More than logo placement
Southwest MN Hacks connects your organization directly with motivated students from across the region. This is more than an advertising buy. Sponsors meet students in person, over a networking meal, at a booth, while mentoring teams, and while judging projects.
A sponsor addressing students at our March 2026 event.
At our previous event, the winning team was offered a paid engagement to continue developing their project after the hackathon. Our goal is to create more of those real connections between students and regional organizations.
Schwan's posted about the first event
As featured in the Marshall Independent · March 2026
“Two SMSU alum host first-ever Hackathon”
The local press covered our first event: the students, the projects, and the organizations that made it happen.
Read the article
Organizations that have backed Southwest MN Hacks
Why sponsor
College and graduate students are exploring internships and early-career roles now. High school students are the regional STEM pipeline, the next wave of local talent in software, cybersecurity, data, and AI. Your sponsorship reaches both.
Student interaction
Face-to-face conversations with students over meals, at your booth, and through mentoring, rather than a name on a banner.
Workforce pipeline
Recruit college and graduate participants today, and build relationships with younger students entering the field.
Community and STEM impact
Invest in regional technical talent that too often leaves the area, and help keep it here.
Sponsorship levels
Choose a level that works for your organization
Commit by August 28, 2026 to lock in full benefits
Later sponsors still receive all digital and day-of benefits.
Bronze
Community Supporter
$500
- Logo on the event website
- Recognition during opening remarks
Silver
Event Presence Sponsor
$1,000
- Everything in Bronze
- Logo on the event t-shirt (commit by Aug 28)
- Sponsor booth or table
- 2 sponsor representatives
Gold
Student Engagement Sponsor
$2,000
- Everything in Silver
- Reserved table at the student networking meal
- Short speaking slot
- Mentor teams onsite
- Sponsor a challenge prompt or prize category (commit by Aug 28)
- 4 sponsor representatives
Platinum
Premier Innovation Partner
$5,000
- Everything in Gold
- Named sponsor recognition
- Priority booth and table placement
- Seat on the judging panel
- Priority access to the opt-in student interest list
- 8 sponsor representatives
In-Kind
Provide goods or services
Flexible
- Provide meals, prizes, t-shirts, snacks, cloud or software credits, or equipment
- Recognition matched to the value contributed
A day as a sponsor
What your team actually does at the event, as hands-on or hands-off as you like.
Morning
Set up your booth
Meet students as they arrive and talk about what you build and who you're looking for.
Midday
Lunch with students
A reserved table at the networking meal to talk projects, internships, and local careers.
Afternoon
Mentor teams
Walk the floor and see how students think under pressure.
Next morning
Judge the projects
Watch the final presentations and award your sponsored prize.
Student safety. Information sharing and any follow-up involving participants under 18 requires explicit parent or guardian permission and follows our event safety guidelines.
Ready to sponsor?
Tell us a little about your organization and how you’d like to proceed: pay now, request an invoice, or just talk first. Not sure which level fits? Start here or email us.
Full-benefit commitment deadline: August 28, 2026.
We invoice from the Southwest MN Hacks nonprofit. Pay by ACH, check, or card on standard net terms. Instant card payment is available for smaller and in-kind sponsorships.
Sponsor FAQ
Common questions from our partners