Six industries. One day. Whatever you can build.
Long Beach City College and iUrban Teen are bringing students from across the region together for a single day of applied problem-solving. Teams pick a challenge, use generative and no-code AI tools to build a working prototype or a defensible plan, and pitch it before the day is out.
You don't need to code. You don't need a team. You need to care about a problem enough to spend a day on it.
Pick your fight.
Every track opens with a real brief written with industry partners. Tap any card to see where AI actually goes to work. Final briefs are released on event day — these are the shape of them.
Big tracks. Small squads. Everyone's hands on the work.
Every student joins one of six tracks of about twenty. Inside a track, you work in a build squad of four or five — small enough that nobody spectates. Your track coach runs the room. Roaming AI mentors handle the tools.
Students
Four to five per build squad. Every squad pitches, no exceptions.
Track coaches
One per track. Runs the room, holds the clock, pushes the thinking. No AI background needed.
AI mentors
LBCC AI students and faculty enthusiasts, roaming between squads for tool support.
Judges
Independent of coaching. They see the six track finalists and nothing else.
Four or five students, one brief, one afternoon to make something real.
Every squad pitches inside its track. One advances.
Six finalists, main stage, three minutes each in front of the panel.
One region, every industry — students from across Los Angeles County
A single day, tightly held.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 · 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Times may shift slightly before event day.
Check-in & breakfast
Badges, waivers collected, track assignments, loaner laptops, squad tables.
Opening ceremony
Welcome from iUrban Teen, Long Beach City College, and Autodesk. Challenge briefs revealed and the rubric explained in plain language.
AI toolkit walkthrough
A working tour of the no-code and generative tools you'll use today, plus what responsible use looks like.
Ideation sprint
Name the problem, the person it hits, and the outcome you want. Coaches push for specificity.
Build block one
Prototype, draft, design. Mentors circulate between squads.
Lunch & industry table talks
Employer partners sit with tracks. Hear how the problem shows up at work.
Build block two
Refine the prototype and build the three-minute pitch.
Track pitch-offs
Every squad pitches inside its track. One finalist advances per track — so everyone presents, not just the finalists.
Finals
Track finalists pitch to the judging panel. Three minutes each, two minutes of questions.
Deliberation & feedback survey
Judges confer while the room completes the event survey.
Awards
Winners announced by track. Completion certificates for every participant.
Group photo
Students, coaches, families, and partners — everyone together before we close.
For parents & families A parallel morning track — while students build
In planning — times and speakers are proposed and not yet confirmed. Check back before event day.
Students spend the morning in their challenge rooms. Rather than have families wait it out, we're planning a separate session in its own room for the parents and guardians who come with them — plain language, no technical background needed, and no cost.
Families are welcome to stay all day or come for part of it — there's no expectation either way. If you're planning to attend the morning session, let us know at vcalip@lbcc.edu so we can plan the room and the food.
Scored on the thinking, not the polish.
Three judges score six finalists against a published rubric. Judges don't coach, mentor, or advise during the event, and recuse themselves from any squad they're connected to.
The problem is real, specific, and belongs to an identifiable person or business.
25AI does meaningful work in the solution — not decoration on a slide.
25Someone could plausibly use this, and it would matter if they did.
20The squad names the risks — bias, privacy, and who could be harmed.
15Clear, honest, and delivered by the whole squad.
15Three ways in. All free.
Registration runs through Eventbrite. Pick the ticket type that matches you — everything lands on one roster for check-in.
Before you register — about five minutes
The Eventbrite form asks for more than a name and email, so it's worth having a few things ready:
- Your home address, cell number, and expected graduation year
- Under 18? A parent or guardian's full name, cell number, and email
- Any food allergies — meals are provided
You'll also be asked to agree to three iUrban Teen terms: permission to participate, a photo and video release, and an attendance policy. They're worth actually reading rather than clicking past.
Heads up on the attendance policy: the event is free, but iUrban Teen's policy charges a $25 no-show fee if you register and don't show up without telling anyone. Plans change and that's completely fine — just let them know at least 24 hours ahead and there's no fee.
Compete
Come alone or with friends. We'll place you in a squad on the morning of.
- No AI or coding experience needed
- Choose the High School ticket
- Under 18 — a guardian must sign the waiver below
Compete
Currently enrolled at Long Beach City College? Same event, separate ticket so we can plan the rooms.
- Open to every major — not just tech
- Choose the LBCC College Students ticket
- Loaner laptops available on the day
Volunteer
You facilitate, you don't teach AI. If you can keep a room moving and ask good questions, you're qualified.
- Choose the Volunteer Coach ticket
- Virtual training Wed Sept 23, 5:30–7:30 PM
- Registration closes Sept 23
- We'll follow up by email for your track preference
Judging panel
Judges are invited directly rather than ticketed. If you'd like to serve on the panel — or your organization would like to sponsor a challenge track — get in touch.
Email usRequired waiver — separate from Eventbrite
The forms you sign during registration are iUrban Teen's. Long Beach City College requires its own waiver as well, from every student who isn't enrolled at LBCC — with a parent or guardian signature for anyone under 18. Completing Eventbrite does not cover this. Bring it on the day or send it ahead.
Waiver — posting soonTwo coasts of the same coastline.
A Seattle-founded youth STEM program and a Southern California college, running the same play: get students in front of real work, early.
Long Beach City College built the first dedicated AI degree in the California Community College system. The hackathon is hosted at the Trades & Technology Campus, home to the college's career and technical programs.
iUrban Teen has delivered career-focused STEM+Arts programming to students ages 12–18 since 2011, with programs in Washington, Oregon, Texas, and California, and a track record of AI challenge events on college campuses.
Before you sign up.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Most squads build with no-code and generative AI tools. What matters is noticing a real problem and explaining your solution clearly.
Can I register without a team?
Yes, and most students do. You'll be placed into a build squad in your track on the morning of the event.
What if I'm under 18?
Register on Eventbrite with a parent or guardian email. Every student who isn't an enrolled LBCC student also needs a signed Long Beach City College waiver, and under-18s need a parent or guardian signature on it. Bring it on the day or send it ahead.
Do I need a laptop?
Bring one if you have it. A limited number of loaner laptops are available first come, first served.
What does a coach actually do?
Keep your track on schedule, ask questions that sharpen a squad's thinking, and make sure quieter students get a say. Tool questions go to the roaming AI mentors.
Who owns what students build?
Students own their work. LBCC and iUrban Teen may showcase projects to promote future events.
Is there a cost?
No. Registration, meals, and materials are free for every participant.
Where do I register?
On Eventbrite. There are separate free ticket types for high school students, LBCC college students, and volunteer coaches — pick the one that matches you. Coach registration closes September 23.
What if I register and then can't come?
Tell iUrban Teen at least 24 hours ahead and there's nothing owed. Their attendance policy does charge a $25 fee for registering and not showing up without notice — the event is free, but seats and meals are paid for in advance, so an empty chair costs the organization real money. Cancelling early always solves it.
How do I get there, and where do I park?
1. Drive straight to the PS2 parking structure — it's the closest parking to us, and the simplest thing to navigate to. Directions to PS2 parking ↗
If you'd rather aim at the campus entrance first, that's here — Long Beach City College, 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90806.
2. Park and head in on foot.
3. Walk to Dyer Hall, inside the QQ Building — QQ sits next to the MM Building. That's where check-in and the opening happen; signage will be posted on the morning of, and there will be people outside to point you in.
Getting dropped off? Have your driver aim for the PS2 structure as well. If you get turned around on the day, look for anyone in an event shirt — they'll walk you over.
Can my parent or guardian come?
Yes. We're planning a separate morning session for parents and guardians — plain language, no technical background needed — running while students are in their challenge rooms. Details are still being confirmed; the schedule section has what we know so far.
Will photos be taken?
Yes. iUrban Teen photographs its events for its archive and for promotion, and registration includes a media release. If you'd prefer not to be photographed, tell the organizers at check-in.
Do I need to sign anything besides the Eventbrite form?
Yes, if you're not an enrolled LBCC student. The college requires its own waiver, with a guardian signature for anyone under 18. The iUrban Teen permission form in the registration flow is a separate document and doesn't replace it.
What happens after the hackathon?
A follow-on academy is in planning for the months after the event, so students who want to keep building have somewhere to go. Details will be announced here.