RULES Miami AI Hackathon: Build with Mel + ElevenLabs – Rules

General Rules

 

 

 

  1. Team Composition
    • Teams may consist of 1–5 people
    • Team members do not need to be from the same school, company, or organization
    • All team members must be registered on DevPost and at the hackathon

 

  1. Eligibility
    • All skill levels welcome, including those with no prior coding experience
    • Participants must be 18+ years old or have parental/guardian consent
    • Employees of Mel, ElevenLabs, SSOJet, and event organizers are not eligible for prizes (but may attend and mentor)

 

  1. Registration
    • Registration closes at event start time (12:30 PM, September 19, 2026)
    • Late registration may be available on a first-come, first-served basis subject to venue capacity

 

  1. Project Requirements
    • Your project must be an agentic AI solution—a system that makes autonomous decisions and takes actions toward a goal
    • You must build and test your project during the hackathon (between 12:30 PM and 8:30 PM on September 19)
    • Your solution must be a working demonstration (not a pitch deck or mock-up)
    • You must submit your project on DevPost before the deadline (8:30 PM)

 

  1. Tool Usage
    • You are strongly encouraged to use Mel and/or ElevenLabs in your project
    • Using these tools is not required for entry, but recommended for access to track-specific prizes
    • You may use other APIs, libraries, models, and open-source tools
    • Commercial APIs and services are allowed (you're responsible for any costs)

 

  1. Intellectual Property
    • You retain all rights to your project
    • By submitting, you grant organizers the right to showcase your project publicly (with credit)
    • Participants agree to license their submission under an open-source license (MIT, Apache 2.0, or similar recommended)

 

  1. Disqualification
    • Violations of the Code of Conduct will result in immediate disqualification
    • Projects that are predominantly pre-built or do not represent work completed during the hackathon will be disqualified
    • Plagiarism or violation of third-party intellectual property rights will result in disqualification and potential legal action

 

Judging

 

  1. Judging Criteria
    • Importance of the problem (20%) – Does it solve something real and relevant?
    • Agentic workflow and tool use (20%) – Quality of agent design and use of available tools
    • Quality of execution (15%) – Code cleanliness, stability, and reliability
    • Verification and responsible human oversight (15%) – Is the system transparent and safe? How does it handle errors?
    • Creativity and originality (10%) – Is it innovative?
    • Real-world usefulness (10%) – Would real people or businesses use this?
    • Quality of live demonstration (10%) – Clarity, confidence, and ability to show the agent working

 

  1. Judging Panel
    • Judges include representatives from Mel, ElevenLabs, SSOJet, and industry mentors
    • Judges' decisions are final

 

  1. Presentation
    • Each team will have 5–7 minutes to present their project and demo it live
    • Following presentations, judges will ask questions for 2–3 minutes
    • Be prepared for follow-up questions about your architecture, design decisions, and challenges

 

Prize Rules

 

  1. Prize Distribution
    • Prizes are awarded to the entire team, not individuals
    • In the event of a team award, prizes will be split equally among team members
    • Winners must claim prizes within 30 days or forfeit them
    • Prize values are subject to change and will be awarded as stated at the time of the hackathon

 

  1. Ineligible for Prizes
    • Employees of Mel, ElevenLabs, SSOJet, Agentic Day, and event organizers are not eligible for cash prizes or technology awards
    • Previous grand prize winners from Agentic Day events in 2026 are not eligible for the Overall Grand Prize (but may win track-specific prizes)

 

  1. Tax Responsibility
    • Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes on prize value
    • Organizers will provide tax documentation (Form 1099) for prizes over $600

 

Code of Conduct

 

All participants agree to follow the Hack Code of Conduct:

 

The Hack Code of Conduct

 

We are committed to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone at Miami AI Hackathon, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs.

 

We do not tolerate:

  • Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination of any kind
  • Offensive language, slurs, or derogatory comments
  • Unwelcome advances, physical contact, or sexual harassment
  • Recording or photography without consent
  • Theft, vandalism, or damage to property
  • Violation of venue policies or local laws
  • Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation

 

Expected Behavior:

  • Be respectful and inclusive
  • Communicate professionally and kindly
  • Give credit to others' ideas and work
  • Respect personal boundaries
  • Report violations to event staff immediately

 

Consequences:

  • First violation: Warning and possible dismissal from the hackathon
  • Repeated or severe violations: Immediate disqualification and removal from venue
  • Violations may be reported to law enforcement as appropriate

 

Reporting

If you experience or witness any violation of this code of conduct, please report it immediately to event staff or contact pr@helloagentic.ai.