Rigorously scores and evaluates hackathon ideas across 6 dimensions (Novelty, Feasibility, Scalability, Impact, Demo-ability, Domain Fit) with anti-inflation rules. This skill should be used when comparing multiple hackathon ideas, validating a chosen approach, or stress-testing a pitch before submission.
Score hackathon ideas honestly across 6 dimensions with built-in anti-inflation rules to prevent overconfident scoring.
Core principle: Honest evaluation saves you from building the wrong idea. Inflated scores lose hackathons.
Score each dimension 1-10:
| Dimension | 1-3 (Weak) | 4-6 (Average) | 7-10 (Strong) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novelty | Clone of existing solution | Incremental improvement | Genuinely new approach + tech |
| Feasibility |
| Can't build in time |
| Possible with compromises |
| Clearly achievable MVP |
| Scalability | Works for demo only | Works for thousands | Architecture handles millions |
| Impact | Nice-to-have | Solves real problem | Transforms lives/industry |
| Demo-ability | Hard to show live | Requires explanation | WOW factor in 3 minutes |
| Domain Fit | Tangential to domain | Related to domain | Core domain problem |
Target: ≥ 48/60 on corrected (honest) scoring.
These rules prevent the most common scoring biases:
When a user asks to evaluate a hackathon idea:
Output format:
## [Idea Name] — Evaluation
| Dimension | Score | Justification |
|-----------|-------|---------------|
| Novelty | X/10 | [Evidence-based reasoning] |
| Feasibility | X/10 | [Time, data, hardware assessment] |
| Scalability | X/10 | [Architecture analysis] |
| Impact | X/10 | [Market size × adoption probability] |
| Demo-ability | X/10 | [What can be shown live vs slides] |
| Domain Fit | X/10 | [How core is this to the domain?] |
| **TOTAL** | **XX/60** | |
### Verdict
[Build / Pivot / Abandon] — [One sentence reason]
### Biggest Risk
[The single dimension that could kill this idea]
### How to Improve Score
[Specific actions to gain +3-5 points]
| Rank | Idea | Score | Strength | Weakness |
|------|------|-------|----------|----------|
| 1 | [Name] | XX/60 | [Best dimension] | [Worst dimension] |
When two ideas score 45-50 individually, check if combining them creates a 55+ idea:
Example: AddressIQ (address scoring, 53/60) + PackBuddy (package clustering, 49/60) = SmartRoute (~56/60) — verified addresses feed the clustering engine, creating something neither achieves alone.