About the challenge

Welcome to VCU CS's Annual 24 Hour Mini-Hackathon! Hackers will ~24 hours to submit a project related to one of our themes. You can either use one of given prompts OR come up with an entirely new idea that fits the theme. All presentations must be submitted in PDF format at 11AM and presented during the judging period (January 31st 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM). All team members must be added to the project and must have a devpost account. All participants will earn a digital badge after submitting a project. Use this badge to post on Linkedin and inform you peers of your success! Add you project to your Github and include it on your resume.

💻 Get started

  1. Join our Discord server immediately to stay updated, the invite link should be in the email you signed up with

  2. Review the hackathon challenge tracks and prizes

  3. Form or join a team (max 4 members per team)

  4. Start thinking about project ideas

  5. Check out our resources tab

Requirements

What to Build

You can choose one of the specified prompts OR you can come up with your own based on one of three themes: Social and Community Impact, AI and Machine Learning, Sustainability and Environment. Projects are from: https://www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/hackathon-project-ideas ;

Social and Community Impact 🏘️

  1. Many people want to help but do not know where to start. Create an application which simplifies volunteering by connecting people to relevant opportunities.
  2. In times of disaster, coordination is crucial. Create a tool that streamlines efforts, ensuring help reaches those in need quickly
  3. Therapy can be expensive and inaccessible for many. Create a platform that bridges the gap, making mental health support more reachable.

AI and Machine Learning 🤖

  1. Job seekers often struggle to tailor their resumes for different roles. Create a tool automates the process, increasing their chances of success
  2. Cooking with limited ingredients can be frustrating. Creating an app turns it into an enjoyable experience by suggesting creative recipes.
  3. Information overload is a challenge. Create an app which ensures users get relevant news without having to sift through unnecessary content.

Sustainability and Environment 🌱

  1. Energy consumption insights can inspire change. Create a dashboard that helps users understand their energy patterns and transition to cleaner sources.
  2. Recycling confusion leads to improper waste management. Create an app which educates users and promotes better recycling habits through technology.

What to Submit

  • Please submit your presentation as a PDF with a team name and all team members names and email addresses on the first page. 
  • Your project must:
    • Be created during the hackathon
    • You must have a slideshow presentation which includes:
      • The project name
      • Chosen theme
      • Team member names
      • Team member email addresses
    • Include a working demo/prototype
    • Have source code available
    • Address one of our themes
    • Be submitted through Devpost by the deadline

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$225 in prizes
First Place
$100 in cash
1 winner

Second Place
$75 in cash
1 winner

Third Place
$50 in cash
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Maisha Mahmood

Maisha Mahmood
VCU '23 Alumni | Software Engineer at Bank of America

Cole Bohanon

Cole Bohanon
VCU '23 Alumni | Senior Software Developer at Home Care Delivered

Suhas Jangoan

Suhas Jangoan
Senior Data Engineer | Zendesk IEEE Treasurer, Richmond Section, Senior Member Published Author, 15 years of industry experience.

Sanchee Kaushik

Sanchee Kaushik
Senior Data Engineer at CVS Health | Vice Chair of Women in Engineering (IEEE Richmond Region), 14 years of industry experience

Malar Kondappan

Malar Kondappan
System Architect III at GM Financial | IEEE Senior Member, Speaker & Published Author, Hackathon Judge & Mentor, 20+ Years Industry Experience

Raju Dantuluri

Raju Dantuluri
Senior Software Engineering Manager at Capital One | IEEE Senior Member, Speaker & Mentor, 20+ Years Industry Experience

Devendra Rajput

Devendra Rajput
Senior Oracle Database & Cloud Leader | ♠ Oracle ACE Associate | 20+ Years Experience | Blogger, Author, speaker| Exadata | OCI | AWS| Leading cloud migrations and AI-driven database automation. | IEEE Senior Member

Naga Deepak Pothuraju

Naga Deepak Pothuraju

Judging Criteria

  • Technology (15 points)
    How technically impressive is the solution, given the limited time? Does it incorporate APIs, or innovative problem-solving approaches? Does the code reflect a solid understanding of the chosen technology stack?
  • Implementability/Practicality (10 points)
    Is this project feasible to implement within the next 3-5 years? This should focus on both the technical side and the scalability or adoption.
  • Efficiency & Functionality (5 points)
    Does the prototype or design solve the problem efficiently? Could the solution be implemented without significant challenges?
  • Judges Opinion (10 points)
    This criterion allows judges to express their personal feelings about the project. Even if a project doesn't rank the highest in technical or design aspects, it might still leave a strong positive impression
  • Relevance to Theme (5 points)
    Does the project align with the theme it was submitted for? The solution should clearly tie into the theme of the hackathon.
  • Creativity (5 points)
    The project demonstrates originality and a unique approach to solving the problem.
  • Presentation Quality (15 points)
    Did the team state the problem or opportunity they were addressing? Did the presentation follow an understandable flow? Did multiple team members participate in the presentation? Was there a clear closing statement for the presentation?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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