Judging Criteria
Understand how your project will be evaluated by our panel of expert judges at Valchy AI Hackathon.
Overview
All projects submitted to the Valchy AI Hackathon will be evaluated by our panel of industry experts and AI professionals. We're looking for innovative solutions that demonstrate technical excellence, real-world applicability, and compelling presentation.
Projects will be scored across four main criteria, each weighted equally. The team with the highest overall score will be awarded first place, followed by second and third place.
Evaluation Criteria
🚀 Innovation & Creativity
25%How original and creative is your solution? Does it push the boundaries of what's possible with AI?
Judges will evaluate:
- Uniqueness of the concept and approach
- Creative use of AI technologies and tools
- Novel solutions to existing problems
- Out-of-the-box thinking and experimentation
- Potential to inspire or influence the AI space
⚙️ Technical Execution
25%How well is your project built? Does it demonstrate strong technical skills and solid engineering?
Judges will evaluate:
- Code quality, architecture, and organization
- Proper use of AI/ML frameworks and APIs
- Functionality and feature completeness
- Technical complexity and difficulty
- Stability, performance, and error handling
- Integration of different technologies and services
💼 Business Potential & Impact
25%Does your project solve a real problem? Could it become a viable product or service?
Judges will evaluate:
- Clear problem-solution fit
- Market potential and target audience
- Scalability and growth opportunities
- Real-world applicability and use cases
- Potential social, economic, or environmental impact
- Business model and monetization strategy
🎤 Presentation & Demo
25%How well do you communicate your vision and demonstrate your solution?
Judges will evaluate:
- Clarity and quality of the pitch
- Effectiveness of the live demo
- Team communication and confidence
- Visual design and user experience
- Ability to answer questions and handle feedback
- Overall professionalism and polish
Track-Specific Considerations
While the main criteria apply to all projects, judges will also consider track-specific elements based on the category you compete in:
🎙️ Voice Agents+
- Natural conversation flow
- Voice recognition accuracy
- Integration with external services
- Error handling and fallback strategies
⚙️ AI Automations
- Workflow efficiency improvements
- Automation reliability and accuracy
- Time/cost savings potential
- Ease of setup and configuration
🎨 Generative AI
- Quality and originality of outputs
- Creative control and customization
- Output consistency and reliability
- User experience and interface design
💡 Open Innovation
- Originality and uniqueness
- Alignment with track goals
- Surprise factor and "wow" moment
- Future development potential
Submission Requirements
To be eligible for judging, your project must:
- Be submitted before the deadline: Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 17:00 (Code Freeze)
- Include a working demo: Your project must be functional and demonstrable
- Have proper documentation: README with setup instructions, project description, and tech stack
- Be built during the hackathon: Significant development must occur during the 48-hour period
- Use AI/ML technologies: AI must be a core component of your solution
- Fit within a track: Your project should align with one of our four tracks
Demo Day Format
On Sunday, October 12th at 17:30, teams will present their projects to the judges:
- ⏱️5 minutes per team: 3 minutes for presentation + 2 minutes for Q&A
- 🎥Live demo required: Show your project in action, not just slides
- 👥All team members can participate: Divide speaking time as you see fit
- 💻Technical difficulties: Have a backup plan (video recording, screenshots, etc.)
Tips for Success
✅ Do:
- Focus on solving a real problem
- Practice your demo beforehand
- Show, don't just tell
- Be clear and concise
- Highlight your unique approach
- Explain your tech stack and choices
- Show passion and enthusiasm
❌ Don't:
- Go over your time limit
- Rely solely on slides
- Use too much jargon
- Ignore the business aspect
- Forget to test your demo
- Oversell or make false claims
- Dismiss judge feedback
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pre-existing code or libraries?
Yes! You can use open-source libraries, APIs, and frameworks. However, the core functionality and innovation must be developed during the hackathon.
What if my demo breaks during the presentation?
Have a backup plan! Record a video of your working demo beforehand, or prepare screenshots. Judges understand that technical issues can happen.
Do all team members need to present?
No, but it's encouraged to show team collaboration. You can choose who presents, but make sure everyone contributes to the project.
How are ties broken?
In the event of a tie, judges will prioritize Innovation & Creativity, followed by Technical Execution.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the judging criteria or evaluation process, please don't hesitate to reach out to our mentors during the event or contact us: