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The 2017 Hackaday Prize

The Hackaday Prize is back for the fourth year! Challenge yourself, make something amazing, change the world with your talent.

Monday, March 20, 2017 07:00 am PDT - Saturday, November 11, 2017 06:00 pm PST Local time zone:
Similar projects worth following

Build Something That Matters - 2017 Competition Summary

Main Website :: Official Rules :: Best Product :: FAQ

Hackaday Prize Finals:

Round 1: Design Your Concept Finalists

Round 2: Internet of Useful Things Finalists

Round 3: Wheels, Wings, & Walkers Finalists

Round 4: Assistive Technologies Finalists

Round 5: Anything Goes Finalists

Best Product Finalists

----

All Prize Entries:

Round 1: Design Your Concept Submissions

Round 2: Internet of Useful Things Submissions

Round 3: Wheels, Wings, & Walkers Submissions

Round 4: Assistive Technologies Submissions

Round 5: Anything Goes Submissions

Best Product Submissions

It's 2017. Our planet is facing issues like climate change, overpopulation, food shortage, technology security issues, and aging populations. We challenge you to come up with solutions to address current issues in the world today and create a better life for all of us.

For the 4th year in a row, Hackaday Prize entrants will push the boundaries of problem solving to make a real difference in the world around us.

In 2014 we launched The Hackaday Prize to our smart, talented, enthusiastic community of engineers, scientists, designers and creatives everywhere. Over 600 projects were created, and the winner, SatNOGS, now has a foundation where they are continuing the work they started here.

In 2015 we challenged the Hackaday community to use their superpowers again. The results told the story of nearly 900 Hackaday Prize entrants using their unique skills to make big changes in peoples' lives. 2015's Hackaday Prize winner, the Eyedrivomatic, directly impacted the lives of many with limited mobility.

In 2016, we had nearly 1,100 entries, and the Hackaday Prize winner was Dtto, a search and rescue robot, an open source project that will continue to be worked on at the Supplyframe Design Lab.

In 2017, We’re starting off with the Design Your Concept round, where you submit a simple idea and an image. After that, we give you 4 more Hackaday Prize challenges to run with. These 5 challenges run one after the other and each challenge lasts just 6 weeks.

Alongside the other rounds, the Best Product round will be running. You can enter the Best Product additionally or separately with The Hackaday Prize.

20 projects will be chosen from each of the 6 rounds, and awarded $1,000 per project.

That's $120,000 in prizes for semi-finalists! YES, that's $120,000 and super that so many builds get recognition and a piece of the loot.

  • $250k in total prizes
    • Grand Prize $50k, Best Product $30k, 2nd-5th Place: $20k, $15k, $10k, $5k
    • 120 finalists will each get $1k
    • Seed funding: Enter right away and you get a dollar for every like on your project ($4000 max, $200 limit per project... this was super fun and popular last year)
  • 5 Challenge rounds (you can enter once or in all five if you want):
    • Design Your Concept (show planning for an awesome build
    • Internet of *Useful* Things (IuT ! IoT) -- connected devices that don't suck
    • Wheels, Wings, and Walkers (build something that moves)
    • Assistive Technology (helps the sick, elderly, physically or mentally challenged)
    • Anything Goes (free for all, as long as it does social good)
  • Best Product Round
    • Enter your product alone or together with the Hackaday Prize
    • Up to 20 finalists will win $1000
    • Grand prize is $30k and a chance to interview for a residency at the Supplyframe Design Lab

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  • FAQ for the 2017 Hackaday Prize

    Sophi Kravitz04/07/2017 at 12:23 16 comments

    FAQ

    If you have more questions, please email us at prize@hackaday.com. We look forward to seeing your projects!

    How do I enter?

    There is a dropdown menu below your project image. Simply start a project and click the dropdown, from there you will see 2017 Hackaday Prize.

    Here is a convenient video tutorial on how to enter your project into the Hackaday Prize:

    What is considered an entry?

    Put simply, you need an idea, and image, and documentation. To start you simply talk about a technology problem facing people today and your idea of what a solution might be. Yes, you can enter the first challenge with just an idea and be eligible to be selected to move to the final round. This is what Challenge 1 is all about.

    Challenges 2 - 5 invite you to start building something and documenting. You need 4 project logs or instructions in Challenges 2 - 5 to move into the finals.

    Challenge five is for those who don't like to be tied down. Build anything you want to solve the problem you have chosen. Bask in your own creativity.

    Those who prefer more constraints will excel in Challenges 2, 3, and 4 which tackle specific themes.

    What are the 5 Challenges? When do they start/end?

    Each of the 5 Challenges are a 5-week first round from which 20 entries will advance to the final round.

    When are the winners for each round announced?

    Winners will be announced about 1-2 weeks after the close of each round.

    Can I enter if I'm under 18 years old?

    Minors between 13 and 18 are eligible to enter the 2017 Hackaday Prize.

    When you enter as a team of collaborators, there is a link “younger than 18” next to the check box (see image below). When you click that link, it brings you to a parental consent form link (dropbox), which you should have a parent fill out and then upload using the “choose file” button below.

    Here is a link to the form: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hgnazev2rdmzpt7/THP_Parental_Consent_Form.pdf

    Here is a convenient video tutorial on how to enter the Hackaday Prize as a minor:

    I was a finalist in 2014, 2015 or 2016, can I enter the same project again?

    If you won anything in a previous presentation of The Hackaday Prize that project is not eligible for entry in this Contest. You may enter with a substantially different project.

    Can I re-enter my project from 2014, 2015 or 2016?

    You can enter a previous Prize entry, but you must create a new project page and the project must be significantly different from when previously entered and show meaningful development during the course of the Contest.

    How many Challenges do I need to participate in?

    You must participate in at least one challenge to be eligible for the final round. We encourage you to participate in more but it is not required.

    Is it possible to win more than one Challenge?

    Yes. The same Project Profile may be entered in any or all of the challenge rounds using the "Submit Project To..." menu found on your project page. Projects should adhere to the theme of the challenge so you may also consider entering several projects in different rounds.

    How do I see which projects have already been entered?

    Check out this full list of official entries.

    How much of my Project Profile will I be judged upon?

    All parts of your project will be judged. We recommend you start with a brief summary to provide an overall understanding of your project. From there, explain each part in detail, adding images and diagrams as needed. A video is only required for the final round, but if you want to make one to help walk through your project that is a great idea.

    Where do I submit my prize project entry video?

    On the Edit Project page add the link to your entry video in the Contest Entry Videos field and click save.

    What does "open" actually mean?

    Open refers to how much you have documented about...

    Read more »

View contest log

Enjoy this contest?

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Discussions

Kristjan Berce wrote 10/22/2017 at 11:37 point

Just out of curiosity. Did anybody actually won in two or more categories?

  Are you sure? yes | no

davedarko wrote 10/22/2017 at 12:34 point

yes

  Are you sure? yes | no

Peter McCloud wrote 10/14/2017 at 17:44 point

I was hoping for a quick clarification. On the prize website calendar (https://hackaday.io/prize) when you hover over October 16th, It says "Anthing Goes projects selected, the top 100 finalist projects sent to the judges". However in the official rules page (https://hackaday.io/prize/rules-en) that the finalist have until 7AM PDT on 10/21 to enter the final details and submit the video. I assume that the official rules page is correct, but wanted to confirm.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Rupert Young wrote 09/29/2017 at 09:29 point

This page says "20 projects will be chosen from each of the 6 rounds, and awarded $1,000 per project." but the rules page says "up to one hundred twenty (120) submissions which advance to the final round will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000."

Does this mean you have to enter the final round to be eligible for the $1000? Or not?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Rupert Young wrote 09/21/2017 at 12:20 point

Does the $1 per like apply to all rounds?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dr. Cockroach wrote 09/21/2017 at 16:04 point

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I think the $1 per Like was only the first round and was intended as project seed money.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lutetium wrote 09/21/2017 at 16:20 point

@Rupert Young - No it doesn't. It applies only to the first round.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Rupert Young wrote 09/21/2017 at 10:51 point

Does the project need to be complete before it is submitted?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lutetium wrote 09/21/2017 at 15:56 point

Hello Rupert! No, it doesn't. But judges will be assessing your project based on what you have done before deadline. Also you can continue working on your project...

  Are you sure? yes | no

Reginald Sourn wrote 09/04/2017 at 17:50 point

I don't know why my project get 20 follower 0 like and 0 viewer ? xD how they follow me without view ? it's a error for make me happy xD

  Are you sure? yes | no

haydn jones wrote 09/04/2017 at 18:06 point

there is a delay on views for some reason, has been for as long as i have been here. They will show up eventually.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Reginald Sourn wrote 09/04/2017 at 18:26 point

Oh I see , Thank you jones ;)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Shulie Tornel wrote 09/06/2017 at 17:47 point

Hi Alpha, and views start showing up after 50 counts.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Reginald Sourn wrote 09/06/2017 at 18:15 point

OMG , i get less than 50 in my project  so sad xD .

  Are you sure? yes | no

Just4Fun wrote 09/04/2017 at 06:04 point

Ooops... I wanted participate to the "Anything goes" contest that starts today but instead I went to the "Assistive technologies" that ends today... :)

No idea about how to switch... I didn't notice before the "overlapping" day....

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dr. Cockroach wrote 09/04/2017 at 07:52 point

I would not worry, your entry in the Assistive might not get anywhere so just reenter to Anything Goes once it shows up as an option :-)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Just4Fun wrote 09/04/2017 at 09:09 point

Yeah.. A Z80 on breadboard wouldn't "assist" nobody.... Just a Sudoku alternative... :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

davedarko wrote 09/04/2017 at 09:10 point

I did that too by accident :D only submitted to hackaday prize. For IoT I had to extra submit, so I thought that tomorrow I would have to submit it to that part of the prize, but no. it's in assistive too :D

  Are you sure? yes | no

Richard Hogben wrote 09/04/2017 at 13:52 point

Anything goes will be up at 7am PDT.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Just4Fun wrote 09/04/2017 at 14:18 point

Thanks!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Joan Horvath wrote 08/30/2017 at 04:20 point

I just added my video at the appropriate place and clicked "Publish," but I don't see it anywhere once I've published it. (The link is still there.) I just pasted the link, not embedded. Is this how it's supposed to be?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Morning.Star wrote 08/30/2017 at 06:04 point

Hey Joan :-)
You cant upload videos directly to Hackaday from your computer, only images and GIF animations. To post a video you need to upload it to somewhere like YouTube and then link to it.
By far the easiest way to do that is to right-click the playing video and choose either the embed code or URL options from the menu, then use the Paste function to place the copied code into your project.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Joan Horvath wrote 08/30/2017 at 23:52 point

Yes, thanks, I know that ... but there is a slot in the Hackaday Prize entry template for a video link. When one posts a video link, it does not appear anywhere visible once it is published.  (I embedded the video in "Details" as well so it would be visible somewhere, but it looks to me like there is a permissions or visibility problem for the Hackaday Prize Video item in the project template.)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Richard Hogben wrote 09/04/2017 at 13:50 point

@Joan Horvath the video submission field on the edit project page is not displayed publicly. You can confirm it was submitted by clicking on edit project again and reviewing the field entry.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Kristjan Berce wrote 05/10/2017 at 11:33 point

When will the money from public funding be available? I could use it right about now.. :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Shulie Tornel wrote 05/11/2017 at 00:31 point

@Kristjan Berce We will be sending emails to the seed funding people very soon. Payment should be expected by end of may - June 12. Thanks for your patience! We have lots of people to pay. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 05/08/2017 at 12:20 point

When/where will they announce the first 20 quarterfinalist?

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 05/08/2017 at 23:04 point

Thanks for the info. I found it earlier. Congrats to the winners! :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sean S Con wrote 05/01/2017 at 22:03 point

Are their any restrictions on later commercialization of entries? 

I.e. if i do not win anything here, do i still have the ability to sell my idea to someone else?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 05/01/2017 at 22:33 point

You are still the owner of the project so I think it's fine.

However, you can't sell an idea because there is no protection over such an impalpable and fuzzy ... thing.
I advise you to better understand what "Intellectual Property" is, means, and how it works.

  Are you sure? yes | no

K.C. Lee wrote 05/01/2017 at 23:16 point

Also the project needs to be some what open source for the contest, so kind of get in the way of *just* selling the idea.  Patents are void by the disclosure/publishing.

You'll need to consider the licensing and think of alternate way of monetizing.

  Are you sure? yes | no

jlbrian7 wrote 05/09/2017 at 02:54 point

I don't know anything about other countries, but in USA, I believe you have a year from the time you make an idea public in order to file a patent. However, America, as I understand it is a first to file nation, and if you make an idea public, and someone else files before you do, you are out of luck.

  Are you sure? yes | no

haydn jones wrote 04/28/2017 at 10:18 point

Whats the exact time for the may 1st deadline please? 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dusan Petrovic wrote 04/28/2017 at 11:21 point

Hello @haydn jones! The deadline for the first round is May 1st 7am PDT. Good luck!

  Are you sure? yes | no

haydn jones wrote 04/28/2017 at 11:35 point

thanks, will you snapshot for judging at that point?

  Are you sure? yes | no

ActualDragon wrote 04/15/2017 at 18:39 point

hey when are we getting the seed funding?

  Are you sure? yes | no

WalkerDev wrote 04/25/2017 at 23:54 point

I heard around that we should get it around the end of May.....

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 04/06/2017 at 23:29 point

Just noticed the amount of likes that I have on the leaderboard do not match the amount of likes I have on my project. I am guessing this is a programing bug that happened when the fund dropped to $0? Any thoughts?

  Are you sure? yes | no

ActualDragon wrote 04/07/2017 at 02:15 point

if you got likes b4 the contest, they weren't counted for money

  Are you sure? yes | no

K.C. Lee wrote 04/02/2017 at 15:20 point

Seeing some interesting pattern of new user names that are clustered in a row in the feed.  They starts out with something with similar patterns, but eventually turned to randomly mushed profiles.  This started last 2-3 hours.  I haven't looked really hard, but I see patterns.

mct, sdt, qdt, ket, ict, jlk, mbt, rhe, fdt, jbt, hdt, ebt, zdt, vbt, qbt, ybt, bbt, cbt, pat, xfe, tdt, rbt, sdt, szt, nzt, qct, dzt, 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 04/02/2017 at 03:40 point

"The Contest is not open to residents of Quebec"
I'm ... surprised.
Can anybody explain why Québec is singled out ?

  Are you sure? yes | no

ken.do wrote 04/02/2017 at 05:30 point

Quebec exists in a different dimension. 'Contest' is translated 'to the death'. Real answers are here http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/why-many-contests-exclude-quebec-residents

  Are you sure? yes | no

alexw wrote 04/01/2017 at 19:53 point

A quick question regarding seed funding: last year the rules read "At least twenty entries with the most likes at the end of the first round will split $4,000", whereas this year the rules read "up to twenty (20) Community Vote winners will be selected to win a cash prize of up to $200". The change from "at least" to "up to" implies that this year not everyone will receive the seed funding. Is this correct?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 04/01/2017 at 19:58 point

I didn't spot this. Where is it ?

  Are you sure? yes | no

alexw wrote 04/01/2017 at 20:03 point

This year's Rule 9,  under the "Community Vote Prize" section states "up to.."

Last year's launch states "at least", found in the last section ("One more thing") of http://hackaday.com/2016/03/14/engineer-humanitys-future-the-2016-hackaday-prize/

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 04/01/2017 at 22:36 point

Ohhh I see... I hadn't seen this document yet, thanks !

I Sponsor will evaluate the Challenge Round 1 entries based on their technical
merit, approving only those entries that meet the Challenge Round 1
entry requirements and conform to the Challenge Round 1 theme (described
above).
II Challenge Round 1 entries approved at Sponsor’s sole discretion will then be selected by ranking the most “likes” on their Project Profile at the close date of 
that Challenge Round (i.e., 7:00 am P.D.T. on May 1, 2017).
II The selected winners will receive $1 for each “like” on their Project Profile, up to a limit of $200.

I hadn't seen the "sponsors select" last year. This is very good to know that the rules have changed from "free money to everyone" :-)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lutetium wrote 04/02/2017 at 13:38 point

Hi Alex, yes, this is correct. We will provide seed funding to all qualified entries so it is highly likely that most people will receive it. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/31/2017 at 11:37 point

Hello - I noticed that all of the links I have shared on Facebook seem to be referencing a "cached" version of my Hackaday project. Almost like the server is keeping duplicate copies of the page, and creating unique links for each copy. The big problem is that it wont let people click the like button, or login from the page it opens. 

Is anyone else having this problem?

FYI - Im using the facebook app on a Samsung S7 edge, but I dont think that matters so much. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sophi Kravitz wrote 03/31/2017 at 12:58 point

Can you provide a link to the project you reference and exact steps to reproduce? 

I have posted your project https://hackaday.io/project/20630-snappcat-memed-pics-from-your-cat-to-your-phone to FB from the Hackaday account. I have clicked on the link from FB and was able to like your project.

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/31/2017 at 13:43 point

Sophi I am not sure how to show you this other than you becoming my friend on Facebook and trying the link. Would you be willing to try this? It is on my personal page

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/31/2017 at 13:51 point

Sophi, I sent you a private message with some screenshots.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Richard Hogben wrote 03/31/2017 at 14:54 point

Social media sites tend to keep a cache of the content shared from URLs, at this time I see the following:

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/31/2017 at 19:20 point

Thanks Richard! That would make sense. I also noticed it seems to only be an issue on the mobile app.

  Are you sure? yes | no

haydn jones wrote 03/29/2017 at 17:43 point

At the top of the leader board there are some projects that just shot up with a lot of repeated names in the likes with no profile pics, and the appear to be connected.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sophi Kravitz wrote 03/29/2017 at 19:25 point

Thanks Haydn! We'll check it out. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:09 point

Hayden, not sure who you are talking about. However, in my personal situation my family and friends didn't have Hackaday accounts, but they still wanted to support the team and like the idea. So they were amazing enough people to actually make accounts and click the like button :). Best of luck to you bud!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:27 point

I don't think it applies to your project :-)

some have recently appeared and shot to >60 likes in a few days ?

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:32 point

Yann.. Gotcha! Guess I hadn't really been paying that close of attention. :) Thanks!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:36 point

William : if in doubt, I keep daily logs of the board for independent verification ;-)

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:42 point

Yann, sounds like something someone on the Hackaday page would do lol :)

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:50 point

indeed, though it's only a byproduct of something someone on Hackaday does :-D

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sophi Kravitz wrote 03/31/2017 at 12:55 point

We have checked out all the recent projects. It is within the rules (this year, anyway ;) to have multiple people from one IP address like a project. 

Projects will be disqualified that have a script liking the project. 


I agree that having likes from compete strangers without profiles cheapens the likes.

Suggestions for how to do this better next year are appreciated!

  Are you sure? yes | no

K.C. Lee wrote 04/02/2017 at 15:27 point

Actually not complaining about stranger part - they carry much more weight in my book as they do not have the social circle/connection obligations.  Sort of like you feel the love more from a cat that choose to like you over a dog that follow you regardless.

Likes from people with projects also means a lot to me as they would appreciate the efforts even though some time it might not be apparent from the results and even more so from competitors for the funding pool.

  Are you sure? yes | no

K.C. Lee wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:39 point

May be a one vote per IP rule?

I kind of cheapen the "likes" if they are not because of merits and from complete strangers.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 03/29/2017 at 21:53 point

It is not easily enforceable, because of IPv4 shennigans @ISPs, and easily bypassable

  Are you sure? yes | no

William Glover wrote 04/02/2017 at 15:33 point

Alot of our likes are people from our workplace, who were following our project before we posted on hackaday. Im assuming they would all have the same IP if they are clicking like from work?

We have been having a hard time getting people to click like since they have to make an account. So it would be even more painful for us if they have to have unique IP's

  Are you sure? yes | no

K.C. Lee wrote 04/02/2017 at 15:50 point

 Unless they are at work 24/7 and no home with internet to return to.  You know mobile have internet access these days.  More a peer pressure to vote than total strangles with no connections that vote because of merit..

It becomes a race of who have the largest connections outside of HaD (i.e. families, class, work, clan, village, twitter/reddit/FB/youtube  followers) than the actual technical content/creativity etc. i.e. *cheapen* the vote because of herding mentality.

>a hard time getting people to click like

May be they have more courage to resist peer pressure, know that they are not qualified to judge from merits and should be commended for abstaining from likes.  It is not a cookies/candy sale at work/church to support the local junior hockey team.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Kristjan Berce wrote 03/26/2017 at 16:46 point

When is the money from seed funding delivered? Just curious because it will help to buy the hardware I need.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Sophi Kravitz wrote 03/26/2017 at 17:00 point

Hi Kristjan! Around the end of May 2017. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Kristjan Berce wrote 03/26/2017 at 17:01 point

Ok, thanks a lot!

  Are you sure? yes | no

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