No, although it is encouraged! You can pitch an idea you've been thinking about for years or one you think of during the event. Please note that each pitch will be limited to 60 seconds. 

Yes! We are able to make the Healthcare Hackathon free for everyone. However, because we can only host a limited number of participants, you must still register and receive confirmation of your acceptance. 

Participants are expected to make their own lodging and transportation arrangements. Unfortunately, we do not offer financial aid for transportation to the event or lodging at the event. 

The Friday night kick-off is highly valuable and will go over everything you need to know about a Hackathon, team formation will take place, and we will end with networking. All participants are expected to attend for the duration of the event — this is when all the action happens! 

The schedule will be attached in your confirmation email. 

Laptop, power cord (if needed), cell phone, charger, notebook, pen/pencil, business cards or resumes, water bottle, and LOTS OF CREATIVE ENERGY! 

The Friday night kick-off is highly valuable and will go over everything you need to know about a Hackathon, team formation will take place, and we will end with networking. All participants are expected to attend for the duration of the event — this is when all the action happens! 

For those teams wishing to build physical prototypes, we will have a selection of prototyping supplies including LEGOs, Arduinos, foam, and craft supplies. If the supplies we provide do not meet your team’s needs, you are more than welcome to ask us to obtain what you need from nearby stores. 

There is a wealth of intellectual prowess at the hackathon, and we encourage participants to seek advice and guidance from the mentors, speakers, and organizers who will be available throughout the weekend as you develop your solution and final presentation pitch. The mentors, speakers, and organizers have diverse backgrounds ranging from healthcare, business, entrepreneurship, engineering, software and app development, marketing and design, and regulation etc. Additionally, the Yale-New Haven Hospital is nearby, and participants are encouraged to go outside the hackathon venue to validate their project assumptions by talking to key stakeholders and potential end users. 

For the final presentations on Sunday afternoon, each team will have a maximum of 3 minutes to pitch (recommended 1 min problem statement and background / customer validation, 1 min prototype or solution demonstration, 1 min business case), followed by up to 2 minutes of Q&A from the judges. After the last team has pitched, judges will deliberate, and winners will be announced at the end of the event. Award categories and prizes will be shared with you via confirmation email. 

We encourage teams to continue working even after the hackathon. Programs and resources to help you continue your project will be available, but ultimately the decision to utilize them is completely up to you and your team. 

Great! Please email michelle.nantel@yale.edu with the subject line "Mentor" and we'll get you the appropriate information!  

Terrific! Please email michelle.nantel@yale.edu with the subject line "Volunteering for future hackathons" and we’ll get you connected!