About the GPTN hackathon
This is the third year GTPN-NA is running this hackathon, and we're excited to keep building on what we started. The event is open globally to students of Tibetan, Nepalese, and Bhutanese descent who want to collaborate, build things, and give back to the Tibetan community. All event times will be in Eastern Time (ET), so if you're joining from outside North America, just plan accordingly.
For one weekend, participants from all kinds of fields come together to brainstorm, build, and create solutions centered on Tibetan language, culture, and community needs.
What is a Hackathon?
If you haven't been to one before, here's the basic idea. A hackathon is a time-bound event, usually 24 to 48 hours, where people team up to build something new, usually involving software or technology. You get a problem or theme, and your job is to come up with something creative and functional in a short amount of time. It could involve coding, design, strategy, whatever the problem calls for.
What makes hackathons special is the mix of people. Coders, designers, entrepreneurs, all working side by side, learning from each other, and turning ideas into something real.
Why You Should Join!
Real-world experience. You're working on an actual project, under real time pressure, with a team. It's the closest thing to a professional work environment you'll find outside of one.
Networking. You'll meet people from all kinds of backgrounds, students, professionals, maybe even future employers. These connections can go a long way.
Skill building. Coding, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, you'll walk away sharper in all of these.
Room to be creative. Hackathons push you to think differently and try things you might not get to try elsewhere.
Claude subscription, on us. Every participant gets a Claude subscription for the duration of the hackathon, so you've got AI assistance in your corner as you build, debug, and problem-solve all weekend.
Prizes. Cash, gadgets, internships, sometimes even job offers. And even without a prize, you leave with something to show for your work.
Three years and counting. This event keeps growing, and being part of it means joining a community making real progress for the Tibetan cause, year after year.
Learning from others. Working closely with people from different backgrounds means picking up things you wouldn't learn on your own, a new language, a UX trick, how someone else thinks through a problem.
It's genuinely fun. At the end of the day, this is a weekend full of energy, good people, and the kind of experience that sticks with you.
Requirements
What to Build
As a participant in our Hackathon, we want you to think creatively and build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that fits this year's theme. That could be a web app, a mobile app, a data visualization, or even just a well-thought-out presentation of an idea.
The goal isn't just to build something new; it's to build something that solves a real problem or improves a process. Maybe it's a tool that helps students study more effectively, an app that supports mental health, a game that teaches players about environmental issues, or something else entirely that you're excited about.
If you don't finish your project, that's okay. We value the effort and the learning that happens along the way just as much as the final product. You're welcome to present your concept, your progress, and what you learned; that's still a win.
What to Submit
For your submission, we require the following:
- Team Name — This will also serve as your project name.
- Project Description — A brief summary of your project: what problem it solves or what process it improves, and how it works.
- Code Repository — A link to your code (GitHub or similar) so we can see your process and the work behind it.
- Presentation Slides — If you weren't able to finish your project, submit a presentation covering your concept, progress, challenges, and takeaways.
- Team Members — A list of everyone on your team, with a short note on what each person contributed.
- Live Presentation — Each team gets 5 minutes in front of our judges to present their project, walk through the concept, and highlight what makes it stand out.
Remember: it's not just about the final product, it's about the journey. We're excited to see what you build and how far you push your ideas.
Prizes
TBD
To be decided
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
TBD
Judging Criteria
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Hackathon Judging Criteria Rubric
* Project Idea and Relevance * Technical Implementation * User Experience and Design * Presentation and Communication * Innovation and Creativity
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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