DSU, Wildfire Ignite Hackathon Showcases Innovation, Collaboration

April 23, 2026

Dakota State University students built and launched AI-powered solutions during the recent WildfireIgnite Hackathon, a three-day event focused on rapid prototyping, teamwork, and applied learning.

Hosted April 17-19 at the Beacom Institute of Technology in partnership with Wildfire Labs, the event brought together students, founders, and community members to develop working software using emerging AI tools. Participants formed teams, generated ideas, and moved quickly from concept to functional prototypes using platforms such as Claude Code and other AI-assisted development tools.

"The hands-on nature of this experience is what makes it meaningful," said Dr. Mary Bell, dean of the Beacom College of Cyber & Computer Sciences. "Students are working together to solve problems, test ideas, and build functional solutions in a matter of hours. That kind of experience changes how they think about what is possible."

Award-winning teams at the event were:

• First Place ($1,000) - Verifund
  • Idea Owner: Chase McDonald (Augustana University)
  • Team Members: Chasity Christiansen (South Dakota State University) and Austin Kaiser (DSU)
• Second Place ($500) - "बचत"(Bachat, meaning "savings" in Nepalese; all DSU students)
  • Idea Owner: Arambha Subedi
  • Team Members: Hitmaan Gurung, Bibek Shah, and Sukrit Koirala
• Third Place ($250) - Trojan Trails (all DSU students)
  • Idea Owner: Abdul Muiz Shahid
  • Team: Pawan Chaudhary

Mike Vetter, co-founder of Wildfire Labs, said the event reflects a growing shift in how innovation happens.

"I started my first company as a DSU student in Madison, and the biggest change between then and now is how fast you can build," said Vetter. "These students went from blank screen to working apps in a weekend using AI tools that didn't exist last year. That's the new startup equation, and it's happening right here in South Dakota, which is exactly why Wildfire Labs runs these events."

Students also noted the importance of AI tools in enabling rapid development, with several describing them as essential to completing projects within the event's timeframe. At the same time, participants identified time constraints and technical integration challenges as areas for improvement, reflecting the complexity of building functional systems under pressure.

The Wildfire Ignite Hackathon was designed to create accessible pathways for innovation, allowing participants to take ideas from concept to prototype and explore potential next steps for continued development. Organizers plan to host the event once per semester to sustain momentum and expand participation.

"This is about creating opportunities for students to take action on their ideas," Bell said. "When they can quickly build and test solutions, it opens the door to continued development, collaboration, and potential pathways to bring those ideas further."

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