CodeForDFW is a virtual hackathon designed for DFW-area students, built around solving real problems for local businesses. Each team works over the course of a week to tackle a case study challenge submitted by one of our local business sponsors. The goal is to identify something within that business that could work better and build a technical solution for it.
Case studies are tiered from Easy to Hard based on scope and sponsor prize contribution, allowing participants to pick the challenge that fits their skill level and ambition. This is your chance to build something that a real business will actually use, rather than just creating a demo for a judge.
What to Build Participants must choose one of the sponsor case studies, each tied to a real local business and a specific problem they are facing. Your job is to identify what is going wrong or could be improved, then build a working technical solution. Projects can take many forms, including websites, software, automation tools, data dashboards, or anything else that meaningfully solves the problem in a way the business could realistically use or build upon.
Key requirements include: - The project must be started fresh during the hackathon window; pre-existing work cannot be submitted. - While the product does not need to be finished or polished, it must be functional enough to demonstrate that the solution actually works, not just a concept or mockup. - Participants are free to choose their own tools, languages, and frameworks. - Generative AI tools are allowed for brainstorming, coding, debugging, and more.
What to Submit - Executive Summary (1–3 pages): A single document covering which sponsor case study was chosen, a clear restatement of the problem statement, and a description of the solution built and how it addresses the problem. - GitHub repository link: Full source code. - Live demo or run instructions: A hosted URL if available, or clear steps to run the project locally. - Demo video: A 1–2 minute video hosted on YouTube or Vimeo showing the project actually working.