Registration Period - 26 September 2025

Hackathon Period - 03 November - 21 November 2025

Judging period - 22 November - 20 December 2025

Closing ceremony + Winners Announcement - 09 January, 2026

1. Project’s GitHub Repo Link

• Team leader to create the project's GitHub Repo and share the access with the rest of the team to collaborate on.

• The team will save all submission items onto this Github Repo where the judges may access the items during the judging period.

• GitHub repo should host the application’s code, a README file, any other deployment files and testing instructions.

2. Project Details

• Project Description (max 100 words)

• Selected hackathon track

• A list of tech stack (solutions, technology infrastructure, technology services, etc.) used by the team to build your project

3. Pitch Deck (in pdf)

Here’s a potential structure you can adapt for your pitch deck:

a. Team and Project Introduction

b. Project Summary: Provide a comprehensive overview of your solution, keeping in mind that the 7 judging criteria will form the basis of judges’ assessment.

c. Future Roadmap: Any key learnings and room from improvements? Outline the next steps for your project if you were to continue developing it.

d. Demo: Showcase the technical strengths, usability and performance of your solution here! You must pre-record your demo, upload it to Youtube, and insert the link in your deck.

Note: Submissions without a demo video link in the deck will not be scored

4. Project Demo Link

This is the URL to the live working environment of the solution the team has developed.

Innovation - 10%

Guiding Points:

• Does the team’s project align to the hackathon track?
• How innovative is the solution? Does this exist cross-chain?
• Has something like this been seen before in the Hedera ecosystem?
• Does this extend, or establish new, capabilities for the Hedera ecosystem?

Feasibility - 10%

Guiding Points:

• Can the proposed idea be created using Hedera network services or ecosystem platforms?
• Does this need to be a Web3 solution? Or could it be done already on Web2?
• Does the team understand the problem space / domain that they’re solving?
• Does the team understand what’s required to execute the solution, and have the capability to do so?
• Did the team create, and understand, a Lean / Business Model Canvas to illustrate the business model intended to be used as part of the solution being created?

Execution - 20%

Guiding Points:

• Were the team able to create a MVP for their solution?
• Did the team deliver a Proof of Concept (PoC) with a limited, but important, set of features?
• Did the team create a fully functioning solution?
• Did the team function well together and work to each other’s strengths? Was there effective leadership within the team?
• Did the team establish a strategy and long-term plan for the development of the solution beyond the hackathon?
• Did the team identify a Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for the solution?
• Did the team identify where they could use market feedback cycles to improve the solution / idea?
• Did the team identify important design decisions they made?
• Did the team have a good emphasis on user experience/accessibility?

Integration - 15%

Guiding Points:

• To what degree does the project use the Hedera network?
• How integrated is it? What services are used?
• Are any of our ecosystem platforms being used, or leveraged?
• Is a Hedera service being integrated in a way it hasn’t been seen before? (creativity)

Success - 20%

Guiding Points:

• Does the solution positively impact the Hedera network or ecosystem?
• Does the solution lead to more Hedera accounts being created?
• Does the solution give rise to a high number of monthly active Hedera accounts?
• Does the solution lead to greater TPS on the Hedera network?
• Does the solution give the Hedera network exposure to a greater audience?

Validation - 15%

Guiding Points:

• Did the team identify where to gain market feedback? e.g. ask users / customers, partners, practitioners, subject matter experts (SMEs) etc.
• Did the team establish one or more market feedback cycles? e.g. Following up with users that tried the product to ask for feedback, or a review?
• What traction with the market have the team achieved?
• Onboarded early adopters | Free / Paid trials? | Taken any revenue? | What is the market sentiment? | What is the growth / churn rate?

Pitch - 10%

Guiding Points:

• Are the problem and solution presented clearly?
• Is the problem big enough for sustained growth?
• Is the style and narrative of the pitch well thought out & executed?
• Were the team able to convey a significant & exciting opportunity?
• Did the number / metrics of the solution make sense?
• How was Hedera represented in the pitch?
• Were suitable responses to questions given?
• Do they clearly state their MVP’s features & why they chose those / them?

$150,000

Side Quest 1
Prove Your Hashgraph Skills: Course Completion & On-Chain Activity
Total Reward Amount: $2,000 

Complete the Hashgraph Developer Course and show your on-chain activity to earn a reward.

Reward: The first 50 registered participants to submit the following will receive USD $40

1️⃣ Certificate of Completion for the Building on Hedera course.

2️⃣ Proof of on-chain activity done during the hackathon.

Note:

• This side quest is optional and does not affect your eligibility to join or win the hackathon.
• Open to individual participants only. You just need to be registered for the hackathon. 

Side Quest 2
Ask-Mentor-Anything Challenge
Total Reward Amount: $3,000 

*Please ensure that your Zepspace username is the same as your StackUp username, and that your Team Name is clearly displayed.

CHALLENGE FOR INDIVIDUALS

Submit & Show Up

What to do:

• Submit at least one thoughtful question for the mentors.
• [AMA Form] - coming soon!
• Attend the live AMA session.

Eligibility: Only the first 100 individuals who complete both actions will qualify.

Rewards: Starter or Explorer NFT at the end of the hackathon.

CHALLENGE FOR TEAMS

Earn a $40 reward by scheduling and completing a one-on-one session with your mentors after the AMA.

What to do:

• First 50 teams to schedule and attend a one-on-one mentor session will earn an additional $40 reward.
• How completion is tracked: Mentors will record your team name + representative’s username in Zepspace (AMA space) to confirm participation. 

Bonus Raffle: USD $1,000 + Hedera Swags!

5 lucky teams winning $200 each.

How to join:

Complete Step 1 — submit a question and attend any AMA session to earn a raffle entry + win some Hedera swag!

Side Quest 3
Ascension Hackathon Promotion Challenge: Share & Inspire
Total Reward Amount: $2,500

Create a social media post to enter the $2,500 raffle — 10 winners will receive $250 each!

How to Participate:

1️⃣ Post on any of your social media and include the Ascension Hackathon link to invite your friends and network to join.

2️⃣ Use the hashtags: #HederaHackathon #HelloFutureAscension.

3️⃣ Submit your entry using this form (coming soon!)

Raffle winners will be announced on a rolling basis during the hackathon.

Side Quest 4
Hackathon Referral Challenge: Share & Win
Total Reward Amount: $3,000

Earn $30 by being among the first 100 individuals to refer a team that submits a valid hackathon submission!

Just submit the team rep’s full name and the team name using this form (coming soon!)

Note: Only new teams are eligible. Teams from Origins do not qualify.

Side Quest 5
Feedback Challenge: Tell Us What You Think
Total Reward Amount: $1,500

The first 50 individuals to submit feedback via the this form (coming soon!), along with a valid main track submission, will each receive USD $30.

Tip: Complete this towards the end or after finishing your project.