Questions, answered.
Who can participate? +
Anyone can apply. All skill levels and backgrounds, students, pros, first-timers. Free to participate, rooted in the DMV, open to builders anywhere. The field is curated, so your profile is your application.
Do I need a team? +
No. Apply with a team of up to five, or solo. The builder board for matchmaking opens with invitations, and the list gets first call.
Can I use AI tools? +
Yes, encouraged. Ship however you ship. What matters is what you build and how you pitch it.
What do partners get? +
Developer adoption, recruiting access, deal flow, and civic goodwill, plus a partner report within 14 days. See the Partner page.
Can we name an award? +
Yes. Challenge Partners set a challenge and name its winner. Official Partners own their category and its challenge.
How much time does it take? +
Volunteers can take a shift or the full day. Judges commit ~3 hours in the afternoon; mentors work flexible blocks.
Can I nominate a judge? +
Please do. Send us a note via the Contact page and we will reach out to them directly.