September 26-27, 2026
HACK-A-HOUSE
A 24-hour student pitch competition to solve the affordable housing crisis. Win thousands in prize money!
WHAT IS
HACKAHOUSE?
Hack-A-House is an annual 24-hour "hackathon" created to inspire students to develop innovative solutions for the housing affordability crisis. Participants collaborate with peers, industry experts, and competition judges in person as well as virtually to explore and address housing challenges in three categories.
Get Alerted When Registration OpensREAL PITCHES FROM REAL STUDENTS
Students from across the country are invited to register and pitch real solutions to one of the biggest crises facing us today.
SEE MORE PITCHES
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, September 25, 2026
Kickoff
12 P.M. MDT
Prompt Deep Dives
1 P.M. MDT
Industry Expert Sessions
1:30–3:30 P.M. MDT
Office Hours
3:30–8 P.M. MDT
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Submission Window Closes
8:45 A.M. MDT
Judging Begins
9:30 A.M. MDT
Winners Announced
1:30 P.M. MDT
OUR SPONSORS
PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can participate in Hack-A-House?
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All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. The competition is U.S.-based, so prompt subject matter may focus more heavily on U.S.-specific housing challenges. However, students from other countries are welcome to compete as well. Our judges always appreciate international perspectives!
Where does the competition take place?
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Hack-A-House is held both in person at the University of Utah and virtually.
How much does it cost to register?
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Hack-A-House is, and will always be, 100% free for all participants. We thank our sponsors for helping to support this year's competition.
What do I win?
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The competition culminates in the selection of three category-winning teams. These teams will receive $3,000 each and will be invited to present their ideas at the Ivory Prize Summit. Ivory Innovations will cover airfare for all team members and provide one hotel room per team.
The 2026 summit will take place in Tempe, Ariz., Oct. 14 and 15. At the Ivory Prize Summit, each category-winning team will present to a live audience of entrepreneurs, academics, and housing professionals. After the pitches, the audience will vote to select a Grand Prize winner, who will receive an additional $2,000. In addition to the category and Grand Prize awards, Ivory Innovations will also present a $1,000 People's Choice Award to the team that receives the highest number of votes during the nomination window.