About the challenge
Welcome to .HACKathon 2025, a two-day in-person hackathon organised by SMU .Hack, where university students from across Singapore come together to build for students, by students. This year’s theme challenges participants to craft impactful edutech or community tools that improve university life — making it more connected, smarter, and more student-centric.
Whether you're an incoming freshman or a seasoned undergraduate coder, this is your chance to collaborate, innovate, and bring your boldest ideas to life. You'll work in teams of 4–5, compete across two exciting categories, and stand to win attractive prizes—including a special award for the best use of Huawei Cloud technologies!
Get started
🗓️ Hackathon Dates: 1 – 2 August 2025
📍 Venue: SMU Campus (Details will be sent to shortlisted teams)
👥 Team Size: 4 – 5 members (Individual sign-ups would not be accepted)
⏰ Schedule:
1 August (Day 1)
10:00 AM – Opening Ceremony & Briefing
10:30 AM – Hacking Begins
10:00 PM – Venue Closes (No overnight access allowed)
2 August (Day 2)
8:00 AM – Venue Reopens
2:00 PM – Submission Deadline
2:30 PM – Demos & Judging
5:30 PM – Closing Ceremony & Prize Presentation
Bring your laptops, creativity, and team spirit—let's build something amazing together!
Requirements
What to Build
Participants must develop a working software prototype aligned with the theme "Build for Students, By Students". Your solution should either:
- Improve the university learning experience (Edutech), OR
- Foster stronger campus connections and well-being (Community)
Bonus points for integrating Huawei Cloud technologies in your solution to qualify for the Sponsor Prize.
What to Submit
- A working prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
- Project description (problem, solution, tech stack, key features) on DevPost
- Link to GitHub repository
You would require to declare on the DevPost submission on which category your project would be solving. You can only choose ONE category that your project aligns with (Either Edutech or Community but not both)
Winners will be announced during the in-person award ceremony on 2 August
Prizes
Top Team in EduTech Theme
$300 worth of prizes for each team member, up to a maximum of $1500 worth of prizes for the whole team
Top Team in Community Theme
$300 worth of prizes for each team member, up to a maximum of $1500 worth of prizes for the whole team
Best Use of Huawei Cloud
2 Huawei GT 4 Watches and Huawei Merchandise
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Hui Yi Wang
Senior Recruiter, Ascenda
Wilbert Aristo Guntoro
Senior Software Engineer, Ascenda
Anastasia Harper
Head of Integrations and API Strategy, ChatAndBuild
Kelvin
MarketIng Assistant Manager, Exabytes
Judging Criteria
-
Relevance to Theme (20%)
How well does the project address real problems or opportunities in the student experience? Does it offer a clear benefit for university students in areas like learning, campus life, or peer support? -
Innovation (8%)
Is the idea original or creative? Does it introduce a new approach or concept? -
Impact (6%)
What is the potential of the solution to make a difference in student life or the education community? -
Feasibility (6%)
Is the project realistic and possible to implement in a real-world university setting? -
Presentation (12%)
How well did the team communicate their ideas? Was the presentation clear, confident, and engaging? -
Technical Implementation (20%)
How well was the solution built? Is it technically sound and well-architected? -
Demo & Functionality (20%)
Did the team successfully demonstrate a working prototype? Does it function as intended? -
UI/UX Design (8%)
Is the user interface intuitive and polished? Was user experience clearly considered?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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