Effective Date: April 7, 2026  |  Organized by: ZITNALTA™ Labs  |  Event: GAIDE™ Chicago Vibe Coders Showcase & Awards  |  Governing Statute: 720 ILCS 5/28-1(b)(2)

Important: This document constitutes the official rules for a bona fide contest of skill as defined under Illinois law. All participants are required to review and accept these rules prior to registration. These rules are provided as a written disclosure pursuant to the Illinois Prizes and Gifts Act. Attorney review is recommended prior to any public prize pool promotion.

Table of Contents

• 1. Contest Overview
• 2. Legal Classification
• 3. Eligibility
• 4. Participation Experiences & Vote Packs
• 5. Judging & Voting Criteria
• 6. Prize Pool & Structure
• 7. Prize Distribution
• 8. General Admission Attendees
• 9. Disqualification
• 10. Contact & Disputes

1. Contest Overview

GAIDE™ Chicago — Vibe Coders Showcase & Awards (the “Contest”) is an invitation-only, in-person skill competition held on May 22-23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. The Contest is organized by ZITNALTA™ Labs, the product development arm of ZITNALTA™ Studio, and is classified as a ZITNALTA™ Labs Experiment.

Competing builders present market-ready, AI-assisted software products to a live audience. Credentialed attendees vote on winners based on published, objective skill criteria. Votes are weighted by participation experience tier as described in Section 4. The prize pool is funded by event revenue — which may include registration fees, merchandise sales, music sales, and sponsorship fees — and is guaranteed at a minimum of $2,375 regardless of total registration volume.

Elevator Summary: An in-person showcase where vibe coders present market-ready AI products to a live audience. The audience votes — with vote weight determined by participation tier. Winners receive fixed cash prizes. No chance. No draws. No randomness.

2. Legal Classification

This Contest is structured and operated as a bona fide contest for the determination of skill pursuant to 720 ILCS 5/28-1(b)(2) of the Illinois Criminal Code, and is therefore exempt from gambling prohibitions applicable to games of chance or lotteries.

Why This Qualifies as a Skill Contest

• No element of chance: Winners are determined entirely by measurable, pre-disclosed technical criteria — not by any random draw, luck, or unpredictable outcome.
• Market-Ready Requirement: All competing builders must demonstrate a functioning, market-ready product with live checkout capability, verified before they may participate in the live showcase. This objective gate eliminates speculation or arbitrary favoritism.
• Tiered vote weights reflect participation and exhibition investment — not a purchase of the chance to win. Audience voters evaluate a demonstrable technical achievement (market readiness). This is professional performance evaluation, not gambling.
• Minimum Guaranteed Prize Pool: The prize pool is pre-announced at a minimum of $2,375 and does not fluctuate on a per-entry basis, distinguishing it from pot-based wagering structures.

Note on Illinois Prizes and Gifts Act Compliance: Compliance is maintained through mandatory written disclosure of prize values, rules, odds of winning, and organizer identity — all contained in this document. ZITNALTA™ Labs recommends attorney confirmation of the final contest structure before the prize pool is publicly promoted.

3. Eligibility

To be eligible to compete for prizes in this skill contest, a builder must:

1. Hold a valid VIP Builder or Builder participation experience for the Contest.
2. Be 18 years of age or older at the time of the event.
3. Have received and accepted an official invitation from GAIDE™ Chicago.
4. Present a project that passes the Market-Ready Verification check prior to the live showcase (see Section 5).
5. Be a legal U.S. resident with a valid Social Security Number or ITIN (required for IRS compliance on prizes exceeding $600).
6. Not be an employee, officer, or immediate family member of ZITNALTA™ Labs or ZITNALTA™ Studio.

General Admission attendees are not eligible to compete for prizes. They participate as audience voters only. See Section 8.

4. Participation Experiences & Vote Packs

Each participation experience tier includes a Vote Pack – a fixed number of audience votes the holder may cast during the live public voting period on May 23, 2026. Vote Packs reflect the level of participation, exhibition access, and event investment associated with each tier. They are not a purchase of a chance to win.

Legal Note on Vote Packs: Tiered vote weights are a recognized mechanism in skill contest design. Because all contestants must first pass the objective Market-Ready Verification to reach the voting stage, the audience is always choosing among demonstrably skilled competitors. Vote weight allocation based on participation tier is consideration for exhibition access and community investment – not consideration for a chance to win by luck.

Apparel Note: Apparel and accessories included with VIP Builder and Builder experiences are event merchandise benefits – not prizes. They have no bearing on contest eligibility or prize distribution.

5. Judging & Voting Criteria

The Contest is determined by a live public vote conducted during the showcase on May 23, 2026. All credentialed attendees cast votes using their allocated Vote Pack. The competing builder with the highest total weighted vote count wins the corresponding prize tier.

The Sole Voting Criterion

Market Readiness: Is this product ready to take orders from customers today? The audience votes solely on this criterion. The product with the highest total vote count wins. This criterion is stated publicly before voting opens.

What “Market Ready” Means

To qualify for the live showcase – and therefore receive any votes – a builder’s product must satisfy ALL of the following before taking the stage:

• A live, publicly accessible website or web application (not a localhost or staging URL).
• A landing page clearly describing the product’s value to potential customers.
• A functioning payment integration via Stripe, PayPal, Square, or an equivalent processor capable of accepting real transactions.
• Successful verification by the GAIDE™ Chicago organizing team prior to the builder’s presentation slot.

Voting Mechanics

• Each credentialed attendee casts votes from their allocated Vote Pack during the designated voting window.
• Votes may be split across multiple competing builders at the voter’s discretion.
• The specific voting method (digital poll, badge-linked app, or equivalent) will be announced before voting opens.
• Voting criteria, vote pack allocations, and the scoring method are disclosed publicly before voting commences.
• In the event of a tie, GAIDE™ Chicago reserves the right to conduct a tiebreaker among eligible Builder-tier attendees.
• The organizer’s decision on all scoring disputes is final.

6. Prize Pool & Structure

The prize pool is funded by GAIDE™ Chicago event revenue, which may include registration fees, music and merchandise sales, and sponsorship fees. The total prize pool is guaranteed at a minimum of $2,375 regardless of total registration volume. This minimum is pre-announced and fixed to ensure the Contest is not characterized as pot-based wagering under Illinois law.

The odds of winning any individual prize depend on the number of eligible contestants who pass Market-Ready Verification and participate in the live showcase. That number will be disclosed to all registered participants prior to the event.

All prizes are cash awards in United States Dollars. No substitution is permitted except at the sole discretion of ZITNALTA™ Labs.

7. Prize Distribution

Timing – The 30-Day Rule

Pursuant to the Illinois Prizes and Gifts Act, prize payments will be delivered within 30 days of the winner announcement on May 23, 2026. Payment options include ACH bank transfer, or check. Winners must provide a valid payment method within 7 days of notification to receive payment within the 30-day window.

IRS Tax Compliance

• 1st and 2nd place winners (prizes of $1,000 and $500) must complete and return an IRS W-9 form before prize disbursement. ZITNALTA™ Labs will issue a 1099-MISC to these winners at year-end.
• 3rd place and below: No W-9 is required; however, all prize income is taxable and winners are responsible for reporting it on their own federal tax return.
• Winners failing to provide a valid W-9 within 14 days of the event forfeit their prize, which will be re-awarded at the organizer’s discretion.

Identity Verification

All winners must verify their identity and eligibility before prize disbursement. Providing false information is grounds for immediate disqualification and forfeiture.

8. General Admission Attendees

General Admission attendees ($99, 25 votes) are event audience members. They are not eligible to compete for or receive any portion of the prize pool.

General Admission attendees participate as audience voters during the live showcase. Their Vote Pack allows them to evaluate and vote on competing builders. This is an exercise of judgment, not a chance-based mechanism.

No door prizes, giveaways, or chance-based awards will be offered to General Admission attendees in exchange for purchasing their experience. Any giveaways (if offered) will include a free, no-purchase-necessary alternative method of entry, clearly disclosed at the time of the giveaway.

9. Disqualification

GAIDE™ Chicago reserves the right to disqualify any contestant who:

• Fails Market-Ready Verification prior to their presentation slot.
• Presents a product that does not match their pre-submitted project description.
• Violates the GAIDE™ Chicago Code of Conduct during the event.
• Provides false or misleading information during registration or verification.
• Engages in any attempt to manipulate, rig, or unduly influence the audience vote.
• Fails to complete required tax documentation (W-9) within the specified timeframe.

Disqualified contestants are not entitled to a refund of their participation experience fee. The organizer’s decision is final.

10. Contact & Disputes

For questions about these rules, eligibility, or prize distribution:

• General Inquiries: info@gaidechicago.org
• Organizer / Press / Legal: dante@gaidechicago.org
• Organizer: ZITNALTA™ Labs, a ZITNALTA™ Studio product development initiative, Chicago, IL

These rules are subject to change prior to the event. Any material changes will be communicated to registered participants via email. The version of these rules in effect at the time of the event governs all disputes.

These rules are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Cook County, Illinois.

Attorney Review Reminder: These rules have been drafted to reflect best practices for Illinois skill contest compliance under 720 ILCS 5/28-1(b)(2) and the Illinois Prizes and Gifts Act. ZITNALTA™ Labs recommends having a licensed Illinois attorney review the final contest structure and these rules before the prize pool is publicly promoted.

GAIDE™ Chicago Vibe Coders Showcase & Awards  |  Skill Contest Rules  |  Effective April 7, 2026  |  Organized by ZITNALTA™ Labs, a ZITNALTA™ Studio Product Development Initiative  |  info@gaidechicago.org  |  gaidechicago.org