# Product Demo Video Contest (Testnet Phase #2)

**Status:** Announced – **Submission Window: Jan 26 → Feb 23, 2026**\
**Scope:** Testnet-0 Dashboard · Product Demo Videos (1–2 minutes)\
**Dashboard:** [https://dashboard-testnet1a.cortensor.network/](https://dashboard-testnet0.cortensor.network/)

***

#### Overview

With **Testnet Phase #1 completed** and the **Testnet-1a dashboard** now refined for end-to-end flows, this is a good moment to showcase Cortensor from a **product** point of view — not just from infra or code.

To do that, we’re running a **Product Demo Video Contest** during **Testnet Phase #2**, focused on:

* How the **Testnet-1a dashboard actually behaves in practice**
* How node operators, developers, and observers experience Cortensor day to day
* Collecting feedback on what still feels confusing or missing

This is lighter-weight than a hackathon: you’re not building a new app, you’re **telling the story** of the product as it exists today.

***

#### What We’re Looking For

Short, **story-style product demos**, not just UI fly-throughs.

**Video length:**

* \~**1–2 minutes** per submission

**Suggested perspectives (pick one or mix):**

* **Node Operator View**
  * How you see capacity, rewards, and performance
  * What matters on the dashboard (uptime, precommit, rankings, node status, etc.)
* **Developer View**
  * How you trigger and monitor sessions & tasks
  * How you use long-context, model selection, and parameters
  * How you’d explain the dashboard to another developer integrating Cortensor
* **Observer / Ecosystem View**
  * “What is Cortensor?” explained *through* the dashboard
  * How Testnet-1a behaves under load or during live testing
  * How nodes, sessions, tasks, and payments fit together visually

**Accessibility:**

* Please **include captions or on-screen text** so the video is understandable without sound.

***

#### Why Now

We’ve just completed a round of **UI/UX refinements** around:

* Testnet-1a **dashboard flows**
* End-to-end **task execution and monitoring**
* **Node/operator visibility** and basic metrics

The contest helps us:

* **Showcase** the dashboard in real usage, not just static screenshots
* **Collect feedback** on what’s confusing, missing, or hard to discover
* **Highlight community perspectives** on how Cortensor feels as a product

***

#### Submission Guidelines

**Content**

* Must primarily feature the **Testnet-1a dashboard**\
  <https://dashboard-testnet0.cortensor.network/>
* Focus on a **clear narrative**:
  * Who you are (operator / dev / observer)
  * What you’re showing
  * Why it matters for Cortensor
* Realistic flows only – no fake data or misleading claims

**Format**

* 16:9 or vertical is fine; UI elements must be clearly readable
* **1–2 minutes** total runtime
* Captions or readable on-screen annotations required

**How to Submit (Important)**

To make sure your entry is counted, please follow **all three** steps:

1. **Quote-post** the official contest announcement on X with your **product demo video** attached.
2. In your quote post, include both tags:
   * `#Cortensor`
   * `#CortensorProductVideo`
3. After posting on X, **share the X link** in our Discord **#social-posts** channel:\
   <https://discord.com/channels/1261511806350790767/1331078358636953641>

Only entries that complete **all three steps** (quote post + tags + Discord link) will be considered for judging and prizes.

**Who Can Participate**

* Open to **Cortensor community members** who are:
  * Building on or running nodes against the **Testnet-1a dashboard** during Phase #2
  * Actively using the dashboard in a realistic way (operators, devs, ecosystem contributors)

***

#### Judging & Awarding Policy

Placements **aren’t automatic or first-come** — they’re decided by the Cortensor team based on **quality, clarity, and usefulness** of the demo (how well it explains the dashboard and flows).

**Quality over rank**

Prizes are **not** awarded strictly by “first to submit,” view count, or any numerical leaderboard.

Cortensor will judge qualified demo videos based on:

* **Overall quality and clarity**
  * How clearly the video explains what’s happening on the **Testnet-1a dashboard**\
    (<https://dashboard-testnet0.cortensor.network/>)
  * Pacing, structure, and how easy it is to follow (with captions/on-screen text).
* **Impact and storytelling**
  * How well the demo tells a story: *who* is using Cortensor, *what* they’re doing, and *why it matters*.
  * Does a new viewer “get” Cortensor in 1–2 minutes?
* **Technical accuracy and depth**
  * Are the flows shown (sessions, tasks, node views, rewards, etc.) **technically correct** for Testnet-1a?
  * No unrealistic claims or invented behavior; demos should reflect how the dashboard actually works.
* **Usability and product explanation**
  * How well the demo explains *how to use* the dashboard:
    * Where to click
    * What key metrics mean
    * How to interpret results or task runs
  * Could a new node operator or developer watch this and feel more confident using the product?
* **Alignment with Cortensor’s roadmap and positioning**
  * Does the video portray Cortensor as **decentralized AI infrastructure** (miners, router, sessions, validation), not just “another UI”?
  * Bonus if it connects naturally to Testnet phases, decentralized inference, or verifiable AI — without over-promising.

**Discretionary placement**

* Judges may award a prize to **any qualified entry** at a given place.
  * Example: a later submission that’s clearly higher quality may receive 1st or 2nd place.

**No guarantee to fill all places**

* Cortensor may **withhold or reallocate** any prize tier if submissions do not meet the expected quality bar.

**Internal decision**

* Final decisions are made **internally by the Cortensor team** and are not subject to appeal.

***

#### Prize Pool (in $COR equivalent)

Updated prize pool for this contest:

* **1st place:** $150
* **2nd place:** $100
* **3rd place:** $50
* **4th–5th place:** $25 each

These are **thank-you rewards** for high-quality demos that help explain Cortensor to future users, node operators, and developers.

***

#### Timeline

* **Submission Window:**\
  **Jan 26 → Feb 23, 2026**
* **Who’s Eligible:**\
  Anyone **building on or running against** the **Testnet-0 dashboard** during **Testnet Phase #2**.
* **Details & Reminders:**
  * Ongoing reminders and updates will be posted via:
    * Telegram / Discord
    * X ([@Cortensor](https://x.com/Cortensor))
    * Docs updates

You can already start planning your walkthrough — the goal is to **show how the Testnet-1a dashboard works in real usage** and help the next wave of operators and developers onboard faster.


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