FAQ
What is Hackfest?
The online challenge platform that crowd sources coding, design, creativity and competition to forge new concepts, solutions and ideas out of the latest cutting edge technologies.
Our talented network of developers and creatives come together in the forge to meet other likeminded individuals, form teams and ultimately come up with the best and brightest ideas to compete in challenges of creativity and innovation.
Who owns the rights to the projects created?
By default the rights will remain with the hackers who created the projects unless specifically stated otherwise in the rules of the challenge.
I am a hacker can I still create challenges?
Yes, you can add an additional “organiser” profile to your account and create 1 challenge at a time with limited functionality, if you wish to you can upgrade to a organiser package to run more hackathons or increase functionality.
I am a judge can I take part in or setup challenges?
Yes, if you sign up as a judge you can still add an additional “hacker” profile to your account and enter challenges and an “organiser” profile to you account
I have an organiser account, can I still take part in or judge challenges?
Yes, you can add a “judge” and or a “hacker” profile to your account allowing you take part and judge hackathons.
I have set up an organiser account can other people from my company use this account?
You can only have one account per company, but feel free to share the login with multiple people in your company.
Why should I create a challenge on Hackfest?
Because you get access to an army of incredibly talented individuals and get them working to solve the issues that are challenging you or your company.
What is this league thing all about?
Competition; it was good enough to evolve the human race and we believe it can be put to use to solve the issues challenging you.
Hackers can win points by taking part in challenges giving the chance to rise and fall in the Hackfest league earning worship and adoration from other hackers
Points won can also be used to offer as prizes in creating future challenges.
Why should I be bothered about winning the league?
Um, you mean the kudos isn’t enough? The haul of prizes you’ve accumulated along the way? Well how about the fact that you’re demonstrating your incredible skills and superiority to a huge number of potential organisers and employers…
What happens to a project once it wins a prize?
If the challenge creator wishes to take a project forward for further development it is up to them to negotiate with the creators if they wish
How do I claim my prize?
Once the challenge is completed and has been judged, we will share the contact details of the winners with the challenge creators. It is then the responsibility of the challenge creator to ensure that prizes are awarded and delivered correctly.
I am in a team project, how will the prizes be distributed if we win?
It is up to the team members to communicate and decide how they want to allocated and distribute prizes.
Points won in a challenge will be distributed via the creator of the challenge.
What benefits do I get from purchasing an upgraded package?
Obviously the functionality of all challenges on Hackfest is pretty incredible. But to really get the best results you need to attract the best hackers and get them buzzing. Going pro brings a host of benefits including…
• Marketing – We’ll promote your challenge in our regular email newsletters
• Featured – get a slot in our “Featured Hacks” promoted site wide
• Ability to run multiple hacks at once
• Exposure / visibility – get priority in search results
• Add bigger prizes – Really get the hackers excited
• Get additional points to award to your hackers
• Send messages to hackers signed up for your challenge.
• Add sponsors and partners to help fund and promote your challenge
• Data of hackers / contacts
• Dashboard to monitor your package and ensure that you are getting the most from the package
I am a judge how do I nominate who I think should win?
Once the challenge is completed you can visit the “projects page” of the challenge. Look over the various information the teams / entrants have supplied and decide who you think should win.
A list of available prizes appears in the left hand column. Clicking nominate on each project will display a dropdown from which the prize you want to nominate this project for can be selected. You can only nominate each project for one prize.
How are the judges nominations counted?
All nominations for a challenge will be sent through to the challenge creator. It is then up to the challenge creator to select the winners based on these results. The challenge creators decision is final.
How do I enter a challenge?
Just visit the challenge page and click the big red “Enter challenge button”.
If you’re not already registered for an account you’ll have to pick an account type (you want to be a hacker), then fill in your details. You’ll be directed to the challenge page. BOOM you’re entered! Now get on and create a project or ask to join someone else’s.
What’s the difference between a physical and a virtual challenge?
A physical challenge takes place at a real life venue where you can meet, chat and hack with your team mates. It will be over a limited period of time (though sometimes you can prep beforehand, check the rules), and is generally judged at the end of the final day when you may get a chance to present your work.
A virtual challenge has no venue and all interactions can take place online via Hackfest. It runs up until the closing date. Then all judging and awarding takes place based on what you have uploaded to your project page.
How do I join a project?
You’re already registered as a hacker right? Okay then so you just need to enter the challenge, then visit the project page you’re interested in and click the “request to join project” button. The project creator will then get a notification and it will be up to them if they want to accept you to the team.
How do I invite people to join my project?
Have some friends you want to invite? Just enter their emails in the system when setting up or editing your project. Or you can search through people already on Hackfest to send them an email.
What should I upload on my project page?
Write an introduction and full explanation of the project going to detail about how it works. Make sure you fully read the challenge brief and provide everything they ask for. Otherwise it’s up to you, the more you provide the better the judges will be able to understand you project, you could…
- Upload your code to a repository with our friends over at Github and provide a link so the judges can delve in and see what you’ve been up to.
- You could make a video demonstration / presentation of your project and upload it to youtube. Then just provide a link to it
- Add any photos / screenshots that can support your entry along with a description explaining what is going on.
- Add a project image or logo to help your project stand out from the crowd
How do I register as a hacker / judge / organiser?
Just click register in the top menu. You can then select what type of user account you require (i.e hacker, judge, organiser) and enter the required information. You can add other user types later if you want to take on different roles within Hackfest.
How do I invite people to judge my challenges?
When setting up or editing your challenge there is an option to enter email addresses of people you would like to invite to judge your challenge. Enter as many as you would like, you can always invite more later by returning to edit the challenge. You will be notified if they accept or decline your invitation on Hackfest.
You can also select up to four judges from our list of registered judges if they have chosen to be available for invitations.
I’ve been invited to judge a challenge, what do I need to do?
Just follow the link in the invitation notification you received accepting the invitation. If you aren’t already registered you will be asked to fill in some details to setup your profile, when logged in you will now find you have a “notification” clicking this will confirm you as a judge on the challenge. You’ll be directed to the challenge page where you can see the details and view the entrants.
There are people in this league with huge scores already, how will I ever get noticed?
Okay you may have your work cut out to reach the dizzying heights of the top of the league but rest assured we will be introducing extra awards and badges for hackers who win the most points each month as well as sub leagues relating to particular categories of challenges.
So don’t worry, recognition and glory are still well within your grasp.