Impactathon® 35 @ North Central College
Impactathon is a one-day sprint to build solutions that matter—using entrepreneurship, creativity, and AI.
Have you ever wondered how to actually create positive impact in a world that feels unstable, uncertain, and fast-changing?
Impactathon returns to North Central College for its second year, bringing together students, alumni, and community members for a high-energy, hands-on day of social entrepreneurship and innovation.
This is not a lecture.
This is not theory-heavy.
This is a do-the-work day.
You’ll collaborate in teams to explore real social challenges, generate bold ideas, and turn them into early-stage solutions—whether that’s a project, nonprofit, startup, or AI-powered concept. No prior experience required.
Who Should Attend
Students curious about entrepreneurship, startups, or innovation
Anyone who wants to build solutions for social, environmental, or community challenges
Students interested in AI + social impact (including beginner-friendly vibe coding)
Creatives, technologists, business-minded thinkers, and “I-don’t-know-yet-but-I’m-curious” students
Alumni and community members who want to collaborate with students
No idea? No team? No problem.
You’ll be guided step-by-step and matched with teammates during the event.
What You’ll Do
Explore pressing social problems and opportunities for impact
Learn how social enterprises and impact-driven startups are built
Brainstorm and test ideas using design thinking + lean startup tools
Experiment with AI tools to accelerate ideation and prototyping
Build a simple concept and pitch it by the end of the day
Why Participate
🚀 Hands-on entrepreneurial experience you can add to your resume and LinkedIn
🧠 Learn how to go from problem → idea → solution in one day
🤝 Collaborate with motivated students across majors and class years
🌍 Build skills for navigating—and shaping—an unpredictable world
📜 Receive a certificate of completion
🏆 Selected teams may receive starter support, recognition, or future opportunities
(Incentives and prizes will be announced closer to the event.)
Event Details
When: Friday, February 20, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Where: Stevenson Hall, North Central College
Who: Open to NCC students, alumni, and community (limited to ~60 participants)
Schedule Overview
Morning: Team-building + guided workshops
Midday: Idea development + experimentation
Afternoon: Pitch preparation
Late afternoon: Team pitches + wrap-up
Lunch and snacks will be provided.
What to Bring
A laptop or tablet
Curiosity and a willingness to collaborate
An open mind (and comfortable layers)
About North Central College
North Central College is a nationally recognized liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence, leadership development, and civic engagement. Located in Naperville, Illinois, NCC prepares students to think critically, lead ethically, and contribute meaningfully in a rapidly changing world through experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Leadership, Ethics, and Values (LEV) Program at NCC empowers students to become principled leaders and changemakers across disciplines. Through academic programs and hands-on experiences in social entrepreneurship and ethical leadership, LEV supports students in aligning their values with action and creating positive impact in their communities and beyond.
About Impactathon
Impactathon is a national series of interactive social innovation experiences designed to help participants become confident problem-solvers and changemakers. Events have taken place across the U.S. in partnership with universities, organizations, and foundations.
Impactathon is convened by Innov8social, which creates tools, content, and experiences to make social entrepreneurship more actionable and accessible.
Impactathon is a registered trademark of Innov8social.