Be part of the solution
Don’t miss this opportunity to create meaningful impact and gain valuable experience in the process.