Can’t design an app but love big prize money? There’s a way to earn thousands just by submitting the best idea. No coding knowledge? Doesn’t matter. No design background? Still good.
That’s what you get with annual contests like the Define 2024 app design competition. Winners earn up to $10,000 for pitching smart, useful app ideas. The twist? You don’t have to build the app.
How One Winner Made $10,000 Without Building an App
Adrian Goins, a network engineer based in Chile, entered the Define 2021 challenge from HeroX. He won the first prize — a $10,000 payout — for suggesting a mobile app that keeps your medical records organized and always accessible.
His pitch? Simple. Build one app that stores your health history, test results, medications, and contacts — and let you update it easily. It would help during emergencies or when switching doctors or insurance.
Adrian didn’t code. He didn’t design anything. He just submitted a clear, well-written idea with screenshots made using Microsoft PowerPoint.
You Don’t Have to Be a Tech Pro to Win
The Define 2024 contest is focused on concept and clarity. Judges want:
- A mobile app idea that solves a real-world problem
- Clear explanation of who it benefits
- Simple features that make the app easy to use
- Mockup images to show how it might look
If that sounds doable, you’re already qualified to try. You just need a fresh idea and a smart way of explaining it.
Why App Creators Want Your Ideas
Companies and developers constantly search for new ideas. The Define challenge gathers creativity from people outside tech.
Instead of relying on their internal teams, sponsors crowdsource fresh takes from people across different industries, cultures, and experiences.
You don’t need to understand programming to know how an app should work for you. That outsider’s view is valuable.
What’s Define 2024?
Define is a yearly app design competition hosted on HeroX, a crowdsourcing platform for innovative challenges. It runs from spring to summer and pays out real prize money.
In 2021, the challenge awarded a combined total of $17,500 across 8 winners. The top prize went to the judge-favorite idea. Seven others each received $1,000 as honorable mentions.
Here’s how the 2024 version stacks up:
- Prize pool: $10,000+ in total
- Top prize: $5,000 or more
- Timeline: Usually runs 8 to 10 weeks
- Eligibility: Open to individuals 18 and older
What You Submit: It’s Easier Than You Think
The entry package is all about the idea. Here’s what you need to include (based on past contests):
- Problem summary: What issue does this app fix?
- Target users: Who would use this app?
- Key features: What does the app actually do?
- User experience mockups: Layout or flowcharts, often just made in PowerPoint, Canva, or similar tools
The more clearly you show how it works, the better your chances.
What Makes an Idea Stand Out?
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Winning ideas are simple, practical, and well-presented. Past winners focused on:
- Helping people track health conditions
- Making mental health support easier to access
- Helping students manage schedules and assignments
- Improving how people learn new skills
Ask yourself: What do people struggle with every day? Is there a way an app could make that easier?
How to Stand Out: 5 Key Tips
You’re competing against hundreds of entries. Here’s how to improve your submission:
- Pick a relatable problem. Don’t go too niche. Choose something most people experience.
- Focus on one solution. Avoid stuffing your app with too many tools. Keep it clean and focused.
- Show the journey. Illustrate or describe what the user sees from the time they launch the app to their goal.
- Use plain language. Don’t try to sound technical. Be clear and specific.
- Label your images. Help the judges follow your mockups with captions or short explanations.
You Don’t Need Photoshop or Fancy Tools
You can draw your app on paper, scan it, and submit. Or you can use tools like:
- Canva
- PowerPoint or Google Slides
- Figma (free design tool)
- Draw.io for flowcharts
The visuals don’t need to look professional. They’re just there to help explain your idea.
What Did the Judges Love About Adrian’s Submission?
The feedback from 2021 highlighted these elements:
- Clear structure and explanation
- Real-world use case that solves a real problem
- Easy to understand for non-medical users
- Simple app features that avoided confusion
His app wasn’t flashy. It was useful and easy to explain. That’s why it won.
Past Winning Ideas That Made an Impact
Some of the best ideas in recent competitions didn’t come from developers. They came from everyday users who saw gaps in existing apps and filled them with better features.
Here are a few examples:
- Emergency medical record app: For travelers and people with chronic conditions
- Mental health journaling tool: Provides daily prompts and tracks mood over time
- Career skills builder: Tracks learning progress and connects users to mentors
These app pitches didn’t promise to change an entire industry. They aimed to solve one issue well.
Why Entering Could Be Worth Your Time
You spend time every day spotting problems — whether on your phone, at work, or in your community. Turning one of those into an app idea could pay off.
Consider your file-sharing frustrations, grocery list mess-ups, or budget tracker issues. Could your idea fix one of them?
If so, here’s what you may get:
- Up to $10,000 in prize money
- Validation from a panel of professionals
- Experience you can use for freelance portfolios or startup pitches
- Recognition even without winning — some entries have sparked interest from developers
Who Can Enter?
Anyone age 18 or older can submit. You don’t need to live in the U.S. Many international participants have placed. All submissions are in English, so knowing the language helps.
Where to Submit Your Idea
You’ll need to register on HeroX.com. From there, search for “Define App Competition” or go directly through the competition links once open.
Upload your documents and images directly to the portal. Read through the rules before submitting to make sure you include every section.
When Do Winners Get Paid?
Past winners received their payouts within a few weeks after the announcement. Prizes are paid via PayPal or direct deposit through the HeroX platform.
Depending on your country, taxes may apply. But there’s no fee to enter.
What If You Don’t Win?
Many winners didn’t make the cut their first time. But the feedback and practice go a long way. Some people turn past entries into actual apps or polish them for the next contest.
One participant used her submission to land freelance app design jobs. Another refined his idea and launched it on Kickstarter.
Want to Try It? Start This Weekend
Here’s how to use just two days to build a compelling submission:
Day 1:
- Pick a real-life problem you care about
- Write out who suffers from it and what they need
- List basic features that solve the issue
Day 2:
- Sketch a few screens or user flows
- Write a short summary of what the app does
- Combine it all into one file to upload to HeroX when the contest opens
Even if you don’t win, you gain confidence and maybe something to include in a pitch deck, resume, or freelance profile.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why doesn’t an app exist for this?” — this is your chance to make that idea pay off.
