FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is UP Singapore?
“Urban Prototyping” is a movement where people from the public, private and people sectors come together to tackle the wide range of social and environmental challenges facing our cities. Urban Prototyping (UP) is a platform managed by Padang & Co, the Open Innovation Company, for crowdsourcing ground-breaking innovations – creating technology and data-enabled enterprises by giving participants access to new technologies and data. At the heart of this platform is a UP Singapore community of 9,000 innovators and change-makers.
Do I need to be able to code to participate?
Not necessary. We welcome people with different skill-sets and would expect everyone to contribute to their respective teams. We ask you to indicate what type of participant you are at registration, so we know the mix.
It’s my first UP Singapore event. What exactly will happen during the Innovation Challenge weekend?
Our hackathons and challenges are intended to be a fun work event, where people volunteer their time and skills to work on their ideas in teams.
The Hackathon will begin on Friday evening, with a recap of the challenge statements. We will also have an Idea Pitching and Team Formation session, where you can share your idea with the group and find more members for your team. On Saturday, a range of expert mentors will be at hand to help you develop your idea and prototype. Most of the Saturday and Sunday consist of work time for the teams, so please bring your laptop and any other equipment or materials that you need to work on your idea / prototype. Food and drinks are provided throughout the weekend.
The weekend culminates in pitch presentations on Sunday afternoon the announcement of the winners, and the prize ceremony.
Please also see the UP code of conduct. Check out the UP Singapore blog post “How to Hack a Hackathon” for tips and tricks to make the most of your hackathon experience here!
Is attendance at the Content Workshop mandatory? What is in the workshop?
Attendance is not mandatory but is highly encouraged. The Content Workshop will be a useful primer to the Hackathon. We will introduce the challenge statements of the Hackathon and invite expert speakers to give them context.
How many people are allowed in a team? Must I form a team beforehand?
All teams should have 3 to 5 people. You don’t have to form your team before the Hackathon. You will have an opportunity to form your team at the kick-off on Friday evening.
Are the participants free to use any technologies?
Yes, you are free to use any technologies. Reminder: Please bring your own laptop.
What is the closing date for registration for the hackathon?
We accept registrations up to the start of the Hackathon on Friday, 7 September. However, as space is limited, we encourage you to register as soon as possible.
Do the participants need to be present throughout the weekend? Must participants stay overnight?
There is no restriction on your movement. Just make sure that all the team members work out your respective roles and responsibilities. The workspace will stay open till late (approximately 9:00pm) on Friday and Saturday. But you are not required to work overnight. We’d like everyone to have a good night’s sleep and come in fresh on Sunday!
Is there any age limit for participants?
There is no age limit. We welcome anyone of any age, so long as they have something to contribute. However, if you are below 18 years old, please let us know ahead of time, so we can prepare a parental / guardian consent form for you.