(Image Credit: Mojio)

Mojio, an open platform for the connected car, is running a virtual 'Hack Your Ride' hackathon between June 16th - August 10th. Entries need to make "strong use" of Mojio’s platform for connecting cars and integrate APIs from the AT&T Developer Program.

As of writing, this leaves participants 54 more days to submit their entry which should leave plenty of time for hackers to come up with an idea and have a working prototype before the competition closes. Whilst the challenge has already begun; it's not too late to register which you can do here.

Challenge Timeline 

Challenge Begins: Tuesday, June 16th at 12:00AM PST [Open for submissions]

Challenge Webinar: Tuesday, June 23rd at 11:00AM PST [Link to come]

Submission Period Closes: Monday, August 10th at 11:45PM PST

Judging Round: Tuesday, August 11th to Sunday, August 16th

Top 8 Semi-Finalists Selected: Monday, August 17th at 9:00AM PST

Final Round Kicks-off: Monday, August 17th at 9:00AM PST

Final Round Presentations to Judges: Monday, August 31st to Tuesday, September 1st [Times TBD]

Semi-Finalists, Finalists & Grand Prize Winners Announced: Thursday, September 3rd at 9:00AM PST

The organisers highlight they aren't looking for "simple fuel consumption calculators" but instead will be seeking true innovation which addresses a mass market opportunity. If you can supply this over the course of the competition, you will be rewarded handsomely...

It’s a green field right now with only dozens as opposed to hundreds of apps having been created for the connected car

$15,962 worth of prizes are up-for-grabs to the finalists. Semi-finalists will receive one Mojio device and 12 months of free network service with a package value of $149. The winners of the best "Eco-friendly driving app", "Gamified driving app", and "Safer driving app" categories will win an App Accelerator audit by Mojio's digital partner, Invoke, and a $500 Amazon gift card for a total value of $1,750.

A further $500 Amazon Gift Card is being provided by the 'It Can Wait' campaign as an add-on prize to the best "Safer driving app" which reduces distractions and spreads the word about the road safety initiative.

There is a fourth category for apps which do not fit into the above categories called the "Wildcard app" which also has a $500 Amazon voucher and audit up for grabs.

Whoever makes the best use of AT&T's API from all of the submissions will take home a $2,000 Amazon gift card - whilst all grand prize winners have the opportunity to work even closer with Invoke via the exclusive App Accelerator Package (a value of $5,000.)

How to enter

Step 1: Register for the challenge.

Step 2: Register for the Mojio Developer Center.

Step 3: Register for the AT&T Developer Program.

Step 4: Using APIs from Mojio and AT&T, develop a Mojio compatible app for connected cars that is associated with one of the four (4) available app submission categories.

Step 5: Create a video (up to 4 minutes in length) that includes footage that clearly explains your apps’s features and functionality through a comprehensive demonstration.

Step 6: Complete and enter all of the required fields on the “Enter a Submission” page of the Challenge Website during the Challenge Submission Period.

“It’s a green field right now with only dozens as opposed to hundreds of apps having been created for the connected car,” said Jay Giraud, CEO, Mojio. “For developers interested in being the benchmark against which other apps are measured, there is an immense business opportunity today that will pay off exponentially as the connected car space grows.”

A few extra notes: Apps must be developed using Mojio’s iOS SDK and/or Android SDK, it must be a fully-functioning prototype, and submissions "must be either newly created by the Participant or, if the App existed prior to the Challenge Submission Period, must have integrated with the required Mojio API and added substantial new functionality as a result of that integration, after the start of the Challenge Submission Period."

Are you thinking about taking part in Mojio's car hackathon? Let us know in the comments.