Here's your chance to ask a professional mentor the hard questions about your Hackaday Prize entry...

Let's get hacking! This year we've challenged you to take your Hackaday Prize entries to the next level, but we know prototyping isn't easy, especially in isolation. So we've created a space for you to ask one of our expert mentors questions about your entry. This is your opportunity to get one on one support and direct feedback, no matter what stage your project is in. The schedule will be updated every two weeks. 

Space is limited so sign up today at: 

Mentor Sessions Sign Up Form

Mentor Bios:

Catherine Hebson

Engineer & Domestic US COVID-19 Response Coordinator, Field Ready

Catherine Hebson is an engineer and maker. Most recently, she spent several years in early-stage product development at a medical device company. Her expertise lies in rapid prototyping and product ideation. Prior to that, she worked in a makerspace, designing workshop curriculum and teaching courses. 

Mitch Altman

Founder & CEO, Cornfield Electronics

Mitch is the President and CEO of Cornfield Electronics and co-founder of the Noisebridge hackerspace in San Francisco. He also invented TV-B-Gone, co-founded a Silicon Valley startup, pioneered VR technology, is an author and teacher, and gives talks and workshops around the world. Mitch promotes hackerspaces, open source hardware, and mentors wherever he goes.

Aragna Ker

Adaptive Design Manager, United Cerebral Palsy LA

A native of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aragna Ker was born in 1974. He received his BFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999, and his MFA in Sculpture at Claremont Graduate University in 2004. He is currently the Adaptive Design Manager for United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles.

Bruce Dominguez

Rapid Prototyping Technician, Supplyframe DesignLab 

Bruce is the Rapid Prototyping Technician at Supplyframe DesignLab. Prior to this, he managed the fabrications shops at Art Center and worked at CalTech’s Mechanical Engineering Lab, where he has advised on and helped to develop numerous engineering, research, and creative projects.

Sophi Kravitz

Director of Product, Hackaday

Sophi Kravitz is an electrical engineer and artist. She works as Director of Product at Hackaday where she brings the hardware community closer together by building partnerships, creating experiences, and public speaking. Past projects include a wedding badge, a mini-blimp game, and playground rides.

Erika Earl

Audio Engineer, Hardware Developer, Evil Tech, inc & XR CREATIVE, inc.

Contract Electrical Engineer, SupplyFrame Design Lab

Erika is an Audio Engineer and Hardware Developer who is working on spatial, immersive and interactive ambisonic audio in the VR/XR space. Erika co-founded Earl Virtual Innovation Lab (EVIL Tech), and XR Creative. She is currently supporting the NASA JPL VITAL ventilator project with parts procurement, design for manufacture, and material requirement planning.

Giovanni Salinas

Product Development Engineer, DesignLab

Giovanni is the Product Development Engineer at Supplyframe DesignLab. He has designed and developed hundreds of products, including consumer electronics, kitchenware, and urban furniture for a number of global markets. Through his experience he has honed his expertise in rapid prototyping and DFM in a variety of materials. 

Sam Kelly

Product Engineer & Conservation Technology Program Manager at Conservation X Labs

Sam is an engineer dedicated to developing technological solutions to issues that have been underserved by the technical community. At Conservation X Labs, Sam helped establish the internal innovation foundry aiming to create ventures that are both beneficial for nature and economically viable, from idea to market.

Eric Weinhoffer

Lab Manager, Astranis

Eric is a Mechanical Engineer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eric leverages his vast experience in product design, mass manufacturing, and rapid prototyping to help companies ship hardware.

Marco Cervantes

Technical Director, CalEarth Institute 

Marco Cervantes is an environmental engineer based out of the San Diego area. Since 2010, he has been teaching and building SuperAdobe structures. He has led workshops at CalEarth Institute in California, as well as in Spain, Italy, and Mexico. As CalEarth’s Technical Director he works to design and implement SuperAdobe training.

Christine Sunu

Developer Engagement, Twilio 

Christine has worked in technology, media, medicine, and art. During her residency at Supplyframe DesignLab, Christine developed her HaRoCo robots, which are designed to help people achieve personal goals, become healthier, and feel more emotionally grounded. Her work meshes the advantages of modern, Internet connected, and "smart" technology with our everyday, tactile, emotive world.

Tod Kurt

Co-founder & Principal, ThingM

Tod is the creator of the blink(1) notification light and the BlinkM Smart LED. He co-founded CRASH Space, author of “Hacking Roomba”, contributes to MAKE mag, and has a few patents.