Eligibility

  • Age Requirement: Above legal age of majority in country of residence
  • Location Requirement: Hybrid event — build is virtual on MLT Gather; finale is live in NYC at MLT20 (NYC Hilton Midtown). Live finalists are expected on stage Thu, May 14.
  • Team Size: Solo or teams of 1–5 — form or join in MLT Gather.
  • Open to: Anyone, any skill level. Primary audiences are MLT alumni and the WNCP AI Partner Network.
  • Multiple Submissions: One team and one submission per person.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Judges, mentors, and organizers are ineligible to compete. Anyone with a conflict of interest with a contest judge is ineligible for prizes.
  • Standard Exceptions for Global Eligibility: Based on where you reside, laws of the United States or your local laws, you might be prohibited from participating or receiving a prize in a competition. As hackathons are competitions, we need to abide by these laws and need to exclude individuals who are residents from Countries designated by the United States Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control


Project Requirements

  • New Work Only: All submissions must be created during hackathon week. Pre‑existing projects are not permitted unless they are substantially modified and clearly documented.
  • Functioning Prototype: Submissions must be a working MVP, prototype, or deployed app — "functioning" means:
    • Demonstrates end-to-end functionality in a recorded demo video. 
    • Must not be solely mockups or slide decks without interactive components.
  • Required / Supported Tools: Any AI tools or frameworks. AI tools used must be disclosed.
  • Code: Public GitHub repo with all keys/secrets hidden; code must be participant-owned or properly licensed.
  • Platforms: Projects may be a website, desktop website, or mobile app. Desktop applications or anything requiring the installation on a computer will not be eligible.
  • Deployment Requirements: Submissions must be easily accessible by judges through a public URL with provided credentials.
  • Sustainability: Every submission must show a plausible path to sustainability — funding, paying users, or measurable impact.
  • Prompt Alignment: Must address one of the three prompts (Career Navigation, Learning/Coaching, Personal Security).

Prizes & Winner  Selection

Prizes - TBD
Prize Breakdown - TBD
Winner Selection - TBD

Judging & Winner Selection

Entries that meet all submission requirements will be evaluated by a panel of judges from MLT & WNCP AI. Projects will be judged across the following criteria:

  • 30% — Problem & Audience Fit: Clear, real problem tied to one of the three prompts; specific target user
  • 25% — Total Potential Impact (People & Value): Potential monetization, social, or human impact based on number of users and value gained per person
  • 25% — Demo & Storytelling: Compelling video walkthrough and clear written narrative
  • 10% — Prototype Quality: Functional, accessible app that delivers on the pitch
  • 10% — Sustainability: Ability to support the app and operations through the business model

Code of Conduct

The MLT20 AI Buildathon is a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment for all participants. By participating, you agree to uphold the following Code of Conduct:

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to providing a harassment‑free hackathon experience for everyone, regardless of:

  • Gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression
  • Disability, physical appearance, body size
  • Race, ethnicity, national origin, religion
  • Education level, technical background, or hackathon experience

We will not tolerate harassment of hackathon participants in any form — whether in person at NYC Hilton Midtown, online (Devpost, Slack/Discord/MLT Gather), or across any other official channel of the event.

Standard harassment-free statement covering protected categories (gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, education level, technical background, hackathon experience) across in-person venue, Devpost, and MLT Gather.

Expected Behavior

All participants agree to:

  • Be Respectful: Communicate professionally and constructively. Respect differing opinions and ideas.
  • Be Inclusive: Support and encourage newcomers. Recognize that attendees come from varied backgrounds and experience levels.
  • Collaborate in Good Faith: Share knowledge generously and work toward the collective spirit of SkyMarket development.
  • Maintain Integrity: Submit original work created during the hackathon timeframe and properly attribute any third‑party or open‑source resources.
  • Follow the Rules: Comply with all hackathon rules, U.S. laws and regulations, and venue policies.

Reporting

  • Contact an organizer immediately through MLT Gather, in person at the event, or by email at damien@wncapitalpartners.com
  • All concerns will be handled confidentially and with respect for the reporter's privacy.
  • Organizers will take all complaints seriously, investigate promptly, and take appropriate corrective action.

License & Attribution

This Code of Conduct is based on the Hack Code of Conduct and adapted for MLT20 AI Buildathon. By registering and participating in this hackathon, all attendees acknowledge and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.