We’ve received a number of questions from contestants concerned that they will be unable to acquire a US Visa between the notification of the semi-finalists, and the beginning of Hackathon. Please see below for recommended actions in order to ensure we get maximum participation, and we’re able to capitalize on all of your great ideas!
First off, our goal is to make this a global competition! We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and that we can only find the best ideas by allowing everyone to submit. Over 90% of countries have at least one contestant, and we couldn’t be happier with how far this has spread. Thank you for making this an incredibly international competition!
With that said, the Hackathon is an in-person event, and every team requires an in-person delegate to represent their ideas. There are a few ways that we can ensure that your winning idea gets the appropriate representation at Summit.
Step 1: Check whether you are in a country that is part of the US Visa Waiver Program (full list here: link)
If you don’t think you can receive a visa in time, don’t worry! There are other mitigations in place.
Step 2: Tap into your networks to identify a team member (delegate) who can attend!
Reach out to your networks! Ask friends or colleagues who are either in the U.S., in countries that are part of the US Visa Waiver Program (see link above), or who already have obtained travel visas to the U.S. to join your team for Hackathon. Perhaps you have a connection to someone who is interested in your prize design area and would love to contribute. If that still doesn’t work…
Step 3: Ask on the HeroX Forum!
We will be making two pinned posts, one will be for teams looking for a new travel-capable team member (found here). The other will be for HeroX members who do not wish to submit their own entry, but would love to join a team to present at Hackathon (found here). If you fall into either category, make a post on the appropriate thread introducing yourself, your qualifications, and explaining what you are looking for. If you see a post you are interested in answering then click on that person’s username and send them a private message. Please do not post contact information in the forum, as it is a public space and we cannot guarantee it will not be misused.
Step 4: If all else fails… ASK US!
We want to make sure that all strong, winning ideas get a fighting chance in the process. We promise to help identify a solution.
You may still be asking—how does this impact the rules of the competition? Read on!
- If someone joins your team how will that impact the prize distribution if you win Hackathon?
Prize money is distributed to teams, not to individuals. It is up to the teams to divide that money however they see fit. If someone does join your team to represent you at hackathon, we do recommend discussing this breakdown ahead of time.
- If you send another team member, does that mean you can’t participate in Hackathon?
Not at all! We encourage you to be in constant contact with your team through email or video calls throughout the hackathon. Your input will be crucial in refining your ideas based on the feedback you receive. We simply need at least one person physically present to make sure everything can be presented properly.
- If you were not able to attend summit and your team’s idea won, can you still attend the Visioneering Summit in October?
Yes! All of the teams which win Hackathon will be invited to send two delegates to Summit. There will be roughly two months between the two events, meaning there is plenty of time to secure both your passport and your US visa. If there are still concerns about acquiring the Visa in time we will be happy to work with you to apply for an expedited Visa.
Sincerely,
The XPRIZE Team
