GlobeHack Season 1: The Go-To-Market (GTM) Sprint

The Vision: Kill the "Code-in-a-Vacuum" Model

Standard university hackathons are broken. Students spend 36 hours building code in a vacuum, with zero business viability, and the project dies the moment the clock hits zero.

GlobeHack S1 is Arizona’s first Go-To-Market (GTM) Hackathon. We are bridging the Great Divide between technical engineering and commercial execution. We pair ASU’s top 300 developers (from the Association for Computing Machinery) with the sharpest business strategists (from the Global Career Network) to build products that don't just "work"—they scale.

Why GlobeHack is Different
  • Engineering + Business: Every team is tasked with building a functional prototype and a comprehensive business model, including pricing, distribution channels, and AI-native growth strategies.
  • The "Zero-Cost Consultant" Model: Our partners aren't just judges; they are the architects of the event. They provide live technical bottlenecks they are facing right now, and our 30+ teams act as their outsourced R&D squad to solve them.
  • Direct Talent Pipeline: Partners bypass the traditional resume "black hole" and recruit the top 5% of ASU talent while watching them perform under extreme pressure.
Who Should Join?
  • Developers: Build something that matters. Integrate real enterprise APIs, practice your cloud architecture, and get your code in front of hiring managers.
  • Business Strategists: Learn to build the GTM strategy, pricing, and distribution model behind the tech.
  • Founders/Recruiters: Come for the innovation, stay for the talent. Get 30+ execution-ready solutions to your business problems in one weekend.

Join the movement. Build the future of Arizona Tech.

Requirements

  • The Repository: A link to your GitHub/GitLab repository. We expect clean, documented code and evidence of your tech stack (e.g., AWS architecture, API integrations, or AI logic).
  • The GTM Slide Deck (PDF): A 5-7 slide presentation covering:
    • The Problem: What industry bottleneck are you solving?
    • The Solution: A high-level overview of the technical architecture.
    • The Business Case: How does this product make money? (Pricing tiers, subscription models, or ROI for the client).
    • Go-To-Market Strategy: Who is the target user, and how would you acquire the first 1,000 customers?
  • The 2-Minute Demo Video: A recorded screen share showing the prototype in action. Focus on the "Aha!" moment—don't just show code; show the tool solving the problem.
  • The Problem Statement Match: Clearly state which Sponsor Track you are competing for and how your solution specifically addresses their prompt.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

15 non-cash prizes
Lofty
1 winner

1st Place — AI Productivity Residency ($25/hr, On-site in Phoenix)

Lofty
1 winner

2nd Place — $100 Gift Card

Trucker Path
1 winner

1st Place — AI-Native PM Internship ($25/hr, On-site in Phoenix)

Trucker Path
1 winner

2nd Place — $100 Gift Card

Vector
1 winner

1st Place — Founder Fellowship Program (Guaranteed Enrollment, 12-week Elite Program)

Vector
1 winner

2nd Place — $300 Gift Card

Vector
1 winner

GTM Side Sprint — Access to "Vector War Room"

Hydrawav3
1 winner

Grand Prize — Hydrawav3 Pro Device + Paid Summer Internship

Hydrawav3
1 winner

1st Place — $300

Hydrawav3
1 winner

2nd Place — $300

Hydrawav3
1 winner

Honorable Mention + People's Choice — $200 Gift Card

ElevenLabs
1 winner

Overall Winner — 3 Months Pro Plan per team member ($297 value each)

ElevenLabs
1 winner

Best ElevenLabs Project — 6 Months Scale Plan per team member ($1980 value each)

InsForge
1 winner

Winner — 1-on-1 YC Prep Office Hours

Tamagrow
1 winner

1st Place — $150 Cash + 1 Year Tamagrow Pro

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Henry Li
Lofty, Trucker Path

Joe Chen

Joe Chen
Lofty, Trucker Path

Nick Shaw
Vector

Abhi Guntaka
Vector

Mac Liu

Mac Liu
Vector

Aniruddha Banerjee

Aniruddha Banerjee
Ernst & Young (EY)

Aditya
Tamagrow

Tony Chang

Tony Chang
InsForge

Hari Meyyappan

Hari Meyyappan
QBotica

Ravali Badri
Microsoft

Abdul Wajid
HydraWav3

Annie Sturm
HydraWav3

Sivakumar Palaniswamy

Sivakumar Palaniswamy
Hydrawav3

Mihir Gupte

Judging Criteria

  • Lofty
    Why this approach and does it build trust? We evaluate the strength of the prototype, AI-native thinking, and how well AI tools are used in delivering the solution.
  • Trucker Path
    How well does the solution handle real dispatch needs? We assess technical execution, relevance to workflows, business viability, and clarity of the pitch.
  • Vector
    Is the product clearly defined and usable? We look at execution quality, depth of Vector integration, business potential, and how clearly the demo communicates value.
  • HydraWav3
    Would this work in a real setting? We review practical impact, technical feasibility, alignment with the ecosystem, and overall ease of use.
  • ElevenLabs
    How effectively is voice used in the solution? We assess how the ElevenLabs TTS API is integrated and applied within the project.
  • InsForge
    Does the system feel production-ready? We evaluate how InsForge is used for backend functionality, data handling, and authentication.
  • Tamagrow
    How much engagement does the project generate? Winners are based on total likes, comments, and reposts within the given time window.
  • Vector Side Track - "The Vector War Room"
    Does the project show clear traction and speed? We consider customer signal, pace of execution, clarity of idea, and use of Vector.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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