September 25–26, 2026
HACK-A-HOUSE
A 24-hour student pitch competition to solve the affordable housing crisis. Win thousands in prize money!
WHAT IS
HACKAHOUSE?
Hack-A-House is an annual 24-hour "hackathon" created to inspire students to develop innovative solutions for the housing affordability crisis. Participants collaborate with peers, industry experts, and competition judges in person as well as virtually to explore and address housing challenges in three categories.
REAL PITCHES FROM REAL STUDENTS
Students from across the country are invited to register and pitch real solutions to one of the biggest crises facing us today.
THE SCHEDULE
Friday, September 25, 2026
Kickoff
University of Utah, Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building, Room 3170
12 P.M. MDT
Prompt Deep Dives
1 P.M. MDT
Industry Expert Sessions
1:30–3:30 P.M. MDT
Session Time (MT)
Finance
Policy & Regulatory Reform
Construction & Design
1:30–2:00 PM
David Kemper
Trust Neighborhoods
Francis Thumpasery
Permit Flow
Dan Hardcastle
BuildTrust
2:00–2:30 PM
Laurie Goodman
Urban Institute
Michael Saadine
National Housing Crisis Task Force
Ian Miley
Type Five
2:30–3:00 PM
Devin Culbertson
Grounded Solutions Network: Homes for the Future
Jovan Harrison
State of Colorado
Ian Cahoon
Ivory Innovations
3:00–3:30 PM
Grant Beck
Next Step
Adam Goldstein
City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing
Ryan Smith
MOD X
1:30–2:00 PM
Finance
David Kemper
Trust Neighborhoods
Policy & Regulatory Reform
Francis Thumpasery
Permit Flow
Construction & Design
Dan Hardcastle
BuildTrust
2:00–2:30 PM
Finance
Laurie Goodman
Urban Institute
Policy & Regulatory Reform
Michael Saadine
National Housing Crisis Task Force
Construction & Design
Ian Miley
Type Five
2:30–3:00 PM
Finance
Devin Culbertson
Grounded Solutions Network: Homes for the Future
Policy & Regulatory Reform
Jovan Harrison
State of Colorado
Construction & Design
Ian Cahoon
Ivory Innovations
3:00–3:30 PM
Finance
Grant Beck
Next Step
Policy & Regulatory Reform
Adam Goldstein
City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing
Construction & Design
Ryan Smith
MOD X
Office Hours
3:30–8 P.M. MDT
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Submission Window Closes
8:45 A.M. MDT
Judging Begins
9:30 A.M. MDT
Winners Announced
1:30 P.M. MDT
OUR SPONSORS
PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can participate in Hack-A-House?
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All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. The competition is U.S.-based, so prompt subject matter may focus more heavily on U.S.-specific housing challenges. However, students from other countries are welcome to compete as well. Our judges always appreciate international perspectives!
Where does the competition take place?
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Hack-A-House is held both in person at the University of Utah and virtually.
How much does it cost to register?
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Hack-A-House is, and will always be, 100% free for all participants. We thank our sponsors for helping to support this year's competition.
What do I win?
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Win up to $6,500!
The competition culminates in the selection of three category-winning individuals or teams. Each prompt’s winner receives $3,000. The three winning individuals or teams are then invited to the Ivory Prize Summit, where they present their innovative solution to a live audience of entrepreneurs, academics, and housing professionals.
The 2026 summit will take place in Tempe, Ariz., Oct. 14. Ivory Innovations will cover travel and lodging.
At the summit, the audience will vote to select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $2,000.
There is also a $1,000 People’s Choice award presented to the team with the most votes by the end of the voting window following Hack-A-House, and new for 2026, an extra $500 award.
Teams split the prize money between members.