If there's a discrepancy between the Slovak and English versions, the Slovak version takes priority.
Competition Rules
Hey hackers! π Welcome to the official rules for Hack Kosice 2026. We know reading rules isn’t the most exciting part of a hackathon, so we’ve tried to make this as straightforward as possible. These rules ensure everyone has a fair shot at building something awesome and winning great prizes.
TL;DR: Be cool, build something within 24 hours, present it well, and you might win. Don’t cheat, don’t break things, and have fun!
π’ Who’s Running This Show?
Organization: Hack Slovakia Address: ZbrojniΔnΓ‘ 8, KoΕ‘ice ID: 53393244 Registered: 18.11.2020 Registry: VVS / 1-900 / 90-60188
π― What’s This All About?
The Mission: Give tech enthusiasts a platform to:
- Test and level up your skills
- Learn cutting-edge tech
- Build something that actually matters
- Connect with awesome people
The Challenge: Work in teams of 2-4 people to design and build software projects within 24 hours. At the end, present your creation to our judges who’ll evaluate the best projects.
π When & Where?
Start: April 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM (Europe/Bratislava timezone) End: April 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM Location: TBA - Check hackkosice.com for venue updates!
β Who Can Join?
You’re in if:
- You were born on or before April 17, 2010 (basically, you’re at least 16 years old at the event)
- You register properly through our application system at hackkosice.com
- You’re not employed by or closely related to the organizing team
You’re out if:
- You try to game the system or cheat
- You work for Hack Slovakia in an official capacity
- You don’t meet the age requirement
Fair play rule: If we catch anyone trying to hack the competition itself (as opposed to building cool tech), you’re disqualified. We’re here to build, not break things.
π How Does It Work?
Team Formation
- Teams must have 2-4 members
- You can only be on ONE team
- No team? No problem! We’ll have a team-finding session after the opening ceremony
Building Your Project
- You have 24 hours to bring your idea to life
- Only team members can work on the project (no outside help from non-participants)
- Use any tech stack, framework, or tools you want
- Mentors from sponsors are available to help guide you
Submission
- Submit through our online system before the deadline
- You’ll get the submission link during the event
- Late submissions = disqualification (sorry, deadlines are deadlines!)
Judging Process
Round 1: Demo Time π€
- Present your project to evaluation groups
- You’ll get at least 30 minutes notice before your slot
- Each team gets evaluated by at least 2 separate judge groups
What we’re looking for:
| Category | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Originality | How innovative, creative, and unique is your solution? Does it bring something new to the table? |
| Expected Impact | Will people actually use this? Can it make a real difference? Does it solve a genuine problem? |
| Technical Difficulty | How sophisticated is your implementation? Did you tackle complex challenges? How much did you actually build? |
| Soft Skills | How well did you present? Can you explain your solution clearly? Did your team collaborate effectively? |
Round 2: Finals π
- The top 4-6 projects move to the main stage
- Present to ALL participants and a special jury
- The jury picks 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
π Prizes & Rewards
What’s up for grabs:
π₯ 1st Place: β¬300 per team member π₯ 2nd Place: β¬200 per team member π₯ 3rd Place: β¬100 per team member π Sponsor Challenges: Various prizes from our amazing sponsors βοΈ Best Technical Implementation: Hack Kosice swag packs
Important notes:
- Smaller teams get proportionally fewer prizes
- Sponsors choose their own challenge winners
- We reserve the right to adjust prizes if sponsor situations change
Tax Stuff (boring but necessary)
According to Slovak law, prizes over β¬350 are subject to income tax and health insurance contributions. But don’t worry:
- Prizes up to β¬350 are tax-free
- For prizes above β¬350, only the amount over β¬350 is taxable
- We’ll handle the paperwork - just bring valid ID
π How Winners Are Chosen
Main prizes (1st, 2nd, 3rd): Selected by our evaluation committee based on the judging criteria Best Technical Implementation: Chosen by the judges for outstanding technical execution Sponsor Challenges: Each sponsor picks their own winners based on their challenge criteria
Award Ceremony: Happens right after judging on April 19th - be there to celebrate!
Substitutes: If a winner is disqualified or can’t accept their prize, we move to the next team in line.
π The Legal Fine Print
By participating, you agree to:
- Follow these rules (obviously)
- Accept that judges’ decisions are final
- Allow us to take photos/videos for promotional purposes
- Be cool and respectful to everyone
We reserve the right to:
- Modify or cancel the event if necessary (natural disasters, zombie apocalypse, etc.)
- Update these rules if needed (we’ll announce any changes clearly)
- Disqualify anyone who violates the rules or spirit of the competition
Important: Prizes are awarded at our discretion - they’re not legally enforceable claims. We promise to be fair, but we also need this clause for legal reasons.
Liability: We’re not responsible for damages related to prizes. If you win a drone and fly it into a tree, that’s on you.
π€ Code of Conduct
Let’s keep it simple:
β Do:
- Be respectful to everyone
- Help each other learn
- Have fun and be creative
- Sleep when you need to
- Stay hydrated and eat the free food
β Don’t:
- Harass other participants
- Steal code or ideas from other teams
- Break the venue’s rules
- Submit work you didn’t create during the hackathon
- Be a jerk
Remember: Hackathons are about learning, building, and community. We’re all here to have an amazing time while creating cool stuff. Let’s make it awesome! π
Official document dated: October 2025 Hack Slovakia, KoΕ‘ice