Southwest MN Hacks

About the challenge Southwest MN Hacks: Marshall Edition is Marshall's first-ever student hackathon. A beginner-friendly, 12-hour event where students come together to turn ideas into real projects. Join us on Saturday, 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 day
T-shirts and event swag
Mentorship and technical support from SMSU Computer Science faculty
Workshops and starter resources
Plaques and medals for the top 5 teams
Get started Who Can Participate:
Ages 14+ (high school, community college, and university students)
All skill levels welcome, from complete beginners to experienced developers
Teams of 1 to 4 people (solo participants will be matched with a team)
How to Register: Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register. Registration is free. Schedule

Time
Event

8:00 AM
Opening Ceremony & Welcome

8:30 AM
Team Formation

9:00 AM
Hacking Begins

12:00 PM
Lunch

3:00 PM
Afternoon Snacks

5:00 PM
Submissions Due on Devpost

5:15 PM
Team Demos & Presentations

6:30 PM
Dinner

7:15 PM
Awards Ceremony & Closing

8:00 PM
Event Ends

Hosted by ETM Software Solutions | southwestmnhacks.org FAQ Do 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.