TBM Council Hackathon
Innovate. Collaborate. Transform Technology Business Management.
Join the inaugural TBM Council Hackathon to build innovative solutions that solve real-world Technology Business Management challenges using AI, analytics, automation, and the TBM Framework.
What is the Hackathon?
The TBM Council Hackathon is a collaborative innovation competition where teams design and demonstrate practical solutions to common Technology Business Management challenges.
Participants will apply or demonstrate use of the TBM Framework, leverage modern technologies such as AI and automation, and develop solutions that improve how organizations manage technology investments and business value.
The Hackathon is vendor-neutral. Participants are free to use any software, platform, programming language, cloud provider, AI model, or other technology of their choice to develop and demonstrate their solution.
Judging will focus on the quality of the solution, its application of the TBM Framework, innovation, and business value – not the technologies or vendors used.
Selected solutions, finalists, and winners will be showcased during the 2026 TBM Conference in Miami.
Why Participate?
Whether you’re a TBM practitioner, FinOps professional, IT finance leader, architect, data analyst, developer, or simply passionate about advancing Technology Business Management, the Hackathon offers an opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and make a lasting impact on the TBM community.
By participating, you’ll help shape the future of Technology Business Management by developing innovative solutions that the TBM community can learn from, adapt, and build upon. The best ideas have the potential to inspire future best practices and practical approaches across the TBM community.
Participant Benefits:
- Solve real-world technology challenges.
- Showcase your innovation to TBM leaders and practitioners.
- Network with peers from organizations across the TBM community.
- Gain recognition at the 2026 TBM Conference.
Participant Rewards:
Participants who submit a solution will receive:
- A discount code for the 2026 TBM Conference
- A complimentary or discounted seat in the TBM Practitioner Course
- A voucher for on-demand TBM education through our new TBM Training & Certification eStore
Participants selected as finalists will also receive a complimentary pass to the 2026 TBM Conference.
Please note: All complimentary or discounted conference passes, course seats, and education vouchers are subject to applicable organizational policies and final approval by the TBM Council.
Hackathon Challenge Areas
Participants are encouraged to be creative in their approach and may use any technologies, platforms, programming languages, or AI tools they believe best address their chosen challenge.
Additional details regarding specific challenge requirements, scope, and the availability of sample data will be provided prior to the start of the Hackathon.
At this time, solutions should align with one or more of the following challenge areas:
1) Data & Categorization
Create solutions that improve how organizations collect, classify, organize, or normalize technology and financial data for use within the TBM Framework.
Potential examples include:
- API integrations with source systems and/or SaaS platforms
- Intelligent data mapping and relationship discovery
- Automated or AI-assisted categorization and taxonomy mapping
- Data quality improvements
- Data source standards and guidance for ITFM/TBM data (e.g., a FOCUS/FinOps-style standard for TBM)
2) Modeling & Allocation
Design solutions that improve cost modeling, allocation methodologies, forecasting, or financial planning.
Potential examples include:
- Financial modeling and scenario planning
- Cost allocation automation
- Model maturity assessment and recommendations
3) Reporting & Insights
Develop dashboards, analytics, or AI-powered insights that help organizations better understand technology costs and make better business decisions.
Potential examples include:
- Executive dashboards
- ROI analysis
- Cost optimization recommendations (e.g., identify an action and quantify potential savings)
- Predictive analytics
- Trade-off decision engines (e.g., compare options based on cost, value, and business impact)
How to Participate
By completing the pre-registration form, you’ll reserve your place in the Hackathon and help us prepare for the event.
The Hackathon timeline, challenge areas, and key participation details are available now.
Additional information will be released before the Hackathon officially begins, including:
- Official rules and code of conduct
- Final challenge statements
- Key dates and reminders
- Submission instructions and supporting materials
- Judging criteria
Interested in competing? Complete the pre-registration form to reserve your spot. We’ll keep you informed as additional details, rules, and resources become available!
Teams
Teams of up to five participants are welcome, including individual participants. Teams may be formed within a single organization or across multiple organizations.
Don’t have a team? No problem! You can register as an individual and indicate on the pre-registration form that you’d like to be matched with other participants looking to form a team.
Eligibility & Participation
The 2026 TBM Council Hackathon will feature two separate participation tracks:
- TBM Practitioners track – for TBM executives and practitioners participating individually or as part of a team.
- TBM Ecosystem Partner track – for participants from TBM ecosystem organizations, including Apptio, TBM software vendors, consulting firms, TBM Council partners, and sponsors.
Participants in each track will compete against others within their respective track, with separate finalists and a winner selected for each track.
Teams may include up to five participants. Additional eligibility requirements, team requirements, Official Rules, and participation details will be provided as part of the formal registration process.
Interested participants are encouraged to complete the pre-registration form below.
For questions, please email info@tbmcouncil.org.
Submission Requirements
Final submission requirements will be shared when registration opens. Participants should expect to submit a recorded demonstration of their solution (up to five minutes), with optional supporting materials.
You will retain all rights to the IP from your solution. By participating in the Hackathon, you agree to grant TBM Council a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, promote, and showcase the submitted work.
For questions, reach out to info@tbmcouncil.org.
2026 Hackathon Timeline
Mid-August
Pre-registration Begins
Mid-September
Hackathon Begins: Full challenge statements and scope will be provided to participants, who will then have four weeks to develop and complete their solutions
Mid-October
Submissions Due
Mid-October
Round 1 Judging Begins
Late-October
Finalists Announced
November 9-11, 2026
Winners Announced
The TBM Council Hackathon is a collaborative innovation competition where teams design and demonstrate practical solutions to common Technology Business Management challenges.
Participants will apply or demonstrate use of the TBM Framework, leverage modern technologies such as AI and automation, and develop solutions that improve how organizations manage technology investments and business value.
Final submission requirements will be shared when registration opens. Participants should expect to submit a recorded demonstration of their solution (up to five minutes), with optional supporting materials.
You will retain all rights to the IP from your solution. By participating in the Hackathon, you agree to grant TBM Council a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, promote, and showcase the submitted work.
For questions, reach out to info@tbmcouncil.org.
Eligibility and participation requirements are still being finalized, including specific requirements for TBM ecosystem organizations.
At this time, the pre-registration form below is open to:
- TBM executives and practitioners interested in participating in the Hackathon.
- TBM ecosystem organizations – including Apptio, TBM software vendors, consulting firms, TBM Council partners, and sponsors – interested in potential participation opportunities.
All interested individuals and organizations are welcome to complete the pre-registration form.
During the pre-registration phase, we will use the information collected to help inform the final participation structure and requirements.
The TBM Council reserves the right to define or modify participation parameters as the Hackathon structure is finalized.
Additional eligibility requirements and participation details will be shared before the Hackathon officially begins.
For questions, please email info@tbmcouncil.org.
The Technology Business Management (TBM) Conference is the most important engagement of the year for transformational technology and finance leaders and practitioners.
Hosted by TBM Council, in partnership with Apptio, this event brings together more than 1,500 global tech leaders and practitioners for keynotes, best practice presentations, trainings, and more to share how business value is delivered by breaking open the ‘black box’ of technology costs and tying investments to outcomes.
You can learn more about the TBM Conference here.