Concept A stripped-down, "anti-conference" version of AF's flagship annual conference, run in partnership with university clubs. Alongside a hackathon, a panel will occur with candid career advice and real industry problems students don't get exposed to in school. Hackathon format is a business-pitch/hackathon hybrid where teams pitch as if founding a company to a panel acting as VCs. Winners of a hackathon to pitch to real clients at the main conference.

Format (per event) 2-day, 24-hour event, capacity ~50 hackathon participants, less than 100 people total, noon-to-noon plus dinner.

Day 1 (Private)

Team Introductions and Mixers: 10:00AM

AF Introduction and Overview: 10:45AM

Panel discussion on career advice: 11:00AM

Hackathon kickoff + pizza lunch: 12PM

Day 2 (Open to the public)

Builds submitted: 12PM

Second panel on real industry problems: 1PM

Demo and pitch to a judging panel: 2PM

Closing dinner at Proof Kitchen and Lounge (TBD): 6PM

Locations & Timeline

Waterloo: Sept 26–27, 2026, QNC Building.

Requirements

Theme "Growing Canada:" economic growth, nation-building, projects that create real value. We want teams to tackle national problems that move the country forward. Ideas that make Canadian companies more competitive globally, government departments more efficient, or tools that help people do more, build more, and produce more.

Ascendance Foundry's Hackathon

Prize breakdown

Timeline

About

Requirements