C1 - The Shipping House
C1 Hackathon — In Partnership with Rocket
Most hackathons end when the demo ends. This one starts there.
C1 Hackathon is a monthly builder cohort for 12 serious builders who want to go beyond the weekend project — and actually build, launch, track, and distribute a real product.
You build during the hackathon. Your product gets tracked with real KPIs for the next 4 weeks. And the winner gets what almost no early-stage builder ever gets access to:
Distribution to 1.5 million+ people.
What This Actually Is
This is not a hackathon where you pitch to judges and go home.
Here's how it works:
You apply. 12 builders get selected. That's it.
You build. One focused build session — real product, real scope.
You track. Every week for 4 weeks, your product gets measured against actual KPIs.
One builder wins. And wins something most founders spend years trying to get.
What Every Selected Builder Gets
From the moment you're in, you get access to a full support stack:
Build Infrastructure
Rocket credits to build and ship faster
Access to AI tools and partner perks from the ecosystem
Dedicated Space & Community
A dedicated workspace for one full month
Food, snacks, drinks, and a builder-friendly environment
Real community of serious people building alongside you
Traction & GTM Support
Weekly KPI tracking for 4 straight weeks — not vibes, actual numbers
GTM, distribution, and marketing support throughout
Weekly mentorship sessions focused on traction — how to get users, not just ship code
What the Winner Gets
At the end of 4 weeks, one standout builder gets selected.
This is where it gets serious.
Distribution to 1.5 Million+ People
Your product and founder story gets distributed across newsletters, communities, and partner channels — reaching an audience that most early-stage founders spend years trying to build.
This is not a social media post. This is a full, coordinated launch push across an established distribution network.
Professional PR Shoot
A full professional capture of your product, your build story, and your founder journey — the kind of asset that works for customers, investors, and everything that comes after.
The Full Package
Professional PR shoot covering product and founder story
Distribution to 1.5M+ audience across newsletters, communities, and partner channels
Real launch momentum — not a demo, an actual market entry
Additional credits and perks from partnered companies and startups
Continued GTM and marketing support post-event
A launch story that can be used for fundraising, press, and growth
Who This Is For
This is for builders who are already working on something — or who are dead serious about starting.
Apply if:
You can move fast and build under pressure
You are committed to shipping something real
You want actual users, not just applause
You're ready to be accountable to KPIs for 4 weeks
You're thinking about turning a product into a business
This is not for people who want to "explore ideas." This is for people who want to build, launch, and prove something in the market.
Why We Built This
Most great builders never get enough support after shipping.
The product dies — not because it's bad, but because traction, feedback, distribution, and GTM are hard to crack alone.
C1 Hackathon gives serious builders the space, tools, credits, structure, and distribution support to take a product beyond the demo.
Only 12 builders will be selected.
If you're serious, apply.
C1 Hackathon is run in partnership with Rocket.