Ai Agent Hackathon @ Rutgers iHub

Get ready to build something wild with AI agents! 🚀 We're taking over Rutgers iHub in Newark for a full-day hackathon where you'll team up to create autonomous AI systems that actually do stuff.

Theme:
“The only AI agents that can have lasting, real-world impact are those capable of multi-step reasoning with actionable outputs.”

Description:
This hackathon challenges participants to build ai agents that don’t just think, they act, completing end-to-end workflows that solve real business problems. Teams are encouraged to pick any industry or domain they feel their agent would have the most impact in.
Technical Scope:

• Participants can use any technical stack they prefer (LangChain/code-based, n8n/no-code, etc.)
• Agents must be built from scratch during the hackathon, no prebuilt solutions allowed
• Focus should be on multi-step reasoning, workflow execution, and producing actionable outputs

Judging Criteria:

• Technical sophistication: How advanced and accurate is the agent’s multi-step reasoning? The agent should perform in a way that feels like only a human could do it; simple automation alone will not suffice
• Impact: How meaningful or useful is the agent in the real world

Agenda:
10:00 – 10:30 AM | Check-in & Networking
Registration, coffee/light breakfast, casual networking

10:30 – 11:00 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Theme and judging criteria overview

11:00 – 11:30 AM | Team Formation & Idea Pitches
Participants pitch ideas for AI agents in business operations
Team matchmaking session

11:30 AM – 4:00 PM | Hacking Session
Teams work on prototypes
Mentors available for tech and business guidance

Lunch break at 1:00 PM

4:00 – 5:00 PM | Project Demos & Pitches
3–5 minute demos from each team
Judging by partners and industry reps

5:00 – 5:30 PM | Awards & Closing Remarks
Winners announced
Closing remarks

5:30 – 6:00 PM | Networking & Wrap-Up
Informal mingling with participants, judges, and partners