FAQ
Gator HackV

Gator Hack is a hackathon hosted by the University of Florida each fall as part of UF AI Days. It’s a 48-hour event where students from all majors come together to build innovative projects, learn new skills, and have fun!

No, they’re two different events. Gator Hack is hosted by the university as part of UF AI Days, while SwampHacks is UF’s student-led hackathon. Plenty of hackers do both!

All currently enrolled students are welcome, including students from other institutions and UF Online students. Every major and skill level is welcome.

Not at all! Workshops, mentors, and beginner tracks are designed to help first-timers get started. Many participants write their first line of code at the event.

No, you can register solo and form a team at the event. Our mixer and Discord channels make it easy to find teammates. Teams can have up to 5 people.

Your laptop, charger, student ID, and anything you need to be comfortable for the weekend. We’ll handle the food, drinks, and workspace.

Yes! Meals, snacks, and drinks are provided free throughout the weekend, including late-night snacks for the night owls.

Yes, build anything you’re excited about! Projects must be started at the event, and you can aim for the general prizes, track prizes, or sponsor challenges.

All code must be written during the hacking period, teams are capped at 5, and everyone must follow the MLH Code of Conduct. Full rules will be posted on Devpost.

Judging happens in two rounds. First, a panel of professors and PhD students reviews every project and narrows the field to 10 finalists. On Monday at 12:30 PM, the top 10 teams present on stage at the Reitz Union, where winners are picked. See the Prizes page for the judging criteria.

Join our Discord for real-time announcements, and follow us on social media. All official updates will be posted there first.

No. Gator Hack V is open to all currently enrolled students, including students from other colleges and universities.

Yes! UF Online students are explicitly welcome to participate. To remain eligible for an award, at least one member of your team must attend Monday’s 12:30 PM finals and awards ceremony in person.

Yes, both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to compete.

Absolutely. Great teams mix builders, designers, storytellers, and domain experts. Every major is welcome, and there’s no coding requirement to attend.

Participants must be at least 18 years old, or have a signed guardian waiver.

Hit the Register Now button at the top of any page and fill out the form. It takes less than five minutes.

Registration is open now and closes Oct 22, right before hacking begins. Space is limited, so register early!

No, Gator Hack V is completely free to attend, including food, swag, and workshops.

Everyone registers individually; you’ll link up with your team on Devpost before submissions. Don’t have a team yet? We’ll help you find one.

The venue stays open all weekend with designated rest areas. You’re also free to go home and come back; hacking runs around the clock.

Yes, two workshop blocks on Saturday cover technical topics from intro-level to advanced, plus sponsor-led sessions. See the Schedule.

Mentors from industry and campus float throughout the weekend, with dedicated office hours on Sunday morning.

Ask in Discord, grab a mentor, or visit the help desk. Getting unstuck fast is what the community is for.

Submit through Devpost before the Sunday 5:00 PM deadline. Include your repo link, a short description, and a demo video or slides.

A working demo (or honest progress), your code repository, and a brief write-up of what it does and how you built it.

Open-source libraries, frameworks, and APIs are fair game. Your project itself must be built during the event, with no pre-written project code.

A panel of professors and PhD students judges round one and selects 10 finalists. On Monday at 12:30 PM, the finalists present on stage at the Reitz Union, where winners are announced at the awards ceremony.

Over $10,000 in cash, track prizes, sponsor awards, and swag. See the full breakdown on the Prizes page.

Yes, a project can take a main award and also win track or sponsor prizes it qualifies for.

At least one member of your team must be physically present at Monday’s 12:30 PM finals and awards ceremony to remain eligible for an award. If no team member is present, the team cannot win.

Prizes are split evenly among team members and paid out after the event. Details will be shared with winners.

Hacking takes place at Newell Hall on the UF campus in Gainesville, FL. The finals and awards ceremony begins Monday at 12:30 PM at the Reitz Union. Room details will be shared with registered participants.

Campus garages near the venue are available on the weekend. We’ll share specific parking guidance closer to the event.

Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, email us and we’ll make sure you’re set.

We follow the MLH Code of Conduct. Be kind, be inclusive, and help make the event welcoming for everyone.

Yes please! Email us and we’ll get you on the volunteer or mentor roster.

We’d love that! Check out the Sponsors page or email us for the sponsorship packet.

Reach out on Discord or email us; we answer fast, especially during event season.