CSU AI Hackathon @ Cal State LA
Join us for the CSU AI Hackathon, an in-person student event sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild that brings together students from the CSU system including Dominguez Hills, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge and Pomona to apply artificial intelligence to real-world industry challenges.
Participants will collaborate in teams to design and prototype solutions across three industry-focused challenge tracks: Healthcare & Life Sciences, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Education & Workforce Intelligence.
Throughout the event, you’ll gain hands-on experience with IBM technologies and SkillsBuild learning resources, receive mentorship from IBM experts and industry professionals, build a portfolio-ready project, and compete for a share of the $10,000 prize pool.
By Joining, You’ll Have the Opportunity To
Team up with other CSU students to build AI-powered solutions for real-world industry challenges
Apply agentic AI and responsible AI concepts to practical, scalable use cases
Gain hands-on experience with IBM technologies and IBM SkillsBuild learning resources
Learn from IBM experts and industry mentors throughout the hackathon
Pitch your solution live and compete for a share of the $10,000 prize pool
Who Should Apply
The hackathon is open to CSU students across majors and backgrounds, including:
Computer Science, Data Science & Engineering
Business & Industry Disciplines
Design, Marketing & Communications
Any students curious about AI and real-world applications
Team size: 1–5 participants (solo participation is allowed)
Important Registration Notes
Completing this registration does not guarantee an in-person hackathon seat
All hackathon participants are required to register on the IBM SkillsBuild platform and complete the required learning path to be considered
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with step-by-step instructions to set up your IBM SkillsBuild account and complete the required learnings
A final confirmation email will be sent once your participation is finalized
For full event information (including challenge tracks, tools, and timelines), visit the main event website.
For questions, please email [email protected].