SEP X Microsoft for Startups Hackathon

Overview

The SEP X Microsoft for Startups Hackathon invites USC students to create any software product, with a recommendation to align projects with one of the three prize tracks. Participants will receive $1,000 in credits and have the chance to win $25k in credits and access to the Microsoft for Startups ecosystem.

Requirements

This hackathon is exclusively for USC students who are college students and above the legal age of majority. All participants will receive $1,000 in credits to use during the event. Submissions are due by March 1, 2026, at 11:00 PM UTC, and must include your GitHub repository, a video walkthrough explaining your product, and a description covering the problem, solution, functionality, use cases, and any other relevant information for judges. While there are no strict project constraints, aligning with prize tracks is encouraged.

Prizes

There is $600 in cash prizes distributed across three tracks: Best solution to a problem nobody asked for, Most technically complex/impressive, and Most likely to have a paying user within 30 days, with each winning $200. In addition to cash and merchandise, winning teams have the potential to receive $25k in Azure credits and a direct pipeline into the Microsoft for Startups ecosystem.