Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How do I follow the hackathon and get updates?
Who can I contact if I have questions about the hackathon?
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my app?
What APIs or datasets can I include in my app?
Why do I have to upload a video?
What should I put in my video?
Testing Process
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my app?
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Can more than one person work on a solution and receive credit for it? And if the app wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Can my app win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one app?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What else will you do with my submission?
Public Voting
How does public voting work?
General Questions
How do I follow the Challenge and get updates?
When you register for the challenge, you’ll automatically be signed up to receive email updates about it. Follow us on Twitter at @Devpost.
Whom can I contact if I have questions about the Challenge?
Email support@devpost.com or post a question to the Cisco Spark Discussion Board. If you have technical questions about Spark developer tools, head to the Spark support space.
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my app?
You must build a working Cisco Spark application, integration, website or bot that integrates at least one Spark API.
What APIs or datasets can I include in my app?
You may use whatever additional APIs, SDKs, and datasets you choose, as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them. Remember, you MUST meet the requirements above in order to be eligible for a prize.
Why do I have to upload a video?
The Popular Choice award is determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that all users can view and experience your app. The video will also be helpful to the panel of judges and will give you the opportunity to explain your approach to designing your application. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that demonstrates the application’s features.
What should I put in my video?
Aside from your actual app, your submission video is one of the most important parts of your entry. In fact, it’s often one of the first, and sometimes only, things that judges and voters view. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:
- Tell your story step-by-step. Your video should include an explanation of the problem addressed and a demo of the app itself. While audio isn’t required, narration or text bubbles can help judges and voters understand your submission.
- Keep it simple. Per the official rules your video shouldn’t be longer than five minutes. In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
- Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your video. Keep in mind that the time it takes to upload/process a video on YouTube or Vimeo varies greatly depending on the format of your original video, the file size, upload traffic and Internet connection speed, and could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or more.
Does my app need to be publicly available or submitted to an online store?
Your solution is not required to be publicly available or submitted to an online store.
Testing Process
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my app?
You must provide a way for us to test your solution at no cost. We will accept a link to a functioning website, a working demo, a Spark Depot link, or the email address assigned to your bot. You also must provide a Github repo including your code and some documentation for bots, integrations or applications. If your repo or website is private, you must include login credentials in your testing instructions.
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The hackathon is open to individuals, and teams of individuals, who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. The hackathon is also open to legally registered corporations or organizations.
Please review the Official Rules for complete eligibility requirements.
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Organizations with 50 or fewer employees may enter and compete for cash prizes.
Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Existing applications are eligible for this competition as long as they are updated during the submission period.
Can more than one person work on an app and receive credit for it? And if the app wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Yes, teams are encouraged. If a team of individuals or an organization is selected as an award winner, the full prize amount will be sent to the submitter. It will be up to the winning team or organization to reallocate the prize money between the team members, as they deem it appropriate.
Can my app win more than one prize?
Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations can compete for one overall prize or category award, as well as the Popular Choice Award.
Can I enter more than one app?
Yes. There is no limit to how many times an eligible person, team, or organization may enter. An individual may also participate on behalf of more than one team, corporation, or nonprofit organization. However, if you submit two or more solutions that are identical or substantially similar, the Sponsor and Devpost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
By submitting an app to the Challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Sponsor or Devpost. The Sponsor and Devpost will have the right to feature all apps entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What else will you do with my submission?
The Sponsor and Devpost will have the right to publicly display your submission on the hackathon website. They will also be allowed to publicize your name on the hackathon website in connection with the submission and the hackathon during the competition and for 36 months after its conclusion. For more information on publicity rights, please see the Official Rules.
Public Voting
How does public voting work?
Visitors to the site can vote for as many submissions as they like, but no more than once for a single submission. At the end of the public voting period, the votes will be tallied and verified to determine the Popular Choice award winner. Have more questions about public voting? Check out our handy public voting help article.