Dates

November 15, 2025

Eligibility

  • The hackathon is open exclusively to first-year undergraduate students currently enrolled at any university in London.
  • Students from all academic disciplines and majors are welcome to participate — not limited to computer science or technical fields.
  • Participants may register individually or in teams of 3–4 members.
  • Each participant may only be part of one team and one project submission.
  • All participants must register before the official submission deadline.
  • No previous hackathon or coding experience is required — beginners are strongly encouraged to join.
  • Participants must agree to abide by the event’s Code of Conduct, follow all submission rules, and maintain respectful collaboration throughout the competition.

Project and Submission Requirements

Each team must submit a complete and well-documented project that clearly demonstrates its functionality and design rationale.

Project Build
  • A fully functional website or project prototype aligned with one of the hackathon themes.
  • The project should demonstrate innovative thinking, technical implementation, and real-world applicability.
  • Participants may use any programming languages, frameworks, or tools, but the final submission must be functional and accessible for judging.
Submission Requirements  - YouTube Video (2–3 minutes)
  • Show a live demo of the website or prototype in action.
  • Explain the project’s purpose — what problem it solves and why it matters.
  • Describe the design process — why you chose this specific design or user flow, and how it benefits users.
  • Discuss the pros and cons of your approach (e.g., what works well, what could be improved, or what trade-offs were made).
  • Highlight future improvements or scalability ideas.
  • The video should demonstrate both the functionality and the thought process behind the design, not just the final product.
  • Include clear voice narration to ensure accessibility and understanding.

Prizes

  • £85 per person (for each winning team member)
  • Prizes will be awarded to winners in each track.

Judging Criteria and Winner Selection

Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation & Creativity – How original and unique is the idea?

  • Technical Implementation – Quality, complexity, and completeness of the technical solution.

  • Impact & Relevance – How effectively does the project address challenges in specific themes?

  • Presentation & Clarity – How clearly is the solution communicated in the submission and video?


Non-technical Track

What to Build: Develop a comprehensive business model or operational strategy aligned with the Nourish Box theme. The project should solve the logistical gap between food waste and food insecurity, demonstrate economic viability, and outline a clear path to implementation. Participants are encouraged to showcase innovation, sustainability, and strategic depth in their proposal.

What to Submit: Each team must submit: A YouTube Video (2–3 minutes), and the video should clearly demonstrate:

Project Overview – The specific food waste issue you are targeting and the community need you are addressing.

The Operational Model – A walkthrough of your system’s logic (e.g., how you source, process, and distribute the meals).

Strategic Rationale – Why you structured the model this way (e.g., specific partnership choices, cost-saving measures, or safety protocols).

Viability & Risks – Why this solution is sustainable financially, and what logistical hurdles or trade-offs remain.

Future Scale – Potential next steps to expand the service (e.g., moving from a neighbourhood pilot to a city-wide operation).

A panel of judges will review all submissions, and one winner will be selected for each track.