Hack to the Future | InfluxDB 3 Hackathon

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To celebrate the GA launch of InfluxDB 3, we’re running a month-long hackathon, from May 5th to June 8th, where developers will have the chance to win a total of $8,000 in prizes and swag. Get ready to Hack your way to the Future with categories like best use of AI, most creative, or best third-party integration. Check out the details below and don’t miss out on your chance to win!

Submit Your Project

Register for the Hackathon

Resources & Support

Here’s a collection of resources to get started with InfluxDB 3 and where to get help from the InfluxDB community and team:

Key Details

  • Hackathon submissions will open at 9AM PT on May 5th and close at 11:59PM PT on June 8th
  • Enter as an individual or as a team with up to 3 members
  • Only open to United States participants

Categories & Prizes

  • 1st place - $3000
  • 2nd place - $2000
  • 3rd place - $1000
  • Best Use of AI: $250
  • Most Valuable Plugin (MVP): $250
  • Best IoT Application: $250
  • Best Third Party Integration: $250
  • Most Creative: $250

Every member on winning teams, runner-up teams, and honorable mentions will get InfluxDB swag!

Judging Criteria

Best Overall
Criteria Scoring Description
InfluxDB usage 1-10
  • How well did they solution utilize InfluxDB?
    • Is InfluxDB (or a time series DB) essential to the solution?
    • Can/does the solution e the performance and functional benefits of InfluxDB for the problem?
  • How effectively do they leverage time series data to solve real problems? (The more a project demonstrates understanding of temporal patterns, the higher it scores.)
Purpose 1-10
  • How clear is the objective of the project?
  • Is this a toy project or does this provide a solution to a real world use-case?
Design and originality 1-10
  • Is the project technically well designed?
  • Does it provide a straightforward solution to the problem addressed?
  • How original is the solution vs extending existing work (libraries vs frameworks)?
Completeness and soundness 1-10
  • Does the solution do what it claims to do?
  • Does it have clean code/best practices, is extensible?
Creativity 1-10
  • How creative is the solution to the problem it addresses?
  • Is the solution unique/novel in context of the problem it is solving?
  • Is the implementation of the solution unique/novel?
Documentation 1-10
  • Does the documentation effectively and efficiently explain the scope of the project?
  • Verifiability of project: Demo/video/reproducible setup that explains the project properly.
Use of AI
Criteria Scoring Description
Use of AI 1-10
  • How novel is the use of AI in the project?
  • How well does the integration of AI work? Is it required or an unnecessary addition?
MVP
Criteria Scoring Description
Plugin 1-10
  • Uses InfluxDB 3 Processing Engine
    • The influxDB3 processing engine is central/essential to the solution.
  • Is it easy to use/reproduce?
Third Party Integration
Criteria Scoring Description
Third-party integration 1-10
  • How unique/novel is the use of third-party integration in the project?
  • How good is the user experience for this third-party integration?
IoT
Criteria Scoring Description
IoT 1-10
  • How well did the solution execute the IOT integration?
  • Is the IoT integration necessary/central to the solution?
  • Does the IoT integration have any real-world use cases?
  • Does the solution provide an easy/straightforward path for the IoT integration?
Most Creative
Criteria Scoring Description
Creativity 1-10
  • Did the solution have a unique way of of visualizing time series data that goes beyond standard charts and graphs?
  • Does the project demonstrate at least one non-obvious insight derived from their time series data?
  • Does the project have features, functions, insights, or details that vary significantly from most other submissions received?

InfluxDB 3 Hackathon FAQ

General Information +
  1. When does the hackathon start and end?
    The hackathon starts on May 5, 2025, and submissions close on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT.
  2. Who can participate in the hackathon?
    The hackathon is open to individuals 21 years or older and legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories).
  3. Is this a team or individual event?
    Both! You can participate individually or as a team with up to 3 members maximum.
  4. Is there a registration fee?
    No, participation is completely free.
  5. What is the theme of the hackathon?
    The theme is "Hack to the Future," celebrating the General Availability launch of InfluxDB 3.
Technical Requirements +
  1. Do I need to use InfluxDB 3 for my project?
    Yes, projects must be built using InfluxDB 3 to be eligible.
  2. What version of InfluxDB should I use, Core or Enterprise?
    You can use either InfluxDB 3 Core or Enterprise. Both are acceptable for the hackathon.
  3. How do I get access to InfluxDB 3 Enterprise for the hackathon?
    Enterprise is free for at-home use with a license for a maximum of 2 CPUs and one node. You can also use the Enterprise 30-day free trial for additional nodes.
  4. Do I need prior experience with InfluxDB to participate?
    No, participants of all experience levels are welcome. Resources are available to help you get started.
  5. What technologies/languages can I use for my project?
    You can use any language and framework you wish! Hardware is encouraged as well, not just software. Get creative in the stack that makes sense for your project.
Submission Details +
  1. What do I need to submit for my hackathon entry?
    You need to submit your project via a GitHub repo or other valid URL link, plus a demo video (maximum 3 minutes) showcasing your project.
  2. What should my demo video include?
    Your video should explain the "Why & How" of your project, demonstrate functionality, and be in English with voice-over (face in video optional).
  3. Is there a maximum length for the demo video?
    Yes, the demo video must be 3 minutes or less.
  4. Do I need to publish my code as open source?
    While the contest rules require submitting your project via GitHub repo or other valid URL link, there's no explicit requirement that your code must be open source. However, judges will need access to review your code as part of the submission process.
  5. Can I submit multiple projects?
    No, entries are limited to one per team or individual. Individuals submitting more than one entry will be disqualified.
Judging & Prizes +
  1. What are the judging criteria?
    Projects are judged on criteria including InfluxDB usage, purpose, design and originality, completeness and soundness, creativity, and documentation. Specific categories have additional criteria.
  2. What prizes are available?
    Total prizes worth $8,500 include: Best Overall 1st place - $3,000, 2nd place - $2,000, 3rd place - $1,000, and category winners (Best Use of AI, MVP, Best IoT, Best Third Party Integration, Most Creative) - $250 each, plus swag for winners.
  3. How many winners will be selected?
    Eight winners total: three for Best Overall and five category winners.
  4. When and how will winners be announced?
    Winners will be announced via email and blog announcement on June 24, 2025 after the judging window closes (June 9-23, 2025).
Support & Resources +
  1. Where can I get help if I have questions during the hackathon?
    You can get help in the dedicated Slack channel #hackathon2025 in the InfluxData Community Slack.
  2. Are there any resources available to help me learn InfluxDB 3?
    Yes, resources include InfluxDB 3 Core and Enterprise documentation, on-demand training, and the Getting Started with InfluxDB 3 Processing Engine guide.
  3. How do I connect with other participants?
    You can connect with other participants in the dedicated Slack channel #hackathon2025 on the InfluxData Community Slack.
Legal & Eligibility +
  1. Are there any geographic restrictions for participation?
    Yes, the contest is limited to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
  2. Who owns the intellectual property rights to my submission?
    You own the IP for anything you submit. However, by entering the contest, you grant certain rights to InfluxData as outlined in the contest rules, including allowing them to potentially use your submission for promotional purposes.
  3. Can InfluxData employees participate?
    No, employees of InfluxData or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or partners, including their immediate family and household members, are not eligible to participate.
  4. Are there any age restrictions for participants?
    Yes, participants must be 21 years of age or older and at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry.
  5. What personal data will be collected during registration?
    Registration requires first name, last name, email, organization/company, and job title. The submission form also requires project link, demo video, team type, and project details.