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 APIs or datasets can I include in my solution?
Why do I have to upload a video?
What should I put in my video?
Does my solution need to be publicly available or, if an app, submitted to an online store?
Testing Process
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my solution?
Eligibility
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the solutions have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting solutions?
Can more than one person work on a solution and receive credit for it? And if the solution wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Can my solution win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one solution?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What will you do with my submission?
Public Voting
How do I follow the challenge and get updates?
When you register for the challenge, you’ll automatically be signed up to receive updates regarding the challenge. Follow us on Twitter at @ChallengePost.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Email Support@ChallengePost.com or post a question to the discussion board.
What do I need to use to build my app?
The NoSQL Mobile App Challenge is open to native or web-based mobile apps including: Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, HTML5, Kindle or mobile web.
To be eligible for the challenge, you must sign up for a free ObjectRocket account instance using the NoSQL Mobile App Challenge ObjectRocket Sign-up Form. Your submitted mobile app must utilize no more than 5GB of ObjectRocket’s NoSQL data service. Free ObjectRocket accounts (up to 5GB in size/$95 per month value) will be available using the sign-up form for the first 200 sign-ups.
Although you are not required to use Rackspace for this competition, Rackspace is providing a variety of cloud data stores and services to help you build your NoSQL mobile app.
Check out the Resources page to find out how to access ObjectRocket and Rackspace’s Cloud Data Stores for the duration of the challenge!
What APIs or datasets can I include in my app?
You may use whatever APIs, SDKs, and datasets you choose, as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them. Please note, however, that you must utilize ObjectRocket’s NoSQL data service in order to be eligible.
Why do I have to upload a video?
Popular Choice awards are determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that all users can view and experience your app. The video will also be helpful to the panel of judges. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that captures the app’s value and user interface. Remember, your video must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, and must follow the terms of service for the video site to which it was uploaded.
What should I put in my video?
Aside from your actual app, 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 and voters view. Make a great first impression by following these tips on what to include in your video:
- Include a step-by-step demo.Demonstrate your app’s key features by showing them functioning on an appropriate device. While audio isn’t required, narration or text bubbles can help judges and voters understand your app.
- Keep it simple.Your video shouldn’t be longer than five 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.
Don’t know much about making videos? Check out these helpful screencasting tools.
Does my app need to be publicly available or, if an app, submitted to an online store?
Your app is not required to be publicly available or submitted to an online store.
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my app?
You must provide a way for us to test your app at no cost. Please allow us to test using one of the following methods:
Android app: Upload an .apk file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your app in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
iOS app: If your app is available on the app store please provide a link in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form. If you charge for your app, please also provide a promo code.
If your app is not yet publicly available, send it to us via TestFlight. Enter our email address and UDID to share a build with us for testing. Our TestFlight account email is: Testing@ChallengePost.com.
Our UDIDs are:
- iPad (iOS 6.0.1) 6a2cb1d4ba2d242db1db48c59c91744cebfc68a9
- Pod Touch 4th Gen (iOS 6.1.3) 13d9c9e50d705446c07fc5d2c3c3144c69ffc576
- iPhone 5 (iOS 7.0.3) 4c4270daadcf6f2dcd38ef407c38c01c3fa849b8
- iPhone 5 (iOS 8.1) c94acc0069278cee4b38e4d27ae3f838bf50aa79
Windows Phone app: Upload an .xap file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your app in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Web/Mobile Web: Provide a link for us to access your app on the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
BlackBerry: Upload the appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Kindle: Upload the appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The challenge is open to Individuals and teams of individuals who are legal residents of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) and who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. The challenge is also open to legally registered corporations or organizations in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) that employ fewer than 50 people at the time of entry. (See the next question for large organization eligibility.) 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 and compete only for the Large Organization Recognition Award, which has no cash prize.
Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting apps?
Your mobile app may be newly created or pre-existing. If you’re submitting an existing app (developed prior to this competition), it must have integrated ObjectRocket’s NoSQL data service for the first time after the submission period start date and include new features/functionality not available in previous versions. Makers submitting existing apps will be required to explain their app’s new features on the submission form.
Can more than one person work on an app and receive credit for it? And if the app 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 app win more than one prize?
Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations with 50 or fewer employees can compete for the Best Overall awards and the Popular Choice. Large organizations are only eligible for the Large Organization Recognition Award.
Can I enter more than one app?
Yes. 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 apps that are identical or substantially similar, the Sponsor and ChallengePost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition. Please note also that each participating individual, team, and organization is limited to one free account for use in the challenge.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
Yes. By submitting an app to the challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Sponsor or ChallengePost. The Sponsor and ChallengePost will have the right to feature all app entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What will you do with my submission?
The Sponsor and ChallengePost 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.
How does public voting work?
Visitors to the site can vote for as many submissions as they like, but no more than once for a single submission. At the end of the public voting period, the votes will be tallied and verified to determine the Popular Choice award winner. Have more questions about public voting? Check out our handy public voting help article.