Name: Badger Build Fest 2026
Start: 2026-09-26T12:00:00.000-04:00
End: 2026-09-27T12:00:00.000-04:00
Location: Badger Build Fest 2026

Badger Build Fest 2026

Badger BuildFest 2026 is a 24-hour hackathon where participants build the next big thing, hosted by the Tech Exploration Lab (TEL) alongside industry, campus, and student organization partners. Designed as a campus platform where frontier technologies are explored, tested, and brought to life, BuildFest brings together builders from across all majors to collaborate, innovate, and compete for over $10,000 in prizes.

Dates & Locations

When: Saturday, September 26, 11:00 AM – Sunday, September 27, 2026, 11:00 AM
Where: Morgridge Hall (Hello World & Garden Atrium) & 1403 University Ave (For Overnight Building)
Comms: Join the TEL Discord for announcements and finding teammates early: https://discord.com/invite/ubAHakcM33

Tracks & Challenges

Every team will select exactly one Track to compete in and may enter up to two optional sponsor Challenges. Track finalists are selected through preliminary screening before the live pitch round on Sunday.

Applied AI & Automation (Sponsored by Google): AI agents, SaaS, automation, productivity, business workflows, fintech, analytics, and developer tools.
Health, Sustainability & Society (Sponsored by TEL): Health, sustainability, education, accessibility, campus/community, and social-impact applications.
Emerging Technology & Entrepreneurship (Sponsored by Wisconsin School of Business): Hardware, robotics, IoT, XR, blockchain, new products, ventures, and experimental technologies.

Note: Challenge awards are judged independently from Tracks.

Event Schedule (Run of Show)

Saturday, September 26

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Participant check-in, breakfast & networking (Morgridge Hall)
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening ceremony, event overview, and sponsor Challenge intros
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Idea pitching & final team formation
11:00 AM: Hackathon begins!
12:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Lunch served
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Student organization workshops, tabling, and mentor office hours
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dinner served (1403 University Ave)
6:00 PM onward: Overnight hacking continues at 1403 University Ave

Sunday, September 27

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Breakfast, mentor office hours, and final build time
11:00 AM: Submissions Close (Repo, Video, Questions due)
11:30 AM: Lunch & Preliminary screening
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Live finalist pitches (Up to 5 teams per track)
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Winner announcements, Awards, and Closing Ceremony

Requirements

Requirements & Rules

Team Size: 2–5 members. All majors welcome, and no technical skills are required for some tracks.
Original Work Policy: Projects MUST be started during the event (Using pre-written project code will get you disqualified).
AI Tools ARE Allowed: Use Cursor, Copilot, ChatGPT, and other AI assistants freely!
Open Source Libraries ARE Allowed: Build on existing frameworks and codebases.
Code of Conduct: We maintain a respectful, inclusive environment; all participants must review and adhere to the event's Code of Conduct.

What to Submit

To be eligible for judging, your team must submit the following before 11:00 AM on Sunday:

Link to your project codebase/repository.
A 2-minute video demo showcasing your build.
Completed Devpost project responses selecting your Track and optional Challenges.

Track Judging

Preliminary screening selects up to 5 finalist teams per track.
Track finalists pitch live to judges on Sunday from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Judges select 1st and 2nd place per track.

Challenge Judging

Challenges are judged asynchronously by sponsor panels after the hackathon.
Teams do not need to be present to win Challenge awards.
Challenge winners will be officially announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The Art of the Break (Agentic Stress Test): 1st Place

$500 in cash

1 winner

Judges

Christopher Mende
Google

Christopher Harrison
PrismScope

Frank Hansen
Kinetic Solutions

Tejvir Mann
Target

Michael Szewczyk
Okkanti

Esther Kang
UW–Madison School of Human Ecology

Judging Criteria

Technical Execution
How functional is the prototype? Does the codebase demonstrate a meaningful application of the technologies used, or is it heavily reliant on pre-built templates without much custom logic?
Innovation & Originality
Does the project tackle a problem in a new or creative way? Is it a unique application of existing technology that stands out within its track?
Impact & Feasibility
Does this project address a real-world problem effectively? Is the solution practical, and does it have the potential to grow into a viable product, venture, or community tool?
Presentation & Demo
How clearly did the team communicate their problem statement, solution, and value proposition? This applies to the clarity of the 2-minute video demo and the live pitch for teams that advance to the finals.