BUILD18

Blog

News, tech talks and deadlines from the officers. Dates coming up are on the calendar.

  2. Tech Talk: Intro to Microcontrollers

    How to use Arduino, STM32 and Raspberry Pi to build your project for the hackathon. The slides are up for anyone who missed it.

    A lecture hall full of students at the microcontrollers tech talk

  3. 2026 Kickoff

    Friday, September 12, 4 to 5 pm in the Singleton Room: what CMU's annual hardware hackathon is and how to take part. Pizza provided.

    Build18 Kickoff flyer: September 12, 4 to 5 pm, Singleton Room

  4. Speed recruiting with Astera Labs

    The first event of the semester: speed recruiting and networking with Astera Labs, Monday, September 8, 2:30 to 3:30 pm in Hamerschlag Hall 1207. Coffee and pastries provided.

    Astera Labs speed recruiting flyer: September 8, 2:30 to 3:30 pm, HH 1207

  5. Tech Talk: PCB Design

    A PCB design workshop, 5 to 6 pm in Hamerschlag Hall 1207.

    Students in a classroom at the PCB design workshop

  6. Team matching

    Form your Build18 2025 team, whether you have a project idea or are looking for one to join. Boba for everyone who RSVPs. Questions go to build18@ece.cmu.edu.

    A crowded hallway of students at team matching

  7. Tech Talk: Optiver

    The first workshop of the year: Thursday, September 26, 5 to 6:30 pm in Hamerschlag Hall 1207.

    A speaker presenting a Build18 tech talk

  8. Build18 2025 Kickoff

    The kickoff for Build18 2025, with a walkthrough of how to sign up and form a team.

    A packed room of students at the Build18 2025 kickoff

  9. Build18 2024 photos

    Demo Day 2024 in photos: the projects and the people who built them.

    Builders demoing a project at Demo Day 2024

Last year's dates

How the 2026 cycle ran, from kickoff to Build Week.

  1. Speed recruiting with Astera Labs

    2:30 to 3:30 pm · Hamerschlag Hall 1207

  2. Kickoff

    4 to 5 pm · Singleton Room

  3. Tech Talk: Microcontrollers

    5 to 6 pm · Doherty Hall

  4. Team matching

    4:30 to 6:30 pm · Scott Hall

  5. Team registration deadline

    Midnight · Accounts made and teams joined.

  6. Track 2 deadline

    Midnight · Ambitious projects submitted.

  7. Track 1 deadline

    Midnight · Standard projects submitted.

  8. Tech Talk: CAD

    CAD, 3D printing and laser cutting.

  9. Parts list deadline

    Midnight · Builder contracts signed and parts lists final.

  10. Parts pickup

    9 am to 4 pm · Build Week starts.