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June 17-18, 2026 at Utah Valley Universtiy

Spring 2026 Winners

Pitch day

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

Hackathon

Burkley Mccomb

Imedix Challenge

Valerie Adams

Craig Cossairt

UTAH AI DATA PROTECTION
& GOVERNANCE CHALLENGE

Joshua Tai

UTAH SEDI CHALLENGE

Sanjay Bhatia

Anurup Kumar
David AI – Best-to-go Market Agent Challenge

Nathan Longhurst

Yirang Lim

AI College & Career Guide (Halda AI) Challenge

Calahan Larson

Jens Shumway

Josh Gimenes

Jonathan Wagstaff

AI College & Career Guide (Halda AI) Challenge

David Ariza

Vlad Kashchuk

 Salesforce SEDI Challenge

TRACK 1

HITLAB World Cup: Innovation Pitchday

in Partnership with UVU Kahlert Applied AI Institute

PURPOSE

The Innovation Pitchday in partnership with Utah Valley University (UVU)’s Kahlert Applied AI Institute is a global competition designed to identify, showcase, and accelerate high-potential solutions at the intersection of applied AI, digital identity, and life sciences.

This challenge brings together top student innovators, academic research teams, and university-affiliated ventures to present solutions with strong real-world applicability, technical depth, and potential for long-term impact.

The program culminates in a live pitch competition at UVU, where selected finalists present to a panel of judges, industry leaders, and potential partners.

Who should apply

  • Undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students with advanced or developed solutions
  • Startups (pre-seed to Series A)
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Academic and research teams
  • AI engineers, software developers, and data scientists
  • Bio- Tech, Gov Tech, FinTech, EdTech, and Def-Tech professionals
  • Interdisciplinary teams combining technical + clinical + business expertise

Note: Applicants should have a developed concept, prototype, or validated solution. 

What innovations are we looking for

We are looking for creative, early-stage ideas and prototypes that address meaningful challenges across:

  • Applied AI: Solutions that improve decision-making, workflows, or user experiences
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences: Concepts that improve access, outcomes, patient experience, or operational efficiency
  • Digital Identity & Data: Ideas that enhance security, privacy, interoperability, or user control over data

Strong submissions will demonstrate:

  • A clear and relevant problem
  • Creative or novel thinking
  • Practical potential (even at an early stage)
  • Clear and compelling communication

TRACK 2

HITLAB World Cup: Innovation Hackathon

in Partnership with UVU Kahlert Applied AI Institute

PURPOSE

The Innovation Hackathon in partnership with Utah Valley University (UVU)’s Kahlert Applied AI Institute, is a fast-paced innovation experience designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and rapid problem-solving. Participants will work in teams to develop early-stage solutions to real-world challenges across applied AI, digital identity, and life sciences.

This experience emphasizes hands-on learning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the ability to quickly translate ideas into tangible concepts or prototypes within a short timeframe.

Who should apply

The Hackathon is open to individuals worldwide who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application. All Hackathon participants are required to participate in person at Utah Valley University during the Hackathon event dates unless otherwise approved by the organizers.

  • Participants may apply regardless of student or professional status
  • A dedicated Student Category will be available for individuals currently enrolled as undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students at an accredited college or university
  • Participants applying to the Student Category must be able to provide valid proof of student status (e.g., university email address or student ID)
  • Participants are solely responsible for all travel, lodging, meals, transportation, and related expenses associated with participation in the Hackathon unless otherwise stated by the organizers

What innovations are we looking for

During the Hackathon, participants will work on real-world challenge statements (“bounties”) provided by sponsoring organizations and industry leaders. Teams will collaborate on-site to develop innovative concepts, prototypes, and technical solutions within the event timeframe.

Bounties may require:

  • Applied AI: Solutions that improve decision-making, workflows, automation, analytics, or user experiences
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences: Ideas that improve access, outcomes, patient experience, care delivery, or operational efficiency
  • Digital Identity & Data: Concepts focused on security, privacy, interoperability, trust, and user control over data

Participants are not required to arrive with an existing startup, business idea, or completed prototype. Solutions will be developed during the Hackathon in response to the live challenges presented at the event.

Timeline

  • Application Launch - May 12
  • Application Closes - June 7 (Pitch Day) & June 15 (Hackathon)
  • Pitchday Finalists Announced - June 15
  • Pitchday & Hackathon at UVU – June 17
  • Hackathon at UVU – June 18

*All deadlines are at 11:59 pm Mountain Time on the respective days, unless otherwise stated. 

Agenda

All times below are in Mountain Standard Time, local Utah time. Events will be held in the Scott Smith Engineering Building.

DAY 1 - June 17

Pitchday (Track 1)

12:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM

Opening Keynotes

1:30 PM

Global & Local Pitches

3:30 PM

Keynotes (Judges Deliberate)

4:00 PM

Award Ceremony

4:30 PM

Celebration & Photos

6:30 PM

Building Closes

Hackathon (Track 2)

12:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM

Opening Keynotes (Live Streamed)

1:30 PM

Bounty Presentations 

2:00 PM

Disperse to Bounty Rooms: Begin Hacking

6:30 PM

Building Closes 

DAY 2 - June 18

Hackathon (Track 2)

8:00 AM

Breakfast

9:00 AM

Resume Hacking

12:00 PM

Lunch

2:00 PM

Code Freeze & Hackers Present

4:00 PM

Keynotes (Judges Deliberate)

5:00 PM

Awards Ceremony & Reception

6:30 PM

Building Closes

Apply

Apply for the Pitchday (Hybrid)

Applications are closed

View Terms & Conditions

Apply for the Hackathon (In-Person)

Apply as an individual or team. Individuals will be added to a team of 3 during the Hackathon.

Deadline is Monday, June 15 @ 11:59pm MST

View Terms & Conditions
Register

Agenda

All times below are in Mountain Standard Time, local Utah time

DAY 1 - June 17

Pitchday (Track 1)

12:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM

Opening Keynotes

Tyler Small, Senior Director, Kahlert Applied AI Institute, Utah Valley University

Spencer Magleby Dean, Smith College of Engineering and Technology, Utah Valley University

1:15PM

Equal Opportunity NVIDIA Laptop Prize Awarded by Dell

Juan Alfaro, Team Lead, Workstation Alliances, Dell

1:20PM

Thank You & Welcome

Stan Kachnowski, Chair HITLAB

Tyler Small Senior Director, Kahlert Applied AI Institute, Utah Valley University

1:30 PM

Intro to Global & Local Pitches

Barclay Burns, Chief AI Officer, Utah Valley University

1:45 PM

Cern Corporation

Gregg Klang, Founder & CEO, Cern Device

Dr. Melanie Santos, Chief Medical Officer, Cern Device

1:55 PM

Glya

Alexei Rodriguez, Co-Founder, Glya

2:05 PM

Nightingale

Yash Vagal, Founder & CEO, Nightingale

2:15 PM

MemoryLaneTV

Alban Maino, CEO, Memory Lane TV

2:25 PM

Bobi Health

Dave Esra, President & CEO, Bobi Health

2:35 PM

Bobi Health

Jared Jeffrey, CEO and Co-founder, healthKERI

2:45 PM

Altin Biosciences

Sue Mckinney, CEO, Altin Biosciences

2:55 PM

Biotrillion

Savan Devani, Founder & CEO, BioTrillion

3:05 PM

Panacea

Ashish Juneya, CTO, Panacea

3:15 PM

TriAxis Biosciences

Sunil Pandey, CEO, TriAxis Biosciences

3:30 PM

Keynotes (Judges Deliberate)

Ty Jennings, Director of Entrepreneurship & Ecosystem Development Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

3:40 PM

Panel

Brian Bertha, Senior Advisor, HITLAB

Dr. Andrew Holman, CEO & Co-founder, Inmedix

Richard Hanbury, CEO, Sana Health

4:00 PM

Award Ceremony

Barclay Burns, Chief AI Officer, Utah Valley University

4:30 PM

Celebration & Photos

6:30 PM

Building Closes

Hackathon (Track 2)

12:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM

Opening Keynotes (Live Streamed)

1:30 PM

Bounty Presentations 

2:00 PM

Disperse to Bounty Rooms: Begin Hacking

6:30 PM

Building Closes 

DAY 2 - June 18

Hackathon (Track 2)

8:00 AM

Breakfast

9:00 AM

Resume Hacking

Barclay Burns, Chief AI Officer, Utah Valley University

12:00 PM

Lunch

2:00 PM

Code Freeze & Hackers Present

4:00 PM

Keynote

Christopher Bramwell, Chief Privacy Officer, State of Utah

4:15 PM

Keynote

Jared Jeffrey, CEO & Co-founder, Healthkeri

4:25 PM

Keynote

Dr. Robert Wood Director, Utah Office of Regulatory Relief and Research, Governors Office of Economic Development

4:40 PM

Keynote

Lee Smith, MD Scientific Advisor, InMedix

4:50 PM

Keynote

Ty Jennings, Director of Entrepreneurship & Ecosystem Development, Utah Valley University

5:00 PM

Awards Ceremony & Reception

5:00 PM

Closing Notes

Stan Kachnowski, Chair HITLAB

Ty Jennings, Director of Entrepreneurship & Ecosystem Development, Utah Valley University

Barclay Burns, Chief AI Officer, Utah Valley University

6:30 PM

Building Closes

Hackathon Mentor

 

Apply as a Mentor

Benefits

Participants will gain:

  • Exposure to leaders across healthcare, AI, and life sciences
  • Mentorship from academic and industry experts
  • Opportunity to pitch to a panel of high-profile judges
  • Access to potential funding, partnerships, and pilot opportunities
  • Visibility across HITLAB and partner networks
  • $30k+ of cash and in-kind prizes
  • Finalists will receive dedicated pitch coaching and the opportunity to present live at UVU.

Rules & Criteria

Pitchday Rules & Judging Criteria

Submissions must align with one of the core challenge tracks:

  • Applied AI in Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Digital Identity & Data Infrastructure
  • Life Sciences & MedTech

Solutions may be at the concept, prototype, MVP, pilot, or early-stage venture level. All submissions must be original and not infringe on existing intellectual property.

Teams must be available to participate in:

  • Application and screening process
  • Semi-final and finalist selection
  • Final pitch event (virtual and in-person at UVU for finalists)

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

  • Innovation & differentiation
  • Real-world impact
  • Technical feasibility
  • Scalability & growth potential
  • Implementation readiness
  • Team strength
  • Ethics & responsibility

Hackathon Judging Criteria

All submissions will be evaluated in person by the respective bounty owners. Each bounty owner will review the solutions tied to their challenge and select the winning team based on how effectively the solution addresses the problem, including feasibility, creativity, and alignment with the stated objective.

View Full Terms & Conditions

Partners

Sponsor a Hackathon Bounty

While sponsors may contribute general funding, equipment, laptops, or other resources, bounty owners will be responsible for providing a specific challenge or problem statement for participants to solve during the hackathon.

Bounty owners may:

  • Define the challenge/problem statement
  • Specify the associated prize amount
  • Review submissions related to their bounty
  • Select the winning team or participants
Inquire About Sponsoring a Bounty

Thank you for applying to be a mentor for the HITLAB Innovation World Cup Challenge & Hackathon!

If selected, you will receive more information at the email provided.

Mercury

Mercury is the fintech ambitious companies use for banking* and all their financial workflows. With a powerful bank account at the center of their operations, companies can make better financial decisions and ensure every dollar spent aligns with company priorities. That’s why over 200K startups choose Mercury to confidently run all their financial operations with the precision, control, and focus they need to operate at their best.

*Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust ®️; Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank.

Learn more