The grand prize of our hackathon—a slot in our reputable startup xLaunchpad program—is a significant opportunity meant to grow a promising project into a viable startup. The stakes are high, and thus, it is crucial that this prize is awarded to a project that truly merits it. Our extensive eligibility criteria have been structured to ensure that the winning project stands out not just in technical innovation, but also in feasibility, market relevance, and team commitment.

To ensure a thorough and unbiased evaluation, the winner will be announced six weeks post-hackathon. This period allows for a comprehensive review of all projects by a panel of industry experts and advisors. Each project will be scrutinized against the set criteria to ensure that the grand prize goes to a project that is well-positioned to leverage the startup launchpad opportunity for success.

The detailed eligibility rules and evaluation process outlined in the subsequent sections are aimed at ensuring a fair, merit-based selection of the grand prize winner. Through this rigorous process, we aim to identify and reward a project that truly embodies the spirit of innovation and has the potential for meaningful impact in the real world.

Criteria

• Innovative Solution:
  • Evaluation: A panel of industry experts will evaluate and score the level of innovation.
• Technical Competence:
  • Code Quality: We will check if the code adheres to industry-standard coding practices, if it is well-commented, and organized.
• Feasibility:
  • Market Research: We will conduct a market research validating the demand for the project’s solution.
  • Scalability Assessment: We will evaluate the technical and operational scalability of the project.
• Business Model:
  • Business Plan: We will require a comprehensive business plan outlining the go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, and retention strategies.
• Team Composition and Commitment:
  • Team Assessment: We will evaluate the team's experience, skills, and readiness to work on the project post-hackathon.
• Pitch Presentation:
  • Scoring: We will evaluate the Pitch following a score card.
• MVP (Minimum Viable Product):
  • Functionality Check: You must ensure the MVP is functional, bug-free, and demonstrates the core value proposition of the project.
  • User Testing: We will conduct a user testing campaign to evaluate the usability and value of the MVP.
• Compliance with Hackathon Rules:
  • Checklist: You must ensure all hackathon rules and guidelines have been followed.
• Advisory Board Review:
  • Expert Evaluation: We will have an advisory board of industry experts evaluate and score projects based on a predefined rubric.