At The University of Texas at Dallas, computer science and software engineering students thrive in a vibrant, collaborative environment. HackUTD, the university’s premier hackathon, has grown from 120 participants in 2015 to over 1,200 today. It is now the largest hackathon in Texas and the second largest in the United States. HackUTD is more than a hackathon—it’s a playground for innovation where ideas turn into impactful creations.

HackUTD transforms the UT Dallas campus into a 24-hour innovation hub, bringing students from across the country together to create, collaborate and turn ideas into reality. Participants work solo or in teams of up to four to tackle challenges, develop prototypes, and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

HackUTD ignites a vibrant culture of collaboration and innovation within the tech community, often leading to groundbreaking projects with the potential to make a real-world impact. Indeed, this year’s theme, “Ripple Effect,” encouraged students to explore how small ideas can create big impacts.

This theme encouraged participants to think big, understanding that even the smallest ideas have a significant effect. With support from PNC Bank and other major sponsors like Goldman Sachs, Toyota and Infosys, students competed for over $120K in prizes across categories like best design, best beginner, and best hardware. The sponsors came together to sponsor exciting challenges, each with their own set of unique rewards.