Do I need to be a Slack expert to compete?

No. The hackathon is built for both seasoned Slack developers and developers who are new to the platform. The Slack CLI, Agent Builder templates, and starter docs are designed to get you to a working agent quickly.

 

How do I get a Slack sandbox?

Join the Slack Developer Program — it's free, and it unlocks your developer sandbox. You'll receive sandbox access shortly after registering.

 

What do I have to build?

A NEW Slack application that uses at least one of: Slack AI capabilities, MCP server integration, or the Real-Time Search API. Your project must fit into one of the three tracks: New Slack Agent, Slack Agent for Good, or Slack Agent for Organizations (New or Existing).

 

Do I have to use all three technologies?

No — at least one is required. You're welcome to combine them, and creative combinations may stand out to judges.

 

Can my team submit to more than one track?

Yes. Per the official rules, "An Entrant may submit more than one Submission, however, each Submission must be unique and substantially different from each of the Entrant's other Submissions, as determined by the Sponsor and Devpost in their sole discretion." Each submission enters one track of your choosing — when you submit, you'll need to "Identify which track you are submitting to." Keep in mind that "Each Project is eligible for one (1) Prize," so the same project cannot win in multiple categories.

 

Can I submit an existing app?

Only in the Slack Agent for Organizations track, which is for new or existing commercially distributed apps that have been significantly and demonstrably updated during the submission period and submitted to the Slack Marketplace before the deadline. The other two tracks require new projects.

 

Can I work in a team?

Yes. Teams of up to four (4) eligible individuals are welcome.  

 

What language or framework should I use?

Whatever you're comfortable with. The Bolt SDK is available in JavaScript, Python, and Java. The Slack CLI works across platforms.

 

Is it okay to use AI coding assistants?

Yes — "vibe coding" with AI assistants is welcome. Judges care about the final project, not how you wrote it. Judges will be scored based on the Judging Criteria: Technological Implementation, Design, Potential Impact and Quality of the Idea.

 

How long should my demo video be?

Around three minutes. Judges aren't required to watch beyond three minutes, so put your strongest material at the start.

 

Where do I ask questions during the hackathon?

The official hackathon Slack channel is the fastest way to reach the Devpost team and Slack team.

 

How do I find my Slack App ID? 

Your App ID is generated when you create your Slack app and is the same identifier used when your app is submitted to the Slack Marketplace. To find it, sign in at api.slack.com/apps, click on your app, and look on the Basic Information page — your App ID is listed in the App Credentials section. It's an alphanumeric string that starts with "A" (for example, A01AB2CDE3F). If you've submitted to the Slack Marketplace, that same App ID is what you'll paste into the Slack App ID field on your Devpost submission.

 

How do I share my Slack developer sandbox with slackhack@salesforce.com and testing@devpost? 

You'll need to invite both email addresses to the sandbox workspace where your agent is installed so judges can test your project end-to-end. To do this:

  1. Open your Slack developer sandbox in the Slack desktop or web app.

  2. Click your workspace name in the top-left corner and select Invite people to [Workspace Name].

  3. Enter both email addresses — slackhack@salesforce.com and testing@devpost.com.

  4. Set the role to Member (rather than Single-Channel or Multi-Channel Guest) so testers have full access to the channels and features your agent depends on.

  5. Send the invitations and confirm both accounts appear in your workspace's member list before you submit.

Also include the workspace URL (e.g., https://your-sandbox.slack.com) on the Devpost submission form, and double-check that your agent is installed and authorized in that same sandbox. Without active access to a working sandbox, judges may not be able to evaluate your project. For more on managing your sandbox, see the Slack Developer Sandboxes docs.

 

If I’m submitting to the Slack Agent for Organizations Track, how do I submit to the Slack Marketplace? 

  • There are core requirements which must be met in order to submit.

  • Submit here 

  • Don’t forget to get your App ID and input in on your submission form

  • Be sure to submit to the Slack Marketplace before the hackathon deadline!

 

How do I find my App ID? 

Find your Slack app's ID in the app settings under Basic Information.