Tech Company Hackathon Merch: Apparel for Internal and Public Hackathons

Tech company hackathon merch covers three audiences: participants (tees), winners (premium hoodies or crewnecks), and judges or sponsors (polos or quarter-zips). The participant tee is the most-photographed piece across hackathon content and serves as the lasting memento for the event. Here is the hackathon merch playbook.

Hackathon Participant Tees

The participant tee anchors the hackathon merch program. Specs:

• Style. Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee or Premium CVC Jersey Tee. $19.88-$24.88 VIP base.
• Color. Solid neutral (charcoal, black, navy) with single-color event graphic.
• Design. Hackathon name + year + tagline on the back. Small company logomark on the left chest.
• Sizing. Run unisex and women's-cut alongside each other.

Most hackathons distribute one tee per participant on day one of the event. The tee becomes the visual identifier across hackathon photos and social media content.

Hackathon Winner Pieces

For winning teams (1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, special category winners), step up to a premium piece:

• Champion Performance Hoodie. Premium fleece, holds shape across years. The most-given hackathon winner piece. $45.88 VIP base.
• Champion Crewneck. Premium fleece, no-hood. $41.88.
• Comfort Soft Hoodie. Mid-tier alternative for budget-constrained events. $36.88.

Add a small "Hackathon Winner [Year]" graphic on the sleeve or back. The piece becomes a long-term reminder for the winner and shows up in their LinkedIn photos.

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Judges, Sponsors, and Organizer Apparel

For judges, sponsors, and the organizing team, branded polos or quarter-zips identify them across the event:

• Branded polo for judges. Sport-Tek Performance Polo at $34.88 in a contrast color. Easy to spot across the floor.
• Branded quarter-zip for sponsors. Sport-Tek Performance Quarter-Zip at $29.88 with the sponsor company logo.
• Branded crewneck for organizers. Perfect Soft Crewneck at $34.88 with "Organizer" or "Staff" on the back.

Hackathon Merch Timing and Order

1. 3-4 weeks ahead. Finalize hackathon name, design, and participant count.
2. 3 weeks ahead. Place the order. Participant tees, winner pieces, and judge apparel all in one shop.
3. 1-2 weeks ahead. Pieces print and ship to the organizing team's address.
4. Event day. Distribute participant tees at check-in. Hand out winner pieces at the awards ceremony.

Sign up at shops.beargrips.com/for/tech-company to set up the hackathon merch shop. The same shop link can host multiple hackathons across the year as separate collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best tee for a hackathon?

The Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee at $19.88 VIP base. Soft ring-spun cotton, fits true to size, prints the hackathon name and year cleanly. The most-ordered hackathon tee.

What works as a hackathon winner prize piece?

A premium hoodie or crewneck (Champion Performance Hoodie at $45.88 or Champion Crewneck at $41.88) with a "Hackathon Winner [Year]" graphic. Winners keep these pieces for years.

How do judges and sponsors get identified at hackathons?

Branded polos in a contrast color (Sport-Tek Performance Polo at $34.88) for judges. Branded quarter-zips for sponsors with the sponsor company logo. Easy visual identification across the event floor.

When should we order hackathon merch?

3-4 weeks ahead of the event. The shop prints and ships in about a week with buffer for the organizing team to distribute pieces ahead of check-in.