Innovators and students gathered at Utah Valley University in Orem for the HITLAB World Cup Innovation Hackathon held June 17–18, 2026. The 48-hour event, hosted alongside UVU’s Kahlert Applied AI Institute, challenged participants to develop real-time solutions for industry bounties with a total prize pool of up to $25,000 in cash and in-kind services.
Hackathon competition structure
The hackathon was designed as a high-intensity competition where teams worked from a blank page to address live challenge statements issued by sponsoring organizations and industry leaders. According to BioUtah, these challenges—referred to as bounties—were presented at the kickoff to guide the development of working solutions during the two-day period.
Three specialized competition tracks
Participants competed across three distinct tracks aimed at solving complex modern problems: Applied AI, which focused on automation, analytics, user experience, and sharper decision-making; Healthcare & Life Sciences, which targeted improvements in care delivery, access, outcomes, and operational efficiency; and Digital Identity & Data, which addressed issues regarding privacy, security, interoperability, and user-controlled data.
Eligibility and student participation
The event was open to any individual aged 18 or older, regardless of their professional or technical background. To encourage academic participation, the organizers included a dedicated Student Category specifically for students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
Innovation Pitch Day details
While the hackathon allowed solo applicants to be placed on teams of three on-site, the event also featured an Innovation Pitch Day on June 17. This component served as a hybrid pitch competition specifically for teams that arrived with already developed concepts, early-stage ventures, or existing prototypes.
Mentorship and networking opportunities
Beyond the monetary rewards, the hackathon provided a platform for direct engagement with leaders in the healthcare, AI, and life sciences sectors. BioUtah noted that participants had access to mentorship from both academic and industry experts, as well as opportunities for pilot programs, partnerships, and potential funding through HITLAB and its partner networks.
Attendance and submission deadlines
Though applicants for the pitch competition were required to submit their entries by June 15, the event remained accessible to others who wished to attend the sessions in person or online to observe the presentations.
The hackathon took place on the UVU campus in Orem, Utah. While participants were responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements, the event organizers provided amenities including food from Chick-fil-A and Crumbl Cookies.
