Import Any CSV File
into HackHQ
Already have a participant list in a spreadsheet? Upload your CSV and HackHQ handles the rest - auto-detection, column mapping, and duplicate handling included.
No Special Format Required
HackHQ works with any standard CSV file. Whether you exported from another platform, built your list in Excel, or downloaded from Google Sheets - just make sure you have a name and email column and you are good to go.
Preparing Your CSV File
Required Columns
- Name - Full name, or separate first/last name columns
- Email - Used to identify participants and detect duplicates
Optional Columns
- +Registration date or timestamp
- +Team name or group assignment
- +Custom fields (skills, dietary preferences, T-shirt size)
- +Any other data you collected
Exporting from Excel: Go to File > Save As and choose "CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)."
Exporting from Google Sheets: Go to File > Download > Comma Separated Values (.csv).
Exporting from Numbers: Go to File > Export To > CSV.
How to Import in 5 Steps
Prepare your CSV file
Make sure your file meets these requirements:
- First row is headers - Column names like "Name," "Email," etc.
- Includes name and email - These are the minimum required columns
- Saved as .csv - Not .xlsx, .xls, or .ods
- UTF-8 encoding - This is the default for most tools
Not sure about encoding? If names with accents or special characters look wrong after import, re-export your file with UTF-8 encoding selected.
Create your event on HackHQ
If you haven't already, create your hackathon event on HackHQ. Set up your event details, schedule, judging criteria, and submission requirements.
Takes about 30 minutes to configure everything
You can import participants at any point - before or after event setup
Upload the CSV file
In your HackHQ event dashboard, go to the Participants section and start the import process.
- Open your event's Manage > Participants page
- Click Import
- Drag and drop your CSV file or click to browse
Map columns and review
HackHQ auto-detects standard fields from your CSV. Review the suggested mappings and adjust as needed.
Name and email columns are detected automatically
Preview shows exactly what will be imported before you confirm
Duplicates are flagged so you can review them
Confirm and start your hackathon
Review the import summary and confirm. Your participants are now in HackHQ, ready for submissions, judging, and live results.
Once imported, participants can submit projects and your judges can score them - all from one platform with transparent live results.
CSV to HackHQ Field Mapping
HackHQ auto-detects common column headers. Here is how typical CSV columns map to HackHQ participant fields. Any column can be mapped manually during the import step.
| CSV Column | HackHQ Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name / Full Name | Full Name | Auto-detected if header contains "name" |
| Email / Email Address | Required. Auto-detected, used for deduplication | |
| First Name + Last Name | Full Name | Auto-detected and combined into a single name |
| Registration Date | Registration Date | Preserves original signup date |
| Any Other Column | Custom Field | Mapped manually during import |
Common CSV Sources
HackHQ works with CSV exports from any tool. If you are coming from a specific platform, check out our dedicated guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Import Your Participants?
Create your event, upload a CSV, and focus on what matters - mentorship, community, and innovation. Not spreadsheets.
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