Dates

January 17, 2025 to January 19, 2025

Eligibility

1. Open to all university students, including undergraduate and graduate levels, from Georgia Tech and other institutions.

2. Participants must form teams of 2–4 members. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Project and Submission Requirements

1. Track:
Participants must select one of the following tracks to base their project on:

  • Energy Storage: Solutions to improve efficiency, affordability, or scalability of energy storage systems.
  • Energy Security: Innovations to enhance grid resilience, cybersecurity, or access to reliable power.
  • Decarbonization: Ideas that drive the reduction of carbon emissions across various sectors.

2. Deliverables:

One Participant from the team must submit the following items:

    • A Project Report outlining the following items:
      • Track Chosen
      • Problem Statement
      • Ideation & Development Process
      • Solution Proposed
    • A Link to your GitHub repository containing all the code for your project. For hardware prototypes, include a relevant link to access your design files or documentation. Please ensure that the link is made public.
  • All submissions must be made via DevPost by 9:30 AM on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
  • The Project Showcase will be held in front of judges and other attendees at 12 PM at Klaus Atrium on January 19, 2025.

Project Showcase

Check-In: Teams must check in at Klaus Atrium and set up by 11:30 AM.

Presentation: You will have a maximum of 5 minutes to present your project to the judges, followed by 3 minutes of Q&A.

Conduct: At least one member must stay at the exhibit. Respect others’ displays and maintain professionalism.

Prizes

Teams are eligible for the following Overall Cash Prizes:

  • Best Overall Hack - Cash prize of $200
  • 2nd Best Hack - Cash prize of $100
  • 3rd Best Hack - Cash prize of $50

Judging Criteria 

Projects will be judged based on the following criteria:

Technical Expertise

  • Demonstrates strong technical skills and innovative problem-solving.

  • Effectively utilizes advanced concepts and methodologies.

Design and Functionality

  • Final product showcases excellent aesthetics, usability, and user interaction.

  • Incorporates a "wow factor" through creativity or innovation.

Real-World Relevance

  • Provides a practical solution to the targeted need or problem.

  • Aligns with relevant energy policies and industry standards.

Presentation Quality

  • Communicates the solution effectively through clear and compelling demonstration.

  • Visual aids and supplementary materials enhance understanding and appeal.

Rules

Start Time: Hacking begins sharp at 9:30 PM on Friday, Jan 17. Before this time, you can brainstorm ideas and set up your GitHub repository, but no designing, coding, or project initialization is allowed.

Original Work: All work must be created during the hackathon. Pre-existing projects are not allowed, but you can use publicly available tools, libraries, or datasets.

Respect and Inclusivity: Maintain a respectful and inclusive environment. Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior will result in immediate disqualification.

Submission Deadline: Projects must be submitted by 9:30 AM on Sunday, Jan 19. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Code of Conduct: Be respectful and inclusive to all participants, mentors, and organizers. Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.