Hackathon Rules & Guidelines

Team Formation

  • Participants must form teams of 3 members.

Eligibility

  • The hackathon is open exclusively to students of Goa College of Engineering.

  • All participants must register through the official registration platform.

  • Participants must check in during the offline phase to remain eligible.

Hackathon Format

Two-Phase Structure

Phase 1: Online

  • Teams will work remotely on the main problem statement.

  • Focus areas include ideation, planning, and initial development.

Phase 2: Offline

  • Teams must be physically present at the venue.

  • A 4–5 hour build sprint will be conducted.

  • A sub-problem statement aligned with the original idea will be released on-site.

Use of Generative AI (Google Gemini)

AI Usage Guidelines

  • Participants are strongly encouraged to use Generative AI tools such as Google Gemini for:

    • Ideation and brainstorming

    • Coding assistance and debugging

    • Content generation

    • Rapid prototyping

  • AI tools should be used as assistive technologies, not as a replacement for core understanding or decision-making.

Original Work Policy

Project Authenticity

  • All projects must be built during the hackathon period.

  • Pre-existing ideas are allowed.

  • Pre-written code or fully built projects are strictly not permitted.

Submission Requirements

Project Submission

  • Teams must submit their project on Devpost before the submission deadline.

Each submission must include:

  • A project description

  • The problem being solved

  • Explanation of how Generative AI (Google Gemini) was used

  • A demo (live demo or recorded video)

Judging Criteria

Evaluation Parameters

Projects will be evaluated based on:

  • Problem understanding and relevance

  • Creativity and innovation

  • Effective use of Generative AI

  • Technical execution and implementation quality

Code of Conduct

Participant Responsibility

  • All participants must adhere to the MLH Code of Conduct.

  • Respectful behavior, inclusivity, and collaboration are expected at all times.

Fair Play Policy

Integrity & Ethics

  • Plagiarism or copied projects will result in immediate disqualification.

  • Any attempt to disrupt the event or violate rules may lead to removal from the hackathon.

Final Decision

Organizers & Judges

  • The decision of the judges and organizers will be final and binding.