Dates: 9/24/2026 - 9/28/2026

Eligibility:

ALL full time USC students regardless of school or status (undergraduate or graduate) are encouraged to participate.  

If you are not physically present at the final judging round on Monday evening, you will not be eligible to compete for the prize. 

USC Alumni may participate in Origin Weekend, but will not be eligible for the cash prize. Active students at other universities outside of USC are eligible for the cash prize.

Each team must consist of at least one active USC student.

Min team size: 2 participants 
Max team size: 6 participants 

Project and Submission Requirements:

1x 6-Slide Pitch Deck
1x Link to Your Working Project
1x 30-60 Second Demo Video

Prizes: $5000 in Prizes

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection:

Origin Weekend Judging Criteria
Scoring: 1 (minimal) – 5 (exceptional)

Problem & Customer Insight
Is the problem clear, specific, and significant?
Did the team identify and understand their target customers?
Did they gather any evidence (interviews, research, etc.) to validate the need?

Solution & Business Model
Does the solution clearly address the problem for the target customer?
Is the value proposition strong and differentiated from alternatives?
Did the team articulate a plausible way this could be sustainable (who pays, how, why)?

Execution & Communication
Did the team create a compelling prototype, demo, or MVP concept?
Was the pitch clear, engaging, and well-structured?
Did the team show collaboration, creativity, and awareness of what comes next?

Code of Conduct:
Be respectful. Harassment and abuse are never tolerated. If you are in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or if you witness inappropriate behavior, please find the nearest organizer or send a direct message to any staff member on Slack.