Hacker Application
1. Rules:
a. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
b. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
c. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
2. Complete the Hacker Application Form! The earlybird deadline has passed and you are no longer guaranteed to receive a swag bag. However, you may still apply until the final deadline of October 31st at 23:59mt.
3. Join the DevPost (for project submission) and the Discord (for event communication and to make friends!).
And that's it, you've applied for natHACKS 2024!
Your application has been sent for approval and will be reviewed soon! Get ready for another massive weekend of hacking and keep an eye on the Discord for further instructions.
Problem Provider Application
1. Complete the Problem Provider Application Form!
Application Deadline: October 3rd, 2024 at 23:59 MT.
Judge Application
Mentor Application
Volunteer Application
Hacker Application
1. Rules:
a. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
b. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
c. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
2. Complete the Hacker Application Form! The earlybird deadline has passed and you are no longer guaranteed to receive a swag bag. However, you may still apply until the final deadline of October 31st at 23:59mt.
3. Join the DevPost (for project submission) and the Discord (for event communication and to make friends!).
And that's it, you've applied for natHACKS 2024!
Your application has been sent for approval and will be reviewed soon! Get ready for another massive weekend of hacking and keep an eye on the Discord for further instructions.
Problem Provider Application
1. Complete the Problem Provider Application Form!
Application Deadline: October 3rd, 2024 at 23:59 MT.
Judge Application
Mentor Application
Volunteer Application
Hacker Application
1. Rules:
a. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
b. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
c. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
2. Complete the Hacker Application Form! The earlybird deadline has passed and you are no longer guaranteed to receive a swag bag. However, you may still apply until the final deadline of October 31st at 23:59mt.
3. Join the DevPost (for project submission) and the Discord (for event communication and to make friends!).
And that's it, you've applied for natHACKS 2024!
Your application has been sent for approval and will be reviewed soon! Get ready for another massive weekend of hacking and keep an eye on the Discord for further instructions.
Problem Provider Application
1. Complete the Problem Provider Application Form!
Application Deadline: October 3rd, 2024 at 23:59 MT.
Judge Application
Mentor Application
Volunteer Application
Hacker Application
1. Rules:
a. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
b. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
c. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
2. Complete the Hacker Application Form! The earlybird deadline has passed and you are no longer guaranteed to receive a swag bag. However, you may still apply until the final deadline of October 31st at 23:59mt.
3. Join the DevPost (for project submission) and the Discord (for event communication and to make friends!).
And that's it, you've applied for natHACKS 2024!
Your application has been sent for approval and will be reviewed soon! Get ready for another massive weekend of hacking and keep an eye on the Discord for further instructions.
Problem Provider Application
1. Complete the Problem Provider Application Form!
Application Deadline: October 3rd, 2024 at 23:59 MT.
Judge Application
Mentor Application
Volunteer Application
Hacker Application
1. Rules:
a. At least 50% of team members must reside in Alberta to be eligible for project awards.
b. You consent to your likeness being captured in photos and videos during the event.
c. We are only able to ship hardware to the US and Canada (excluding Quebec).
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
2. Complete the Hacker Application Form! The earlybird deadline has passed and you are no longer guaranteed to receive a swag bag. However, you may still apply until the final deadline of October 31st at 23:59mt.
3. Join the DevPost (for project submission) and the Discord (for event communication and to make friends!).
And that's it, you've applied for natHACKS 2024!
Your application has been sent for approval and will be reviewed soon! Get ready for another massive weekend of hacking and keep an eye on the Discord for further instructions.
Problem Provider Application
1. Complete the Problem Provider Application Form!
Application Deadline: October 3rd, 2024 at 23:59 MT.
Judge Application
Mentor Application
Volunteer Application
Expand your skills, make friends, forge connections with sponsors, and partake in an unforgettable weekend!
Do you face a problem that you think might be solvable with a neurotech solution?
Submit your real-world challenge and guide your team in developing a tech-based solution!
If you are a tech- or business-savvy individual, with significant demonstrable experience, you can support project teams through a mentorship role.
Applications now open!
Do you have a keen eye for what makes an exceptional project?
Judge projects on their technical/business prowess
Applications now open!
What's better than attending an event that builds your skills, your network, and your friend group while having fun doing it?
For some people, the answer might be "making that event possible!"
Applications now open!
You will receive exclusive natHACKS swag!
We recommend applying early to secure your bag before they run out! Applications now open!
When searching for a job your network is your net worth!
73% of respondents in a LinkedIn survey claim they were hired through someone in their network.
We have Two physical hacking sites across the province in Edmonton and Lethbridge.
Not able to make it to one of our hacking sites? Join natHACKS remote at our virtual hackathon!
natHACKS boasts 20+ hours of workshops to prepare you for the weekend. They cover Python, BCI Hardware, Git, Machine Learning, and more!
Choose your battle, compete in smaller cohorts, and have better odds of securing prizes!
View last year's divisions below.
Win some serious dough to take your massive idea to the next level.
All winners are eligible for in-kind support from our various startup service providers!
BCI hardware is available for all hackers, so you can have a hands-on experience developing a neurotech program with your own brain data!
You can find all dynamic natHACKS info live on natPortal!
You'll receive your account sign-in credentials once your application is accepted
Where can you natHACK at?
natHACKS is hosted as a hybrid hackathon across Alberta! We have in-person hacking sites in Edmonton and Lethbridge. Participants are also able to join us virtually from anywhere across Alberta or around the world (as long as >50% of your team is from Alberta)!
Students Union Building (SUB)
Science Commons (SA-7230)
Anywhere!
Build Your Knowledge
Leading up to and during natHACKS, we have a number of workshops hosted by domain experts to equip you with all the skills you need to succeed and excel through the weekend!
Provide a Real World Problem for natHACKS Participants
Do you have an interesting challenge that is conducive to a neurotechnology or bio-sensing solution? A backburner idea you want to get off the ground but don't have bandwidth to develop?
Problem Providers will benefit from the opportunity to explore their ideas in a de-risked, zero cost environment. There's a chance you may even come across talent that would be an asset to your research group!
Choose Your Hack Track!
All hackers choose the track they want to compete in. All tracks compete for their own prizes in seperate pools
The five hacker tracks are divided into two categories:
1. Problem Provider Division
- Problem Providers define problems
- Hackers bid for the problem/solution they work on
- Teams are hackers who choose same problem/solution
2. Standard Division
- Starter problems are available for inspiration
- Hackers define the problem/solution they work on
- Teams are hackers who choose to work together
Are you interested in the Standard Division, but you don't have a team yet? Fret not! We have several networking and educational events leading up to natHACKS for you to meet potential team members.
Teams can be formed any time before 23:59 November 16th on natPortal.
Every team is required to have 5-6 members with >50% of members being Albertan.
Expert-Defined Project
Short on ideas? Get a kickstart and support from an industry professional!
Team-Defined Project
Projects related to novel methodologies in collecting, analyzing, or visualizing brain data
Team-Defined Project
Projects related to assessing, diagnosing, and/or treating neuro disorders
Team-Defined Project
Projects related to entertainment and leisure
Team-Defined Project
Restricted, <2 years of CMPUT experience
Cha Ching
natHACKS prizes are in the form of seed funding for continuing the development of your project. The prizes are all 50% monetary and 50% in-kind (legal services, cloud compute resources, business mentorship) services, so first place in the Standard Division is awarded $2000 monetary seed funding and $2000 in-kind services from our sponsors = $4000 total prizes.
$4000 1st Place
$2000 2nd Place
$1000 3rd Place
$4000 1st Place
$2000 2nd Place
$4000 1st Place
$2000 2nd Place
$4000 1st Place
$2000 2nd Place
$2000 Best Overall
How Are You Scored?
Judges complete a scoresheet for every project similar to the example below:
/10: Technical Complexity
/10: Functionality
/10: Creativity & Innovation
/5: Commercial Viability
/5: Delivery
/5: Demonstration
/5: Impact
/5: Written Summary
You will then receive a score /55 that represents your project.
During the Qualifiers round there's multiple rooms, each with their own panel of judges.
To account for differing judging styles and to promote fairness between the rooms, your score to continue to Finals will be computed as a "Room Percentage". Using this scoring system, your final score is:
Room Percentage = (Your Project's Points) / (Total Points Awarded to Room)
Beep Boop
Brain-Computer Interfacing hardware is usually pretty dang hard to get your hands on. That is, if you aren't at natHACKS! We offer several BCI devices for use through the hackathon, including but not limited to:
Information about hardware available can be found in section 8 of the rules document.
natHACKS Central!
You can find all dynamic natHACKS info live on natPortal!
You'll receive your account signin credentials once your application is accepted
We Thought About Dropping The Rules.. But Our Lawyers Didn't Like That
We don't like reading a ton of rules (and odds are you also don't!), Here's the key points to know:
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the full rules document prior to the event.
Look, Mom! We're on TV!
Meet the team getting all the natHACKS '23 ducks in a row.
Co-President
Co-President
Executive Director
Chief Marketing Officer
Director of Logistics
Director of Events
Director of Comm.
Director of HR
Director of Education
Director of Judging
Director of Hardware
Director of Innovation
Director of Marketing
Director of Staff
Judge & Mentor Coord.
Logistics Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Media Outreach Coord.
Wellness & VIP Support Coord.
Judging Coordinator
natPortal Associate
Problem Provider Coord.
Lethbridge Operations Coord.
Education Associate
Design Associate
Hardware & AV Associate
Social Media Associate
Events Associate
Communications Associate
Wellness Associate
natPortal Associate
natPortal Associate
These folks are key to the success of natHACKS! Take some time to learn more about these sponsors and what they do.
Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN) was established by the Alberta neuroscience community in 2012 with support from the Government of Alberta to accelerate understanding of the brain, improve brain health through collaboration, develop the province as a centre of neuroscience excellence, and improve quality of life in Alberta and beyond. Our network helps accelerate new research advances, both of pure discovery and those with the potential for translation into new products and protocols. Together, our organization and partners push towards creating new ways for students, researchers, and industry to work, learn, and innovate collaboratively to help make Alberta the epicentre for brain scientists.
The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) is a solution accelerator focused on driving innovation in the aging and brain health sector. CABHI is a unique collaboration of healthcare, science, industry, not-for-profit and government partners whose aim is to improve quality of life for the world’s aging population, allowing older adults of all backgrounds and abilities to age safely in the setting of their choice while maintaining their cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being.
We're a team of 7,000+ energy problem solvers working to move, generate and store the energy North America relies on. Today, we're taking action to make that energy more sustainable and more secure.
The Edmonton Regional Innovation Network (ERIN) is a coalition of organisations in the Edmonton region that support innovation startups and enterprises. ERIN support service provider programs aimed at assisting innovation companies improve market readiness with the goal of increasing profitability and longevity. ERIN, which is funded by Alberta Innovates' Regional Innovation Network, exists to help entrepreneurs start and grow innovative businesses.
Learn more about the NRC's mandate and history, explore our programs, browse current career opportunities at the NRC, find out about related initiatives and policies, and get the information you need to reach us.
One of Canada's three centres of AI excellence as part of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Amii (the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is an Alberta-based non-profit institute that supports world-leading research in artificial intelligence and machine learning and translates scientific advancement into industry adoption. Amii grows AI capabilities through advancing leading-edge research, delivering exceptional educational offerings and providing business advice - all with the goal of building in-house AI capabilities.
We provide information, support and education and advocate for people living with dementia. Through our seven regional offices, we offer Help for Today through our programs and services, and Hope for Tomorrow by funding research to find the cause and the cure.
The Imagination Centre at the Glenrose Hospital is home to clinical and research programs that focus on neuroadaptive technologies, including theBrain-Computer Interface (BCI) Program, bringing together families, clinicians, researchers, and engineers to connect neuroadaptive technologies with individuals across the lifespan living with severe neurological disability. Visit us at www.imagination-centre.ca.
OpenBCI creates open-source hardware and software for biosensing. OpenBCI's mission is to lower the barrier to entry for brain-computer interfacing, while ensuring that these technologies are adopted into the consumer landscape in an ethical way that protects user agency and mental health.
At Parlee McLaws LLP, we have been building strong relationships with our clients for well over a century.
The River City Venture Clinic is a student-run legal clinic that provides free legal support to start-ups and change-makers in the greater Edmonton Area.
GURU is the world’s first natural energy drink; delivering good taste and GOOD ENERGY to recharge your mind and body. Filled with carefully-sourced ingredients.
ISAIC (Industry Sandbox & AI Computing) is a service provider, offering computational resources to Western Canadian startups, SMEs, and instructors with AI projects.
The Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta (FAVA) has been supporting Alberta's independent filmmakers since 1982.
Agility fosters campus innovation through our collaborative makerspace, entrepreneurial programming, and connection to the local innovation ecosystem.
Precision Health (PH) is an emerging approach to health and wellness that expands on efforts to understand, diagnose and treat disease through advances in technology.
The Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an interdisciplinary, embedded undergraduate student certificate offered by eHUB at the University of Alberta. Visit UAB.CA/CIE.
Interested in helping further our goals of demystifying neurotechnology and fostering future innovators? Your partnership makes this whole event possible and helps us push the bleeding edge of neurotech. Contact us to learn more!