FAQ

What is a Hackathon?
A Hackathon is a combination of the words “hack” and “marathon”. At XdHacks, we believe the world “hack” means to create. Our Hackathon is an event where individuals come together and use technology to transform their ideas into reality in an attempt to create a feasible solution towards solving a relevant, real world problem. Participants will then present their project to a panel of qualified judges using their entrepreneurship skills.

What is the purpose of a Highschool Hackathon?
Highschool Students are the innovators of tomorrow and, in Vancouver especially, there are not many events which inspire students to create a product and present it. Hackathons, in particular, enable students to apply their interests, passions, and skills to create a product to help solve society’s current issues through technology.
A Hackathon would not only create an opportunity for sharp students to begin networking – meeting mentors and other like-minded students – but also benefit the institution and hopefully inspire others to participate and even create their own hackathons; ultimately improving the Student community in Vancouver.

How much does it cost to attend?
XdHacks Mini will be charging a small fee for all attendees. it will be $10 up until January 16, 2020. Then, regular fee will be increased to $15.

Should I still go if I don’t know much about coding?
At an event like this, with workshops and many networking opportunities, even those without previous experience in coding can find value in participation. The skills that students can develop – whether it be creative, design-oriented, collaborative, or communicative – are vital for a successful career. Lastly, we hope to ignite a passion so students can, after attending our events, learn more about coding, gain exposure, and eventually build a future related to technology. Our event is the first of its kind and offers a new type of accolade for students to present in their personal profile and resume.

What should I bring?
Make sure to bring your laptop and charger(or desktop if you’ve got gains) and yourself! You can also bring a pillow and blanket if you want to get comfy. Everything else, such as food, will be provided for you!

I don’t have a team or an idea. What should I do?
That’s perfectly alright! In fact, we don’t want participants to enter with an idea they’ve been working on for a while. If you don’t have a team, we’ll find you a group.

What kind of product am I expected to create?
This is not a university level event. Although our event encourages students to develop their product as much as they can, we do not expect a product ready to be put on the market. Prototyping is a huge part of product creation and, at XdHacks, we are celebrating the creativity and innovative ideas highschool students have to approach a real-world issue. Your pitch should include extensive planning and preperation and hopefully presentable models to showcase your inventive products!

Can I work on my hack before the event?
No. To maintain competition integrity and fairness, all work on your hack must be done at the event. All projects with prior work done will be eliminated from judging. However, you are encouraged to touch up on your skills or bring any hardware in preparation for the event!