Students Develop Business Ideas at Lincoln University Hackathon

Lincoln University students took part in the Side Hustle Business Hackathon on March 26, collaborating in teams to develop and pitch their own business ideas.

Lincoln University of Missouri hosted The Side Hustle Business Hackathon Event on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Room 100 of Page Library, giving students a dedicated space to develop and market business ideas.

Held from 9 to 11 a.m., the hands-on, team-based session brought students together to work on creating a product, service or business concept. Participants worked in groups and applied the seven stages of the product development process: idea generation, research, planning, prototyping, sourcing, costing and commercialization.

Six student groups participated in the event, led by Ellie Brune, Bre Kelley, Quinton Ryerson, Bryson Holtmeyer, Emma Davis and Jamir Hunt. The format allowed students to collaborate outside the traditional classroom setting while refining their ideas and making progress on their projects.

Students said the event provided valuable time to focus and work collectively in a different environment. Several noted that the session helped them think more intentionally about developing and marketing their ideas. Davis and Hunt said they found the experience especially beneficial.

The event emphasized applied learning, teamwork and entrepreneurial thinking, reinforcing the role of experiential learning within the School of Business.

The session was facilitated by Abdul Ajia, Lincoln University business and marketing professor.