DandyHacks is the University of Rochester’s annual 42-hour-long hackathon that was started in 2013. It is completely student-led and student-run.
At DandyHacks, we aim to provide a comfortable and friendly environment where students can fully absorb themselves in the competition. We hope that regardless of winning or losing the competition, students will have the opportunity to be brave, share the same interest in coding with others, and have fun.
This year, we are offering mentorship resources for student's whom it may be their first time participating at a hackathon.
Requirements
Hackers may only submit projects started on Friday, November 14th or later. This year we will have a hard deadline of 10 am EDT, November 16th. After 10:00am, you will not be able to submit projects.
To have their project eligible to win prizes, hackers must submit their project and present in front of our judges in Feldman Ballroom starting at 11 am EDT November 16th.
Please check off the tracks you'd like your projects to be considered under when submitting your project.
Prizes
Productivity and Innovation 1st Place Prize
Prize: Samsung 24-Inch Gaming Monitor
Productivity and Innovation 2nd Place Prize
Prize: Beitdo Bluetooth Controller
Productivity and Innovation 3rd Place Prize
Prize: Beats Solo Buds
Interactive & Entertainment Game Design 1st Place Prize
Prize: JBL Headphones
Interactive & Entertainment Game Design 2nd Place Prize
Prize: Amazon Echo Dot
Interactive & Entertainment Game Design 3rd Place Prize
Prize: Anker Power Bank
Creative Immersive Technology 1st Place Prize
Prize:Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Drawing Tablet
Creative Immersive Technology 2nd Place Prize
Prize - XP-Pen Deco MW Wireless Tablet
Creative Immersive Technology 3rd Place Prize
Prize: Huion Inspirdy H640P Pen Tablet
Best Business Potential - S
Sponsored By Ain Center For Entrepreneurship and Innovation
[Exclusive To The University Of Rochester Students]
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Prize: Google Swag Kits
It's time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
• Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
• Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
• Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
Links:
* https://mlh.link/gemini-quickstart
[MLH] Best Use of Solana
Prize: SenseCAP Card Tracker
The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it's time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
• Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
• Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
• Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.
Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!
Links:
* https://mlh.link/solana
[MLH] Best Use of DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI
Prize: Retro Wireless Mouse
DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI is a unified AI cloud for building, training, and deploying machine learning models and AI agents. Get access to GPU infrastructure like DigitalOcean GPU Droplets and Bare Metal servers, along with serverless inference and 1-Click Models for instant deployment of your favorite LLMs! Sign up for DigitalOcean today and get $200 worth of free credits that you can use towards building your next Gradient-powered hack. Enable your next project with DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI for a chance to win some great prizes for you and each of your teammates!
Links:
* http://mlh.link/digitalocean
[MLH] Best Use of Snowflake API
Prize: Arduino Tiny ML Kit
Play with industry-leading LLMs on a single account using the Snowflake APIs. Adding AI capabilities into your application can be as simple as a single CURL command to Snowflake's REST API.
Build customized applications, RAG powered chat bots, or embed AI-powered features into your app in half the time with half the hassle. Get started for free with a special, student 120-day Snowflake trial and check out this repository for an example of the Snowflake REST API in action.
Links:
* https://mlh.link/snowflake-signup
* https://mlh.link/snowflake-tutorial
* https://mlh.link/snowflake
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
Prize: Wireless Earbuds
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!
Links:
* https://my.mlh.io/signin
* https://mlh.link/elevenlabs
[MLH] Best Use of AI powered by Reach Capital
Prize: Logitech Webcam & Meeting with the Reach Capital Investors
AI has upended what we can accomplish with technology. Reach Capital invests in the next generation of founders and technical talent, and they want you to use AI to transform the future of learning, health, and work. Build a project that impacts one (or all!) of these areas for a chance to win a Logitech webcam for each member of your team and the exclusive opportunity to discuss your creation with Reach Capital's team of expert investors.
Interested in working at world-changing startups? Reach's 130+ portfolio companies — including Replit, Brilliant, ClassDojo, GPTZero, and Desmos — are always looking for the next wave of talent. Share what you're studying, building, or exploring, and Reach will connect you to career-defining opportunities. Add your profile and join the hackers already in the Reach talent network.
Links:
* https://mlh.link/reach-capital
* https://mlh.link/reach-talent
[MLH] Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
Prize: Digital Gift Card
GoDaddy Registry is giving you everything you need to be the best hacker no matter where you are. Register your domain name with GoDaddy Registry for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
Links:
* https://mlh.link/GoDaddyRegistry
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Tom Yan
Student
Nour Assilit
Student
Duc Vu
Student
Matt Egyhazy
Chief Technology Officer AIG
Roy Jones
Professor at UoR
Joseph Loporcaro
Professor at UoR
Asad Shahab
Tergle
Judging Criteria
-
Completion and Functionality
Did the hack work? To what extent did the team achieve their goals? Does the project correlate with the problem they initially presented? Does it work as stated in their demo?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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