Dates

  • June 16 - Applications for mentoring and judging at RiceworldCupHack close
  • June 17 - The deadline to register for the HACk is Wednesday, June 17th at 11:59 PM CST.
  • June 19 - Accepted registrants will be notified
  • June 23-24 – In-Person workshop with UNLEASH at the ION
  • September 17 – Deadline to submit solutions
  • September 30 – Winners announced 

Project and Submission Requirements

  • All participants must sign up by June 17th at 11:59 PM CDT
  • Signing up consists of completing the Application Form below
  • Participants will be notified of their selection
  • All submissions must be in English and submitted by September 17th, 12:00 AM CDT

All submissions must include a written narrative of results and methods used, and solution if applicable

  • Participants need to be in the USA to be eligible for the prizes.
  • All Contestants agree to keep the provided data and any personally identifiable information confidential
  • All judging will be conducted on a double-blind basis with no judge having an interest in the outcome of the Hackathon

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Criteria

Weight

Evaluation

1. Impact

25 Points

Does the solution improve sustainability, resilience, public health, mobility, resource efficiency, economic development, or quality of life?

2. Data Analytics

20 Points

How effectively are Data used? Are methods statistically sound, spatially accurate, and supported by evidence? Does the team demonstrate strong analytical reasoning?

3. Innovation

15 Points

Does the project introduce a novel approach, insight, model, visualization, classification system, or decision-support tool? Does it move beyond conventional solutions?

4. Feasibility/ Implementation

15 Points

Can the solution realistically be implemented by cities, agencies, venue operators, transportation providers, developers, or event organizers?

5. Legacy

10 Points

Does the solution create benefits beyond FIFA 2026? Does it support long-term environmental, social, economic, or resilience outcomes?

6. Visualization

10 Points

Are dashboards, maps, models, and visualizations clear, compelling, and useful for decision-makers?

7. Presentation/ Pitch

5 Points

Was the solution effectively communicated? Did the team clearly explain the challenge, methodology, findings, and recommendations?