Major League Hacking 2026 Hackathon Season
MakeCU

$ ./boot_makecu.sh

MakeCU 2026

November 7-8, 2026

Columbia University at Carleton Commons

Columbia University Robotics Club's 24-hour hardware hackathon for students who want to design, prototype, and demo real hardware projects.

Hacking starts in

000Days 00Hours 00Minutes 00Seconds
When Nov. 7-8, 2026
Where Columbia University at Carleton Commons
Format In-person hardware
Teams 1-4 students
$

cat ABOUT.txt

Build something physical in one focused weekend.

Columbia University Robotics Club's 24-hour hardware hackathon for students who want to design, prototype, and demo real hardware projects.

$ ./boot_makecu_2025.sh

MakeCU 2025 participants and projects
$ ./prepare_hackers.sh

Checklist

Training links, makerspace prep, and equipment quizzes before the event.

Open Checklist
$ ./meet_team.sh

Team

Meet the organizers building MakeCU 2026 across logistics, business, web, experience, and outreach.

Meet the Team
$

cat SCHEDULE.txt

Saturday morning

Check-in and opening ceremony

Registration, team formation, safety notes, and opening remarks.

Saturday afternoon

Workshops and hacking

Training sessions, mentor office hours, and hardware checkout.

Saturday night

Build through the evening

Dinner, activities, and overnight building policy.

Sunday morning

Final hacking and submissions

Submission deadline, demo prep, and project showcase logistics.

Sunday afternoon

Demos and awards

Judging, closing ceremony, prize announcements, and cleanup.

$

ls TRACKS

Healthcare Track

Design robotic systems that improve physical or mental health, accessibility, safety, or quality of life.

Environmental Track

Build robotic solutions that support environmental stewardship and sustainable resource use.

Creativity Track

Create robots that inspire, educate, entertain, or enable new forms of expression.

$

open JUDGES

Judge Placeholder 1

Hardware founder, researcher, or mentor

Short judge bio will go here once the organizing team confirms the panel.

Judge Placeholder 2

Robotics engineer or Columbia faculty member

Add judging focus, affiliation, and what they are excited to see.

Judge Placeholder 3

Sponsor representative or technical mentor

Use this popup for a compact bio, links, and judging interests.
$

tar SPONSORS

$

./FAQ

Is MakeCU free to attend?

Yes. Food, swag, hardware, and prizes will be provided.

Where is the event?

MakeCU 2026 will be held in Carleton Commons at Columbia University in New York City.

Who can attend?

MakeCU is intended for college hackers, from undergraduate to PhD students.

Do I need hardware experience?

No. Beginners are welcome, with workshops and mentors available to help participants learn during the event.

How large can teams be?

Teams of 1-4 students.

Will hardware be provided?

Hardware, tools, and makerspace access will be provided.

When can teams start building?

Hackers can begin after the opening ceremony.

What code of conduct applies?

All participants should follow the MLH Code of Conduct and any additional Columbia University event policies.

Who should I contact?

Contact us at curc@columbia.edu.

$ ping CURC

Organized by Columbia University Robotics Club.

Questions, sponsor interest, and volunteer interest can go through the organizing team while the 2026 event plan is finalized.

Join Discord Email Us MLH Code of Conduct