CSU AI Hackathon @ Cal State LA
Join us at Cal State LA for the CSU AI Hackathon, an in-person student event sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild that brings together CSU university students from across Southern California 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].