Judging

I review other people’s products the same way I review my own. Hackathons, demo days, student showcases, and a founder who wants a straight read.

What I look for

• One sentence. If the problem takes a paragraph, it is not ready. I should be able to repeat it after you stop talking.
• Real use. A demo is not the same as someone keeping the thing. Show me the person, not the slide.
• Numbers that hold. If you say a figure, you should know where it came from. I will ask.
• The ask. What you want from the room, said plainly. Advice, a user, a check. Pick one.

How a session goes

You get a few minutes. I listen for the sentence, then I ask one question about use and one about the number. Feedback is specific. I will tell you what I would cut.

I am a better judge of Mac apps, on-device software, and tools a small team would actually pay for or keep. If the product is outside that, say so in the invite. I will still show up when I can be useful.

Past events

• EdAI, Berkeley. October 31 and November 1, 2026, at Anna Head Alumnae Hall. Students spent two days on a real problem and showed the work. I judged. The summit.
• 2023 CODiE Awards. SIIA’s peer-reviewed education technology awards, the 38th year. I was a judge. The 2023 awards.