QuickBooks Connect $100k Hackathon

Do you have a great idea for an app? Do you like to design, code, and compete? When you register for QuickBooks Connect, be sure to add the 2-day pre-conference hackathon to your registration. You’ll have a chance to solve big problems for small businesses and compete for great prizes! The round-the-clock hackathon takes place on Nov. 1&2 at the San Jose Convention Center. You don’t want to miss this chance to compete, network with fellow devs, get non-stop hands-on tech support from Intuit experts, and be creative, have fun, and make a difference for small businesses. Want more details? Click here.

Who can compete in this hackathon?

You! Yes, you! Hackathon teams from solo devs to up to 5 team members are welcome. We expect developers with coding skills and creative ideas to attend. Also welcome are designers and accountants and business-minded folks who have an app idea and want to team up with a dev to create the next innovation in QuickBooks apps. If you have ideas for extending the power of the QuickBooks ecosystem and you’re willing to work hard for ~36 hours, the hackathon is for you, too.

Don’t know what to build?

No worries. We’ll provide the opportunity for you to get ideas directly from customers and accountants who need your apps. Don’t know much about accounting and QuickBooks? No problem, we’ll have experts on hand to get you up to speed quickly.

What are the hackathon challenges?

We have three challenge tracks in which you can compete:

• Track 1:Existing Apps:If you have an existing SaaS small business app, build an innovative integration with the QuickBooks platform to make your app even more powerful and useful than before. (Total prize value: $20k)
• Track 2: New Apps:Create a solution to a real problem faced by small business by leveraging the QuickBooks platform. This brand new app will integrate with QuickBooks Online and address a real customer pain point. (Total prize value: $20k)
• Track 3: Solution for Non-Profits:Create a solution to a real problem faced by non-profits by leveraging the QuickBooks platform. Add QuickBooks platform functionality to your existing SaaS app, or build a brand new app that leverages the QuickBooks platform. Either way, your solution addresses a real pain point for non-profits. (Total prize value: $20k, plus $5k for a charity of your choice)

What can I win?

We have a total prize package valued at $100k. Four developer teams will win big: $20k Prize packages for each of the 3 tracks, plus a $40k prize package for overall Grand Prize winner. Prize packages are a mix of cash and marketing spend, ranging from $20k to $40k in value. And if you win the non-profit solution track, we’ll also give $5k to a 501c3 charity of your choice. For official rules, prizes, and eligibility, click here.  

Besides the official challenge track prizes, we’ll also have plenty of fun raffles and friendly competitions with opportunities to win cool swag and techno gadgets. Have you travelied the farthest? Are you building a cool opensource contribution? Are you a team of students? There will be many opportunities to be acknowledged.

We’ll have a few speakers, including a panel of customers to help you really understand what solutions are really needed. But most of the time you’ll be designing and coding, while we are there to give feedback and support all along the way. You’ll be well-fed too, and have plenty of outlets for creative play and networking. Once coding ends we’ll have two rounds of judging! Finalists get to pitch on stage in front of our panel of 3 select judges.

Schedule:

Sunday Nov 1:

8-10am - register, setup, breakfast

10-11:30am - Intro, API presentations, customer panels

11:30 - Hacking begins

12-1 - lunch

1:30-4:30pm - Technical breakouts

6-7pm - dinner

7pm - "How to Pitch" breakout

coding, raffles throughout the night

12am Midnight snack

Monday, Nov. 2

7-9am Breakfast

11-12: customer/accountant feedback sessions

12-1pm lunch

3pm: Hacking ends

3-4:30pm: 1st round judging

4:30-6 - break / deliberations

6pm - finalists notified

6-7 hackathon reception

7-8:30pm - Finalist Pitch It competition

Tuesday November 3, 2015

QBConnect Conference, during main stage keynote: Winners announced

You must be a registered attendee of QuickBooks Connect 2015 to participate in the Hackathon.  When registering, select the optional "hackathon" activity.  

This is a live, in person hackathon.  You must be present to compete and win.

See the official rules for all the details. 

• Quality and Design
  maximum 10 points
• Impact
  maximum 10 points
• Innovation
  Maximum 5 points
• Simplicity
  maximum 5 points