PennApps Winter 2015 is scheduled for January 16-18, 2015 at the University of Pennsylvania. The eleventh iteration of the nation's first college hackathon is upping the hackathon to new extremes, with the world's top and most promising hackers coming together to tackle real world problems using the latest in hardware and software. Teams start working on their hacks (at 8 PM) after the Friday evening kickoff and continue working till Sunday morning (9:30 AM). All submissions MUST be made here on ChallengePost. Videos are optional.

Eligibility

If you applied to PennApps Winter 2015, recieved an offer to attend and went on to confirm that you will do so, you are eligible to attend PennApps. If you attended and hacked at PennApps, then you are eligible to make a submission. 

Requirements

Make your product, submit your hack to ChallengePost and attend the PennApps expo to show off what you built. You must demo at the expo and submit on ChallengePost in order to be eligible for prizes.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$46,060 in prizes

Grand Prize

$3k + Thalmic Myo + Oculus DK2 + Leap Motion + Android Wear + Raspberry Pi B+

2nd Prize

$2k + Oculus Rift DK2 + Android Wear + Raspberry Pi B+

3rd Prize

$1k + Android Wear + Raspberry Pi B+

Best Hardware Hack

$1k + Oculus Rift DK2

Best Health Hack

Apple Watches! ($350 ea.)

Best Use of NameCheap

$200 in Gift Cards

Best Use of Postmates API

$5,000 for the best application on top of the Postmates API, built on any platform. $250 in free delivery credits for using the API.

Best Use of Intel XDK-Featured APIs/Intel Edison Developer Boards

Parrot Jumping Sumo Wi-Fi Controlled Insectoid Robots (with camera, $200 ea.)

Best Hack Using the Mashery API

Intel Basis watches ($300 e.a.)

Best Use of Nest API

Either a Nest Thermostat or a Nest Protect (team member choice) ($250 ea.); One of the following Works with Nest Products: Dropcam [a Nest Company] ($120 ea.), LIFX [smart wifi light bulb] ($100 ea.), Automatic [wireless car adapter] ($100 ea.), Beep [by Nest] ($100 ea.), Pebble smart watch ($250 ea.)

Best Public Safety App, sponsored by TASER (2)

Beats headphones ($300)

Best Use of Pebble API

Pebble Steel Watches and kit ($200 ea.)

Best Pebble Newcomer Developer

Pebble Steel watches

Best Integration of Sensoria Dev Kit

Sensoria Development Kit ($1,000)

Best Use of Sensoria Hardware

Sensoria Development Kit ($1,000)

Best use of Muse EEG

Muse EEG Headsets ($300 ea.)

Best Use of MailChimp or Mandrill API

Das Pro Ultimate Keyboard ($150 ea.) + MailChimp Swag

Great Use of MailChimp or Mandrill API

MailChimp swag/jackets

Best Use of Cloud Services, sponsored by Linode (2)

Raspberry Pis ($80 ea.)

Best Consumer Health Hack (Oscar Health)

Fitbit Aria connected scales ($120 ea.)

Best Use of Ziggeo's Video API

$300 Amazon Gift Cards

Best Use of Two Sigma's Beaker API

American Express Gift Cards ($250 ea.)

Best Use of Bloomberg API

FitBit ChargeHR Watches ($200 ea.)

Best Use of Spotify/Nest Echo APIs

3 headphones, 3 four-month Spotify premium subs

Great Use of Spotify and Echo Nest API (3)

1 six month subscription Spotify Premium + Spotify Branded Headphones

Best Use of MongoDB

Amazon gift cards + MongoDB swag

Best Facebook Integrated Hack

Facebook jackets

Most Creative Use of the Everyblock API in a Media/Entertainment Hack (Comcast)

GoPro Cameras ($130 e.a.)

Best Use of IDOL On Demand API

HP Stream 8 ($180 ea.)

Best Use of Capital One API

250$ Amazon Gift Cards

Best Use of Context.io

Hackers' choice!

Best Wearable Health Hack (Independent Blue Cross)

Apple Watches! ($350 ea.)

Best Use of Digital Ocean

$100 in Gift Cards

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

How to enter

Only current students in University or High School who have been accepted to PennApps Winter 2015 can make submissions. Only Penn students can still register at pennapps.com.

Judges

A Panel of Awesome Judges

A Panel of Awesome Judges

Judging Criteria

  • Originality
    Is the hack more than just another generic social/mobile/local app? Does it do something entirely novel, or at least take a fresh approach to an old problem?
  • Technical Difficulty
    Is the hack technically interesting or difficult? Is it just some lipstick on an API, or were there real technical challenges to surmount?
  • Polish
    Is the hack usable in its current state? Is the user experience smooth? Does everything appear to work? Is it well designed?
  • Usefulness
    Is the hack practical? Is it something people would actually use? Does it fulfill a real need people have?

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