HACKATHON Q&A

We’re so excited to be involved with the upcoming Prakat/FDX Hackathon!

Hackathons are always a great way to learn new ways to creatively solve problems, and the competitiveness that it brings out between the participating teams always pushes the boundaries and usually results in solutions that end up being used by many companies and organizations. With this particular event already upon us, we thought we’d share some questions and answers for the FDX API Innovation Hackathon 2022!

What is a Hackathon?

A Hackathon is a special event created for engineers to rapidly collaborate and compete in order to find a solution to an existing problem. Hackathons are generally held over a short period of time, with some lasting only 24 or 48 hours.

Who is hosting/judging this Hackathon?

The FDX API Innovation Hackathon is being hosted by representatives from FDX (Financial Data Exchange), Prakat, and TRC as part of Global Summit Fall 2022.  

What is the goal of the Hackathon?

The ultimate goal is to identify potential problems within current technology and to give individuals a platform to create and present a viable solution. This is also a great opportunity for companies to find talented engineers to potentially add to their team. 

Prakat/FDX HackathonWhat are some sample ideas/themes for the Hackathon?

  • FinTech chatbot
  • Accounting app platform
  • Tax calculation app (small business/personal)
  • Invoicing and payments management
  • Fintech cybersecurity
  • Fintech metrics platform
  • Calculating spending behavior
  • Cash flow management solutions
  • Subscription payments management solutions
  • Spending, savings, revenue predictions
  • More!

What is the timeline of the Hackathon?

  • November 1, 2022: Registration begins
  • November 10, 2022: Registration ends
  • November 14, 2022: Hackathon begins
  • January 10, 2023: Hackathon ends
  • January 11, 2023: Evaluation begins
  • January 26, 2023: Evaluation ends
  • January 27, 2023: Winners announced  

How do I register for the Hackathon?

  • Step 1: Registration will be via Google forms created by [email protected] and shared on a public link.
  • Step 2: Selected teams will then be given appropriate access to FDX APIs (access will be revoked after the Hackathon timeline ends).

Who can participate in the Hackathon?

Anyone can participate in this Hackathon. Our usual participants are students and/or individuals who are switching careers as well as those who are interested in coding and software engineering. 

Can I participate individually in the Hackathon?

Unfortunately, this is not an individual participation Hackathon. You must work on your hacks 

(solutions) and submissions as a team (team sizes of 3–10 people are allowed to participate).

What are the allowed resources and stack for the Hackathon?

The preferred languages for both Web and Mobile applications are as follows (certain exceptions can be considered at time of registration):

  • Web application:
    • Java, Python, .Net, Node
  • Mobile application:
    • Kotlin, Swift, Swift UI, Flutter

Do I have to meet somewhere or go someplace to participate in the Hackathon?

This is an online contest and you can participate from anywhere. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you’ll be able to participate.

What should I do if I have questions about the Hackathon?

If you have any questions or need more information about this Hackathon, don’t hesitate to reach out to FDX: [email protected]. 

What is Prakat’s favorite part about Hackathons?

We like seeing the solutions. It’s interesting to see each solution presented and how the engineer came up with it, plus, it’s exciting to see how the company might implement them.