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!

Any currently enrolled student from any school is welcome, undergraduate or graduate, from every major and skill level. The event is in person at Newell Hall.

Not at all! Workshops and mentors are there 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 must have 2 to 5 people, so solo projects are not eligible.

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 are provided free throughout the weekend, from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. See the schedule for meal times.

Yes, build anything you’re excited about! Projects must be started at the event, and you can aim for the main awards and any sponsor prizes.

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 assigned judges reviews every project and narrows the field to 10 finalists. On Monday from 10:15 to 11:15 AM, the top 10 teams present on stage at the Reitz Union, and winners are announced at the 12:15 PM awards ceremony. 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 currently enrolled students from any college or university. It is an in-person event, so plan to be in Gainesville for the weekend, and finalists present live at Monday’s finals.

Yes! UF Online students are welcome, but the event is in person, so you will need to hack at Newell Hall. Finalists present live at Monday’s 10:15 AM finals, and a team must have someone there to win.

No. Gator Hack V is in person only. Hacking happens at Newell Hall, and finalists present live on stage at Monday’s 10:15 AM finals at the Reitz Union. A team with no one at the finals cannot win.

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. If you are under 18, email us at dsiufl@gmail.com before registering.

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 Friday, Oct 23 at 4:59 PM ET, one minute 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 assigned judges scores round one and selects 10 finalists. On Monday from 10:15 to 11:15 AM, the finalists present on stage at the Reitz Union, and winners are announced at the awards ceremony at 12:15 PM.

Over $5,000 in prizes: $2,000, $1,000, and $500 main awards plus sponsor prizes from Twinly and Vobile. Gator Hack V is an official MLH Hack Day, so MLH is sending additional prizes too. See the full breakdown on the Prizes page.

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

At least one member of your team must be physically present at Monday’s finals, which start at 10:15 AM at the Reitz Union, to remain eligible for an award. If no team member is present, the team cannot win. Winners are announced at the awards ceremony at 12:15 PM.

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. On Monday, the finals start at 10:15 AM at the Reitz Union, followed by the awards ceremony at 12:15 PM. 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.