BearcatCTF is a 24-hour CTF competition hosted by Cyber@UC each year in February. Students from neighboring universities come to the 1819 Innovation Hub to compete against each other for prizes. What makes BearcatCTF unique is that participants are solving cybersecurity problems outside the comfort of a full desk setup. This adds to the fun and makes the event truly special.
Event Information
BearcatCTF is a 24-hour, continuous event hosted at the University of Cincinnati
- Location: 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45206
- Teams of up to 4 people. (Team formation happens closer to the event)
- 18+ students only
- View the event schedule here
Prizes
- 1st Place: Raspberry PI starter Pack + Display
- 2nd Place: Flipper Zero
- 3rd Place: External SSD + Ifixit Set
Prizes
Prizes are only available for students who are in-person competitors.
A competitor is officially considered "In-Person" if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Check-In: They must check in at the registration desk before their team submits its first successful challenge solve.
- Late Arrivals: We welcome walk-ins! However, anyone registering after the event begins will be granted prize eligibility only at the explicit discretion of the organizers. (This is to prevent teams from "recruiting" local bodies specifically to meet the 50% threshold after they see they are winning).
Hybrid Team Requirements:
We allow teams to be composed of both remote and local players, but to maintain a fair environment, the following applies:
- The 50% Rule: A team must consist of at least 50% In-Person competitors (as defined above) to be eligible for any prizes.
- Prize Distribution: Prizes are awarded only to the physical, In-Person members of the team. Remote teammates will not receive any prizes.
Status Changes:
- Remote to In-Person: You may change your status to In-Person at the registration desk until the event starts.
Sponsorship Packages
An event like this is impossible without sponsors. Below are sponsorship packages for both BearcatCTF and the Cyber@UC student organization. If interested, please email cyberatuc513@gmail.com and check out our BearcatCTF Summary Packet!
|
Bronze: $500 | Silver: $1250 | Gold: $2250 | Platinum: $5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branding - Feature your logo on our club shirts and website | x | x | x | x |
| Career Link - Link to your company's career page or email | x | x | x | x |
| Career Fair - Dedicated booth space to talk to participants about career opportunities | x | x | x | |
| Sponsor Challenge - Bring your own challenge to CTF! | x | x | x | |
| Host Session or Workshop - Talk with students about educational topic related to your field of work | x | x | ||
| Keynote - Invitation to talk during keynote speech at event kickoff | x |