OVERVIEW

Catapult started as a way to lower the barrier for students at Purdue to build and launch real products. There were plenty of students with ideas, but no clear way for them to start. Catapult became the on-ramp: no code required, no resume checks, just a place to experiment, fail, learn, and actually launch something.

BACKGROUND

Before Catapult, Purdue’s founder scene had energy but little structure. Hackathons felt too technical, pitch competitions too formal, and most events missed the messy middle where actual building happens. I wanted to fill that gap and show that you didn’t need permission or a pedigree to try.

EXPLORATIONS

Catapult v1

The first Catapult was built from scratch. I designed the event structure, secured campus spaces, managed logistics, and pulled together a team. The focus was hands-on: workshops, building sessions, mentorship, and a final pitch to judges, all within 24 hours. Students from all over campus formed teams, shipped first-time products, and learned the basics of problem scoping, team work, building fast, and presenting ideas. The outcomes were messy, but the process worked — students built real startup skills in a short, high-pressure window.

Catapult v2

With momentum from v1, Catapult grew into something bigger. I rebranded the event to feel bold, direct, and for students by students. Catapult became a 36-hour sprint that invited anyone — designers, coders, marketers, musicians, writers — to join and build. We stripped away the usual gatekeeping and replaced it with clear, builder-first language and a sense of humor. The second version raised over $50,000 in sponsorships, brought in 300 students from more than 25 majors, and sold out all available spots. Classrooms filled up with teams making everything from hardware to generative AI tools. Catapult became a staple of Purdue’s startup culture.

IMPACT

Catapult showed that you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley or an elite accelerator to build something real. When you create a space that is fast-paced, welcoming, and open, students show up ready to try. The event made entrepreneurship at Purdue visible, practical, and fun. Catapult became the centerpiece for the builder community on campus.

LEARNINGS

• If you make it easy and fun to start, people will jump in — even if they’ve never built before

• Momentum comes from creating formats that match how people actually want to work, not copying what’s already out there

• You have to keep the event scrappy enough to stay open, but organized enough to be sustainable as it grows

• Builder culture thrives on trust, humor, and energy, not just on structure

• True community-building means letting go of strict categories and welcoming all kinds of talent

• The hardest part is giving people the excuse and the space to actually launch — everything else follows