Judging Philosophy

High Agency Wins

We reward teams that move fast, execute relentlessly, and ship work that matters. Impact beats motion. Bring the receipts on customer discovery, learning loops, and the tangible value you created this weekend.

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5 Minute Judging Flow

Set the pace

2 Minutes

Story First

Hacker explains the customer, problem, and solution.

3 Minutes

Product Walkthrough

Judge uses the product as the intended customer.

1 Minute

Hidden Gems

Hacker highlights features the judge might have missed.

Non-negotiables

Hard Requirements

  • Pitch deck ready to share.
  • Working prototype with an access link for autonomous judging.
When projects tie

Considerations for equal projects

  • Accessibility basics covered: contrast, font sizing, and WCAG considerations for the target audience.
  • Solution attacks a massive problem in an overlooked market (e.g. military mental health, rural food scarcity, public transportation).
Scorecard

Primary categories

Each track is worth five points. Judges weigh evidence, execution quality, and potential impact—not just flashy demos.

High Agency / LVL5

/5

Did the team take ownership and move fast?

  • Customer interviews outside the team validating the hypothesis with evidence.
  • Mid-build testing with prospective customers or stand-ins followed by iteration.
  • Real customers or prospects have already used the current version.
  • The team exhibited relentless momentum throughout the hackathon.

Creativity, Innovation & Skill

/5

Did they ship with craft and originality?

  • Clear demonstration of technical or creative mastery in the solution.
  • A clever, simplified approach that saves time or resources.
  • Blend of technologies, tools, or domain knowledge to unlock the solution.
  • Solution offers a fresh take instead of a straight remake.

Presentation & Clarity

/5

Can they tell the story under pressure?

  • Customer, problem, and solution are explained so clearly a 5-year-old could get it in two minutes.
  • Demo flows smoothly and showcases the right moments.
  • They can sell the vision and make you believe.

Impact & Usefulness

/5

Does it matter and does it work?

  • Problem is painful, urgent, and affects a sizable group.
  • Solution directly addresses the core pain point.
  • Execution feels effective and ready to deliver value.
  • Feels like a true MVP with a path to go even further.
Bonus fuel

Extra credit opportunities

These stack on top. Each +1 is discretionary and celebrates teams who amplified community, learning, and fun.

Cross-functional team members with meaningful impact.+1
Open-source project or public repo for the community.+1
Functional MVP shipped within the first 24 hours.+1
Visible learning or skill growth during the weekend.+1
The team clearly had fun building together.+1
Judges’ Favor at discretion.Up to +3