DATATHON JOURNEY
SHOOTING STARS FOUNDATION PRESENTS
IBM Z DATATHON
POWERED BY
OCT 17-18 2026 | $50K+ IN PRIZES | FREE OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
AI for Good
Turning Tech
into Impact
24
Hour
Datathon
45+
Countries
Worldwide
8
In-Person
Locations
16,0000+
Students
Registered
$50,000+
in
Prizes
IBM Z Datathon: Build AI for Good. In 24 Hours. At Global Scale.
Join the IBM Z Datathon—one of the world’s largest datathons spanning 5 continents—where students level up AI and data science skills to create technology for good. This fast‑paced, collaborative experience brings together global talent, hands-on real-world challenges, and expert mentorship—all in just 24 hours. Open to everyone. Join virtually or at one of 8 university locations worldwide.
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Work on real-world challenges powered by IBM Z, the platform behind the world’s most critical industries for secure, scalable computing.
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High-energy interactive 24-hour Datathon, where teams collaborate to build, test, and pitch solutions in one exciting sprint.
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Hands-on problem solving, mentorship, and projects that help make the world a better place.
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Earn industry-recognized badges and build skills that will differentiate you in your career journey.
DATATHON THEMES
Real-Time AI for Critical Decisions
Detect. Decide. Respond.
Create AI systems that analyze streaming data, identify risk, and support high-stakes decisions as events unfold.
AI Secured: Innovation Without Exposure
Powerful AI. Protected Data.
Build privacy-preserving AI that can learn from sensitive datasets while protecting identity, trust, and compliance.
Wildcard: Beyond the Obvious
Your boldest AI + Data Idea.
Push boundaries with a novel data-driven AI solution that is responsible, technically ambitious, and wildly innovative.
Mohan Babu University, India
DILEEP RUTHIN
“For me, technology is about driving social innovation at scale, and this platform proved what's possible when a global community tackles complex problems together. The Datathon is more than a competition—it’s an incubator for the next generation of global builders.”
DATATHON THEMES
DATATHON THEMES
AI Innovation For All Regional Excellence Awards
APAC Regional Champion
Top team affiliated with a university
in Asia-Pacific region for AI innovation
APAC
EMEA Regional Champion
Top team affiliated with a university
in EMEA region for AI innovation
EMEA
Americas Regional Champion
Top team affiliated with a university
in Americas region for AI innovation
Americas
AI Innovation For All University Excellence Awards
University with the most creative and impactful AI solution for Tech for Good on IBM Z
Most Innovative AI University
University with the most registered teams actively submitting innovative AI solutions on IBM Z
Highest Participation Award
University that best promotes IBM Z enterprise solutions powered by AI
Best IBM Z Advocacy
Team Recognition Program
Award-winning teams receive prestigious recognition to showcase their achievements.
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IBM Z Day Feature: Teams showcased during the annual IBM Z Day global celebration
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IBM Z Online Community: Highlighted in the global IBM Z Online Community
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Social amplification: Ready-to-use content for team members' LinkedIn and social media
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Career Boost: Recognition that enhances your professional profile in AI and enterprise technology
Recognition Highlights
Resources
IBM Z Xplore
Learn by doing with real-world challenges on IBM Z—earn digital badges and unlock pathways to mainframe careers.
IBM Z and LinuxONE Community
Connect with experts, explore insights, and collaborate with a global community building on IBM Z and LinuxONE.
Advocacy Hub
Showcase your expertise, build your personal brand, and get recognized as an IBM Z advocate.