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Sonic Sprint

Next-gen bluetooth audio device
Sonic Sprint
Sonic Sprint

FAQ

General


Did I win the contest? When will I receive my prize?

If you are a winner, we will contact you directly via email to arrange the shipment of your prize.

I submitted my project but it says "Awaiting moderation". Will it affect my eligibility?
As long as you submit your project before the deadline it doesn't matter when it is moderated. Just sit back and enjoy a well deserved break!
My project is locked and I can't edit it anymore. Why is that?
All projects entered in the contest are locked after the submission deadline to ensure that they remain the same during the judging process. They are then unlocked after winners are announced.
Proposal: Do I have to submit a project entry if I become a contender?
Yes, all contenders must submit a project entry by the contest deadline. Contenders who do not submit a project entry will become ineligible to participate in future challenges.
Proposal: How many contender slots are available?
3 slot are available.
Proposal: How many ideas can I submit?
Each participant is allowed to submit one idea.
Proposal: I was notified that I was selected to be a contender. When will I receive my shipment?
We will notify you via email when goods are shipped. If you haven't received an email yet, we haven't yet shipped it. Be aware that once you receive the initial notification, it may still be a few weeks until you receive the shipment notification.
Proposal: What happens if I become a contender and do not finish the challenge?

Once you are an official contender, you will be entering into a legally binding agreement with Hackster to deliver a solution based on your proposal. Contenders who receive free hardware and do not finish the challenge may be ineligible for future challenges and competitions unless the hardware is returned. If you receive free hardware and become unable to finish, please contact us at help@hackster.io and let us know as soon as possible. We may choose to arrange for the hardware to be shipped to another proposal.

Proposal: What kind of idea is more likely to be accepted?
We encourage you to write a comprehensive plan to demonstrate your ability to deliver the solution on time. For instance, your technical abilities & skills; your project portfolio; and any additional resources you might have to support your build. Include visuals, images, videos, or any other supportive media to enrich your proposal.
Somebody copied my entry! What can I do?
When judging entries, we take into account the submission date. When an entry is clearly plagiarized from another, we favor the original entry. If you believe the result of the judging is unfair, please email us at help@hackster.io to appeal.
What are the entry requirements?

To be eligible for judging, you must meet ALL of the following requirements unless otherwise stated:

General Requirements

  • You must be registered as a participant for this Contest.
  • Your entry must be your own original work.
  • Your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other Hackster Contest.
  • Your entry must be a new project and not an exact duplicate of an existing project.

Proposal Requirements

Note: If you choose to submit an application for free hardware, you must meet the following requirements.

  • Your Proposal must be submitted via the online application form found on the Contest page’s “submit a proposal” tab.
  • Your Proposal must be written in English.
  • Your Proposal must include functional use of Autodesk Fusion, integrating the Nordic nRF54L SoC and include a build quote from PCBway.
  • Your Proposal must solve a problem related to Bluetooth audio technology
  • Your hardware application must be submitted by Dec 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM PT.

Project Entry Build Requirements

  • Your project Entry must be created using the Nordic nRF54L SoC .
  • Your project Entry must be created using Autodesk Fusion.
  • Your project Entry must solve a problem related to Bluetooth audio technology.

Project Entry Documentation Requirements

  • Your project must include a project name, short project description, cover image, bill of materials (BOM), full instructions, images, and relevant resource files (schematics, code, CAD).
  • Your project must be written in English.
  • Your project must be submitted by Mar 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT.
What are the judging criteria?

Contest completion criteria

All Contenders who successfully complete the project requirements and submit their Entry on the Contest page by the stated submission deadline will be eligible to receive a payout, subject to the acceptance and approval process described herein.

Before any Base Payout is issued, Hackster and/or the Sponsor will review the submission for compliance with the Contest rules and confirm the Entry complies with the accepted Proposal. Failure to submit an acceptable Entry to meet the rules or to accept the payout terms may result in forfeiture of the prize.

Following the judging criteria outlined below, Hackster will select one Entry to receive the Bonus Payout, based on Hackster’s determination of the best submission. All decisions made by Hackster and/or the Sponsor regarding the Contest, including but not limited to eligibility, judging, and prize awards, are final and binding on all participants.

Your project will be judged according to the rubric below.

  • Project Documentation (30 points)
    Story/Instructions - Show how you created your project, including images, screenshots, and/or a video demonstration of your solution working as intended. Ask yourself: “If I were a beginner reading this project, would I understand how to recreate it?”
  • Complete BOM (10 points)
    Detail the hardware, software and/or tools used.
  • Schematics (10 points)
    Draw your circuit diagrams using software like Fritzing.org and/or take detailed photographs.
  • Code & Contribution (20 points)
    Include working code with helpful comments.
  • Creativity (30 points)
    Your idea doesn’t have to be original, but it should be creative (a fresh take on an old idea is often worth as much as a brand new idea)
What are the prizes?
Base Award
  • Payout amount (3 are available)
Bonus Award
  • For the sponsor's choice of best solution
What are the steps to enter the contest?

Step 1: Submit a Proposal

  • Start by creating a free account on Hackster.io (or sign-in if already a member).
  • Become a verified member by completing the verification form at https://www.hackster.io/verify.
  • Go to the proposal page by clicking “Submit a proposal” and complete the proposal form.

Step 2: Build and Document Your Project

  • If you are chosen as a Contender, build your project according to the submission requirements.
  • Document your project build using Hackster’s project template. To create a new project, click “create new project” on the Contest page or the “+” symbol in the top right corner of your Hackster page.

Step 3: Review and submit your project

  • Review your project and make sure it meets all the submission requirements.
  • Upload a previously created project by clicking “add existing project” on the Contest page.
  • Submit your project by Mar 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT by clicking “review and submit project” on the Contest page.
What does Beta mean?

Challenges are a new type of contest. We are in the beta stage for this new feature.

What is the contest timeline?

Contest begins:

December 11, 2024 at 3:00 PM PT

Applications for proposals close:

December 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM PT

Announce proposal winners:

January 17, 2025

Submissions close:

March 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT

Winners announced:

April 11, 2025

When will solutions be announced? Where can I see the list?

Contenders will be announced by January 17, 2025. The list of contenders will be visible on the Submit a proposal tab.

Contest winners will be announced on April 11, 2025. The list of winners will be visible on the main page (Contest brief).

Who is eligible to participate?

These are the Specific Contest Rules (“Specific Rules”) that govern participation in the Sonic Sprint: BLE Audio Design Challenge (“Contest”) organized by Hackster.io, an Avnet community (“Hackster”), and sponsored by Nordic Semiconductor (hereinafter referred to as the “Sponsor”) in relation to any individual (hereinafter referred to as an “Entrant”) who enters, attempts to enter or in any way participates or attempts to participate in this Contest.

In these Specific Rules, “we,” “our”, and “us” refer to Hackster and/or the Contest Sponsor. “You” and “yourself” refer to an Entrant. The full rules for this Contest also include the Official General Contest Rules (“General Rules”) posted at https://www.hackster.io/contest-rules and all eligibility, requirements, and judging criteria recorded in the “rules” tab of this Contest page. In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between the General Rules and these Specific Rules, the Specific Rules shall control.

Contest Description:

This is a skill-based Contest brought to you by Hackster and sponsored by Nordic Semiconductor. The object of this Contest is to create technical resources using Autodesk Fusion, the Nordic nRF54L SoC and PCBWay resources. For the purposes of this Contest, each idea you submit will be called a “Proposal ” and each completed project solution you submit in the Contest will be called an “Entry”. Entrants submitting the highest quality Proposals as determined by Hackster will be awarded a project contract (“Contender”). All Entries submitted by Contenders on or before Apr 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM PT will be judged using the judging criteria below to determine the best Entry.

There will be up to three (3) Contenders awarded in this Contest. The base prize payout for this Contest will be USD $1,500 (“Based Payout”) and the bonus prize payout will be USD $1,000 (“Bonus Payout”). The Bonus Payout will be awarded to the Contender with the Best Entry as described below.

Eligibility:

You are eligible to enter if you meet the following requirements at the time of entry:

  • You are at least 18 years of age, or the minimum age of majority in your place of residence at the time of entry.
  • You are a citizen of and reside in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States or Vietnam.
  • You have a verified Hackster user account.
  • You are not involved in the execution or administration of this Contest.
  • You are not a Hackster, Avnet or Nordic Semiconductor employee or an immediate family member or household member of a Hackster employee or otherwise engaged in the execution or administration of this Contest.
Will I be able to compete in this challenge if my proposal is not selected?

Only official contenders are able to submit solutions to this challenge. Please take your time and submit a thorough proposal in order to be considered.

Couldn't find an answer to your question? Email us.