Dates

• Submission Period Starts: March 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM

• Submission Period Ends: March 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM

• Judging Period: March 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

• Winner Announcement: March 15, 2026, at 2:30 PM

Eligibility

• Students Only: Open to all current post-secondary students (undergraduate or graduate) 

• Team Size: Teams must consist of 2 to 4 members.

• Location: Participants must be physically present at the Algoma University Brampton campus to be eligible for prizes (unless you are running a hybrid event).

• Original Work: Projects must be built entirely during the 24-hour hacking period. Pre-existing projects are not permitted.

Project and Submission Requirements

What to include in your Devpost project:

• Project Name & Tagline: A catchy title and a one-sentence "elevator pitch."

• Project Story: Tell us why you built this, how it works, and the challenges you faced.

• Demo Video: A 2-minute maximum video showing the project in action.

• Code Repository: A public link to your GitHub/GitLab repository.

• Tech Stack: List the languages, APIs, and frameworks used.

Prizes

• 1st Place (The Thunder Award): Best overall technical execution, innovation, and impact.

• 2nd Place: Outstanding project with high technical complexity and utility.

• 3rd Place: Excellent effort and creative solution to a real-world problem.

• Best Data Science/AI Hack: (Optional) For the project that makes the best use of machine learning or data analysis.

• Best Social Impact: For the project that best addresses a community or environmental challenge.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection