University Housing

100-Hour Challenge:

Put your creativeness to the test in this accessible-to-all innovation contest. You could win $1,200 in cash prizes in one weekend!

2023 Sign Up Form

Create and pitch a valuable, innovative or socially beneficial product or service using materials you can find in your dorm room, home or apartment. Think like an entrepreneur and keep in mind the three elements of entrepreneurship: having an idea, taking action and creating value. To succeed in this Challenge, you should test assumptions, seize opportunities and be creative. The contest is administered by the StartUp Learning Community at UW-Madison and is open to all currently enrolled UW-Madison students.

Sponsors: StartUp Learning Community, Wisconsin School of Business, and Innovate Network.

If you have any questions at any point either before or during the contest, contact sari.judge@housing.wisc.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Rules

How it Works

  1. View the approved items list here starting the morning of November 9 at 9 a.m. Register for the contest and send a photo of your “materials” before you begin creating.
  2. Work alone or with a team to build and document your working prototype…have fun and be creative!
  3. Submit and pitch your creation by posting a video or photo series/presentation to a public website by 11:59 p.m. on November 13 (here are some video submissions from previous years)
  4. Winners will be selected in three categories: Most Potential Revenue Value, Most Creative, and Most Potential Social Value.

Important Dates

  • November 9: view the list of approved items
  • November 13: submit your video/photo gallery of your prototype by 11:59 p.m.

If you still have questions after consulting the contest rules and technical requirements, please contact the StartUp Learning Community Program Coordinator, Sari Judge, or call 608-332-3941.

2023 Winners

Past Winners

2022 Results

2021 Results

2020 Results

2019 Results

2018 Results

2017 Results