Rules

Season 1 · Summary · Updated 13 October 2026

These are the principles Season 1 runs on. Full terms, including prize amounts, dates and shortlist sizes, are published with the brief, before anyone enters. If the full terms and this page differ, the full terms apply.

Who runs it

Retention Open is organised by Chronos Digital Pte. Ltd. (22 Sin Ming Lane, #06-76 Midview City, Singapore) ("we"), trading as Chronos. Contact: hello@retentionopen.com.

Who can enter

• Anyone aged 18 or over who works, or wants to work, in email, SMS, CRM or retention for ecommerce brands.
• Entrants can be from any country, unless local law prohibits taking part or receiving the prize.
• Current employees and contractors of the organiser, and the judges, can't enter.
• One entry per person, made by you alone.

A competition of skill

Results depend only on the quality of the work, scored by judges against a published rubric. There is no element of chance and no entry fee.

Judging is blind

• You compete under an assigned alias. Judges see your work, not your name, CV, photo or location.
• Your identity is held separately and matched to your alias only by the organiser, for shortlisting, payment and the live final.
• Don't put your name, employer or other identifying details in your entry. Entries that do may be disqualified.

Use of AI

You may use AI tools. You're scored on your reasoning, your forecast and how you defend them, so show your thinking.

Your work stays yours

• You keep ownership of everything you submit.
• By entering, you let us use your entry to run and judge the competition.
• We'll ask your permission before showing any entry publicly, and we'll show it under your alias unless you choose otherwise.

Data in the brief

The brief uses a sandbox account or data from a brand that has agreed to take part. You may use it only for your entry and must not copy, share or publish it.

Prizes

• Prizes are cash, paid by bank transfer, plus a paid trial engagement for the winner that may lead to an offer of work.
• Winners are responsible for any tax on prizes in their country.
• We may withhold a prize if an entry breaks these rules.

Fair play

Plagiarism, lobbying judges, multiple accounts or sharing the brief's data will lead to disqualification. Judges' decisions are final.

Changes

We may change the format or timing before entries open. If we change anything after that, we'll email every entrant.

Governing law

These rules are governed by the laws of Singapore.