Datathons
Smith Analytics Consortium 6th Annual Datathon
Hosted in collaboration with American University and Deloitte
The Datathon, open to ALL University of Maryland and American University students, is a 15-day long, data-focused competition. Students will use their problem-solving, analytics, and data visualization skills to pitch a music event that will maximize marketability and profit.
This year’s Datathon will award a total of $7,500 in cash prizes!
View the Datathon Interest Event Presentation to learn more about the Datathon.
Why Participate?
- All finalist teams will win a cash prize!
- The winning team will receive dedicated, one-on-one time with Deloitte practitioners and leaders about career opportunities.
- Learn real-world consulting concepts through the Deloitte Core Consulting Workshop, designed for your success in the Datathon.
- Network with Deloitte professionals over 30+ days.
- Practice and showcase your data analytics, business strategy, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Datathon Timeline
| February 24 | Registration Opens |
| March 3 | Datathon Interest Event |
| March 26 | Registration Closes |
| March 28 | Core Consulting Workshop & Datathon Kickoff |
| April 11 | Datathon Finale |
Past Case Competitions and Datathons
Smith Analytics Consortium 5th Annual Datathon
Intended Participants: All UMD Students & American University Kogod School of Business Students
Date: April 12, 2024
The 5th Annual Datathon hosted by the Smith Analytics Consortium (SAC) in collaboration with Deloitte concluded recently, following a 15-day long data-focused competition. The competition provided a platform for students to demonstrate their problem-solving, analytics, data visualization, and presentation abilities as they vied to propose a city for a new NBA team, complete with a selected sponsor, mascot, and international partnership.
A remarkable turnout of 370 students forming 53 teams participated in the event. Following the initial round, 6 standout teams were selected as finalists to present their comprehensive analyses to a panel of 4 judges from Deloitte. The winning teams not only secured a collective prize pool of $7,500 but also earned the invaluable opportunity for a one-on-one session with the Deloitte leaders and professionals.
Learn more about the event: The Smith Analytics Consortium's Annual Datathon Breaks Another Record
Smith Analytics Consortium 4th Annual Datathon
Intended Participants: All UMD Students
Date: April 28, 2023
The Smith Analytics Consortium (SAC) held its 4th annual Datathon, hosted in collaboration with Deloitte and KPMG. The event was an 11-day-long, data-focused competition. Students had the opportunity to use their problem-solving, analytics, and data visualization skills to pitch a company to investors planning to buy and rent properties in NYC through a popular short-term apartment rental platform.
A total of 243 students across 47 teams participated in the event. After a virtual first round, six finalist teams presented their analysis live to judges from Deloitte and KPMG at the finale. Winning teams earned a total of $7,500 in prize money.
Learn more about the event: Students Across Campus Compete in Smith Analytics Consortium’s Annual Datathon
Smith Analytics Consortium Annual Datathon
Intended Participants: All programs at Smith School
Date: April 29, 2022
The Smith Analytics Consortium (SAC) hosted the 3rd annual Datathon, a 9-day long data-focused competition for all student bodies across campus. Our participants had the opportunity to use their problem-solving, analytics, and data visualization skills to build a company revenue analysis and sales forecasting model for Bandcamp, an indie-style creator platform. They further presented growth strategies backed by their analysis to our judges from Deloitte and competed for a chance at winning the Annual SAC Datathon.
You can learn more about the event here: Smith Students showcase analytical skills
Smith Analytics Consortium Annual Datathon
Intended Participants: All programs at Smith School
Date: April 19, 2021
The Smith Analytics Consortium (SAC) hosted the 2nd Annual Datathon, a 2 week-long data-focused competition to build a market entry business case for a renewable energy (photovoltaic (PV) solar array) company in Maryland. The Datathon culminated in a recommendation for the market entry of a solar (PV) company in MD. The center also conducted a Core Consulting workshop with Deloitte Professionals wherein students were trained on specific consulting skills by industry experts.
Smith Analytics Consortium Annual Datathon
Intended Participants: All programs at Smith School
Date: March 29, 2020
The Smith Analytics Consortium (SAC) hosted the inaugural Annual Datathon and Analytics Conference that involved Thought Leadership panels and presentations highlighting faculty and industry speakers. During the datathon, our students had a chance to use their problem-solving, data analytics, and data visualization skills to analyze the impact of intermediate transportation trends within the DC Metro area as it relates to Capital Bikeshare and DC Taxis and present recommendations for impacted businesses (i.e. taxi companies) to consider in their effort to regain their market share.
Intended Participants: students enrolled in the MBA program at Smith School
Date: September 1, 2020
Students were organized into teams of roughly five members each and given 48 hours to prepare presentations for judging panels composed of KPMG professionals, as well as Maryland Smith faculty and alumni. The top three presentations selected by judges then advanced to a final round.
Adobe Analytics Challenge 2020
Intended Participants: All college students
Date: Application Deadline: September 22, 2020
The Adobe Analytics Challenge is a unique analytics-focused business case competition where university students are given the opportunity to use Adobe’s industry-leading analytics products and access to real-world data from leading organizations such as Major League Baseball, T‑Mobile, Starwood, Lenovo, Condé Nast, Comcast, Overstock.com, Backcountry.com, Sony PlayStation, and MGM Resort International.