Welcome to TechFlight Ventures
Welcome to the TechFlight Ventures Open AI Hackathon, where innovation meets industry challenges to form tech ventures for flight. STTE is thrilled to announce two major Open AI Hackathons taking place April 26 -28, 2024 and May 31 - June 2, 2024.
View Hackathon Questions Below:
View Questions
Schedule
Join Discord Open AI Hackathon Discord Below:
Friday, April 26, 2024
(STTE - 2601 N. Stanton St., 79902)
5:00 PM - Networking, Team Formation and Food and Drinks.
6:00 PM - Hackathon Questions Release
7:00 PM - Fireside Industry Panels
Saturday, April 27, 2024
(500 W. Overland, Second Floor, 79901)
9:00 AM - Breakfast
10:00 AM - Open AI Workshop I
11:00 AM - Life Science Fireside Chat -Angelica Maestas, VC @SevenFive Ventures
1:00 PM - Lunch and Learn "Startosphere" Entrepreneur Workshop
3:00 PM - Open AI Workshop II
5:00 PM - Dinner
Sunday, April 28
(500 W. Overland, Second Floor, 79901)
9:00 AM - Light Breakfast
10:00 AM - Finishing Touches
11:00 AM - Demo and Pitches
1:00 PM - Awards
Judges and Special Guests
Hackathon Themes
STTE is organizing two Open AI Hackahons with six themes to choose from. Questions will be released on the kick-off days. Below are the themes.
Education
Build innovative ways to enhance learning experiences and educational technology tools.
Community Impact
Create solutions that impact societal well-being with scalable, innovative solutions for multifaceted challenges.
Renewable Energy
Develop solutions for sustainable energy sources and reducing environmental impact.
Advanced Manufacturing
Create new technologies and methods for efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Healthcare
Address healthcare challenges through technology, telemedicine, or health data analytics.
Retail
Innovate retail experiences through e-commerce, customer data analysis, and supply chain optimization.
TechFligt 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.
Open AI Workshops
Facilitated by Ian Love, CTO for Aizen Flow. Ian is a Full Stack Developer with a ton of experience building applications, immersive environments and platforms with AI. Ian's focus is on building software for the future and his community.
Beginner Workshop: How to Get Started Building with Open AI
April 27 at 10:00 AM
Dive into the dynamic world of artificial intelligence with our interactive workshop designed specifically for intermediate learners! This workshop, ideal for late high school and early college students, focuses on the fundamental concepts and practical skills needed to develop tools in AI. Over the course of this workshop, you will learn how to use Python and popular AI libraries to create applications that can see, learn, and make decisions. Whether you're aiming to enhance a school project or jumpstart your career in tech, this workshop will provide the tools and knowledge to build your first AI-driven software. Get ready to transform your curiosity into creation as you join peers with similar interests in a collaborative, hands-on learning environment!
Advanced Workshop: Implementing AI in Software Development
April 27 at 3:00 PM
Elevate your understanding and skills in AI with our advanced workshop tailored for college students and budding professionals. This session is designed to deepen your expertise in integrating sophisticated AI capabilities into real-world software applications. Participants will explore cutting-edge techniques in machine learning, neural networks, and algorithm optimization, guided by industry experts. You will engage in project-based learning, tackling challenges that simulate actual scenarios faced by developers in the tech industry. By the end of this workshop, you will have not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience in enhancing software with AI, preparing you for a competitive edge in the job market or advanced academic pursuits.
Entrepreneur Workshop
April 27 at 1:00 PM
Faciliated by Joseph Sapien, STTE CEO attendees will learn about how AI can accelerate the business model canvas and also take away some in cutting-edge tools that will help build your next startup.
Registration Information
  • Registration Deadline: Registration is closed.
  • 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. Prizes will range from $2K to $1K.
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 3 different categories to choose from for the hackathon. The targeted industries for the event are Education, Healthcare, and Community Impact. 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.
Meet the Mentors
Important Dates

1

Registration Deadline
Register by April 20, 2024 to participate in the hackathon.

2

Open AI Hackathon 1
Education & Health Care & Community
April 26 -28, 2024 (2.5 days)

3

Open AI Hackathon 2
Renewable Energy, Retail & Advanced Manufacturing
May 31 - June 2, 2024 (2.5 days)
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.
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