How you're judged
100 points, four categories.
Each category is scored somewhere within its band, based on judgment — not a strict checklist. Working Demonstration and Innovation carry the most weight — a real, functioning demo and a genuinely original idea matter more here than a polished slide deck. Download a printable copy ↗
1. Working Demonstration
Max 30 pts
Does the prototype or product function during the demonstration? Are the main features shown clearly?
No Credit
0 pts
Nothing functions live — the team can only describe what it would do.
Developing
~10 pts
Some features work live, but major pieces are missing, broken, or skipped over.
Effective
~20 pts
Most core features function and are shown clearly during the demo.
Excellent
30 pts
Fully functional live demo — main features work and are shown clearly, nothing critical faked or skipped.
2. Innovation
Max 30 pts
No Credit
0 pts
Existing solution with no meaningful changes.
Developing
~10 pts
Adds a small twist to an established approach.
Effective
~20 pts
A genuinely new angle, or a fresh combination of ideas.
Excellent
30 pts
An approach or perspective that stands out as original.
3. Impact & Relevance
Max 25 pts
No Credit
0 pts
No clear connection to a real community need.
Developing
~9 pts
Addresses a real need, but the benefit is vague or small-scale.
Effective
~17 pts
Clearly helps a specific group — you can picture who'd use it.
Excellent
25 pts
Meaningfully benefits the Muslim community in a specific, believable, real-world way.
4. Pitch Clarity
Max 15 pts
Judged on how clearly the team explains their problem, solution, target users, and business model out loud — not on slide design.
No Credit
0 pts
Hard to understand the problem, solution, or who it's for.
Developing
~5 pts
Some explanation, but the pitch is unclear or hard to follow.
Effective
~10 pts
Clearly explains the problem, solution, and target users.
Excellent
15 pts
Clear, compelling explanation of the problem, solution, users, and business model — no slides needed.
Demo tips: jump straight into showing what you built — you can still explain your problem, solution, target users, and business model out loud as you go. Skip login/signup/authentication flows during judging; if that's part of your product, just show a screenshot or mention it briefly, then demo from an already-logged-in state.
Optional bonus — AI Use
Up to +5 pts
Scored on AI in the final product only — not on whether the team used AI tools like Claude or Copilot while building. No AI at all is not penalized; a project can still score the full 100 without it.
0 ptsNo AI in the product, or AI is present but adds nothing real.
3 ptsAI adds genuine value to the experience.
5 ptsAI is thoughtfully integrated and is a real reason the project works as well as it does.