FAQ / HACK THE FIRST AGI 1.0
Before you apply.
What is Hack the First AGI 1.0?
A frontier-AI evaluation, model-behavior and engineering hackathon.
Who can participate? Can students apply?
Students, researchers, engineers and evaluators can apply. There is no fixed prior evaluation-experience threshold: show careful thinking and evidence of execution. Teams may span colleges and organizations.
Can I participate solo?
No. Teams must contain 2–3 active members.
How does the 48-hour gate work?
Within 24 hours of applying, the leader receives a qualifier or progression decision. If advanced, your qualifier deadline is exactly 24 hours after the qualifier email is issued, unless organizers explicitly state otherwise. Submit a deck, 2–3 minute video, applicable technical artifact and declaration.
How many teams reach Goa?
15 teams. The Top 10 are announced September 18, 2026. Remaining finalist slots follow extended technical review.
When do applications close?
September 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
When and where is the final?
Goa, India, within the October 1–15, 2026 window. Approximately 3–4 days. Exact dates and venue are communicated privately after confirmation.
Are travel, accommodation and food funded?
Yes, subject to the published finalist funding policy. Eligible travel, organizer-approved accommodation, official-event meals and approved local transportation are covered.
Does each participant get a separate room?
No. Standard funding covers one room per team. Legitimate accessibility, medical, safety, gender/privacy or similar concerns may qualify for privately approved exceptions. Preference-only extra rooms are normally self-funded.
What if one teammate pays for everybody?
Nominate a Team Finance Representative to consolidate eligible costs and documentation. All members acknowledge the statement; approved reimbursement may be paid to the representative for internal distribution.
What are the prizes?
First: ₹5,00,000. Second: ₹3,00,000. Third: ₹2,00,000. These are team prizes. Ranks 4–15 receive six months of organizer-funded Codex access for eligible recipients, subject to the funding policy.
Is OpenAI a sponsor?
No. The Codex benefit is independently funded by the organizing team. Product names do not imply sponsorship or endorsement by their respective companies.
What if my submission is late?
It is recorded with the exact server timestamp and marked as late. It is not silently discarded. No further edits are guaranteed after submission.
Do I need to upload files or create an account?
No. Submit accessible document, video and repository URLs. Private links are emailed to the leader; no applicant password is required.