100-Hour Challenge
6 Challenges. 100 Hours. One Goal.
The HERA Nexus 100-Hour Challenge is a high-intensity applied-learning competition where students receive a defined challenge and have exactly 100 consecutive hours to research, ideate, build, test and present a solution. It is designed to test what students can actually create, decide and deliver under time constraints - not merely what they know.
Think Fast. Build Fast. Deliver.
Choose from
6 High-Intensity Challenges
Grab opportunities worth $5000 USD
Prizes & value additions await our Champions, Winners, and Best Presenters
The AI & EdTech MVP Sprint
Build an education solution in 100 hours. Teams (2-5 members) identify or respond to an education-related challenge and develop an AI-enabled or technology-enabled Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Participant Profile - Area of Interest:
AI | EdTech | Coding | No-Code | Product Development | UX | Business | Education | Innovation
Core Deliverables
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Problem statement
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Target user/persona
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Proposed solution
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MVP or functional prototype
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Product/workflow architecture
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Technology/AI approach
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Validation or testing evidence
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Product pitch
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Short demo
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AI Usage Disclosure
Evaluation Focus
Innovation | User Need | Functionality | Feasibility | User Experience | Impact | Validation | Pitch
Green-Tech Hackathon
Innovate for a more sustainable future. Teams develop a technology-supported solution to an environmental or sustainability challenge.
Possible Areas
Energy | Water | Waste | Mobility | Carbon | Smart Campuses | Circular Economy | Climate Action
Participant Profile
Technology, engineering, management, design and interdisciplinary students.
Core Deliverables
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Sustainability problem
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Proposed solution
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Prototype/model
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Implementation approach
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Cost assumptions
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Environmental impact estimate
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Scalability plan
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Final presentation
Evaluation Focus
Relevance | Innovation | Feasibility | Sustainability Impact | Prototype | Scalability | Presentation
Crisis Management Drill
Make decisions when the situation keeps changing. This challenge places teams inside an evolving organisational crisis. New developments or Crisis Injects may be released during the 100-hour period.
Ideal Participant Profile
Management | Law | Communications | Strategy | Operations | Public Policy | Leadership
Competition Condition
Participants may not receive the entire case at the beginning. New facts, stakeholder reactions, operational complications or regulatory developments may be introduced during the challenge.
Core Deliverables
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Situation assessment
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Crisis command structure
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Risk matrix
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Stakeholder strategy
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Immediate response plan
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Internal communication
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External/public communication
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Business continuity plan
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Recovery strategy
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Final leadership briefing
Evaluation Focus
Judgement | Decision Quality | Adaptability | Communication | Stakeholder Management | Continuity | Leadership
Startup Pivot Challenge
When the original business model stops working - what next? Teams receive a startup facing growth, market, competition, customer or financial challenges and must redesign its direction.
Ideal Participant Profile
Management | Entrepreneurship | Finance | Marketing | Strategy | Technology | Business Analytics
Core Deliverables
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Startup diagnosis
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Market/customer analysis
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Pivot hypothesis
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Revised value proposition
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Business model
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Revenue strategy
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Go-to-market plan
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Unit economics assumptions
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12-month roadmap
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Investor-style pitch
Evaluation Focus
Diagnosis | Originality of Pivot | Market Logic | Commercial Viability | Execution | Growth Potential | Pitch
Rapid Ad Campaign Build
From brief to campaign in 100 hours. Teams receive a brand, product, institution or social communication brief and create an integrated advertising campaign.
Ideal Participant Profile
Marketing | Advertising | Design | Communication | Media | Psychology | Management | Content
Core Deliverables
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Audience/consumer insight
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Campaign strategy
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Big Idea
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Campaign tagline
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Key visual
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Creative executions
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Social media concept
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Video/Reel concept
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Channel/media plan
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Success metrics
Evaluation Focus
Consumer Insight | Creativity | Brand Fit | Big Idea | Execution | Communication Impact | Presentation
Short Film Challenge
Concept < Shoot < Edit < Submit
Teams create an original short film based on a theme, phrase, object or creative condition revealed only when the challenge begins. The core runtime of the film must be between 3 and 8 minutes, excluding credits.
Participant Profile
Film | Media | Communication | Photography | Writing | Theatre | Design | Music | Creative Arts
Core Deliverables
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Film title
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Final short film
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Poster/thumbnail
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Synopsis
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Credits
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Production note
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AI/stock/licensed-material disclosure
Evaluation Focus
Story | Direction | Originality | Visual Language | Editing | Sound | Interpretation of Theme | Impact
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The 100-Hour Clock - The official competition clock begins when HERA releases the final challenge brief. Late submissions may not be evaluated.
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Original Work - The substantive competition work must be created for the challenge. Previously created frameworks, software libraries, templates or licensed resources may be used where permitted, but their use must be appropriately disclosed.
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Responsible Use of AI - Participants remain responsible for ethical use of AI. Material AI use should be disclosed.
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External Assistance - Teams may seek publicly available information and permitted technical resources. Outsourcing the substantive competition work to external professionals is prohibited.
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Team Changes - Once the challenge has commenced, team composition ordinarily cannot be changed without approval.