What is UGAHacks?
UGAHacks is UGAHacks' annual 36-hour hackathon event that is centered around software development and innovation in tech. Our hackers will collaborate on software solutions, create prototypes, design innovative projects that exemplify their passion for development, all while building a relationship with the tech community. Whether our hackers indulge in our many workshops, side events, or challenges, we encourage our hackers to step out of their comfort zone and explore new horizons of creativity, innovation, and personal growth!
Theme and Focus
With the theme of Magic, UGAHacks 11 is where hackers ignite the magic within! Inspired by the mystique of spellcraft and the power of creation, we celebrate those who dare to experiment, bend the rules, and turn bold ideas into reality. Just as wizards master the arcane to shape new worlds, we encourage hackers to combine logic and imagination to conjure innovative solutions from scratch. Whether you’re here to build your portfolio, forge powerful connections with sponsors, or join a community of curious and driven creators, UGAHacks 11 is your arena to cast your spells, discover your craft, and leave your mark.
A place for everyone
The UGAHacks organization prides itself on our beginner friendly environment. Our ultimate goal is showing others the wonders of building their first project and watching it come alive, or even inspiring them to take their first steps toward their greatness. Through the workshops we host before, during, and after the event, mini-events, and additional resources we provide hackers to enhance ideas and their projects, hackers are made to feel comfortable to thrive in this growing community.
Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a registered university student/graduate student to participate
- Teams must be made up of 4 or fewer members to qualify for judging
- Solo projects are allowed
Submission Requirements
Basic Submission Rules
- No cross-submitting (submitting a project from a concurrent hackathon)
- No using code programmed before hacking time starts
- Hacking time starts at 8PM on Feb. 6th
- Must submit project through Devpost to be considered for judging
- Must include First and Last Names of all team members in submission
- Must submit Github Repository
- Must include Read Me
- Include names of team members
- Explain purpose of project
- Tools utilized
- Problems that your team ran into and how your team overcame them
- Must credit any public frameworks utilized (APIs, etc)
- Only 1 project per team/person
- Teams are allowed to submit your project to multiple challaneges
- Judging will be conducted through an Expo based on Devpost submissions that have successfully followed the requirements outlined above
Expo Guidelines for UGAHacks Challeneges
- Your expo table number will be assigned to your team after review of your project meeting all requirements
- Judges will come by your table and your team will have approximately 2-4 minutes to demonstrate the function of your project
- There will be TBD sets of judges that stop by your table to ensure your project is being looked at by a variety of people. Each time, you will have 2-4 minutes.
- This means that your project will be seen about TBD times for fairness of judgement
- The winning projects of the UGAHacks Challenges will announced at Closing Ceremony, along with Sponsor Challeneges
Guidelines for Sponsor Challeneges
- Each company sponsor will be discussing their judging criteria during their workshops. Sponsors will also be available on Slack in their help channels to answer any/all questions
Prizes
Best Overall Hack
Gaming Monitor
Best General AI Hack
Airpods provided by Tractian!
Best Ground Up Model Hack
Amazon Echo Dot
Best Hardware Hack
4k Drone
Best Game Hack
Mechanical Keyboard
Best First Time Hack
Sony Headphones
Best Solo Hack
Bluetooth Projector
Most Magical Hack
Smart LED Light Bar
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Swag Kits
It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
[MLH] Best Use of Presage
SenseCAP Watcher & Presage Perks
Presage is pioneering the Human Sensing Layer, enabling any application to understand a person’s real-time physical and emotional state. With Presage, you can leverage clinically-proven vital signs, movement, emotion, and/or focus tracking to build a project that gives the standard camera super powers.
Use any of the Presage SDKs to integrate capabilities like real-time heart rate, breathing rate, engagement levels, and facial expressions into your hack with just a few lines of code.
Imagine the possibilities!
Immersive Gaming & Entertainment: Dynamically change game difficulty, music, or story elements based on a player's real-time excitement or focus levels.
Contactless Wellness & Fitness: Build a non-invasive app that monitors stress, recovery, or fitness performance without requiring a specialized wearable device.
Accessibility & Security: Utilize vital signs for advanced, effortless authentication, or to enhance accessibility for specific user groups.
Productivity: Design a tool that tracks focus or stress in real-time, providing feedback or environmental adjustments to optimize remote work or study sessions.
Build your next hack with Presage and show us the future of human-computer interaction! Best Use of Presage winners will receive SenseCAP Watchers for each team member, along with the following perks from the Presage team:
Free refills for Presage Development credits to accelerate you through your next three months of building
30% off all Presage usage charges for your first year after going live
[MLH] Best Use of Solana
Ledger Nano S Plus
The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.
Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!
[MLH] Best Use of AI powered by Reach Capital
Logitech Webcam & Meeting with the Reach Capital Investors
AI has upended what we can accomplish with technology. Reach Capital invests in the next generation of founders and technical talent, and they want you to use AI to support the future of work and uplevel the labor force.
While the frontline economy, made up of industries like construction, retail, healthcare, and more, represents 70% of the global workforce, these workers often have the least access to cutting-edge tools. Your challenge is to build an AI-powered solution for these frontline workers that meets them where they are — on the job, on the go, and in the flow of their daily work.
The winning team will receive a Logitech webcam for each member, and you’ll also be one of ten winning teams across MLH events considered for a grand prize of discussing your creation with Reach Capital’s team of expert investors.
Interested in working at world-changing startups? Reach's 130+ portfolio companies — including Replit, Brilliant, ClassDojo, GPTZero, and Desmos — are always looking for the next wave of talent. Share what you’re studying, building, or exploring, and Reach will connect you to career-defining opportunities. Add your profile and join the hackers already in the Reach talent network.
[MLH] Best Use of DigitalOcean
Retro Wireless Mouse
DigitalOcean offers a reliable and easy-to-use cloud platform for every stage of your project. Leverage core services like Droplets, Managed Databases, and App Platform to build, deploy, and scale your application effortlessly. Building with AI? DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI enables you to build, train, and deploy machine learning models, including access to GPU infrastructure and serverless inference!
Sign up for DigitalOcean today and get $200 worth of free credits that you can use towards building your next great hack. Build with DigitalOcean's robust cloud infrastructure for a chance to win some great prizes for you and each of your teammates!
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
Wireless Earbuds
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!
[MLH] Best .Tech Domain Name
Desktop Microphone & a Free .Tech Domain Name for up to 10 years!
Make your Team's Achievements timeless: Win a .Tech Domain Name for up to 10 years to Showcase and Expand Your Project, Plus Desktop Mics for Effortless Collaboration on Zoom, empowering you to build even more cool things together!
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
UGAHacks Organization
Various Sponsors
Shashiraj Walsetwar
Chalapathi Koneni
Allan Sun
Krishna Bhatnagar
Shubham Kulkarni
Roopesh Kumar Reddy Ramalinga Reddy
Vara Prasad Sheela
Aaditi Singhal
Saikiran Rallabandui
Ramya Chaitanya Chintamaneni
Uday Kiran Chilakalapalli
Ashwini Pisal
Shamsher Khan
Kashif Saleem
Deep Patel
Ashok Kumar
Karthigayan Devan
Sandeep Khandewal
Rahul Prathikantam
Rahul Kapoor
Nil Balek
Manikandan Chandran
Judging Criteria
-
UGAHacks
Judging will be conducted through an Expo based on Devpost submissions that have successfully followed the submission requirements -
Sponsor
Each company sponsor will be discussing their judging criteria during their workshops. They also will be available on Slack in their help channels to answer any/all questions
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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