Enter the RootsTech Developers Challenge!

The second annual RootsTech Developers Challenge will award $5,000 to the developer who creates the best ancestry research application using available APIs. The deadline to apply is December 17, 2011 January 1, 2012, so hurry! Once you apply, your entry must be submitted on or before January 15, 2012. The winning entry will be announced at the RootsTech 2012 conference, which will be held February 2-4, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Here’s more information about the contest:

Your contest entry will be judged on five criteria by a panel of judges. Each criteria will be weighted equally. This panel will select the top six entries as finalists. Finalists will be judged using a mix of public voting (20%) and a judging panel.

Judging Criteria:

– Finish & Polish: Is the application easy-to-use and aesthetically appealing?

– Effective Solution: Does the application provide an effective solution to a real problem?

– Market Value: How large is the population the app will serve? How vital is the problem it is trying to solve?

– Originality of Concept: Is the application unique or innovative?

– Business Viability: How likely is the application to earn broad adoption and satisfy customer needs?

You can still attend RootsTech 2012, though, even if you aren’t a programmer. They are holding plenty of hands-on workshops and interactive classes and panels, and you can meet with others in the genealogy industry. Check out the RootsTech website for more information. Developers who register before January 30, 2012 can receive a special discounted price to attend, saving $60 off the admission price using code Tech129.