North Texas is cultivating tech champions with a new streaming reality show that turns coding into a high-stakes sport.

The Ultimate Coding Championship delivers on that promise, serving up edge-of-your-seat action as software engineers tackle real-world challenges under intense pressure. Coders race against the clock, debugging on the fly and crafting solutions in real-time. After hooking audiences in its debut season this year, the show is set for a 2025 comeback.

Julian Placino, the creator behind UCC, set out to spotlight these tech creatives in a live competition drama with polished production. His popular “Pathways to Success” podcast—now numbering around 230 episodes—has given him a sharp eye for talent and a good story, skills Placino now brings to the streaming arena. 

UCC creator Julian Placino, celebrating the preview of episode 2 in August, captures the moment with a selfie as an enthusiastic crowd waves from their seats at the Angelika Theatre. [Photo: UCC]

Addison-based tech consultancy Headstorm, the show’s title sponsor, lends its tech expertise and space for filming in a custom-built coding arena in its office, elevating UCC production values. “Several key members of their team have become producers on the show,” Placino said.

With an aim to highlight the real-world impact of modern tech talent, he sees UCC as “more than just another reality show.” It’s more of a movement, he says, one that showcases the stories of “brilliant technologists making a difference in the world.” 

Episode 2 contestants battle the clock. [UCC video screenshot]

The clock-ticking drama’s format is simple: three contestants, three hours, one winner. Viewers watch as tech talent evolves from behind-the-scenes coders to public performers. The show’s high-stakes environment has already drawn attention beyond Dallas, with contestants like Chloe Dillingham of Atlanta joining the fray.

What started as a passion project and a 24-hour hackathon at mobile app development firm Bottle Rocket, where Placino was head of recruiting, UCC has grown into a unique platform—equal parts coding showdown, talent incubator, and real-world problem solver.

Streaming on YouTube

Episodes are available on YouTube.

UCC made its YouTube debut in April, following a January soft launch. The show targets a broad audience, from tech enthusiasts to industry professionals and reality TV fans. With four episodes initially greenlit for 2024, UCC tests more than just coding skills — it demands creativity and sharp presentation.

Each episode throws contestants into a three-hour pressure cooker. They must design, build, and pitch a solution to a real-world problem, facing a panel of expert judges. The stakes? A $5,000 prize and a ticket to the season finale, where the grand prize swells to $10,000.

“They get a one-hour warning: ‘You have 60 minutes to complete your build,'” Placino said. That time crunch adds to the intensity of the competition, pushing contestants to their limits, he adds.

Contestants furiously type away, eyes locked on their screens, as they race against the clock to develop innovative solutions in UCC’s coding arena. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

Yet UCC aspires to be more than just riveting entertainment. Placino envisions a broader impact: “What we’re doing goes beyond coding competitions. It’s about building community, inspiring the next generation of technologists, and demonstrating that tech can be a force for good.”

Episode 1: AI meets agriculture

Dylan Kaye, Episode 1’s Ultimate Coding Champion, flexes both his coding and physical muscles after clinching the agricultural AI challenge win in January’s season premiere. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

The Ultimate Coding Championship is no abstract coding exercise for contestants. In the premiere episode, contestants faced a global challenge: agricultural optimization. Dylan Kaye, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at JSX; Pratistha Shrestha, Senior Software Engineer at Headstorm; and Shawn Popal, Senior Software Engineer at Common Objects, were tasked with designing solutions using generative AI to help farmers optimize crop health and yield. 

Kaye clinched the win with a strategy that impressed the expert judging panel: Joe Vaughan, CTO at MoneyGram International; Carissa De Santis, then CTO at BRIX Holdings (now at LURIN); and Eric Poon, a Fortune 500 Technology Strategist. Their criteria? A balanced evaluation of design, implementation, and presentation.

Episode 1 judges Joe Vaughan, Carissa De Santis, and Eric Poon deliberate, with De Santis at the center, weighing the merits of contestants’ AI-driven agricultural solutions. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

Asked about his experience, Kaye says UCC stands alongside other elite competitions. “The Ultimate Coding Championship is the way to determine the true champion of coding in the same way chess and UFC have a world champion. It requires mastery of all facets of coding.”

But it’s not all high-pressure and high stakes. Kaye adds: “Everyone involved are some of the kindest, most fun people you’ll ever meet. It’s an absolute blast competing for glory. 10/10 would be my rating.”

Episode 2: Financial innovation takes center stage

Chloe Dillingham, software engineer from Atlanta, was named Episode 2’s Ultimate Coding Champion for her user-centric approach to improving financial health. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

UCC’s second episode tackled personal finance, a sector affecting millions worldwide. Contestants Chloe Dillingham, a software engineer at Rimidi from Atlanta; Ken “Nova” Nnaoji, a tech founder and software engineering instructor from Irving; and David Bernal, an engineering lead analyst at Citi from Dallas, faced the challenge of improving financial health through innovative tech solutions.

The now-familiar format—three contestants, three hours, one winner—put the spotlight on each coder’s ability to think fast and execute. Judging their efforts were Varun Kumar, CTO at National Life Group; Mruna Asoori, global head of technology at BRINKS; and Jerry Huang, CTO at J. Hilburn.

Atlanta software engineer Chloe Dillingham clinched the win in episode 2 with her user-centric approach to improving financial health, proving that fresh perspectives can shake up the tech world. [UCC video screenshot]

Dillingham’s user-centric approach earned the win. Reflecting on her victory, she said, “To go through with that and succeed—not only have a working product… but also the winning product—was amazing.” Her advice to future contestants? “Just take a leap, go outside of your comfort zone, and fully embrace it. You might win.”

In August, Placino and Headstrom brought UCC to the big screen, hosting a sold-out preview at the Angelika Film Center & Café in Dallas. “The Dallas tech, business, philanthropic, and academic communities were out in strong attendance, with leaders from many incredible organizations,” he said, noting representatives from Southwest Airlines, JCPenney, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Make-A-Wish North Texas.

A crowd of tech enthusiasts, industry leaders, and community partners sits rapt at Dallas’ Angelika Theatre, as UCC’s second episode unfolds on the big screen. [Photo: UCC]

Next Up, Episode 3: Coding for accessibility—in partnership with Make-A-Wish North Texas

Raising the stakes with each episode is part of Placino’s plan, had he says UCC’s commitment to real-world impact takes center stage in its third episode. UCC partnered with Make-A-Wish North Texas to address a critical challenge: enhancing travel experiences for individuals with accessibility needs.

The episode, which wrapped production last month but hasn’t yet been released, promises to be a milestone for the series. Placino says the partnership with Make-A-Wish North Texas underscores UCC’s mission: leveraging coding talent to create solutions that matter.

“This will be our biggest episode yet,” he said. “We created a coding challenge focused on helping individuals with accessibility needs enhance their travel experiences.”

Placino sees it as a testament to tech’s potential for good. “This episode exemplifies how technology, when harnessed for good, can truly change the world.”

Contestants furiously type away, eyes locked on their screens, as they work to beat the clock to develop innovative solutions in UCC’s coding arena. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

Industry leaders weigh in on UCC’s impact—and “Wow” factor

UCC’s rotating panel of judges brings together respected names in tech, each offering unique perspectives. Despite their diverse backgrounds, these industry leaders seem to agree: UCC is a platform redefining how the world sees coding.

Joe Vaughan, CTO at MoneyGram International and Episode 1 judge, views UCC as a modern evolution of the hackathon. “The show demonstrates just how rapidly the world is changing,” he says, encouraging all technologists to “take a day and rethink the problems that you see every day.”

Carissa De Santis, who judged the inaugural episode alongside Vaughan, praises UCC for bringing excitement and visibility to roles that are often under the radar. “It’s an amazing opportunity to bring some ‘wow’ factor to technology,” says De Santis, formerly of BRIX Holdings and now CTO at LURIN. She emphasizes that contestants must be “more than ‘just a coder’ to win,” noting UCC’s multifaceted challenges, including creativity and innovation.

Judges Jerry Huang, Mruna Asoori, and Varun Kumar listen attentively as a contestant presents their cutting-edge solution to the financial health challenge. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

Mruna Asoori, global head of technology at BRINKS and an Episode 2 judge, values UCC’s role in connecting talent across industries. She sees the show’s real-world challenges as a reminder of how coding can drive solutions to complex problems. “It brings together the best coding talents, serving as a platform to motivate aspiring STEM talent,” Asoori said, highlighting UCC’s power to inspire both viewers and participants.

That extends to the judges themselves. Jerry Huang, CTO at J. Hilburn and Asoori’s fellow Episode 2 judge, describes his experience as both “inspiring and fulfilling,” pointing out the show’s emphasis on mentorship and collaboration. “The camaraderie… with the contestants and fellow judges left a lasting impression,” he said.

Looking ahead: Championship finale and new collaborations

[Source image: UCC video screenshot, DI Studio]

With Episode 3 set to drop “soon” and the championship finale scheduled to film on December 13, the Ultimate Coding Championship shows no signs of slowing down.

With the series renewed for 2025, Placino hints at ambitious projects on the horizon: “Exciting collaborations between the Ultimate Coding Championship by Headstorm and Dallas AI are on the horizon,” he teased.

In terms of getting the show off the ground, Placino emphasizes the collective effort behind UCC. “It was the minds, perspectives, talents, and actions of our incredible production team, cast, executive sponsor, and community partners that made it great,” he said.

Headstorm’s contributions extend well beyond financial backing, Placino adds. Several folks on the team have become producers, with the company deeply involved in every aspect of production, from designing coding challenges to casting contestants and even handling behind-the-scenes tasks like hair and makeup, adding polish to the show.

How to get involved 

Ken “Nova” Nnaoji, tech founder from Irving, stands tall in stars and stripes as he receives judges’ feedback on his innovative financial health solution during Episode 2’s high-stakes challenge. [Image: UCC video screenshot]

Whether you’re a coding enthusiast, an industry professional, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and entertainment, UCC offers a window into the world of innovative problem-solving, according to Placino.

“Tune in, get inspired, and who knows? You might be the next Ultimate Coding Champion,” UCC says. Aspiring contestants can apply to join future episodes through the show’s official website.

For those eager to see these coding battles unfold, full episodes of the Ultimate Coding Championship are available on the show’s YouTube channel.

As MoneyGram CTO and UCC judge Vaughan put it, “This show isn’t just about coding; it’s about changing how we think about technology and its role in solving real-world problems. UCC sparks ideas that can transform industries and inspire the next generation of innovators.”

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