SHOGGIEST GEEK ALIVE PAGEANT

Official Rules

Last Updated: March 9, 2025

THESE OFFICIAL RULES GOVERN PARTICIPATION IN THE SHOGGIEST GEEK ALIVE PAGEANT ("Pageant"). COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CONTESTANTS. THESE RULES OPERATE ALONGSIDE THE TERMS & CONDITIONS, WHICH ESTABLISH THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONTESTANTS AND THE COMPANY.

1. ACCEPTANCE AND COMPLIANCE

(a) By accepting these Official Rules, you ("Contestant") acknowledge that you: (i) Have read and understood these Rules in their entirety; (ii) Agree to comply with all Rules throughout the Competition Period; (iii) Accept that violation of Rules may result in disqualification; (iv) Understand these Rules supplement the Terms & Conditions agreement.

(b) Continued participation in the Pageant constitutes ongoing acceptance of these Rules.

(c) Company reserves right to disqualify any Contestant who fails to comply with Rules.

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Contestants must be at least 18 years of age

  • Legal residents of the United States only

  • Must complete registration process and pass entrance evaluation

  • Must accept Terms and Conditions agreement

  • Must maintain account security and confidentiality

3. COMPETITION STRUCTURE

3.1 Timeline

  • Competition begins January 16, 2025

  • Consists of 12 elimination challenges

  • Final 10 contestants announced February 26, 2026

  • Live finale in San Francisco on March 26, 2026

  • Full schedule available at Entry Fees & Schedule

3.2 Registration Tiers and Requirements

  • Innovators (Jan 16 - Mar 27, 2025): $45 entry fee, basic entrance exam

  • Early Adopters (Mar 28 - June 19, 2025): $75 entry fee, intermediate entrance exam

  • Early Majority (June 20 23 - Sept 11, 2025): $125 entry fee, advanced entrance exam

  • Late Majority/Final Entry (Sept 12 - Dec 4, 2025): $200 entry fee, expert entrance exam

3.3 Innovator Elite Status

First 100 registrants receive:

  • 24-hour early access to challenge details

  • Priority media interview consideration

  • Custom contestant profile page

  • Reserved Plus-1 seating at SF finale (if not in Final 10)

  • Lifetime SGA alumni event access

3.4 Challenge Format

  • Each challenge runs approximately 2 weeks

  • New challenges begin on announcement dates

  • All submissions must be completed by specified deadlines

  • Results and new challenges announced on scheduled dates

  • Challenge details released only at start of each phase

3.5 Evaluation Process

  • Technical assessment of solutions

  • Performance metrics evaluation

  • Judge panel review

  • Public voting component

  • Documentation review

  • Time tracking verification

  • Additional criteria as specified per challenge

4. CONTESTANT REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Challenge Participation

  • Complete all challenges independently

  • Submit work within specified deadlines

  • Provide comprehensive documentation

  • Follow technical guidelines

  • Maintain academic honesty

  • Use only approved resources

  • Comply with safety protocols

4.2 Intellectual Property

  • Contestants retain ownership of pre-existing IP

  • Must identify pre-existing IP before challenges

  • Grant license to Company for competition content

  • Maintain ownership of individual solutions

  • Notify Company of commercialization within 12 months

  • Team challenges have shared ownership based on documented contribution

4.3 Judge and Voting Interactions

  • No private communication with judges

  • No attempts to influence judges or voting

  • No gifts or favors to judges

  • Must disclose any prior relationships with judges

  • No public campaigning during active voting windows

  • No vote solicitation or vote buying

  • No spreading false information about other contestants

4.4 Confidentiality

  • Maintain strict confidentiality of:

    • Competition details

    • Challenge content

    • Other contestants' solutions

    • Judging criteria

    • Platform features

    • Non-public information

  • Confidentiality obligations survive competition

5. MEDIA AND CONTENT RULES

5.1 Prohibited Activities

  • No unauthorized recording of competition activities

  • No sharing of behind-the-scenes content

  • No posting unapproved competition photos

  • No creation of competition-related content

  • No unauthorized interviews

  • No personal streaming of footage

  • No sharing of confidential information

5.2 Digital Content Guidelines

  • Follow Platform content standards

  • Submit only original work

  • Ensure proper documentation

  • Maintain code safety standards

  • Adhere to size limits

  • Use specified formats

6. PRIZE STRUCTURE

6.1 Grand Prize

  • $1 million cash prize (subject to state and federal tax withholding)

  • Title of "Shoggiest Geek Alive"

  • One-year ceremonial position as Global Ambassador for AI

  • Support from dedicated press team

6.2 Prize Requirements

  • Final Ten contestants must provide:

    • U.S. residency verification

    • H-1B documentation (if applicable)

  • Winner must provide:

    • Government-issued ID

    • Completed W-9 form

    • Social Security Number/Tax ID

    • Bank account information for prize transfer

6.3 Prize Distribution

  • Winner will be announced at March, 2026 pageant

  • Prize money will be wired to winner's account seven business days after announcement, pending any disputes

  • State and federal taxes will be withheld from prize money

6.4 Appeals Process

  • Any disputes must be submitted in writing within 48 hours of winner announcement

  • Independent review panel will be convened

  • Panel decisions are binding through final arbitration

  • If winner cannot fulfill duties during one-year reign, first runner-up shall assume roles for remainder of term

6.5 Additional Prize Terms

  • All prizes subject to verification of eligibility and compliance

  • Winners responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes

  • Prize forfeited if:

    • Winner fails to comply with verification requirements

    • Winner engages in misconduct

    • Winner unable to fulfill ambassador duties

  • Company reserves right to substitute prize of equal or greater value

  • Prize non-transferable and non-assignable

7. SCORING AND ADVANCEMENT

7.1 Scoring System

  • Each challenge scored out of 100 points:

    • 75 points from expert judges

    • 25 points from public voting

  • Bottom 20% eliminated after each challenge

  • Minimum 3 challenges required for finals eligibility

  • Rolling average across challenges determines finals qualification

  • Must complete all remaining challenges if entering at Challenge 9 or later

  • Top 10 highest rolling averages advance to live pageant

  • Vote manipulation will result in immediate disqualification

7.2 Point System

  • Point allocation determined by Company

  • Multiple evaluation factors may apply

  • Partial credit may be awarded

  • Penalties assessed for rule violations

  • All Company scoring decisions are final

  • Vote manipulation will result in immediate disqualification

7.3 Advancement Rules

  • Must meet minimum point thresholds

  • Rankings determine advancement

  • Elimination based on challenge performance

  • Must maintain good standing status

  • Active participation required

8. CODE OF CONDUCT

8.1 General Behavior

  • Maintain professional conduct

  • Respect fellow contestants

  • Follow platform guidelines

  • Adhere to challenge rules

  • Report violations promptly

8.2 Ethics

  • Uphold highest standards of integrity

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Report security concerns

  • Maintain transparency in solutions

  • Follow ethical AI principles

9. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Account Rules

  • One account per person only

  • No automated access allowed

  • No performance interference

  • No security testing

  • No unauthorized tools

  • Keep credentials private

9.2 Platform Access

  • Maintain secure account credentials

  • Use required technical specifications

  • Follow platform guidelines

  • Report technical issues promptly

  • Adhere to system requirements

9.3 Submission Requirements

  • Follow specified format guidelines

  • Meet all technical criteria

  • Include required documentation

  • Submit within platform parameters

  • Verify submission completion

10. MODIFICATIONS AND UPDATES

  • Company reserves right to modify competition format

  • Seven days notice for substantial changes

  • Immediate notice for technical updates

  • Emergency changes permitted for safety/security

  • Contestants may withdraw upon substantial changes

11. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions or concerns:

  • Email: info@barnum.ai

  • Phone: 512-222-9946

  • Mail: Barnum.AI Industries 21750 Hardy Oak Blvd Ste 104 San Antonio TX 78258-4946