Platform and Infrastructure
Infrastructure-as-code systems, container orchestration, deployment automation, and observability stacks.
99.9%Typical availability target demonstrated by finalists.
MadCloud Signature Program
MadCloud Project Showcase
The Project Showcase is the capstone demo forum for MadCloud teams. Student builders present real cloud systems, defend architectural choices, and share measurable impact with judges, peers, and industry guests.
Architecture + Delivery
Engineering Rigor
Public Demos
Showcase Submission: Open live registration form
Submit Interest View Submission KitFeatured Build Categories
Data and AI Systems
Data ingestion pipelines, model-serving APIs, real-time analytics, and secured prompt workflows.
3xAverage delivery speedup reported by prior data-focused teams.
Product Engineering
End-user web apps with reliable backend services, auth, storage, and iterative release practices.
500+Aggregate student-user testing sessions across recent projects.
Security and Reliability
Threat modeling, policy enforcement, access control, and incident-response readiness for student systems.
24hMedian recovery-time drill objective achieved in showcase exercises.
Submission Kit and Timeline
1. Team Intent Form - Due Friday, April 3, 2026 (11:59 PM CDT)
Submit team roster, project title, and one-paragraph value statement. Include links to source repo and deployment preview if available.
2. Architecture Packet - Due Friday, April 17, 2026 (11:59 PM CDT)
Provide system diagram, component responsibilities, deployment flow, security controls, and performance/cost tradeoffs.
3. Demo Readiness Review - Tuesday, April 28, 2026 (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM)
Run a 10-minute dry run with mentor feedback in Engineering Hall Room 1721. Address clarity, stability risks, and fallback plan before event day.
4. Showcase Day Demo - Friday, May 1, 2026
Deliver 8-minute product demo and 4-minute technical defense with panel scoring and open audience questions in the Discovery Building H.F. DeLuca Forum.
Required Submission Assets
- Project Abstract: 150-250 words describing problem, users, and result.
- System Diagram: PNG or PDF with clear data and control flow.
- Demo Script: 8-minute runbook with planned milestones.
- Risk Register: Top 3 technical risks and mitigations.
- Metrics Sheet: Uptime, latency, throughput, or cost benchmarks.
- Ops Checklist: Logging, monitoring, rollback/recovery notes.
- Team Reflection: What worked, what failed, and next iteration.
- Repo Access: Public or committee-accessible code repository.
Judging Rubric
| Criterion | Weight | What Judges Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Depth | 30% | Sound architecture, justified cloud services, implementation quality, and operational maturity. |
| Problem-Solution Fit | 20% | Clarity of the real-world problem, target users, and how the delivered system solves it. |
| Reliability and Security | 20% | Fault tolerance, observability, recovery strategy, auth model, and secure defaults. |
| Impact Evidence | 15% | Benchmarks, adoption data, usability results, or cost/performance gains with evidence. |
| Demo and Communication | 15% | Clear narrative, concise live demo, and confident response to technical questions. |
Venue and Room Plan
- Main Stage: Discovery Building, H.F. DeLuca Forum
- Project Expo Floor: Discovery Building Atrium Open Court Spaces
- Judge Deliberation: Discovery Building, Conference Room 1260
- Mentor Help Desk: Discovery Building, Conference Room 1170
- Presenter Green Room: Discovery Building, Conference Room 1130
- Tech Check: Discovery Building, Orchard View Room
- Overflow Seating: Discovery Building, Orchard View Room
- Accessibility Support: Check-in desk at Atrium entrance
Industry Guests and Company Participation
Cloud and Platform
Engineering mentors from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure startup programs.
Data and AI
Technical reviewers from NVIDIA, Databricks, and Snowflake focusing on AI systems and data architecture.
Product and Security
Representatives from Epic Systems and UW-Madison alumni in security engineering and reliability roles.
Career Booths
Participating companies will host post-demo networking tables and internship conversation hours.
Company participation details are tracked as of Saturday, March 7, 2026 and may be updated before event week.
Reviewer and Mentor Operations
Office Hours
Weekly architecture clinics for teams needing support on scale, security, and deployability concerns.
Packet Screening
Technical committee checks completeness, validates demo readiness, and resolves submission gaps early.
Scoring Workflow
Standardized scoring sheets and calibration pass ensure fairness across project domains.
Portfolio Export
Approved projects are published to the MadCloud archive with links and implementation summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can first-semester students submit a project?
Yes. Early-stage teams are encouraged to submit if the demo is functional and architecture decisions are clearly documented.
Do we need a production deployment?
No, but your team must provide a reliable demo environment with enough observability to explain system behavior under load.
Can one person submit a project?
Yes. Solo projects are accepted and judged with the same rubric, with expectations scaled to team size and scope.
Will judges give feedback after the event?
Yes. Each team receives structured written feedback within one week of showcase day.
Ready to Showcase Your Build?
Use the submission link placeholder now and replace it with your final form URL before launch. Contact MadCloud leadership for reviewer assignment and showcase logistics.
Open Showcase Submission Email OrganizersFor direct submission access, contact organizers and request the live form URL.