Back to all updates

over 6 years ago

Four Weeks to Go: How to make your submission video great

There are just four weeks remaining in the PyTorch Virtual Summer Hack. Submissions are due September 16, 2019 before 2pm PST.

Check off your to-do list

Your to-do list (in the upper right corner of the hackathon page) is a great way to get the most out of the hackathon.  Use this list to stay on track with basic tasks and milestones of your project.

Start your submission now

Starting a submission is a good way to make sure that your app meets the requirements. There’s nothing worse than getting to the deadline, only to realize that you’re missing a key component. Remember: once you submit a project, you can keep editing it as needed at any time prior to the submission deadline. Need a primer on how the submission form works? Head over to our submission form tutorial. 

Prepare your video

We know as devs you’re expertise lies in building the software - so keep building! - however, the submission video needs time too! It's often the first (and sometimes only!) thing that judges review.

Your video tells the story behind your submission, providing a showcase of your software and talent in a video: 

  • Establish your elevator pitch. In the first few seconds of your video, explain how your application uses PyTorch
  • Within 60 seconds, viewers tend to lose interest, so use this time wisely to keep them engaged!
  • Show, don't tell. Providing real life context and showing users firsthand how your app is impactful will help judges and voters understand and appreciate your product design.
  • Keep it simple. The suggested video length for this challenge is 1-3 minutes
  • Don't wait until the last minute to upload your video. Due to file size, format, and your Internet connection, uploading a video to YouTube, Vimeo, or Youku could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
  • Get organized. Write out a script of what you’ll say and demonstrate in your video and rehearse it before recording.  Essentially a good script should talk about:
    • The problem that your potential users face
    • Existing solutions to the problem
    • The solution that your application provides
    • How the application provides it

Questions?

If you have any questions about the hackathon, please post on the discussion forum.