Dates

Sure! Here’s a set of random dates you can use for CodeCatalyst 2024:

  • Hackathon Start Date: March 1, 2025
  • Hackathon End Date: March 3, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: March 3, 2025
  • Judging & Closing Ceremony: March 4, 2025
  • Networking and Award Reception: March 4, 2025

Eligibility

CodeCatalyst 2024 is open to:

  • Developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and students who are passionate about technology and innovation.
  • Individuals or teams: Participants can sign up individually or in teams (up to [Insert Max Team Size] members).
  • Age Requirement: Participants must be at least [Insert Minimum Age] years old.
  • Skill Level: All skill levels are welcome, from beginners to experienced professionals. Teams are encouraged to include a mix of technical and non-technical roles.
  • Geography: The hackathon is open to participants from [Insert Regions/Countries or Global].
  • Restrictions: Employees, partners, or affiliates of event sponsors or organizing teams may not be eligible to compete in the hackathon.

Project and Submission Requirements

  • Project Scope: Your project should focus on solving a real-world problem within the theme Innovation for Social Good.
  • Functionality: Submit a working prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) that demonstrates the key functionality of your solution.
  • Technology Stack: You are free to choose any technology stack, tools, or frameworks you prefer. However, the use of existing codebases should be limited to open-source or approved libraries.
  • Collaboration: Teams must work together to develop the project, but participants can also work individually.
  • Submission Components:
    • Project Demo Video: A 3-5 minute video demonstrating the functionality of your project and its impact.
    • Source Code & Documentation: A GitHub repository or equivalent with the source code and a README explaining the setup, technologies, and features.
    • Pitch Presentation: A slide deck summarizing your project, its problem, solution, and potential impact.
  • Originality: The project must be original, and submissions should not involve plagiarized code or pre-existing projects.
  • Legal: Ensure you have the rights to all materials submitted and comply with intellectual property laws. Any project that violates these rules may be disqualified.

Prizes

  • 1st Place: [Insert Prize, e.g., $5,000 cash, mentorship, job opportunities, etc.]
  • 2nd Place: [Insert Prize, e.g., $3,000 cash, gift cards, etc.]
  • 3rd Place: [Insert Prize, e.g., $1,000 cash, gadgets, etc.]
  • Best Social Impact Award: [Insert Prize, e.g., special recognition or additional rewards for projects with the greatest social impact.]
  • Audience Choice Award: [Insert Prize, e.g., recognition and a smaller prize determined by participant voting.]
  • Special Mentions: Additional prizes for specific categories such as Best Use of AI, Best User Experience, Best Sustainability Tech, etc.

Note: All prizes are subject to availability and may change based on sponsorships.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

The judges will evaluate projects based on the following criteria:

  1. Innovation (25%):

    • How creative and unique is the solution?
    • Does the project provide new ideas, approaches, or technologies that haven’t been done before?

  2. Impact (25%):

    • How significant is the problem being addressed, and how effective is the solution in tackling it?
    • What is the potential for the project to create a positive social, environmental, or economic impact?

  3. Technical Feasibility (20%):

    • Is the project technically sound and executable?
    • Does it demonstrate a high level of technical competence and attention to detail?

  4. User Experience (15%):

    • How easy and intuitive is the user interface (UI)?
    • Does the solution provide a seamless experience for the user?

  5. Presentation & Communication (15%):

    • How effectively did the team communicate the idea, technical aspects, and impact during the pitch?
    • Was the demo video clear and engaging?
Winner Selection Process:
  • Judging Panel: A panel of industry experts, sponsors, and mentors will evaluate the projects based on the above criteria.
  • Pitching: Each team will present their project to the judges during the final round of the hackathon. The pitch should clearly highlight the problem, solution, impact, and technical approach.
  • Deliberation: After the presentations, the judges will deliberate to select the winning teams based on their performance in the criteria.
  • Announcement: Winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony, where prizes and recognition will be awarded.