Events and Dates

View the full schedule and more at https://www.hacktheflow.org/schedule

Eligibility

Participants must be current high school (secondary school) students in the United States. Participants can work in teams of 1-4 people.

Project and Submission Requirements

At Hack the Flow, we want you to unleash your creativity and build innovative solutions for social good. Whether you choose to work on a web app, a mobile app, or something else entirely, we encourage you to think outside the box and push your limits. Feel free to submit low-code/design-based projects as well!

We're excited to see what you've built and how you've tackled the challenges we've presented. To make sure that we can properly evaluate your project, we ask that you submit the following items:

1. Demo Video: Create a 2-3 minute video that showcases your project in action. Your video should demonstrate the main features and functionality of your solution, and highlight the problem it solves and the impact it can have. Be sure to make your video engaging and easy to follow, and use visuals and audio to enhance your presentation.
2. Code Repository: Share the code for your project on a public code repository such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Make sure that your code is well-organized, documented, and easy to read and understand. If you're using third-party libraries or APIs, include clear instructions on how to install and configure them.
3. Team Information: Provide some basic information about your team, such as the team name, the names and roles of team members, and a brief description of each member's background and skills. You may also include a team photo or logo if you'd like.

REQUIRED: Please only submit new projects that have never been previously worked on before. Do not begin working on your project until the hackathon officially starts (6:00 PM CST, Friday, March 10, 2023).

REQUIRED: In order for your submission to be judged, you must report your 1) team's name and 2) skill division. Please select between Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Low/No-Code. You may only select one division for your team as a whole. Projects lacking this information cannot be judged! (For example, Name: The Chocolate Bananas; Skill Division: Beginner)

Once you've prepared your submission, one person from your team will upload it to the designated platform or email it to the organizers by the submission deadline (8:00 AM CST, Sunday, March 12, 2023). We'll review all submissions carefully and select the best ones for prizes and recognition.

Prizes

Grand Prize: $30

Most Unique Design Prize: $20

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Submissions will be judged according to their skill division. Each submission will be graded based on five different factors:

1. Creativity: We'll assess how innovative and original your solution is, and how well it addresses the problem you've identified. We'll look for projects that go beyond the obvious and introduce novel approaches, technologies, or designs. We'll also consider how well you've used the available resources and tools, and how well you've collaborated and communicated with your team.
2. Detail (Beginner and Low/No-Code ONLY): We’ll assess how much thought, care, and attention-to-detail you have poured into your project. OR Technicality (Intermediate and Advanced ONLY): We’ll assess the functionality of your code depending on your skill level. 
3. Impact: We'll evaluate how much your solution can make a difference in the world, and how well you've demonstrated its potential impact. We'll look for projects that solve real-world problems, and that have a positive social, environmental, or economic impact. We'll also consider how well you've identified your target audience, and how well you've validated their needs and preferences.
4. Execution: We'll review how well you've implemented your solution, and how well it works in practice. We'll look for projects that are well-architected, well-documented, and well-tested, and that follow best practices and standards. We'll also consider how well you've addressed technical challenges and limitations, and how well you've optimized your solution for performance and scalability.
5. Pitch: We'll judge how well you've presented your project to the judges, and how well you've convinced them of its value and potential. We'll look for projects that have a clear and concise message, and that are easy to understand and remember. We'll also consider how well you've designed and delivered your presentation, and how well you've engaged and entertained the audience.

Each criterion will be weighted equally, and the judges will use a scorecard to evaluate each project objectively. We'll also provide feedback and comments to help you improve your skills and learn from your experience. At the end of the hackathon, we'll announce the winners and award prizes based on the judges' scores.