Submission Form
Configure hackathon submission forms on HackHQ. Add custom questions, URL fields with auto-embeds, and deadlines.
The form builder lets you customize what participants submit. Click Setup on the Submissions tab to configure questions and settings.
Setup panel
The setup panel has two sections:
- Questions (left): Custom fields added to the submission form
- Settings (right): Deadline configuration
Default fields
Every submission automatically includes:
- Name and email of the submitter
- Project name
- Description (rich text)
- Team members (name and email for each member)
If your event has tracks or challenges, participants also choose which competitions to enter.
Custom questions
Click Add Question to add fields that collect specific information.
Available field types:
| Type | Use case | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short Answer | Single-line text responses | "Tech stack used" |
| Paragraph | Multi-line detailed responses | "Challenges faced" |
| URL | Links to demos, repos, or videos | "Demo Video", "GitHub Link" |
| Dropdown | Select one from predefined options | "Experience level" |
| Single Choice | Radio buttons for one selection | "Project stage" |
| Multiple Choice | Checkboxes for multiple selections | "Technologies used" |
Each question can be marked as required or optional. You can also add placeholder text and help text to guide participants.
URL fields and auto-embeds
URL fields are especially useful because HackHQ automatically detects and renders rich previews for supported platforms. When a participant pastes a YouTube link into a "Demo Video" field, judges see an embedded video player directly in the submission detail panel rather than a plain URL.
Supported platforms: YouTube, Loom, GitHub, and Twitter/X. See Submissions for the full list.
Default URL fields
Every new event comes with three pre-configured URL fields: Demo Link, GitHub Link, and Live Website. These cover the most common links participants share. You can remove any you don't need, rename them, or add your own.
Deadline
Set a deadline in the Settings section to automatically close submissions at a specific date and time.
After the deadline:
- The submission form shows a "Submissions closed" message
- Existing submissions are locked for editing by participants
- As an organizer, you can still edit submissions and add new ones manually via Add submission
You can also toggle Submissions Open at any time to manually open or close submissions, regardless of the deadline.