Hackathon Organizer Guide
  • Introduction
  • overview
    • What is a Hackathon?
    • What is MLH?
    • MLH Hackcon
    • MLH Community Values
    • Event Types
      • Digital Events
        • Digital Mini Events
          • Marble Races
          • Pokemon Showdown
          • Wiki Races
          • Hacker Hangouts
        • Streamyard
  • General Information
    • Hackathon Timeline
    • Finding the Date and Purpose
    • Build Your Leadership Team
    • Locking Down a Venue
    • Hackathon Budgeting
      • Legal Considerations
    • Getting Sponsorship
      • Introduction to Fundraising
      • Understanding Your Sponsors
        • Evaluating In-kind Sponsorships
      • Potential Sponsor Perks
      • Sponsorship Prospectus
      • The 5-Step MLH Sponsorship Process
      • Cheat Sheet: Emailing Your Sponsors
    • Hackathon Website
      • Making an Accessible Design
      • Placeholder Website
      • Main Website
    • Marketing Your Event
      • Promoting Your Event
        • Marketing Email Template
      • Marketing Goals & Timelines
    • Managing Registrations
      • Registrations
      • Free Registration Tool - OrganizerHQ (OHQ)
      • Sending Reminders
        • Email Templates
      • Check-in Process
    • Event Logistics
      • Hackathon Communication Platform
      • Project Challenges
      • Ordering Swag and Prizes
      • Set Up Your Event
      • Working with Food Vendors
      • Hosting Hackers with Dietary Restrictions
      • Distributing Meals
      • Transportation/Travel Plans
      • Hardware
      • Prepare Your Emergency Plan
    • Judging and Submissions
      • Rules for Your Hackathon
      • Judging Plan
      • Cheating Check
      • Judges Communication and Recruiting
      • Hackathon Submission Portal
        • Using Devpost
        • Using Devfolio
        • Using DoraHacks
    • Hackathon Scheduling
      • Detailed Run of Show
      • Run-Through with the Team
      • MLH Tips and Templates
    • Mentorship
    • Day of Logistics and Hacker Experience
      • Help Desk Recommendations
      • Fun Mini Events
      • Workshops
      • Opening Ceremony
      • Closing Ceremony
    • After the Event
  • Organizer Resources
    • Template Links
    • Getting Support from Others
    • Leadership Resources
    • Marketing Resources
    • Registrations Resources
      • GDPR in Europe
    • Host Exciting Mini-Events
      • Cup Stacking
      • MLH Mini Events
        • WereWolf
        • Slideshow Karaoke
        • !Light
        • MS Paint Bob Ross
    • Keeping Records
    • Software for Hackathons
  • Contributors
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On this page
  • Booking your Judges
  • A Note About Judges
  • Week-of: Judges follow up
  • Day-of: Running Judging
  • Go Above and Beyond!
  • MLH Tips

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  1. General Information
  2. Judging and Submissions

Judges Communication and Recruiting

You’ll need to recruit a variety of individuals to judge your hackathon.

Typically during the last 2 months of the hackathon approaching, one should start looking out for judges for the hackathon. After making the judging plan, it becomes very clear on how many judges one should consider recruiting at the hackathon. While reaching out the judges, aim for getting 2-3 extra judges in a buffer list since any non-availability might affect your whole judging plan.

Booking your Judges

You’ll need to recruit a variety of tech experts to judge, mentor & speak at your hackathon. Consider targeting:

  • Experts from your school, including professors, deans, and alumni

  • Local community leaders

  • Reps from local tech companies

  • Tech celebrities who have something to promote (best for bigger events)

Networking tips for recruiting speakers and judges:

  • It’s similar to the process of contacting sponsors.

  • Consider who you know and who your school knows

  • Have department heads reach out for you when helpful

A Note About Judges

We recommend selecting judges that have a strong technical aptitude. It is important to mention to your judges about the judging criteria and not to focus on the business aspect of the hackathon. This highly separates a hackathon from a startup contest.

  • Networking tips for recruiting speakers and judges

    • It’s a similar sponsorship process

    • Consider who you know and who your school knows

    • Have department heads reach out for you

Week-of: Judges follow up

It is crucial to follow-up with your judges about their availability on the week of the event to know if there are any last minute changes in the same. A simple reminder email can help you do the job.

Also, having some kind of a slot booking system can help you determine that they'll be available during those times. Be sure to send them a calendar invite so that it is tracked from their side as well.

Day-of: Running Judging

Go Above and Beyond!

To make the judging process clear to both judges and hackers, we suggest printing out a brief summary of the rules and placing them at every presenting table alongside their table number.

MLH Tips

  • Start close to home. Often your best chances at hosting strong speakers will come from personal and school connections.

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Last updated 2 months ago

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Check out for the process for day of judging. Some occasional follow-ups with them about the judging process is also a great way to keep a track of time as you follow the steps listed there.

Consider recruiting a high-energy MC.

Judging Plan
This person will be the face of the event to hackers and sponsors, so having someone who is excited about hacking with some public speaking experience helps hold the entire event together.
an example from HackUTD 2024