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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

MadCloud Annual Competition

CloudHack Event Page

CloudHack is a high-intensity engineering challenge where teams design, build, and deploy production-minded cloud solutions in one weekend. Participants get mentorship, rapid feedback, and judged final demos.

24-Hour Build Sprint Mentor Supported Judged Finals

CloudHack Registration: Open live registration form

Register for CloudHack Read Competition Rules

Competition Structure

Build Phase

Teams implement a cloud product from idea to deployable prototype within the official sprint window.

Mentor Checkpoints

Dedicated checkpoints for architecture validation, unblock support, and deployment readiness.

Final Demo

Each team presents a live walkthrough and technical defense to judges and public attendees.

Post-Event Continuation

Top teams are invited to continue projects as MadCloud semester initiatives.

Campus Location and Room Layout

  • Opening + Closing: Engineering Hall, Room 1800
  • Build Space A: Engineering Hall, Room 1721
  • Build Space B: Engineering Hall, Room 1610
  • Mentor Office Hours: Engineering Hall, Room 1227
  • Judge Deliberation: Engineering Hall, Room 2534
  • Quiet Work Zone: Engineering Hall, Room 2317
  • Hardware / Test Desk: Engineering Hall Lobby Help Desk
  • Food + Break Area: Engineering Hall Atrium (Ground Floor)

Tracks and Prize Categories

Track Award

Best Cloud Architecture

Recognizes scalable design, resilient patterns, and thoughtful service composition.

$1,000
Track Award

Best AI + Cloud Product

Rewards practical AI workflows with security, observability, and user-facing value.

$1,000
Track Award

Best Developer Experience

Highlights tooling, workflows, and reliability improvements for engineering teams.

$750
Special Award

Community Impact Prize

Honors solutions with measurable benefit for campus organizations or student life.

$750

Total Awards Pool: $3,500 plus sponsor credits, mentorship offers, and accelerated placement into follow-on MadCloud project teams.

Companies, Judges, and Mentors

Cloud Sponsors

Platform Partners

Participation from AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure through mentor sessions and cloud architecture feedback.

AI + Data

Technical Judges

Review support from engineers and solution architects connected to NVIDIA, Databricks, and Snowflake networks.

Industry Guests

Product and Infra

Attendees from Epic Systems and regional startup teams will lead product feedback and deployment discussions.

Career Access

Recruiting Conversations

Company representatives will host networking windows after demos for internship and project follow-up opportunities.

Company participation list reflects planning status as of Saturday, March 7, 2026 and may change.

Rules, Eligibility, and Submission Requirements

Eligibility

  • Participants must be current UW-Madison students.
  • Teams must include 2-5 members.
  • At least one team member must attend opening briefing.
  • Code and assets must be original or properly attributed open source.

Submission Package

  • Public or judge-accessible repository link.
  • Three-minute demo video backup.
  • Architecture diagram and deployment notes.
  • README with setup, security assumptions, and known limits.

Weekend Timeline

Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 9:00 AM - Opening and Challenge Brief

Theme release, sponsor problem statements, judging criteria walkthrough, and team finalization in Engineering Hall Room 1800.

Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 11:00 AM - Build Sprint Begins

Development, integration, and architecture decisions in Rooms 1721 and 1610 with live mentor office hours in Room 1227.

Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 7:00 PM - Midpoint Check-In

Progress review focused on deliverable completeness and deployment readiness in Engineering Hall Room 1800.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - 11:00 AM - Submission Deadline

Teams submit final repo, demo video backup, and architecture packet through the CloudHack portal.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Demo Finals and Awards

Live judged demos in Engineering Hall Room 1800, followed by awards and continuation pathway announcements.

Judging Breakdown

Dimension Weight Evaluation Focus
Technical Execution 30% Architecture quality, implementation stability, and delivery completeness.
Innovation 20% Originality of approach and thoughtful problem framing.
Scalability and Reliability 20% System behavior under load, observability, and resilience strategy.
User and Product Value 15% Usefulness for defined audience and practical deployment intent.
Demo Communication 15% Clarity, narrative quality, and response to judge questions.

Registration and Logistics

Deadlines

Early Registration: March 20, 2026

Standard Registration: March 30, 2026

Team Finalization: April 9, 2026

Mandatory Check-In: April 11, 2026 at 8:15 AM (Engineering Hall Lobby)

All dates are in Central Time (America/Chicago).

What We Provide

  • Mentor support across cloud architecture and AI workflows
  • Workspaces, power, and network access during the sprint
  • Meals, snacks, and overnight logistics guidance
  • Judge office hours and structured feedback
  • Room monitors and technical AV support for final demos
CloudHack Registration Form Ask an Organizer

CloudHack FAQ

Can I join without a pre-formed team?

Yes. We run team-formation sessions during opening check-in and match participants by skills and interests.

Can we use managed cloud services and AI APIs?

Yes. Managed services are encouraged. Teams must document external dependencies and any cost assumptions.

Are beginners welcome?

Yes. Challenge tracks and mentor office hours are designed for mixed-experience teams.

What if our live demo fails?

Submit a three-minute backup video and runbook in advance. Judges will consider both live and backup evidence.