HackHayward 2.0: Build with AI & an Entrepreneurial Eye is a next-generation collegiate hackathon hosted in Hayward, CA designed to help students create AI-driven solutions and develop the entrepreneurial mindset needed to carry their ideas beyond the event. ✨

This year introduces an innovative model. Each hackathon team will be paired with a trained Entrepreneur Ambassador recruited from the Smith Center, the Up-Club, and the College of Business and Economics. These ambassadors will guide teams in opportunity discovery, value creation, customer needs, and pitch development, ensuring that technical innovation is matched with thoughtful entrepreneurial strategy. 🤝💡

This project addresses a major need within our community. Although Cal State East Bay serves an exceptionally diverse student population, many students, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, lack access to mentorship networks, entrepreneurial training, and pathways for translating technical ideas into real-world ventures. 🌱

By integrating AI innovation with entrepreneurship, the event strengthens relationships that offer students mentorship, career guidance, and potential employment opportunities, helping them enter the region’s tech ecosystem with greater confidence and support. 🚀

To elevate technical skills, HackHayward will also include pre-event and on-site technical workshops covering AI tools, frameworks, and prototyping strategies. 🛠️

During the 24-hour hackathon, students will receive both technical mentorship and entrepreneurial coaching. Each team, guided by its ambassador, will participate in a dedicated entrepreneurship workshop where they develop a pitch deck and project roadmap. 📘✨

Anyone who is in college or university, or a high schooler who is at least 18 years old, is invited to sign up. See hackhayward.org for other details.