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 are the basic requirements for my app?
What APIs or datasets can I include in my app?
Why do I have to upload a video?
What should I put in my video?
Testing Process
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my solution?
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Can my solution win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one solution?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What else will you do with my submission?
Public Voting
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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 @Devpost.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the challenge?
Email Support@Devpost.com or post a question to the Discussion Board.
What are the basic requirements for my app?
To be eligible for prizes, you should build or update a working software application that lets Detroit residents reliably access their life activities by helping them travel efficiently and / or safely to school, work, healthcare, or play.
You should then submit your app by 5pm ET on February 7, 2017.
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. Remember, you MUST meet the requirements above in order to be eligible for a prize.
Why do I have to upload a video?
The Popular Choice awards are determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that all users can view and experience your solution. 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 solution’s value and user interface.
What should I put in my video?
Aside from your actual solution, 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 solution’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 solution.
- Keep it simple. Per the official rules, 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, Vimeo, or Youku 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.
How can I provide Devpost with access to test my app?
You must provide a way for us to test your solution at no cost.
Solutions which include hardware and wearable technology:
If the submission runs on or includes proprietary hardware or hardware (including wearable technology) that is not widely available to the public, the Sponsor and/or Administrator reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to require the submitter to provide access to the physical hardware solution, or device required to test the solution, upon request.
Traditional Applications: For software solutions running on widely available devices or hardware, please allow us to test using one of the following methods.
Android solution: Upload an .apk file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
iOS Applications: If your app is available on the app store, please provide a link in the “Website URL” 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 a test build using one of the following methods:
Send us your beta file via Diawi. After uploading your file, Diawi creates a unique short URL to access the installation page (for ex: aBcDeF). When opened in Safari on the iOS device, the page will display a link to install the application. Note that you will need to include provisioning for one or more of the UDIDs below.
Send us a beta test via Crashalytics. Use our testing email (testing@Devpost.com) and UDID’s to provision a build and send us a link via the “Share Links” button. Make sure to also add the testing link to your submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Beta by Crashalytics is free! Here’s a quick how-to for their Beta Distribution tool.
Pro tip: Make sure you add the UDIDs to your build to speed up the process there’s no review, but all builds still need to be received in full before the submission deadline.
Our UDIDs are:
- iPhone 5 (iOS 8.3) 4c4270daadcf6f2dcd38ef407c38c01c3fa849b8
- iPhone 5 (iOS 8.3) c94acc0069278cee4b38e4d27ae3f838bf50aa79
- iPhone 6 (iOS 8.3) ac3c04f10b03e033bc31a0d14146d5740bc7db54
- iPhone 7 (iOS 10.0) 7b4ece206ed717b23f77629d7a6696aeebb6990c6
Enter our email address to share a build with us for testing. Our TestFlight account email is:testing@Devpost.com. Please note that if you add us as an “External Tester” your app will need to go through Beta App Review before you can send the build. Builds must be received by the submission deadline to be eligible - so plan for extra time. Not sure how to use TestFlight via iTunes Connect? Check out the iTunes Connect Developer Guide and the TestFlight Video Tutorial.
Send a testing link to: testing@Devpost.com, and add the testing link to your submission form under “iOS Build Link”. Please note that HockeyApp allows you to send test builds quickly, but there is a fee to use this service.
Windows Phone solution: Upload an .xap file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your solution in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Web/Mobile Web: Provide a link for us to access your solution 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 on the submission form or provide a link for downloading your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Mac OS: 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.
Windows PC: Upload the appropriate installation files (.exe) in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your .exe 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 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 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.
Do the apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting?
Solutions may be newly created or pre-existing. If you are submitting an existing solution (developed prior to this competition), your solution must include new features/functionality added after the submission period began, which specifically focus on helping Detroit residents reliably access their life activities by helping them travel efficiently and / or safely to school, work, healthcare, or play.
If you are entering an existing solution, you will be required to explain the new features in the submission form.
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?
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 solution win more than one prize?
Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations can compete for one overall prize award, as well as the Popular Choice and Best Student App Awards.
However, software applications that have been submitted to a previous Ford-sponsored competition run on Devpost and have won a prize are not eligible for this competition. Please see the Official Rules for details.
Can I enter more than one solution?
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 solutions that are identical or substantially similar, the Sponsor and Devpost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
Yes. By submitting a solution to the challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Sponsor or Devpost. The Sponsor and Devpost will have the right to feature all solutions entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What else will you do with my submission?
The Sponsor and Devpost 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 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.