COMMON QUESTIONS

The hackathon is open to all current students from any institution, as well as alumni are welcome to register. The hackathon is free to join — there are no registration fees or participation costs. Please note that each team must include at least one current Seneca Polytechnic student or alumni. If you're not from Seneca and register individually, organizers will help match you with a team that meets this requirement.

Teams must consist of 3 to 5 members. Yes, teams can include members from different schools and backgrounds — we actively encourage it! Every team must have at least one current Seneca Polytechnic student or alumni. If you register individually, the organizing team will match you with others and ensure your team meets this requirement.

If a team member needs to withdraw, please notify the organizers as soon as possible via email. The team may continue competing as long as it still meets the minimum size requirement of 3 members. Organizers will do their best to assist with any restructuring needed.

Both! The hackathon has a hybrid format. The opening session, qualifying round, and preliminary judging take place virtually while the mentoring sessions will be flexible (virtual or in-person). The finale includes a virtual day followed by an in-person day at Seneca's Newnham campus. All team members are expected to be present (virtually or in-person) for each respective session.

Yes — AI-assisted tools are permitted. However, your team is fully responsible for understanding and being able to explain any AI-generated code or content in your project. Judges may ask questions about your implementation, so make sure your team has a solid grasp of what's been built.

Yes, with some conditions. Open-source code is allowed as long as you properly attribute it (cite the applicable license, such as MIT or GPL, within your code). Copying entire repositories or complete ready-made solutions is not permitted. Any third-party assets — images, datasets, or APIs — must be legally licensed (e.g., Creative Commons, Kaggle).

For the qualifying round, your team must submit a video of up to 5 minutes via the Hackathon Portal. Your video should cover:

• - Team introductions and each member's role
• - The problem you're solving and your proposed solution
• - Your tech stack and a demo or walkthrough of the project
• - Feasibility and unique value proposition

Please submit your video at its normal playback speed — do not speed up your video. Videos that exceed 5 minutes will only be graded for the first 5 minutes, so plan and edit your submission accordingly. If your team qualifies, you'll be notified and invited to continue developing your project for the finale.

No, not necessarily — participants from any background are welcome to join. Teams are not required to submit working code. You can present mockups or wireframes of your solution alongside your qualifying video. What matters most is demonstrating a clear problem, a well-thought-out solution, and strong feasibility — regardless of the format.

Deadlines are published on the Hackathon Portal and are firm. If your team is facing an unexpected issue, reach out to the organizers as early as possible — don't wait until after the deadline.

There are four levels of micro-credential available:

• Participant — awarded to any team that submits a qualifying round presentation.
• Finalist — awarded to teams that advance to and compete in the finale.
• Winner — awarded to teams that place and receive a prize at the finale.
• Organizer — awarded to members of the organizing team in recognition of their contribution to running the event.

Micro-credentials will be issued after the event concludes. Details on the delivery method will be communicated to eligible participants by the organizing team. Eligibility is subject to compliance with the hackathon's Terms & Conditions throughout the event.

We're happy to help! Here's how to reach us:

• General inquiries: hackathon@senecapolytechnic.ca
• Campus emergency: +1 (416) 764-0911