Category 1: Reality TV Storyteller
This is the heart of the movement. Forget "marketing plans" and corporate spreadsheets. This category is for the passionate storyteller.
Are you the person who always has their phone out, capturing the moment? Do you know how to create content that makes people feel something? Can you spot the drama in any situation? If so, you are exactly who we're looking for. You don't need to know how to code; you just need to know how to tell a great story.
Your mission is to find a technical team, or multiple teams, and become their documentarian. If you cannot find a team in your own university or city, then reach out to your friend network and hand-pick your very own. Even an 'average' coding team can get you the winning spot if they make for a 'cannot turn away' reality TV drama-packed broadcast.
We’ve designed this challenge to thrive on local partnerships. We want you to embed with your team, allowing you to be there for the 3am coding marathons, the creative clashes, the moment of pure despair, and the 'eureka' breakthrough that changes everything.
The US$1,000,000 profit-share prize will be awarded based on your real-world impact. We will measure your success by the size of the community you build and the number of people you mobilize to support the cause. In the finale, you have the hard task of compiling the best moments into a 5-minute "Challenge Highlights" reel, shown to a live audience and streemed around the world. If your story is the one that they liked the most, then the profit-share prize is awarded to you. This isn't just about degrees, camera skills, or expensive equipment, it's about your ability to tell a captivating story. And don't forget, your storytelling team must be 3 or more people.
Judging Criteria (100 Points)
Audience Vote
Team to present a 5 minute “Challenge Highlights” of their official team or teams, where the audience votes on the most compelling one.
30 Points
Kickstarter Campaign Mobilization
24 hours prior to each of the three Kickstarter campaigns, teams will receive a unique tracking link. A team's score will be based on the total number of unique users they drive to all three campaigns via their links. Clicks within the first 48 hours of a campaign's launch will be counted as double. The final tally is confirmed by the judges after the last campaign concludes.
30 Points
Narrative & Storytelling
How effectively did the team capture the core theme of "collaboration"? Does the content tell a powerful human story, highlighting the drama of strategic decisions (team formation, partnerships, the "Merger Twist"), the pressure-cooker environment, and the personal journeys of the participants?
20 Points
Team Partnership & Access
How well did the marketing team integrate with their chosen development teams? This will be judged based on the depth of access they achieved and the strength of the collaborative relationship they built, as evidenced by the intimacy and authenticity of their storytelling.
