A 36 Hour Startup Sprint.
Combining STEM, Business, and Design.
A 36 Hour Startup Sprint.
Combining STEM, Business, and Design.
A 36 Hour Startup Sprint.
Combining STEM, Business, and Design.
September 20-22, 2024
September 20-22, 2024
Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Catapult is a 36-hour sprint where students from all backgrounds come together to form teams and launch a successful startup. Think hackathon meets pitch competition, but way more open-ended. No experience needed. Just bring yourself, some friends, and good ideas.
Catapult is a 36-hour sprint where students from all backgrounds come together to form teams and launch a successful startup. Think hackathon meets pitch competition, but way more open-ended. No experience needed. Just bring yourself, some friends, and good ideas.
Photos
Photos
See The Magic.
This is a collaborative effort between The Founders Club and Machine Learning at Purdue Club with the goal to inspire students to pursue their ideas and create impact across sectors.
This is a collaborative effort between The Founders Club and Machine Learning at Purdue Club with the goal to inspire students to pursue their ideas and create impact across sectors.
Past Winners
Past Winners
Spring 2024
Odyssey - Overall Winner
Odyssey - Overall Winner
Datasphere - Runner Up
Datasphere - Runner Up
Sonder - Promising Business Model
Sonder - Promising Business Model
SignMe - Greatest Social Impact
SignMe - Greatest Social Impact
PixelProof - Best Pitch
PixelProof - Best Pitch
View All Spring 2024 Projects
View All Spring 2024 Projects
Last semester, we had 300+ students across 25+ majors build nearly 40 projects within 24 hours! This semester, we hope to double our numbers in every way.
Last semester, we had 300+ students across 25+ majors build nearly 40 projects within 24 hours! This semester, we hope to double our numbers in every way.
General Guidelines
General Guidelines
Your Goal - To dream up, create, brand, and demo an entire project in 36 hours! At the end, you will have both a demo video and a pitch to show investors and judges.
Your Goal - To dream up, create, brand, and demo an entire project in 36 hours! At the end, you will have both a demo video and a pitch to show investors and judges.
Interactive Activities - There will be both startup workshops and technical office hours designed to help you learn new skills and ask for help as needed.
Interactive Activities - There will be both startup workshops and technical office hours designed to help you learn new skills and ask for help as needed.
Teams - Teams are comprised of 1-5 people and should be a mix of technical, business, and creative individuals.
Teams - Teams are comprised of 1-5 people and should be a mix of technical, business, and creative individuals.
Participation - All participants must be university students and in-person. No virtual individuals can participate at all.
Participation - All participants must be university students and in-person. No virtual individuals can participate at all.
Amenities - We've got some yummy food that will be distributed throughout the event. We will also have designated work spaces, meeting areas, and more. The food menu will be provided the week of the event to all attendees.
Amenities - We've got some yummy food that will be distributed throughout the event. We will also have designated work spaces, meeting areas, and more. The food menu will be provided the week of the event to all attendees.
Applying - Students from any university are welcome to apply, but we do not provide transportation nor lodging. Priority admission will be given to Purdue students. In the past, we have welcomed students from UIUC, Michigan, and more.
Applying - Students from any university are welcome to apply, but we do not provide transportation nor lodging. Priority admission will be given to Purdue students. In the past, we have welcomed students from UIUC, Michigan, and more.
We want to see all types of students apply and participate: hackers, artists, game developers, engineers, marketers, designers, musicians, salespeople, and more. Creating value isn't restricted to developers or engineers, let's see more people make something cool!
We want to see all types of students apply and participate: hackers, artists, game developers, engineers, marketers, designers, musicians, salespeople, and more. Creating value isn't restricted to developers or engineers, let's see more people make something cool!
Past Sponsors
Past Sponsors
Thank You So Much!
Apply Below
Apply Below
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Judging Rubric - All submissions are evaluated on a standardized rubric. Once the top 8 are selected, a second rubric will be used by the judges. Your rubric is available by request once Catapult is over.
Judging Rubric - All submissions are evaluated on a standardized rubric. Once the top 8 are selected, a second rubric will be used by the judges. Your rubric is available by request once Catapult is over.
Incorporation & IP - You do not need a legal entity to compete in Catapult. For undergraduates, neither we nor Purdue owns any IP you generate. It is yours to keep and develop.
Incorporation & IP - You do not need a legal entity to compete in Catapult. For undergraduates, neither we nor Purdue owns any IP you generate. It is yours to keep and develop.
Food Service - Meals will be provided for Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner as well as Sunday Breakfast and Lunch. Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the day (including midnight coffee).
Food Service - Meals will be provided for Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner as well as Sunday Breakfast and Lunch. Snacks and refreshments will be available throughout the day (including midnight coffee).
Problem Statement - Projects aren't limited to a problem statement. Teams must identify a problem space to create a viable solution. We don't prefer one area to another. Example sectors include: healthcare, social, education, travel, etc.
Problem Statement - Projects aren't limited to a problem statement. Teams must identify a problem space to create a viable solution. We don't prefer one area to another. Example sectors include: healthcare, social, education, travel, etc.
The Founders Club
All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 - 2024
The Founders Club
All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 - 2024
The Founders Club
All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 - 2024