ChallengeLab Help Centre
Run and participate in challenges with confidence.
Find guidance for challenge work, collaboration, governance and platform administration. Options appear according to your account role and the challenge you have selected.
Updated for Release 13 · 17 July 2026
Important: ChallengeLab records operational choices and agreements. Legal, privacy, employment, Indigenous knowledge and patent matters may still require specialist advice.
Data protection Release 13
Release 13 governs uploaded files, account privacy requests, retention actions and recovery evidence.
Private file accessUploaded resources and attachments use links that expire after a short period. A copied old link cannot provide permanent access.
Safety reviewFiles record pending, clean, quarantined or rejected states. Production must connect an approved external malware scanner.
Retention and legal holdEach file receives a retention date. Expired content can be reviewed before purge, while a legal hold prevents deletion.
Your data rightsSigned-in users can open Account security to download their data or request access, correction or deletion.
Account deactivationThe platform administrator can revoke sessions and deactivate access without silently erasing operational evidence.
Verified recoveryA backup counts as verified only after an isolated restoration test is recorded with accountable evidence.
- Platform administrators open Platform → Data protection.
- Review scan status, retention dates and any quarantined files.
- Progress privacy requests and add an accountable resolution note.
- Record a successful restore test after checking an actual backup in an isolated environment.
Configuration is not assurance. Production still needs an approved privacy impact assessment, retention schedule, backup policy, malware scanner and independent security and accessibility testing.
Secure access and sessions Release 12
Production access uses a short-lived email sign-in link and a protected browser session.
- Enter the email address attached to your Challenge Hub account.
- Open the sign-in link delivered by email. The link can be used once and expires after 15 minutes.
- Use Security in the top bar, or Account security in the mobile account panel, to review signed-in devices.
- Revoke an unfamiliar device, or choose Sign out when using a shared computer.
Protected session cookieThe session credential is unavailable to page scripts and is not stored in browser local storage.
Rate-limited sign-inRepeated link and verification attempts are limited and recorded as security events.
Administrator responseThe platform administrator can revoke one session or all sessions belonging to an account.
Local demonstrationThe demo account selector and immediate development link remain available only when the local profile explicitly enables them.
Never forward a sign-in link. It grants access to the account until used or expired. If a link was shared accidentally, use a fresh link and ask the platform administrator to revoke active sessions.
Getting started
Your workspace changes according to your role, challenge membership and selected challenge.
Choose your accountThe demo account selector changes who you are viewing as. In production, secure sign-in will replace this convenience.
Choose a challengeUse Current challenge to move between challenges without changing account. Your role may differ between challenges.
Use the grouped menuOpen a first-tier group, then select a page. On mobile, the menu opens as a drawer from the top bar.
Keep chat availableChallenge chat is the persistent right pane. It can be collapsed, narrow or expanded without losing its conversation.
If changing the challenge unexpectedly changes the displayed user, return to the account selector and confirm the active identity. Challenge switching should preserve your account.
Challenge lifecycle and publishing
Publishing makes the challenge discoverable; it does not start team work or require teams to exist.
| Status | What it means | Typical actions |
|---|
| Draft | Visible only to authorised operators while its design is incomplete. | Configure phases, governance, judging, agenda and public information. |
| Published | Appears in the public challenge directory and can receive registrations or expressions of interest. | Promote the challenge, receive applications and form teams. No team is required before publishing. |
| Active | Participants are working and submitting phase deliverables. | Run events, support teams, monitor progress and manage phase access. |
| Judging | Submitted evidence is held for assigned judges to assess. | Resolve conflicts, complete scorecards and record decisions. |
| Completed | The operating cycle is closed and outcomes can be archived or showcased. | Publish approved outcomes, report results and retain the audit record. |
Publish is not a security approval. Use Pilot readiness to confirm that a particular challenge is configured well enough to operate. Use Platform operations to understand whether the deployment itself is suitable for external production use.
Cloud foundation, identity and data protection
The same application package can now be promoted safely through local, staging and production environments.
Deployment profilesLocal permits SQLite and demo data. Staging requires PostgreSQL. Production also requires HTTPS, authentication, trusted hosts and an administrator identity.
Fail-closed productionThe application refuses to start when a production profile contains unsafe defaults rather than silently falling back to a demo configuration.
Versioned migrationsDatabase changes are recorded in order. Readiness confirms that the running schema matches the application release.
Health endpointsLiveness confirms that the process is running. Readiness confirms database access, configuration and schema state before traffic is accepted.
Hardened containerThe application runs as a non-root user, includes a health check and keeps generated data outside the packaged image.
Provider-neutral templatesStaging and production examples describe the required secrets, PostgreSQL connection, persistent media path and domain settings without committing credentials.
Release 13 still requires independent assurance. The production storage and scanning providers, automated backups, shared realtime infrastructure, durable jobs and approved privacy operations remain launch gates.
Understanding the nine readiness checks
The report describes operating boundaries; it is not a security certification.
| Check | What it verifies | Production direction |
|---|
| Primary database | Whether the app is using local SQLite or PostgreSQL. | Use PostgreSQL with managed backups for an external multi-user deployment. |
| Authentication and identity | Whether secure sign-in is enforced and development sign-in paths are disabled. | Configure SMTP, disable development links, protect the session secret and review security events. |
| File and media storage | Where chat attachments and media are stored. | Use managed object storage, scanning, retention rules and signed access. |
| Realtime collaboration | Whether live chat relies on one running application instance. | Add a shared event broker before scaling across instances. |
| Automation worker | Enabled rules and pending or failed automated actions. | Use a durable queue, retries, monitoring and failure handling. |
| Production AI provider | Whether a provider is configured and challenge AI is enabled. | Retain deterministic fallback, approved-source boundaries and usage review. |
| Audit coverage | Application audit events retained in the primary database. | Add immutable retention, export, alerting and a retention schedule. |
| Backups and recovery | Whether automated backups and a tested restoration process can be verified. | Set recovery objectives and complete a restore rehearsal. |
| Privacy and deletion | Whether governed access, correction, retention and deletion workflows exist. | Complete a privacy impact assessment and data-subject workflows. |
Two kinds of readiness
They answer different questions and neither replaces the other.
Pilot readiness — challenge levelIs this particular challenge designed and configured well enough to publish or run? It checks items such as dates, phases, governance, onboarding and judging.
Platform operations — deployment levelIs the technical platform configured responsibly for the intended environment? It checks identity, data, recovery, privacy and infrastructure boundaries.
A challenge can be operationally ready while the local deployment is still limited to controlled pilot use. External launch requires both challenge readiness and appropriate deployment controls, plus specialist assurance where necessary.
Challenge design help
Turn an open problem into a fair, workable challenge.
Begin with the decision and outcome, then design the workflow, evidence, governance and participant experience around them.
Recommended design order
Earlier decisions should shape the options that follow.
- Define the outcome.
State what teams should produce and what decision the organiser must make. - Identify participants and stakeholders.
Describe who works on the challenge, who owns the problem and whose needs must be represented. - Choose progression and submission authority.
Decide how much facilitator control teams need. - Set governance and IP.
Publish rules before team onboarding or substantive work begins. - Design phases and deliverables.
Request only evidence needed for the outcome and judging criteria. - Test the complete journey.
Check onboarding, charter acceptance, phase access, submission and judging.
Challenge settings
These choices define the public frame and operating window.
DraftConfiguration is incomplete. Avoid onboarding participants against unfinished rules.
PublishedVisible and ready for registration, but challenge work may not have begun.
ActiveTeams are working through phases and producing deliverables.
Judging / CompletedJudging locks the evidence for review; completed closes the operating cycle.
OnlineAll onboarding, teamwork, support and submissions happen remotely.
Hybrid FlexibleCombines in-person events with online workspaces and asynchronous work.
In personCentred on facilitated sessions, with ChallengeLab retaining the evidence record.
Governance notesRecord important boundaries, decision rights and human-approval requirements.
Workflow options
Choose the least restrictive model that still provides clarity and control.
Facilitator moves all teams togetherBest for workshops and short cohorts that need common instruction.
Facilitator moves teams individuallyUseful when teams progress at different speeds but need readiness checks.
Self-directed teamsTeams move among released phases. Best for experienced participants.
Hybrid progression Common defaultTeams explore early phases while facilitators control important gates.
Any participant may submitReduces bottlenecks; every submission remains attributable.
Team lead onlyCreates a clear checkpoint. Ensure every team has a named lead.
Submitted phase answers are versioned. Reopening should be an explicit facilitator action so the evidence trail stays clear.
Intellectual property policy
The challenge sets a baseline. Teams agree their charter before accessing the workspace.
Ownership of newly created IP
Creators / team retain ownership Preferred baselineCreators retain their work, subject to the team charter and pre-existing obligations.
Nominated entityIP is assigned to a named company, university, consortium or other entity.
Multiple named ownersOwnership is shared. Define shares, decisions, licensing and departure arrangements.
Sponsor-ownedThe sponsor receives ownership. Use cautiously and obtain legal review.
Open licenceWork is released under a named licence after checking every input permits it.
Custom arrangementUse when standard models do not fit; state terms clearly and obtain advice.
Organiser and sponsor rights
| Option | Meaning | Design note |
|---|
| Challenge administration | Use work to operate, assess and archive the challenge. | Narrowest organiser licence. |
| Administration and showcase | Also permits approved communications or case studies. | Keep participant approval controls. |
| No sponsor preference | The sponsor uses ordinary commercial terms. | Cleanest open-innovation model. |
| First right to negotiate | The sponsor receives an exclusive first negotiation window. | Set a short expiry period. |
| First right of refusal | The sponsor may match a bona fide third-party offer. | Potentially restrictive; seek advice. |
Safeguards
Publication approvalRequires team approval before public display or communications.
Patent reviewChecks whether disclosure could damage patentability.
ICIP protocolFlags Indigenous knowledge for appropriate authority, attribution and use.
ConfidentialityTeam private is safest; public should always be a deliberate choice.
Judging criteria
Criteria should support the decision, not simply reward polished presentation.
Weights total 100%Use weights to communicate genuine priorities.
Problem and customer evidenceProblem framing, stakeholder understanding and evidence quality.
Value and impactExpected benefit, inclusion and measurable outcomes.
FeasibilityTechnical, operational, regulatory and commercial credibility.
Implementation pathwayOwnership, risks, resources, partnerships and next steps.
Criterion linksConnect each deliverable to the criteria it supports.
Assumptions and Notes Register
The register is the team’s shared follow-up list. It carries important uncertainties, work and context across phases so they are not lost in chat or buried inside a deliverable.
AssumptionA belief that matters but is not yet proven—for example, “customers will share property data.” Write it so evidence could validate or disprove it.
Task / to-doA concrete action still required, such as arranging an interview, checking a regulation or updating a test plan.
NoteUseful context, an emerging decision, a question to revisit or information the whole team should retain.
Team-wide or phase-specificUse team-wide for items that persist throughout the challenge. Link an item to a phase when it is mainly relevant to that stage.
Owner and priorityAssign an owner when action is required. High priority should identify work that blocks evidence, progress or submission.
StatusTasks move from open to in progress or done. Assumptions should be marked validated or invalidated when evidence changes the team’s view.
Is it required for every phase? The register itself is available throughout the challenge; it is not automatically a required submission for every phase. An organiser can make assumption or task review compulsory by adding a required phase deliverable—for example, “List the assumptions tested, evidence gathered and resulting decisions.”
Good team practice
- Capture important items directly or promote them from team chat.
- Review open items when beginning and finishing each phase.
- Assign owners and due attention to tasks that could block progress.
- Update assumptions when evidence is collected—do not silently delete them.
- Use validated and invalidated assumptions as evidence when writing deliverables.
Phases and deliverables
A phase is a period of work. A deliverable is the evidence produced during it.
PurposeExplain the decision or learning goal for the phase.
InstructionsTell teams what to do, applicable boundaries and where help is available.
Required deliverableMust be answered before submission. Use only for essential evidence.
Optional deliverableUseful supporting material that should not block progress.
OpenAvailable according to the challenge’s progression model.
Locked / CompletedLocked prevents work; completed preserves submitted evidence.
A strong prompt asks for a claim, evidence and implication—for example: “What are your three riskiest assumptions, what would disprove them, and what will you test first?”
AI personas
AI personas are simulations for coaching and structured challenge—not substitutes for real customers, experts or judges.
Coach or mentorPrompts reflection and planning without doing the team’s work.
Customer simulationHelps rehearse questions; insights still need real-world validation.
Subject expertProvides bounded guidance from approved sources and acknowledges gaps.
AI judgeStructures assessment but cannot select winners or make final decisions.
Role guides
This is the first role-help release. Later versions can add contextual guidance to each workspace.
Organiser
Owns challenge design, governance and final operating authority.
- Define outcomes, dates and eligibility.
- Publish workflow, judging and IP rules before onboarding.
- Assign facilitators, experts and judges.
- Approve material changes and final decisions.
Facilitator
Runs the participant experience and keeps teams progressing fairly.
- Manage teams, membership and phase access.
- Resolve blockers and expert requests.
- Monitor readiness without changing team content.
- Record exceptions and reopening actions.
Participant
Contributes to team work, evidence and deliverables.
- Complete onboarding and personally accept the charter.
- Declare affiliations and background IP.
- Work within released phases.
- Respect confidentiality and third-party rights.
Team lead
Coordinates the team and may hold submission authority.
- Confirm everyone completed onboarding.
- Coordinate charter terms and amendments.
- Check required answers and criterion coverage.
- Submit after team review.
Expert or mentor
Provides bounded advice without owning the team’s decision.
- Declare expertise, conflicts and confidentiality.
- Separate facts, assumptions and recommendations.
- Avoid restricted third-party material.
- Record useful advice clearly.
Judge
Assesses submitted evidence against published criteria.
- Declare conflicts before review.
- Judge submitted evidence, not private activity.
- Record rationale and follow-up questions.
- Treat AI assessment as advisory.
Persistent Team Chat
Team Chat stays available beside deliverables so online teams can communicate without leaving the phase workspace.
Standard drawer DefaultKeeps the shared conversation visible while leaving space for deliverable work.
CollapsedReduces chat to an unread-count rail when the team needs maximum working space.
ExpandedProvides more room for workshops, detailed discussion and AI-persona sessions.
All team / Current phaseSwitch between the continuous shared history and messages linked to the phase being viewed.
Human messages never require AI. Choose “Message team only” for normal communication, or explicitly select an AI persona when simulated guidance is wanted.