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HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF FINANCIAL TECH AND WIN $15,000

Ready to unlock the future of FinTech?
Join the Husky Hack and Innovate. Empower. Transform!

Sound Credit Union and UW Tacoma’s Milgard Center for Business Analytics are teaming up for the Husky Hack: Innovate. Empower. Transform. This fintech innovation event invites college students across Washington State to take part in a high-energy, in-person hackathon where they will ideate, design, and pitch fintech solutions that improve financial health and enhance the member experience for credit unions.

Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry mentors, present their ideas to expert judges, and gain hands-on experience in what it takes to build and pitch a fintech product from the ground up. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or strategist, this event is your launchpad into fintech innovation. Applications open September 5, 2025.

ENTRIES DUE November 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm

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PRIZES

The FinTech Husky Hack will unfold over two high-impact phases. 

During Phase One, individuals and teams will work on building their product or prototype throughout the day. At the end of the phase, participants will submit what they have built, along with their HuskyHack one-pager, for evaluation by the jury. The top three submissions will each receive a $1,000 prize for their innovation and progress. 

In Phase Two (Final Development & Submission), individuals and teams will continue refining and improving their products. Final projects will be submitted through Devpost, where judges, mentors, and industry leaders will evaluate the entries. The best overall project will receive the $15,000 Grand Prize, along with mentorship opportunities and potential partnership discussions to further develop their product. 

Winners will also receive expert feedback and coaching from industry professionals and entrepreneurs, plus a six-month membership to CoMotion Labs to help bring their product to life. 

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HOW TO ENTER

College students across Washington State are invited to participate in the FinTech Husky Hack by registering through this website. All entries must be submitted by the registration deadline, and participants must check in by 9:00 AM on Hack Day to take part. Late entries will not be accepted. 

During Phase One, students may participate individually or in teams to design and build their fintech solution. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges based on creativity, execution, and relevance to the problem statement. 

The top three teams or individuals from Phase One will be recognized as Phase One winners, and all participants will continue developing their projects in Phase Two, culminating in a final demo and judging session. 

Final evaluations will be based on technical execution, functionality, user experience, scalability, and presentation quality. 

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WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We’re seeking bold, creative, and practical fintech solutions aimed at helping users better manage and maximize their financial opportunities. Submissions should identify a real-world problem, show originality, and demonstrate a strong understanding of user needs. We value thoughtful technical planning, clear design, and scalable ideas. Strong entries will combine creativity, user empathy, and effective communication to deliver impactful solutions.

 

Areas we are interested in include, but are not limited to:
  • Personalized Advice Platforms
  • Lending and crowdfunding platforms
  • Tools to enhance financial wellness
  • Digital lending
  • Digital banking, wallets, payments or settlements 
  • Intelligent augmentation
  • Machine-assisted cognition
  • Blockchain/Cryptocurrency
  • Cyber security
  • Smart contracts
  • Asset management
  • Artificial Intelligence/Automation
  • Big Data/Machine Learning

ENTRIES DUE November 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm

TIPS FOR CREATING A WINNING IDEA

Understand FinTech

FinTech is a multibillion-dollar industry that is fundamentally changing how we interact with money. You can get a quick introduction below:

Know Your Customer

To appeal to Sound Credit Union and their members, be sure to familiarize yourself with the differences between credit unions and banks. Unlike banks, credit unions are not-for-profit and member-owned, meaning they’re designed to serve their community rather than shareholders. You can learn more about Sound Credit Union at soundcu.com.

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Each person who submits an application agrees to the following terms and conditions.

Terms & Conditions

FinTech Husky Hack: Official Rules 

Sound Credit union  

FINTECH HACKATHON RULES

  1. Agreement to Rules. Each person who registers (“Registrant”) for the FinTech Hackathon competition (“Competition”) presented by Sound Credit Union (“Credit Union”) and the Milgard Center for Business Analytics of the University of Washington (“UW”) agrees to the following rules, terms, and conditions.
  2. Administration of Competition. The Credit Union is responsible for the administration of the Competition. All decisions as to the Competition rules and interpretations are exclusively within the sole discretion of the Credit Union and may be changed from time to time without notice or recourse. The Credit Union is not responsible for any error in administering the Competition including but not limited to the printing of any materials, information or the announcement of any prize winner. 
  3. Persons eligible to register for and participate in the Competition include any college students attending a college in Washington state.
  4. Application Information. Each Registrant for the Competition is solely responsible for the completion of any registration form that may be required by the Credit Union or UW, including responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or completeness. The Credit Union will not be responsible for any registration or content provided in a registration. Registrant understands and agrees Registrant will be sharing personal information and proprietary information to the Credit Union. The Credit Union may share Registrant information with judges of the competition, officials of UW, and persons directly affiliated with or performing functions related to the Competition. The Credit Union will not share Registrant’s information with any party not directly affiliated with the Competition.
  5. Prize/Benefits Restrictions. The Competition is not a game of chance but is based upon Competition performance criteria. The Credit Union and its directors, officers, employees, agents and owners accept no responsibility for a Registrant failing to receive a prize. All prizes and benefits are awarded “AS IS” and “WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,” express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). The Competition benefits are non-refundable, non-transferable, and not subject to exchange. No substitute prize or benefits will be awarded or provided. Prize winners are responsible for payment of any applicable federal, state, and local taxes on the prize and benefits provided.  
  6. Publication of Winner. By registering, Registrant understands that the Credit Union shall have the right to use any prize winner’s voice, name, likeness and photograph(s) for advertising and promotional purposes without further authorization, compensation, remuneration or notification except where prohibited by law.
  7. Release of Liability. By registering the Competition or accepting a prize, each Registrant releases the Credit Union and its directors, officers, employers, and agents from any liability whatsoever and waiving any and all causes of action related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Competition promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize or benefit (including any type or manner of costs or damages), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty, or any other theory.
  8. By registering, Registrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the Credit Union directors, officers, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) against any and all claims, liability, damages or causes of action, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to or arising out of either (i) Registrant’s participation in the Competition; or (ii) the receipt or use of any prize or benefits awarded in the Competition.
  9. Violation of Rules. Any entrant who violates these rules are subject to disqualification from participation in the Competition or claiming or using any prize or benefit. Any such decision is in the sole discretion of the Credit Union. Each Registrant agrees that if the Registrant is a potential prize winner, he or she may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Prize Acceptance Form or similar form within two (2) days of attempted notification.
  10. No Liability. In the event the Credit Union is prevented from continuing with this promotion, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the promotion is severely undermined by any event beyond the Credit Union’s control, including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within the Credit Union’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), the Credit Union shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, cancel, or terminate the Competition at any time, without further obligation.