Description

Southwest MN Hacks
Marshall Edition

Southwest MN Hacks is Marshall’s first-ever student hackathon, happening Saturday, March 21, 2026 (8:00 AM–8:00 PM) at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). A beginner-friendly 12-hour build day where students and creators come together to turn ideas into real projects. No experience needed, just curiosity and enthusiasm!

A hackathon is a 12-hour innovation sprint where students (from Marshall High School and surrounding schools, as well as community college and university students) work individually or in small teams to solve real-world business and community problems using technology. By the end of the day, teams demo what they built, anything from a backend-supported website or mobile app to automation tools, data projects, or an AI prototype. Hackathons are a long-standing tradition at major tech companies and universities, and we’re excited to bring that same “build and demo” culture to Marshall to inspire the next generation of technology talent.