In addition to potential prize money, the Make-A-Thon provides competitors with valuable opportunities to design solutions to real-world problems, form relationships with industry mentors and judges, and meet and work with like-minded students in a fun and engaging environment.

Innovation that starts here doesn't have to end here! Regardless of judging outcomes, teams interested in exploring their ideas beyond the Make-A-Thon can connect with the organizing student team from the Energy Club for guidance and resources to help them take next steps. While we can’t guarantee full implementation, we’re committed to pointing you toward opportunities, networks, and advice that can help your concept grow. 

First Place: $2,500

Second Place: $2,000

Third Place: $1,000

The Make-A-Thon takes place from Thursday, January 29th to Sunday, February 1st.

This event is non-lock-in, so teams can spend as much or as little time as they like in between the opening and closing ceremonies working on their idea. That being said, more time translates to greater odds of success. 

Thursday, January 29th

6:30pm-8:00pm, Wilkinson Auditorium 

Opening Keynote

Official Kick-Off

Dinner and FAQs

Friday, January 30th

Independent Work Time: 12pm-9pm, Location TBD

Mentor Blocks: Time TBD, Location TBD

Saturday, January 31st

Independent Work Time: 12pm-9pm, Location TBD

Mentor Blocks: Time TBD, Location TBD

Sunday, February 1st:

10:45am-2:30pm, Wilkinson Auditorium 

Project Pitches & Final Presentation

Closing Keynote

Awards Presentation

We invite industry professionals and practitioners to engage with the Make-A-Thon as valued mentors and judges, and would be honored to have your support. 

Mentors provide in-person (preferred) or virtual support to teams throughout Friday and Saturday, in 2 hour blocks (or more if desired). 

Judges attend in-person and evaluate final pitches from teams on Sunday afternoon, providing feedback that will be used to determine the winning teams.

If interested in mentoring or judging the Make-A-Thon, please reach out via email to tyler.ratcliffe@duke.edu!

Who can participate?

Both undergraduate and undergraduates are able to compete in this competition. All majors and academic backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to participate. Sustainable innovation comes in many forms and this Make-A-Thon is designed for students to explore how their skills can make an impact. 

What are the teams like?

You must be in a team of 2-4 people. If you do not have a team, we can assign you one. 

Do I need to create a physical product?

No! We do expect a model/prototype of some sort, it does not necessarily have to be physical. 

Can our idea be a continuation from a previous project?

No, all ideas must be completely new and developed with your team following the Kickoff event. No previous research or development is allowed.

How many teams can participate?

We are only accepting 15 teams (60 people) this year. Teams are accepted by first come, first serve, so sign up right away! We will also have a waitlist.

What does "innovating for impact" mean for this competition?

Impact begins with understanding context. This Make-A-Thon is about igniting collaboration, not imposing uninformed solutions. While this event's weekend-long timeframe doesn’t allow for deeper stakeholder engagement typically required of co-design processes, we encourage teams to approach challenges with humility. This means teams should research existing efforts, learn from community priorities, and test assumptions about what solutions people need or have already tried. Innovation here means designing ideas that could complement ongoing work and be practical, sustainable, and respectful of those already doing the hard work. 

Real impact is about creating possibilities that fit into real lives and existing systems, not imposing quick fixes or assuming we know best. Teams are encouraged to consider the perspectives of the widest spectrum of community voices as possible and seek to understand the context and priorities behind identified challenges. Real impact isn't about being flashy, it's about creating solutions that make sense in practice and make life better for the people and planet.