General Questions
How do I follow the challenge and get updates?
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my solution?
What integrations can I include in my solution?
Why do I have to upload a video?
What should I put in my video?
Testing Process
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my application?
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the applications have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Can more than one person work on a submission and receive credit for it? And if the project wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Can my submission win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one submission?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What else will you do with my submission?
General Questions
How do I follow the challenge and get updates?
When you register for the challenge, you’ll automatically be signed up to receive email updates about it. You should also join your local Developer Circle and our competition Facebook Group!
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Email support@devpost.com, post a question to the discussion board, or ask in the competition Facebook Group.
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my solution?
To be eligible for prizes, participants must build functioning applications that helps fellow software developers, and integrates at least one Facebook platform products in one of the three categories: Improve your craft, Get it done, and Community.
*Facebook platform products for closed source submissions: Login, Account Kit, Analytics, Messenger
*Facebook tools for open source submissions: React, React Native, React VR, Caffe2, Fresco, Litho, ComponentKit Yoga (specifically YogaKit which can be used in iOS apps), GraphQL, Relay
What APIs or datasets can I include in my solution?
You may use whatever APIs, SDKs, and datasets you choose, as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them. Remember, you MUST meet the requirements above in order to be eligible for a prize.
Why do I have to upload a video?
The video will be helpful to the panel of judges and will give you the opportunity to explain your approach to building your applications. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that demonstrates the solution’s features.
What should I put in my video?
Aside from your actual solution, your submission video is one of the most important parts of your entry. In fact, it’s often one of the first, and sometimes only, things that judges view. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:
- Tell your story step-by-step. Your video should include an explanation of the problem addressed and a demo of the submission itself. Be sure to explain how the Facebook products used enhances the experience of your solution! While audio isn’t required, narration or text bubbles can help judges understand your submission.
- Keep it simple. Per the official rules, your video shouldn’t be longer than two minutes. In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
- Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your video. Keep in mind that the time it takes to upload/process a video on YouTube or Vimeo varies greatly depending on the format of your original video, the file size, upload traffic and Internet connection speed, and could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours or more.
Testing Process
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my application?
Providing access to your solution will depend on what type of submission you build. Include a link to your deployed and functioning web app or bot for Messenger on your submission form. iOS test builds can be shared with testing@devpost.com and APK files can be attached to the submission form. If your bot for Messenger is publicly available, share the URL to the page where it can be accessed on your submission form. If your bot for Messenger is not yet publicly available, please add Facebook ID: stef.devpost.1 as a tester role and include a link to the Facebook page where the bot is deployed on your submission form. If you have questions on how to provide access that are specific to your submission, please email support@devpost.com. Do not wait until the last minute!
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The challenge is open to individuals, teams of individuals, organizations and large organizations. Participants can enter if they have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry and are from an eligible location.
Please review the Official Rules for complete eligibility requirements.
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Organizations with 50 or fewer employees may enter and compete for cash prizes. Organizations with more than 50 employees may enter, but are only eligible for the non-cash recognition prize for ad credits.
Do applications have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be pre-existing?
Existing solutions are eligible for this competition as long as they were updated during the submission period to use more required Facebook platform products or deepen their existing integration. Submitters will be required to explain how it was updated and they will only be eligible for the Best Updated Pre-Existing App prize in the appropriate category.
Can more than one person work on a submission and receive credit for it? And if the submission wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Yes, teams are encouraged. If a team of individuals or an organization is selected as an award winner, the full prize amount will be sent to the submitter. It will be up to the winning team or organization to reallocate the prize money between the team members, as they deem it appropriate.
Can my submission win more than one prize?
Submissions are only eligible for one prize per team and will be awarded the highest prize that they qualify for or if the prizes are equal the sponsor decides.
Can I enter more than one submission?
There is no limit to how many times an eligible person, team, or organization may enter. An individual may also participate on behalf of more than one team, corporation, or nonprofit organization. However, if you submit two or more solutions that are identical or substantially similar, Developer Circles from Facebook and Devpost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition. Only one submission by a team will be eligible to receive prizes, but the submitter will be awarded the highest prize they qualify for.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
By submitting to the challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to Developer Circles or Devpost. Developer Circles and Devpost will have the right to feature all submissions entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What will you do with my submission?
Developer Circles and Devpost will have the right to publicly display your submission on the challenge website. They will also be allowed to publicize your name on the challenge website in connection with the submission and the challenge during the competition and for 36 months after its conclusion. For more information on publicity rights, please see the Official Rules.