FAQ

If you have more questions, please email us at prize@hackaday.com. We look forward to seeing your projects!

There is a dropdown menu below your project image. Simply start a project and click the dropdown, from there you will see 2017 Hackaday Prize.

Here is a convenient video tutorial on how to enter your project into the Hackaday Prize:

Put simply, you need an idea, and image, and documentation. To start you simply talk about a technology problem facing people today and your idea of what a solution might be. Yes, you can enter the first challenge with just an idea and be eligible to be selected to move to the final round. This is what Challenge 1 is all about.

Challenges 2 - 5 invite you to start building something and documenting. You need 4 project logs or instructions in Challenges 2 - 5 to move into the finals.

Challenge five is for those who don't like to be tied down. Build anything you want to solve the problem you have chosen. Bask in your own creativity.

Those who prefer more constraints will excel in Challenges 2, 3, and 4 which tackle specific themes.

Each of the 5 Challenges are a 5-week first round from which 20 entries will advance to the final round.

• Challenge 1: Design your concept -- (3/20-5/1)
• Challenge 2: IUT ! IoT -- (5/1-6/12)
• Challenge 3: Wheels, wings, and walkers -- (6/12-7/24)
• Challenge 4: Assistive technologies -- (7/24-9/4)
• Challenge 5: Anything goes -- (9/4-10/16)

When are the winners for each round announced?

Winners will be announced about 1-2 weeks after the close of each round.

Can I enter if I'm under 18 years old?

Minors between 13 and 18 are eligible to enter the 2017 Hackaday Prize.

When you enter as a team of collaborators, there is a link “younger than 18” next to the check box (see image below). When you click that link, it brings you to a parental consent form link (dropbox), which you should have a parent fill out and then upload using the “choose file” button below.

Here is a link to the form: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hgnazev2rdmzpt7/THP_Parental_Consent_Form.pdf

Here is a convenient video tutorial on how to enter the Hackaday Prize as a minor:

I was a finalist in 2014, 2015 or 2016, can I enter the same project again?

If you won anything in a previous presentation of The Hackaday Prize that project is not eligible for entry in this Contest. You may enter with a substantially different project.

Can I re-enter my project from 2014, 2015 or 2016?

You can enter a previous Prize entry, but you must create a new project page and the project must be significantly different from when previously entered and show meaningful development during the course of the Contest.

You must participate in at least one challenge to be eligible for the final round. We encourage you to participate in more but it is not required.

Yes. The same Project Profile may be entered in any or all of the challenge rounds using the "Submit Project To..." menu found on your project page. Projects should adhere to the theme of the challenge so you may also consider entering several projects in different rounds.

Check out this full list of official entries.

All parts of your project will be judged. We recommend you start with a brief summary to provide an overall understanding of your project. From there, explain each part in detail, adding images and diagrams as needed. A video is only required for the final round, but if you want to make one to help walk through your project that is a great idea.

On the Edit Project page add the link to your entry video in the Contest Entry Videos field and click save.

Open refers to how much you have documented about your project and how much you will make available to the public when you push your project out into the world. Optimally, we would like to see open source drivers, hardware, and development tools; the final project would also be licensed as open source (using the wide range of licenses that are possible). This is a judging preference, so providing design files in a format that uses open source tools (and therefore allows others to easily use or modify them), will help you with the best chance of edging out your competition.

We now have FindChips Pro for Hackaday Prize entrants! You can share your BOM with everyone!

You must complete the minimum entry requirements for the Challenge. Your entry will be judged on the following criteria:

• How thoroughly have the final round requirements been completed?
• Is it clear how the project will address a particular challenge?
• Does the project benefit society or better the world in some way?
• Is the project well documented?
• Is there a system design, CAD model, or basic sketch, and how well does it illustrate the project?
• Is the project creative, original and pushing some boundaries (if this project has been built before, the answer is no)?
• How “Open” is the design? Preference will be given to projects that exhibit the depth of Open Hardware and Open Source Software.
• Is the project reproducible and could the work be extended for other uses?

The Best Product category was a great success in 2015. We've brought it back again to see what it takes to get from prototype to production. If you are willing to take on some extra requirements you can win $30,000 in addition to being eligible for the other prizes. Your build must be submitted as an entry in The Best Product challenge before the 7/24/17 deadline.

Yes, you can enter any of the Hackaday Prize rounds in addition to the Best Product Challenge.