TechFlight Ventures
Welcome to the TechFlight Ventures Open AI Hackathon, where innovation meets industry challenges to form tech ventures. STTE is thrilled to announce our next Open AI Hackathon May 31 - June 2, 2024. The Open AI Hackathon will focus on Renewable Energy solutions and Advance Manufacturing Industries.
Discord
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 31, 2024: TechFlight Ventures Take Off
  • 5:00 pm: Networking, Snacks and Team Formation
  • 6:00 pm: Industry Questions Release & Category Lottery
  • 6:30 pm: Game On
Saturday, June 1, 2024: Discovery & Coding Day
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 10:00 am: Open AI Workshop I: by Ian Love, Full Stack Developer for Aizen Flow
  • 1:00 pm: Lunch (Gorditas)
  • 2:00 pm: Open AI Workshop II: by Ian Love
  • 4:00 pm: BMC to Pitch Deck AI Creation: Joseph Sapien, CEO, Startosphere.io
  • 5:00 pm: Dinner (Lasagna)
Sunday, June 2, 2024: Demo Day!
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast
  • 10:00 am: Presentation Touch Ups
  • 11:00 am: Demo Time!!
Meet The Judges
Tony Banning
Chairman, Smash
(​https://www.smashdm.com/​) Tony Banning is an Executive Team Coach with 24 years of experience in education, from secondary to higher education, and has built businesses alongside his career. His expertise spans Entrepreneurship, IT Consulting, Business Transformation, and Innovative Education. Tony, a professor of business and an Army veteran, enjoys gaming, mountain climbing, and family life.​ LinkedIn ​
Jorge Carreon
CEO & Founder, EP&O
(​https://epno.com.mx/​) An accomplished Industrial Engineer and entrepreneur, Jorge Carreon has over 20 years of experience in the medical industry and has founded several companies, including EP&O, an e-commerce platform serving the manufacturing sector across Mexico, the U.S., and Latin America. He holds multiple advanced degrees and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Management and Finance. Jorge is also an angel investor, supporting SMEs and startups with potential for global impact.​ LinkedIn ​
Thomas Chepucavage
CEO, Flow Aluminum
(https://www.flowaluminum.com/)
​Thomas​ Chepucavage has a robust history of building companies and developing teams across multiple industries. An advocate for Diversity and Inclusion, Thomas serves as an advisor on strategy, transformation, and operational matters. He actively participates in mentorship and coaching programs at universities and national labs, promoting collaborative and innovative environments. He is a member of the New Mexico Angels and mentors at the UNM Rainforest Accelerator and coaches for the FedTech Boost Program.​ LinkedIn ​
Jessica Christianson
Vice President of Sustainability and Energy Solutions, El Paso Electric
(​https://www.epelectric.com/​) Jessica Christianson is a utility professional with a diverse background across public, private, and non-profit sectors. She excels in leading stakeholder collaborations to develop innovative energy solutions that balance environmental, operational, and financial priorities.​ LinkedIn ​
Ivan Vigliante
Developer, El Paso Labs Ivan is a skilled software engineer from El Paso, Texas, specializing in app development. He holds a BS in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics from The University of Texas at El Paso. While CTO at Parabeac, Ivan focused on simplifying the designer-developer handoff, enabling more efficient and responsive app design processes.​ LinkedIn ​
Registration Information
  • Registration Deadline: May 29, 2024.
  • Eligibility: Open to high school, college students and young professionals with a purpose for building technology and startups.
  • Requirements: Each team must consist of 2-5 members, with at least one member having coding skills. Team members must be in El Paso, Texas for the competition.
  • Competitors, join STTE TechFlight Ventures Discord Below:
Prizes and Awards
TechFlight Ventures will have plenty of prizes and gifts to make everyone enjoy their time hacking. Food will also be provided throughout the expeerience.
Grand Prizes
Winners will 1st and 2nd place for each category.
Code Junkies
Top performers will be honored with prestigious prizes in recognition of their hard work.
Door Prizes
You never know when door prizes will hit. Attend workshops and win chances to score big.
Startup Awards
We will find the most daring entrepreneurs planning to take their tech to the next level.
Rules
  • Teams: Teams must consist of a minimum of 2 members and a maximum of 5 members. All team members must register before the start of the hackathon.
  • Categories: There will be 2 different categories to choose from for the hackathon. The targeted industries for the event are Renewable Energy and Advanced Manufacturing. A lottery system will be used to choose categories on the first day of kick-off.
  • Code of conduct: All participants are expected to behave professionally and respectfully towards other participants and event organizers. Any behavior that is considered inappropriate or offensive will not be tolerated.
  • Intellectual property: All teams retain the intellectual property rights to their work. However, by participating in the hackathon, teams grant event organizers the right to display and promote their work for marketing and promotional purposes.
  • Judging: The judging criteria will assess originality and creativity in problem-solving, presentation, impact potential, feasibility, practicality of implementation, and artistic expression in the solution design.
Judging Criteria

Technical Innovation
Incorporation of multiple Open AI tools to build functional prototype.

Presentation & Impact
Potential for positive change and significance of the solution.

Feasibility
Practicality of the proposed solution and alignment to industry challenge.

Creativity
Artistic expression and out-of-the-box thinking in the solution design.
TechFlight Ventures Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Thank you to Microsoft who helped create TechFlight Ventures Open AI Hackathon, a model of success in the Borderland.
Event Sponsor
Thank you El Paso Electric for sponsoring and committing to offer sustainable energy solutions and a greener future.
Organizing Sponsor
STTE is proud to execute another round of Open AI Hackathons to provide real-world opportunities to our future startups.
FAQ
What is the eligibility criteria for the hackathon?
To be eligible to participate in the hackathon, you must be a high school CS student, college student or recent graduate with a passion for innovative technology solutions.
Are teams allowed to collaborate with students from other high school and colleges?
Yes, cross collaborations are allowed however team members must be present in El Paso during hackathons.
How will the judging be conducted for the hackathon projects?
Projects will be judged based on creativity, technical innovation, feasibility, and presentation & impact by a panel of industry experts.
Supporters
STTE, El Paso's premier startup community, will open up our network with some of the most exciting startups, industry executives and investors in the Borderland. We will combine forces to offer a unique hackathon experience.
El Paso Labs
Key players in the tech industry who are dedicated to supporting and fostering innovation in college developers.
UTEP/NMSU
UTEP and NMSU are committed to nurturing the next generation of tech talent through collaboration and advocacy.
Industry Executives
Local industry executives will help identify real-world challenges and advise how to develop solutions that can scale.
SunCruces Angels
Angel Investors who recognize and support the potential of college developers in driving tech innovation. ​https://www.suncrucesangels.org/​
What Past Industry Leaders Said
Duane Murphy
PRESIDENT, GAMER LOGITICS
“STTE’s Open AI Hackathon provided a pivotal platform for addressing my business challenges. The caliber of solutions developed by the teams was exceptional; I was so impressed that I ended up working with one of them. The ability of the Team to transform an idea and a conversation into a viable and effective product has been great to watch. I see a great future as a result of their work.”
Frank Spencer III
PRESIDENT AT AZTEC CONTRACTORS
“The impact of AI on our workforce is undeniable, and STTE’s hackathon has emerged as a game changer for industries seeking to harness technology for process optimization. I urge fellow industry leaders to participate and explore how embracing technology can propel your organization forward in the forthcoming industrial revolution.”
Alexandra Chavez
EL PASO MARKET EXECUTIVE, BANK OF AMERICA
“Participating in the Open AI hackathon gave me a firsthand glimpse into the transformative power of AI. Witnessing developers craft innovative solutions in a short timeframe has illuminated the potential for technology to enhance financial literacy significantly.”
Contact Us
Have a question or need more information? Feel free to reach out to us! Our team is here to assist you with any inquiries regarding the hackathon registration, themes, or anything else you may need.
We're excited to hear from you and support your journey in the hackathon. Contact us via email, phone, or social media.
2023 Impact Report
The Microsoft OpenAI Hackathon, organized by STTE in collaboration with a council of startups, was held from March 31st to April 2nd, 2023. The hackathon aimed to advance regional talent, build industry products, and transform the region by incorporating AI technology into local businesses. The targeted industries for the event were Advanced Manufacturing (with a focus on Logistics), Construction, and Financial Services.
After three days of intense coding, brainstorming, and collaboration, the winner of the hackathon was the team from Bosque Labs. Their innovative AI solution aimed to revolutionize the financial services industry, providing users with customized financial planning and investment advice based on their personal preferences and goals.
TechFlight Ventures AI Gallery