Frequently asked questions.

What is a Hackathon? 

A Hackathon is an ideation competition where participants work in teams to create innovative solutions or prototypes over a defined period of time, usually 48 hours (about 2 days). 

What is the theme or focus of the Husky Hackathon? 

The 2023 Husky Hackathon will be focused on Smart-Ed and disrupting the status quo of education. For additional information, please see the about page for the Husky Hackathon. 

When and where is the Husky Hackathon taking place? 

The Husky Hackathon will take place May 19 – May 21 at Paccar Hall, UW. 

What is the schedule for the Hackathon? 

The schedule for the Hackathon will be announced soon. Please check the Hackathon website for updates. 

Who can participate in the Hackathon? 

The Hackathon is open to all University of Washington students. Students from all majors and skill levels are welcome to participate. 

Do I need to have programming skills to participate? 

While having programming skills is helpful, it is not required to participate in the Hackathon. You can contribute to a team in other ways such as ideation, design, and project management. This hackathon is more focused on finding the right opportunity and ideating a product than code.

How will the winning projects be selected? 

The winning projects will be selected by a panel of judges based on criteria such as creativity, impact, implementation & design, relevance. A detailed list of criteria will be shared with all participants upon hackathon commencement.

What are the prizes for the winning projects? 

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams. Specific details will be announced soon. Please check the Hackathon website for updates. 

 

Additional FAQs

  • You can register for the Hackathon by filling out the individual or team registration form on the Hackathon website under the “2023-Hackathon Sign-Up” section.

  • We recommend signing up by May 10th so that we can accommodate for the logistics during the day of the event.

  • No, there is no registration fee to participate in the Hackathon.

  • You can register as an individual or as a team. However, working in teams is encouraged as it promotes collaboration and creativity. The Husky Hackathon team will create teams for all individuals depending on individuals based on their areas of expertise.

  • Each team can have anywhere from four to six members.

  • No, team members cannot switch teams once they have joined a team.

  • You should bring your laptop or any other hardware that you need for your project, along with any necessary chargers, adapters, or cables.

  • The venue will provide high-speed internet access along with reserved spaces for collaboration. Team rooms will be reserved for the hackathon days.

  • Yes, there will be workshops and mentorship sessions conducted by experienced professionals and industry experts.

  • Directions to the Paccar Hall: https://goo.gl/maps/uTLQGqUDotccAPX29

  • There is a parking lot immediately to the West of Paccar Hall and to the East of the Burke Natural History museum. The only complication is Google/Apple maps won't provide exact directions to the lot, so I have to type them out here with a screenshot attached: You enter UW through the North entrance on NE 45th St. You can see the blue dot is me sitting in Paccar, with the blue line showing how to enter the lot from NE 45th Street and the parking lot is immediately to the east of the Burke Museum of Natural History. After entering UW's entrance, you will turn right at the 4-way intersection stop. You will be driving south, Paccar will be on your left, parking and the museum will be on your right.