Built from experience, not assumptions.
Contest Engine was shaped by years of running real media competitions with real students, real judges, and real deadlines. Not by guessing how contests should work.
From the founder
I never planned to build software. I just got tired of wishing it existed.
For nearly 20 years, I've run some of the nation's largest student media competitions through organizations like the Student Television Network and, more recently, Shoots Summit Hawaiʻi. Every year the events grew, but the technology rarely kept up.
People want their work to matter.
I wanted a platform that made running a contest feel almost invisible, leaving the focus where it belongs: on the work itself. So I built Contest Engine.
If the software does its job well, nobody notices it. They remember the stories, the creativity, and the experience of being part of something meaningful.
I don't believe growth and opportunity should be limited by budget, staffing, or legacy systems. If you have a community, a mission, and people creating great work, you should have the tools to recognize it. Contest Engine is my contribution toward making that possible.
Today, organizations across the country use Contest Engine to run media competitions of every size. Every feature was earned by solving a real problem for a real contest.
Jeb BruntFounder, Media Education Solutions
Why organizations choose Contest Engine
One platform. One workflow.
From submissions and judging to feedback, results, and winner showcases, everything happens in one place. No patchwork of spreadsheets, cloud drives, forms, and email threads.
Fairness by design
Anonymous entries, guided scoring, and built-in oversight create a fair, consistent process you can confidently explain to participants, educators, parents, and stakeholders.
Recognition that motivates
Every media contest is an opportunity to celebrate great work. Winner showcases, written feedback, achievement awards, and participant recognition help build stronger programs year after year.
Own your assets
Build a library of rights-cleared video, photo, and creative work that belongs to your organization, ready to download, archive, and showcase long after the event is over.
Built for school reality
No student accounts. No unnecessary barriers. Reliable uploads on school Wi-Fi. Remote judging. Thoughtful details shaped by years of running real media competitions.
Why contests work
The best contests do more than recognize great work. They give people a reason to create, improve, and come back ready to do it again.
Competence
Challenges and clear goals inspire people to push their limits. Competing to a standard, not just against each other, elevates the quality of every entry.
Autonomy
Participants receive the prompt and the deadline, but the story is still theirs to tell. That creative freedom is what makes the work authentic.
Relatedness
Being part of something bigger and meaningful builds pride, loyalty, and the desire to contribute again next time.
Frequently asked questions
If you run media contests, you deserve better than a spreadsheet.
Tell us what you're building. We'll show you what's possible.