Claude Builders Club Hackathon

• This hackathon is open to all Cornell University students, regardless of major, year, or experience level
• Participants must be present in-person for the duration of the event (10:00 AM - 8:00 PM on November 15, 2025)
• Teams must consist of 2-4 people
• Individuals may only be on one team
• Participants under 18 must have parental/guardian consent to participate

• Teams can be formed before or during the event
• Team formation assistance will be provided during registration (10:00 AM - 11:15 AM)
• All team members must be registered participants
• Teams may not add or remove members after 11:15 AM
• Solo participants are encouraged to find teams, but solo submissions are permitted if necessary

• All code, design, and content must be created during the hackathon (November 15, 2025, between 11:15 AM - 6:00 PM)
• You may use pre-existing libraries, frameworks, APIs, and open-source tools
• You may NOT submit projects that were created before the event or significantly built upon pre-existing work
• Using templates, boilerplate code, or starter projects is allowed, but the core functionality must be original

• Use of Claude API is highly encouraged but not strictly required
• Projects using Claude API will be evaluated on integration quality in the judging criteria
• Claude API credits and documentation will be provided to all participants

• Projects must have a public GitHub repository containing all source code
• Projects must include a comprehensive README.md with setup instructions
• Projects must be functional - demos should show working features, not just mockups
• Code must be your own work (properly attribute any external code or libraries used)

• Projects must be family-friendly and appropriate for all audiences
• No offensive, discriminatory, hateful, or inappropriate content
• Projects must align with the hackathon theme: sustainability, resilience, emergency preparedness, or environmental/community impact
• Projects must not violate any laws or regulations
• Projects must not infringe on intellectual property rights

All submissions must include:

1. Completed Devpost project page
2. Public GitHub repository link
3. README.md with project description and setup instructions
4. Demo video (under 60 seconds)
5. Tech stack documentation
6. Description of challenges faced and solutions

• Submission deadline: 6:00 PM sharp on November 15, 2025
• Late submissions will NOT be accepted or judged
• Incomplete submissions will NOT be judged

• All projects must be submitted through the official Devpost page
• GitHub repositories must be set to PUBLIC before submission
• Ensure all links work and materials are accessible before the deadline

Projects will be judged on 8 criteria (see judging rubric):

1. Solution Development & Deployment
2. Impact & Problem Solving
3. Claude API Integration & Performance
4. Scalability
5. Innovation & Creativity
6. Ethical Considerations
7. Presentation Quality
8. Market Viability & Commercialization

• All complete submissions will be reviewed by our panel of judges
• Judges will select the Top 5 finalists
• Finalists will present 3-minute live demos to judges (7:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
• Final winners will be selected based on presentations and submissions
• Judge decisions are final

• $1,800 in prizes split between 5 teams
• Prizes will be distributed to teams (not individuals)
• Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony (7:45 PM - 8:00 PM)

All participants, mentors, judges, sponsors, and organizers must abide by our Code of Conduct:

• Be respectful and inclusive of all participants regardless of background, identity, or experience level
• Use welcoming and inclusive language
• Be collaborative and supportive of fellow participants
• Gracefully accept constructive criticism
• Focus on what is best for the community
• Show empathy towards other participants

• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination of any kind
• Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, or other protected characteristics
• Inappropriate physical contact or unwelcome sexual attention
• Trolling, insulting/derogatory comments, or personal attacks
• Publishing others' private information without permission
• Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behaviors
• Other conduct that could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting

We are committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone. Harassment includes but is not limited to:

• Verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination
• Sexual images in public spaces
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• Harassing photography or recording
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Unwelcome sexual attention

• If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior, please report it immediately to a hackathon organizer
• Organizers will be clearly identified with special name tags
• All reports will be handled with discretion
• Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately
• Organizers may take any action deemed appropriate, including:
  • Warning the offender
  • Expulsion from the hackathon without refund (if applicable)
  • Reporting to Cornell University or law enforcement if necessary
• Participants who violate these rules may be disqualified and banned from future events

• You retain all rights to your project and code
• By submitting, you grant Cornell Claude Builders Club, Anthropic, and event partners permission to:
  • Display your project publicly (on Devpost, social media, future promotional materials)
  • Use screenshots, demo videos, and descriptions for promotional purposes
  • Feature your project in recap posts, newsletters, or presentations
• You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to use any third-party code, assets, or APIs in your project
• Properly attribute any external resources, libraries, or APIs used

• AI tools (including Claude) are allowed and encouraged for coding assistance, brainstorming, and problem-solving
• You must disclose any significant AI assistance in your README
• Pre-trained models and external APIs are permitted
• Using Stack Overflow, documentation, and online resources is allowed
• Copying code directly from others or pre-built projects is prohibited

• Mentors and organizers are available to help with technical issues, debugging, and guidance
• Mentors cannot write code for you or make design decisions
• Getting help is encouraged - don't struggle alone!
• Slack support channel will be available throughout the event

• Participants must check in during registration (10:00 AM - 10:30 AM)
• Participants must be present for the Opening Ceremony (10:30 AM - 11:00 AM)
• Participants are expected to remain on-site for the duration of the event
• Exceptions for emergencies can be arranged with organizers

• Workspace and WiFi
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Snacks and beverages throughout the day
• Claude API credits
• Access to mentors and technical support

• Laptop and charger (required)
• Any additional hardware or equipment you want to use
• Enthusiasm and creativity!

Teams may be disqualified for:

• Violating the Code of Conduct
• Submitting work created before the hackathon
• Submitting plagiarized or stolen code
• Missing the submission deadline
• Providing false information
• Inappropriate or offensive project content
• Failure to comply with organizer instructions

• Cornell Claude Builders Club, Cornell University, Anthropic, and event partners are not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses incurred during the event
• Participants are responsible for their own belongings
• Follow all building safety rules and emergency procedures
• Report any safety concerns immediately to organizers

• Photos and videos may be taken during the event for promotional purposes
• By participating, you consent to being photographed/recorded
• If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform organizers and we will accommodate
• Your Devpost submission and project may be shared publicly

• Organizers reserve the right to modify rules or event schedule as needed
• Any changes will be announced to all participants immediately
• In case of disputes, organizer decisions are final

If you have any questions about these rules, please contact the Cornell Claude Builders Club organizing team before or during the event. We're here to help ensure everyone has a great experience!

By participating in this hackathon, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by all rules and the Code of Conduct outlined above.

Let's build something amazing together - respectfully, collaboratively, and ethically! 🚀🌱