Hack Downtown is a hackathon organized by UVA's Women in Computing Sciences (WiCS) organization. It is a 24 hour hackathon for people of all backgrounds, especially first-time hackers and those underrepresented in computer science. Participants can work in teams of up to four to create innovative projects and win prizes for their submissions. There will be workshops, speakers, and mini activities throughout the day about city-life, culture, and innovation. Join us on February 22-23 at Location: Rice Hall!

Visit Our Website: https://wicshacks.tech/

Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/hB49nd9TPC

Register for the Hackathon: https://forms.gle/9JxSdJfTXvgtkKJm8

FAQS

What is a Hackathon? 

A hackathon is a collaborative programming event in which people work together to develop creative solutions to engineering-based problems, usually related to a specific theme or concept

Who can participate?

All college students, including first-time hackers, are welcome

Do I need to know how to code?

No prior programming experience is required. Hack Downtown is a beginner-friendly hackathon!

How much does it cost to attend?

Hack Downtown is FREE for all participants, thanks to your amazing sponsors! Participation includes free swag and food throughout the event 

How many people can be on a team?

A team can have 1-4 members

What if I don't have a team?

Not to worry! You’ll meet people when you get there. Everybody’s very friendly. A lot of people go to hackathons without teams. So it’s perfectly normal to go around to people, tell them you’re looking for a team, and ask if you can help out. Hackathons will often run team-matching sessions at the start to help you meet people. To get a head start, join our discord to meet other hackers. PROTIP: Invite your friends to come to the hackathon too! That way you’re guaranteed to have at least one familiar face

Requirements

1. Your submission will be a youtube video submission accessible to anyone with a link (presentation or demonstration of what you've built: your face must be visible). The video should be 2 minutes long. Submit the link to video through DevPost.

2. You may not submit to other hackathons with the project you built at 2024 Hackathon and vice versa.

3. You may not edit your code before hacking starts (February 22nd) and you may not edit your code after hacking ends (February 23rd).

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$1,822 in prizes
Best Hack Overall
$1,116 in cash
1 winner

Projects that showcase exceptional innovation and originality, efficiently address problems or challenges and deliver a seamless and enjoyable user experience.

Prize: IPad

Best UI/UX Hack
$160 in cash
1 winner

Designs that feature outstanding UI/UX, emphasizing aesthetics, usability, and innovation, while effectively supporting the project’s goals.

Prize: Digital Camera

Most Innovative Hack
$108 in cash
1 winner

Projects that think beyond the ordinary, offering entirely novel solutions or implementations that push the boundaries of creativity.

Prize: Keyboard

Best Beginner Hack Overall
$90 in cash
1 winner

Projects that demonstrate creativity and skill from first-time hackers or those with limited coding experience, showcasing a strong start in hacking.

Prize: Hydroflask/Water Bottle

Best Connection/Connectivity Hack
$158 in cash
1 winner

Projects that enhance communication and networking, bringing people together in innovative and user-friendly ways across distances.

Prize: JBL Speaker

City Exploration
$190 in cash
1 winner

Projects that celebrate and make the most of the city by engaging with local businesses, promoting cultural heritage, and showcasing artistic diversity.

Prize: Lego Set NYC

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Judging Criteria

  • Impact
    Who or what will benefit from this project? We encourage people to contribute back to the communities that they are in and make it better.
  • Innovation
    Get out there and explore new ways to get things done. After all, we want a better future, not a better past. Expand your horizons by doing something different rather than stick to what everyone else has done.
  • Technicality
    We want to reward the hackers that demonstrate technical prowess when making their projects because the future needs a strong foundation.
  • Viability
    How feasible is this project? Can it continue into the future far beyond our hackathon?
  • “Wow” Factor
    Some projects are just that “wow”. This is up to the discretion of judges to identify projects that amazes people.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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