KSU Sports Innovation Hackathon

February 21–23, 2025
Wilson Student Center
(Marietta Campus)

The Kennesaw State University Office of Research is leading an interdisciplinary Sports Innovation Hackathon bringing together students from across campus to solve problems in the following categories:

  • Fan Engagement
  • Athlete Experience
  • Gameday Operations

Students will form into teams (max 4 students) and have from Friday to Sunday to research, investigate, and build an effective solution which they will submit to a panel of academic and industry judges.

sports innovation hackathon

Event Itinerary

Friday, February 21, 2025
5:15 – 5:30 p.m.

Welcome Remarks

  • Dr. Chris Cornelison, 
    Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Panel – KSU Sports Behind the Scenes

  • Colin Ake, Director of Incubation and Commercialization
  • KSU Head Coach / Senior Athletics Director (TBD)
  • Gameday Facilities and Operations (TBD)
  • KSU Student Athlete (TBD)
6:30 – 7:15 p.m.

Workshop – User Research

  • Presentation by HatchBridge Incubator (Colin Ake & Graham Gintz)
8:00 p.m. Dinner with Athletes and Mentors (User Research)
10:30 p.m. Coffee & Cookie Hour 
11:59 p.m. Team Registration Closes

Location

Wilson Student Center
860 Rossbacher Way
Marietta, GA 30060

 

Saturday, February 22, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. All teams are remote building and working

 

Sunday, February 23, 2025
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Final presentation submitted via Microsoft Teams
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Lunch provided
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Finalists announced
12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Faculty presentation
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Finalists judging

  • Dr. Rifatul Islam, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
  • Dr. Lei Zhang, Assistant Professor of Game Development
  • Ryan McNeil
  • Wesley Samples
2:00 – 2:15 p.m. The Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship 
and Innovation Center
2:15 p.m. Winners announced

Judging Rubric