About the challenge

In this fast-paced, collaborative experience, you’ll design and build creative tools that help local businesses grow, operate more efficiently, and better serve their communities. Whether you're passionate about tech, design, or problem-solving, this is your chance to turn ideas into solutions, sharpen your skills, and make a meaningful difference. Come ready to create, collaborate, and bring your ideas to life!

Challenge Focus: Teams should identify a real problem that small businesses face—such as marketing, customer engagement, inventory management, online presence, or operations—and create a tech-enabled tool, platform, or service that solves it

You can choose any programming language or technology stack that you're comfortable with, and our mentors will be available to help you with any questions or challenges you may encounter along the way. In addition to building your project, you'll also have the opportunity to attend pre-hackathon workshops, network with industry professionals, and compete for prizes. Our goal is to provide a supportive and collaborative environment where you can develop your skills, make new connections, and have fun!

• Presentation Overall Delivery (10 point)
  ▪ Does the presentation include a thoughtful and well-designed google slides presentation? ▪ Is the delivery clear, concise and professional? ▪ Does the delivery feel rehearsed and polished
• Presentation - 2. Articulation of Team Member Roles (5 point)
  ▪ Is the role of each team member clearly described / demonstrated? ▪ Did the team take advantage of each member’s strengths to distribute the project work load in an effective and equitable way?
• Presentation - 3. Elevator Pitch (15 point)
  ▪ Does the elevator pitch effectively answer the “big picture” questions: Who would be interested in this? Why should people use your app? ▪ Does the elevator pitch clearly articulate a critical question or intervention?
• Presentation - 4. Demonstration (10 point)
  ▪ Is each step of the demonstration / walkthrough clearly linked to the “big picture” questions above?
• App Prototype - 1. Visual and UX Design (30 point)
  ▪ To what extent are the following design elements used effectively to create a user experience that is intuitive, pleasurable and thematically aligned with the project’s goals? ▪ Color ▪ Typography ▪ Layout and composition ▪ UI Elements ▪ Media Assets
• App Prototype - 2. Content (30 point)
  ▪ Has the group responded to feedback from the instructor? ▪ Does the app create a compelling UI that will engage users? ▪ Is the app’s critical question/intervention integrated into the UX?