Selection Criteria for Judges

Eligibility Criteria for Judges

1. Relevant Expertise: A solid background in software development, engineering, AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, or another field related to the hackathon theme.
2. Industry or Academic Experience: At least 3–5 years of experience in industry, research, or academia within the hackathon’s focus area.
3. Experience in Innovation or Evaluation: Prior involvement in evaluating projects, mentoring startups, or contributing to innovative solutions is preferred.
4. Impartiality and Ethics: Must remain unbiased, professional, and evaluate all projects solely on merit.
5. Analytical and Communication Skills: Able to assess technical feasibility, innovation, and impact while providing constructive, actionable feedback.
6. Availability and Commitment: Must be available for the full judging process, including Q&A sessions and final evaluations.

Selection Criteria

1. Technical Expertise: Proven knowledge in areas such as programming, design, AI, IoT, cybersecurity, blockchain, or other relevant fields.
2. Industry Representation: A balanced mix of professionals from startups, tech firms, academia, and government organizations to ensure varied perspectives.
3. Competition Experience: Prior judging experience in hackathons, startup pitches, or research competitions is an advantage.
4. Diversity of Backgrounds:  Include judges from academia, corporate R&D, startups, and venture capital for comprehensive feedback.
5. Reputation and Credibility:  Well-respected individuals with recognized contributions or achievements in their domain.
6. Neutrality:  Judges should have no personal or business connections with participants to maintain fairness.

Selection Process

1. Identifying Potential Judges
   • Reach out to industry experts, professors, startup founders, and past hackathon winners.
   • Seek recommendations from sponsors, organizing committees, and previous judges.
   • Use platforms like LinkedIn and academic conferences to find qualified candidates.
2. Screening and Shortlisting
   • Verify credentials, technical expertise, and previous judging experience.
   • Ensure diversity between industry and academic professionals.
   • Confirm availability and willingness to judge impartially.
3.    Invitation and Confirmation
   • Send formal invitations detailing responsibilities, judging criteria, and the event schedule.
   • Obtain written confirmation and agreement to ethical guidelines.
4.   Briefing and Orientation
   • Hold a pre-hackathon session to explain scoring criteria and expectations.
   • Provide judges with the hackathon themes, submission rules, and scoring rubrics ahead of time.

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Thanks and Regards,

Convener,