Your complete guide for submissions, judging, rules, & presentation prep.
Please follow all steps carefully to ensure your project is eligible for judging. The meeting link for Kick-Off, Workshops, and Live Demos will be posted in the Slack channel.
The hackathon theme & resources are hidden until the Opening Ceremony on Dec 15 @ 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM PT / 1:00 PM MT.
This page will auto-unveil the theme & resources at the ceremony time.
Build ethical, inclusive, and human-centered AI solutions that prioritize fairness, accountability, transparency, and real-world impact.
Theme Resources
Follow these steps carefully to submit your project for judging. Review the hack agenda regularly for updates.
Create a public GitHub repository named:
colorstackwinterhack2025-[projectname or team name]
Your repository must include:
Upload a demo video (MP4, max 5 minutes) to the repository and include screenshots.
Attach a presentation file (.ppt, .pptx, or .pdf) in the repo. Also include a public Google Slides link for the live demo.
Live Demos are 4 minutes + 1 minute Q&A.
Meeting link: will be posted on Slack.
Provide a five-minute demo video showcasing functionality. Include the link in your README and upload the MP4 file directly into your repository.
Your README must include:
Note: Missing, broken, or low-quality videos may result in reduced scoring.
Submit your GitHub repository link and complete your Devpost submission any time before the final hard submission deadline. You are encouraged to make your first submission early and continue updating it as you improve your project, up until submissions close.
Opt-in prize
• Best Underclassmen (team must be 100% underclassmen)
Project Name Format:
• Project Name — Team Name
The Devpost invitation link for this hackathon will be posted in the Slack channel. This event is only open to official ColorStack members.
The Devpost gallery will not be published until the Closing Ceremony, so your project will not be visible to the public before the hackathon ends.
Important: Broken links or inaccessible repositories may lead to disqualification.
Projects will be evaluated across six categories, each scored 1–5. The final score is a weighted average of all categories.
Complexity of the technical challenges solved and sophistication of implementation.
How well the solution works, reliability, completeness, and bug-free performance.
Originality, creativity, and uniqueness of the approach.
Usability, accessibility, visual appeal, and overall user-centered design.
Practical value, real-world relevance, and meaningfulness of the solution.
Clarity, delivery, confidence, and quality of live demonstration.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Technical Difficulty | 16.7% |
| Functionality | 16.7% |
| Innovation & Creativity | 16.7% |
| Design & User Experience | 16.7% |
| Impact & Usefulness | 16.7% |
| Presentation & Demo | 16.7% |