***All app submissions must be submitted here by 12:15pm today (Wednesday, May 28). There should only be one submission per team. For any teams with more than one person, you will select a team leader who will enter the submission and your email addresses. Please note that these additional team members must have a ChallengePost account, and the team leader must submit their app with their team members' email addresses associated with their respective ChallengePost accounts.***

ProgrammableWeb is challenging developers, designers, and technology mavericks in the APIcon/quest Hackathon, one of the many events during APIcon (San Francisco, May 27-29). $15,000 in cash prizes over $10,000 in sponsor prizes are up for grabs!

Compete with over a hundred peers over the course of 18 crazy, exciting, and exhausting hours. You’ll be pitching your project to the entire attendee audience of APIcon, each of whom will be voting on the best overall project. ProgrammableWeb will be presenting the cash prizes alongside other prizes and awards from our sponsors.

HANDS-ON API WORKSHOPS

On Tuesday, May 27, there will be 5+ hours of API workshops directly prior to the hackathon given by developer evangelists and API implementation experts where you’ll get hands-on training to guide easy implementation and help get you one step closer to the winner’s circle. Final schedule is available here.

APIs and Sponsors

Concur

Eagle Eye Networks

Evernote

Getty Images

Mojio

Nexmo

Orchestrate

PubNub

SecureKey

Twitter

Wit.Al

APIcon/quest Hackathon Judging: What is "Speed Geeking"?

Following the close of the submission period, each hackathon team will have the opportunity to pitch their applications in a "speed geeking" judging session, where ALL APIcon attendees cast their vote (using an official voting token) on which application they deem to be the best of APIcon/quest. While the selection is at the sole disrection of each judge, we encourage all judges to consider the following criteria to help in their decision:

• Originality: Is the application unique? Give higher marks to applications that you haven't seen done before or that take a completely fresh approach to an old problem, perhaps removing the friction from a previously laborious task or process.

• Ingredients: How many APIs from the sponsors of the APIcon/quest Hackathon are demonstrably and sensibly mashed together? By sensibly, we mean that APIs should not be gratuitously tossed-in just to inflate the API-count. They should be a natural fit for the problem being solved.

• User Experience: Pay close attention to the aesthetics, design, and flow of the user interface. Does the flow of the user experience make sense to you as a user? Is it intuitive?

• Technical accomplishment: Is it a novel use of technology? Does the application prove the developer(s) mastery of developing API-driven applications? Does account for the any challenges that the app could encounter in the real world (inaccessible servers and/or APIs, latency in a mobile environment, heavy data payloads, etc.)

• Degree of completion: Is the app really ready for demonstration to the public or does it come across as being far two rough on the edges to adquately convey the developer(s) vision?

• Utility: Does the application solve a meaningful problem that will sutainably make the lives of its users easier or more fun? Or is it more just a novelty app that shows off the skills of the developer(s) without tapping into any sort of real need.

• The Elevator Pitch: How good is/are the developer(s) and explaining their vision and giving the demo in a short period of time?

• Developed at the Hackathon: This one is tougher to judge. But, based on the demonstration, how confident are you that the application was actually built during the previous 18 hours as opposed to having been pre-built in hopes of gaining a significant advantage in the competition?

$18,000 in prizes

1. Signup for a Hackathon (Free) or All-Access Pass to APIcon 
2. Show up in person to the Hilton San Francisco Union Square (333 O'Farrell St., SF) on Tuesday, May 27, no later than 7pm, obtain your APIcon badge at Registration and return a signed Participant's Agreement (available at Registration).
3. Find some amazing teammates to collaborate with.
4. HACK!!!

• The Peoples' Vote ("Speed Geeking")
  The APIcon/quest Hackathon winners will be chosen by APIcon attendees and participants themselves, each of whom will grant their vote for the best hackathon application to one (1) team.