APRIL 11, 2026
Generator
Build-a-thon
A 12-hour hackathon at Babson College exploring the intersection of AI, Body & Mind
Brought to you by
About the Event
What is the Build-a-thon?
The Generator Build-a-thon is Babson College's flagship hackathon — a 12-hour sprint where 500 students from across Boston-area universities come together to build AI-powered solutions. Whether you're a seasoned developer or picking up code for the first time, this is your chance to learn, create, and compete.
AI x Body & Mind
Build solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human well-being.
12-Hour Sprint
From concept to prototype in one intense day. Push your limits, learn fast, and ship.
Teams of 5
Our matching algorithm builds balanced teams across skills, roles, and experience.
Prizes & Mentors
Compete across multiple tracks with prizes for each. Industry mentors guide you throughout.
Partners & Sponsors
Backed by the Best
We're grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors who make this event possible.
Partners
Gold Sponsor
Sponsors
Interested in Sponsoring?
Partner with us to support the next generation of innovators and get your brand in front of 500+ students.
Become a PartnerRegistration
Everything You Need to Know
Free to attend. Open to all students. Here's the rundown.
- When
- Saturday, April 11, 2026 — 8 AM to 8:30 PM
- Where
- Knight Auditorium, Babson College
- Who can participate
- Any currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student. All universities welcome — not just Babson.
- Team size
- Teams of up to 5. Register solo, with a partial team, or bring a full squad. Solo registrants get matched before the event.
- What to bring
- Your laptop, charger, and any hardware you want to build with. We provide Wi-Fi, power, workspaces, and all meals.
- Requirements
- Just register ahead of time and show up. No cost, no prerequisites, no coding experience required. Walk-ins accepted on event day (space permitting).
Registration is free and takes about 3 minutes.
Competition Tracks
Three Tracks. Endless Possibilities.
Tracks revealed April 10th
Something big is coming...
You won't want to miss this...
Think outside the box...
All tracks connect to our theme: AI x Body & Mind
Prizes
Prizes for Every Track
First and second place teams across all three tracks win cash and prizes. Plus a crowd vote favorite.
$8,000
in cash prizes
Distributed across 1st and 2nd place in each track
1st Place
Awarded to the top team in each track
Shield 5G Hotspot
Meta Ray-Bans
MacBook Neo
2nd Place
Awarded to the runner-up in each track
DJI Mic
Keychron K6
Omi Recorder
Day-of Schedule
Saturday, April 11
12 hours of building, learning, and competing at Knight Auditorium.
Registration & Breakfast
Check in, pick up your badge, grab breakfast, and meet your teammates.
Main Check-In Area
Opening Ceremony + All-Hands Photo
Keynote, official track reveals, and group photo.
Main Gathering Space
Buildathon Begins
Students have roughly 4 hours of core build time.
Assigned Build Rooms
Live Demo: GitHub — From 0 → Launch
GitHub Education leads a live walkthrough of GitHub CLI and how to go from zero to a shipped project.
Winn Auditorium
Grab-and-Go Lunch
Refuel without losing momentum.
Designated Dining / Common Areas
Project Submissions Open
Submit your project via the online portal.
Online
Project Submissions Close
Final deadline for all project submissions.
Online
Project Showcases & Judging
Teams present to judges in assigned rooms.
Assigned Presentation Rooms
Dinner Break
Dinner service for all participants while judges deliberate.
Designated Dining Areas
Final Round Presentations
Finalist teams present on stage.
Knight Auditorium
Awards Ceremony
Announcement of winners and prizes.
Knight Auditorium
Hall of Fame
Past Winners
Celebrating the teams that built something extraordinary.
IPE
Fall 2025 · Entrepreneurial Applications for Biotech
An AI-powered patent management platform that helps biotech startups navigate the patent process — using NLP and machine learning to predict patent success rates and provide actionable feedback on draft filings.
View Pitch DeckTerraFlex
Spring 2025 · AI-Powered Bio-Medical Devices
An AI-driven prosthetic foot that dynamically adapts to uneven terrain using biomimicry design principles.
View Pitch DeckFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Generator Build-a-thon is a 12-hour hackathon hosted by Babson College where students from Babson, Bentley, Bryant, and other universities come together to build innovative AI-powered projects around a central theme. It's a day of coding, collaborating, and competing for prizes.
Any currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student is welcome to participate. You don't need to be from Babson, Bentley, or Bryant — students from all universities are encouraged to register.
Not at all! Teams benefit from a mix of skills including design, business strategy, project management, and pitching. If you can contribute to building or presenting a product, there's a place for you. We also have mentors available to help with technical questions.
Teams consist of up to 5 members. You can register with a full team, a partial team, or as a solo participant. Solo registrants and partial teams will be matched with others based on skills and interests before the event.
Bring your laptop, charger, and any hardware you want to work with. We'll provide Wi-Fi, power strips, and workspaces. A good attitude and willingness to learn are the most important things to bring!
Yes! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks will be provided throughout the day at no cost. We accommodate common dietary restrictions — you can specify yours during registration.
Prizes will be awarded across multiple categories including each competition track, as well as special awards for best design, most innovative use of AI, and best pitch. Specific prize details will be announced closer to the event.
Our theme challenges you to build AI-powered solutions that improve physical health, mental wellness, or the connection between body and mind. Specific tracks within this theme will be revealed on April 10th, the day before the event.
No! The Build-a-thon is completely free to attend. Registration, food, swag, and access to all resources are included at no cost.
After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email with next steps. If you need team matching, we'll reach out before the event. A detailed participant guide will be sent the week of April 6th.
Have more questions? Email us