The Golden Ticket Prize is designed to recognise and encourage outstanding individuals who exemplify exceptional passion and leadership during the hackathon. Winners will receive a fully paid trip to the MIT Grandhack in Cambridge, MA, gaining entry to a premier healthcare innovation event hosted by Hacking Medicine.

The prize focuses on participants who go beyond their own team success, motivating others, and spreading enthusiasm throughout the hackathon. Unlike team-based prizes, this award honors individuals who display:

• A deep passion for healthcare innovation.

• Commitment to solving real-world problems through ideation, refinement, and pivots.

• A community-building mindset, fostering collaboration even in a competitive environment.

• Exceptional teamwork, resilience, and the ability to help their team shine.

• Effective use of Hacking Medicine’s framework to break down problems, build solutions, and adapt to challenges.

• Creative identification of unmet healthcare needs and presentation of unique, impactful solutions.

Hacking Medicine team members, who closely observe participant growth throughout the hackathon, will identify standout individuals based on these criteria. Though they do not judge team prizes, their insight helps recognise those who would benefit most from the opportunity to attend the MIT Grandhack.