RevolutionUC hackathon highlights student ingenuity at 1819

As Cincinnati’s largest student-led hackathon, the event gave rise to supercharged innovation and forward-thinking product concepts – plus late-night milkshakes and ukulele lessons.

RevUC is just the latest coding competition to take over 1819, which has become the home for many of Cincinnati’s leading hackathons. MakeUC and UC Startup Weekend also turned to 1819 to host hackathons over the past few months due to the Hub’s advanced facilities and easy access to entrepreneurial expertise.

It’s always a big deal when RevolutionUC hosts its 24-hour event at the 1819 Innovation Hub – it’s one of the Midwest’s most competitive student-led hackathons. Nearly 300 students from 31 different schools headed to the Cincinnati Innovation District for RevUC 2025 to have fun, network and potentially tap into its prize pool of nearly $14,000.

After an intense weekend of hacking, students presented their solutions and creations to RevUC judges who named the top three teams. Below are the weekend’s winners and their innovative products:

1. Needlehelp: A robotic arm that accurately inserts and removes surgical needles, reducing human error and optimizing placement
2. Memora: A wearable bracelet powered by machine learning designed to help dementia patients track essential tasks and recognize key family members
3. FUNDR: A fundraising app for sports teams to effectively identify potential donors

Additional prizes at RevUC were awarded to teams for the best business plan, most technically impressive design, best social impact, most useless hack, best use of augmented reality (AR) and the people’s choice. Whether teams won or not, they enjoyed fellowship, collaboration and out-of-the-ordinary mid-hack activities like competitive capture the flag and a Bob Ross-inspired painting session.

RevUC was organized by UC’s Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and gained sponsorships from companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Fifth Third Bank, NordVPN, Medpace and Kinetic Vision.

There’s been no shortage of hackathons at the 1819 Innovation Hub over the last few months, with MakeUC and UC Startup Weekend attracting crowds in November and January, respectively. Each hackathon hosted at 1819 reveals how compelling the building has become as a home for student innovation in Southwest Ohio.

In late January, UC Startup Weekend filled 1819 with more than 120 entrepreneurial students hoping to launch Cincinnati’s next great business ventures. UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the three-day event, featuring $5,000 in awards and prizes for winners, access to 1819 resources such as the Ground Floor Makerspace and chances to network with local business leaders.

“Students gained experience to apply to their business ideas, a potential game-changer for any startup when attracting partners and investors,” said Josie Dalton, associate director of UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship. “This competition is a chance for students to showcase their innovative concepts, propelling them into the spotlight and increasing their chances of success in the competitive business landscape.”

Between RevUC, MakeUC and UC Startup Weekend, it’s become clear that the 1819 Innovation Hub is a go-to space for hosting Cincinnati’s hackathons. The building’s roomy and cutting-edge facilities, along with its easy access to regional innovation leaders, make the Hub an appealing option for organizing hackathons.

“1819 is more than just a venue,” Vennemeyer states, “it’s a truly supportive ecosystem. From the staff to the industry partners, everyone is committed to fostering innovation and making every event a success. The space itself is incredible, and every year we hear from participants about how much they love working in an environment that inspires creativity and collaboration.”

Whether teams are brainstorming the next innovative technology at MakeUC or enjoying a casual mid-hack ukulele break during RevUC, there’s a place for it at 1819. The building’s wealth of startup mentors, expansive facilities and role as the Center for the Silicon Heartland make it a compelling choice for hackathons – as revealed over the last few months.

Featured image at top: RevolutionUC attendees hacking. Photo/Daniel Vennemeyer