Continental Evaluation Process

Date: January 9, 2025
Evaluating: Top 3-4 teams from all CATS Hackathon hubs across Africa
Prize: Top 5 teams selected for continental prizes and Kenya trip

Overview

After local winners are announced (Jan 6), all local winners enter the continental evaluation pool where CATS/WADA judges select the Top 5 teams across the entire hackathon.

Who’s in the Pool?

Local Winners from All Hubs:

Next Trend Hub, Lagos (3 teams)
Other CATS hubs across Africa (3-4 teams each)
Total: Estimated 20-30 teams competing for Top 5

Continental Judging Panel

Panel Composition

CATS Leadership (2-3 judges)
WADA Representatives (2-3 judges)
Cardano Ecosystem Experts (1-2 judges)
Social Impact Experts (1-2 judges)
External Evaluators (1-2 judges)

Total: 7-10 senior judges with continental perspective

Judge Criteria

Deep experience in community development
Understanding of African context
Cardano ecosystem knowledge
Regenerative innovation expertise

Evaluation Timeline

Date	Activity
Jan 6	Local winners announced, advance to continental pool
Jan 6	Deadline for final submission updates
Jan 7-8	CATS/WADA judges review all submissions independently
Jan 9 AM	Panel deliberation meeting
Jan 9 PM	Top 5 continental winners announced

What Judges Review

Same materials as local evaluation:

All 7 Team Documentation Pages
- Ground Truth
- Formulate Insight
- Formulate Hypothesis
- Define Opportunity
- Journey
- Final Solution
- Team Overview
Voice Notes (sample from each team)
Prototype/Solution (if accessible online)
Local Presentation (video or deck from Dec 13)

Scoring Criteria

Same 6 criteria as local evaluation (100 points total):

Criterion	Weight	Focus
Ground Truth Quality	25%	Evidence, diversity, depth of community research
Insight Formulation	15%	Quality of pattern analysis and root cause identification
Hypothesis Clarity	10%	Specificity and testability of problem statement
Opportunity Definition	10%	Rigor of solution exploration and justification
Solution Quality	25%	Functionality, fit with problem, user experience
Impact Potential	15%	Scale, significance, sustainability

Detailed criteria →

Continental-Level Considerations

What Makes Teams Stand Out?

Beyond the scoring criteria, continental judges look for:

1. Exemplary “Build What Matters” Approach

Best examples of action-learning methodology
Authentic community engagement
Evidence-based decision making
Regenerative mindset

2. Cross-Hub Comparison

How does this compare to other excellent teams?
Unique approaches or innovations
Quality of documentation and presentation

3. Impact Potential Beyond Local

Could this scale to other communities?
Does it address common African challenges?
Sustainability and replicability

4. Cardano Integration (if applicable)

Thoughtful use of blockchain
Not forced, but genuinely valuable
Technical execution quality

Judging Philosophy →

Continental Prize Pool

Top 5 Teams Receive:

1. Additional ADA Prizes

Amounts determined by CATS/WADA (announced Jan 9)
Distributed on top of local prizes
Significantly larger than local pool

2. Trip to Kenya

All-expenses-paid trip for team representatives
Final showcase event
Networking with Cardano ecosystem
Dates announced after selection

3. Ecosystem Connections

Introduction to Cardano builders
Potential funding opportunities (Catalyst, WADA grants)
Mentorship from ecosystem leaders
Media coverage and visibility

4. Continued Support

Post-hackathon development resources
Access to CATS community
Future collaboration opportunities

Deliberation Process

Step 1: Independent Scoring (Jan 7-8)

Each judge reviews all teams independently
Scores submitted to CATS coordination team
Notes prepared for discussion

Step 2: Score Aggregation (Jan 9 morning)

Average scores calculated
Top 10-12 teams identified for discussion
Major score discrepancies noted

Step 3: Panel Meeting (Jan 9 morning)

Deliberation Topics:

Review aggregated scores
Discuss top contenders
Compare standout features across teams
Consider qualitative factors
Address any scoring inconsistencies
Select Top 5 through consensus

Step 4: Announcement (Jan 9 afternoon/evening)

Top 5 winners announced via CATS official channels
Individual team notifications
Public celebration (virtual or in-person event)
Next steps communicated

Winner Announcement

Announcement Channels:

CATS official website and social media
WADA communication channels
Next Trend Hub and all local hubs
Direct notification to winning teams
Press release and media coverage

Information Shared:

Team names and projects
Brief descriptions of winning solutions
Prize details
Kenya trip logistics
Next steps for winners

For Next Trend Hub Teams

If You Win Locally (Jan 6):

Ensure documentation is polished by Jan 6
Make prototype accessible online
Await continental results (Jan 9)
Stay reachable for notifications

If You Win Continentally (Jan 9):

Celebrate! 🎉
Respond to CATS coordination team
Prepare for Kenya trip logistics
Connect with Cardano ecosystem
Plan continued development

FAQ

Q: How many teams from each hub typically make Top 5?
A: Varies by quality. Some hubs might have 2-3 teams, others 0-1. It’s continental, not per-hub quota.

Q: Can we update documentation between Jan 6 and 9?
A: No, Jan 6 is final deadline. Continental judges review what’s submitted by then.

Q: Will we know our continental scores?
A: Top 5 receive detailed feedback. Others receive general feedback through local hubs.

Q: What if we don’t make Top 5?
A: You still won locally! Continue building, apply for Catalyst funding, join CATS community.

Q: Can entire team go to Kenya?
A: Typically 1-2 representatives per team (details announced after selection).

Q: Is Cardano integration required to win?
A: No, but if used, it should add genuine value. Non-blockchain solutions can win based on impact and methodology quality.

Remember: Making it to continental evaluation means you’ve already won locally. Top 5 is exceptional achievement across all of Africa.