Prizes
Total Prize Pool: $25,000+
Plus publication opportunities, co-authorship, and ongoing collaboration.
Track Prizes
Theory Track
Grand Prize: $5,000
For the best mathematical contribution.
Plus:
- Support for journal submission
- Co-authorship on theoretical paper
- Recognition in future publications
Judging:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Rigor | 35% |
| Originality | 25% |
| Relevance | 20% |
| Generality | 15% |
| Presentation | 5% |
Application Track
Grand Prize: $5,000
For the best working mission.
Plus:
- Integration into main Ants at Work system
- Ongoing maintenance support
- Co-developer credit
Judging:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Functionality | 30% |
| Relevance | 25% |
| Technical Quality | 20% |
| Innovation | 15% |
| Documentation | 10% |
Research Track
Grand Prize: $5,000
For the most significant discovery.
Plus:
- Co-authorship on research paper
- Extended data access
- Conference presentation opportunity
Judging:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Insight | 35% |
| Rigor | 25% |
| Clarity | 20% |
| Visualization | 10% |
| Implications | 10% |
Bio-Inspired Track
Grand Prize: $2,500
For the best biological contribution.
Plus:
- Lab collaboration opportunity
- Funding support for biological experiments
- Co-authorship on validation paper
Judging:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Biological Grounding | 35% |
| Actionability | 25% |
| Insight | 20% |
| Rigor | 15% |
| Presentation | 5% |
Philosophy Track
Grand Prize: $5,000
For the best philosophical contribution.
Plus:
- Support for journal submission
- Co-authorship opportunity on interdisciplinary paper
- Philosophy conference presentation
Judging:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Argument Quality | 35% |
| Engagement | 25% |
| Originality | 20% |
| Relevance | 15% |
| Clarity | 5% |
Special Awards
Best Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Prize: $2,500
For the team that best embodies interdisciplinary synergy.
Requirements:
- Minimum 3 disciplines represented
- Clear evidence of integration (not just parallel work)
- Novel insight from the intersection
Best Visualization
Prize: $1,500
For the most beautiful and informative visualization.
Requirements:
- Visual representation of colony data
- Aesthetic quality
- Informational clarity
- Original design
Best Documentary Coverage
Prize: $2,000
For the best media documentation of the event.
Requirements:
- Coverage of hackathon activities
- Interviews with participants
- Professional quality
Best Short Film
Prize: $1,500
For the best artistic interpretation.
Requirements:
- 5-10 minute piece
- Creative approach
- Festival-quality production
Best Social Content
Prize: $1,000
For the best real-time social media coverage.
Requirements:
- Engagement metrics
- Creative content
- Event documentation
People’s Choice
Prize: $1,000
Voted by all participants at closing ceremony.
Best K-12 Team
Prize: Educational Grant
For the best team including school-age participants.
- Lab visit to real ant research facility
- Educational materials for classroom
- Certificate of achievement
Runner-Up Prizes
Each track has runner-up recognition:
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 2nd Place | $500 + certificate |
| 3rd Place | Certificate + publication mention |
Non-Cash Awards
Publication Opportunities
All quality submissions considered for:
- Co-authorship on journal papers
- Conference proceedings
- Book chapters
Integration Into System
Winning Application Track missions may be:
- Deployed to production colony
- Maintained by core team
- Credited in codebase
Lab Collaborations
Bio-Inspired winners may:
- Run experiments at partner labs
- Access biological ant colonies
- Join research collaborations
Ongoing Access
All participants receive:
- 6 months extended data access
- Invitation to future events
- Alumni network membership
Prize Distribution
Cash Prizes
- Distributed via bank transfer within 30 days
- International transfers supported
- Tax responsibility of recipient
Team Prize Splitting
- Teams decide internal distribution
- Default: equal split
- Disputes resolved by team lead
Individual vs Team
- Prizes go to teams, not individuals
- Solo participants count as one-person teams
- Observer/Mentor categories not eligible for track prizes
Eligibility
Who Can Win
- All registered participants
- Must submit by deadline
- Must present during Day 3
- Must follow code of conduct
Who Cannot Win
- Organizers (Tony, Robin)
- Judges
- Sponsors
- Observers (special award exceptions possible)
Judging Panel
Track Judges
Each track has 3-5 judges:
- 1-2 Faculty from relevant discipline
- 1 Industry expert
- 1 Organizer
- 1 Guest judge
Special Award Judges
- People’s Choice: All participants vote
- Others: Panel of organizers + sponsors
Judging Process
- All submissions reviewed by track judges
- Top 3 present to full panel
- Winner selected by consensus
- Ties broken by combined score
Past Winners
This is the first hackathon! You could be the first winner.
Sponsor Prizes
Additional sponsor prizes TBA
Interested in sponsoring a prize? Contact us
The real prize is the friends you make along the way. But also the $5,000.