Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the hackathon, answered directly.
Eligibility
Who can participate?
This run is open to Bangladesh-based participants only. You must be able to receive payment via standard cross-border methods. We may open future runs to other regions.
Can I participate as a team?
Yes. You may participate individually or in a team of up to 3 people. If you submit as a team, each member must submit a separate individual contribution statement. Trial project invitations are made to individuals based on demonstrated capability, not to teams as a whole.
Do I need specific qualifications?
No formal qualifications are required. We are looking for clear thinking and good judgement, not credentials. Students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals are all welcome.
Can I submit to multiple tracks?
No. Choose one track and focus your effort there. One submission per person or team.
Process
What happens after I apply?
We will review your application and notify you whether you have been accepted to receive the challenge pack. Accepted applicants get full access to track details, submission requirements, and the scoring rubric.
How long do I have to complete my submission?
The submission window is 14 days from receiving the challenge pack. Plan for asynchronous work within this period. There are no live sessions during the submission phase. Shortlisted participants will be invited to a live technical review after evaluation.
What format should my submission be in?
Detailed submission requirements are in the challenge pack. You must submit a written document addressing the required components, a working artefact, and a video walkthrough. Optional supporting materials (data analysis, architecture diagrams, etc.) may be included.
Will I get feedback on my submission?
Shortlisted participants will receive feedback. We cannot provide individual feedback to all participants due to volume constraints.
What is the video walkthrough?
All submissions must include a 5 to 7 minute video walkthrough. Record your screen with voice narration. Walk through your artefact, explain your reasoning, and discuss trade-offs. No slides or editing required. Upload to Google Drive and include a view-enabled link in your submission. Low production quality is expected. Clear thinking is not optional.
What happens if I am shortlisted?
Shortlisted participants are invited to a 20 to 30 minute live technical review with JamboLabs. This is a conversation, not a presentation. We will ask about your trade-offs, what broke, and what you would do differently. Recordings are shared with participants afterward.
Are there any sessions during the hackathon?
Yes. We will run open professional sessions during the submission window. Topics may include building a career in data, lessons from real-world delivery, and how professionals approach scope and trade-offs. These sessions are open to all accepted participants, recorded for those who cannot attend, and do not provide solution hints or advantage specific submissions.
Evaluation
How are submissions scored?
Submissions are evaluated across five dimensions: problem framing (20%), solution quality (25%), trade-off reasoning (20%), business realism (20%), and communication quality (15%). Video walkthroughs are assessed as part of communication quality. See the Rules page for full details.
What makes a strong submission?
Strong submissions demonstrate clear thinking about a specific problem, show awareness of constraints and trade-offs, and communicate effectively. Incomplete artefacts with strong justification can score higher than complete artefacts with weak thinking.
Does polish matter?
Clarity matters. Polish for its own sake does not. A well-reasoned submission with a rough but working artefact will beat a beautifully designed submission with weak thinking.
Can I use AI tools?
Yes, AI tools are permitted and encouraged where they create leverage. However, we are evaluating your judgement, not your prompting ability. AI-generated content that replaces thinking will be obvious and marked down.
Outcomes
What are the prizes?
First place: £250. For team submissions, prize money is split equally among team members. There are no second or third place prizes. Prizes exist to establish seriousness, not to drive participation. The primary incentive is access to paid trial projects.
What are paid trial projects?
Trial projects are 3 to 4 week paid engagements with JamboLabs. They involve real work, fixed fees agreed upfront, and clear deliverables. Payment is guaranteed if agreed deliverables are met. They are evaluation-stage work, not employment offers.
How many people get trial project offers?
This depends on submission quality and performance in the technical review. We expect to invite 3 to 5 participants into paid trials from this run. The number may be higher or lower based on what we see.
Does a trial project guarantee future work?
No. Trial projects are evaluation-stage engagements. Strong performance may lead to future opportunities, but there are no guarantees. We are explicit about this to avoid false expectations.
Is this a job offer or internship?
No. This hackathon does not lead to jobs or internships. It may lead to paid project work on a contract basis. The distinction matters and we are clear about it.
Practical
How will I receive payment?
Payments for both prizes and trial projects are made via standard cross-border methods. You do not need to set up a company. Exact mechanics are handled operationally.
What if I have questions not covered here?
Contact us at hello@jambolabs.io. We will respond as quickly as we can, but please check this FAQ first.
Can I share my submission publicly?
Yes, your work remains yours. However, we ask that you wait until after evaluation is complete before sharing publicly.