.exploreSWE

Dates

The hackathon runs on 8 August 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM (SGT), on the SMU campus.

• 1:30 PM — Introduction and theme reveal
• 1:40 PM — Kiro setup
• 2:10 PM — Building begins
• 3:30 PM — Submissions close (hard stop)
• 3:50 PM — Pitches
• 4:25 PM — Wrap-up and group photo

Winners are announced by email after the event, not on the day.

Eligibility

• Open to pre-university students currently enrolled at a Junior College or Polytechnic in Singapore.
• Participants must have registered in advance and be present in person for the full session.
• Groups are assigned by the organisers on the day. Self-selected groups aren't permitted — mixing schools is part of the point.
• .hack committee members and OGLs are not eligible to win prizes.

Project and Submission Requirements

• All work must be created during the event. Nothing built beforehand.
• One submission per group, made from that group's designated build laptop.
• Submissions must be entered on Devpost before 3:30 PM SGT. Late submissions are not judged.
• Projects must be safe for work and must not contain content that is offensive, discriminatory, or infringing.
• Use of AI tools is expected and encouraged — that's the whole event. Kiro is provided, and you're free to use it however you like.

Prizes

Prizes are awarded per participant and issued as gift cards, emailed after the event. There is no on-site prize presentation.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Every group is scored live during pitches by the judging panel. Each criterion is scored 1–5, and all four carry equal weight.

• Vibe and Aesthetics — look, feel and polish. Does it feel like something made on purpose?
• Creativity and Innovation — originality of the idea.
• Functionality — does it work, and how much of it works?
• Pitch — clarity and delivery within the one-minute slot.

Scores from all judges are totalled to determine first, second and third place. In the event of a tie, the judges' collective decision is final.