diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index bd0cd9e2..8db3c900 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,53 +1,23 @@
-# Stellar Network Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_STELLAR_NETWORK=testnet
-# Options: testnet, public
-
-# Application Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=http://localhost:3000
-# Your application's public URL
-
-# API Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:8000/api
-# Your backend API URL
-
-# WalletConnect Configuration
-NEXT_PUBLIC_WALLET_CONNECT_PROJECT_ID=your_wallet_connect_project_id
-# Get this from https://cloud.walletconnect.com/
-
-# Stellar Horizon URLs (optional - defaults will be used)
-NEXT_PUBLIC_HORIZON_TESTNET_URL=https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org
-NEXT_PUBLIC_HORIZON_PUBLIC_URL=https://horizon.stellar.org
-
-# Application Metadata
-NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_NAME=Boundless
-NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_DESCRIPTION=Stellar-based application
-NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_ICON=/logo.svg
-
-# Development Settings
-NEXT_PUBLIC_DEBUG_MODE=false
-# Enable debug logging for wallet operations
-
-# Feature Flags
-NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_WALLET_CONNECT=true
-NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_MULTI_WALLET=true
-NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_NETWORK_SWITCHING=true
-
-# NextAuth Configuration
-NEXTAUTH_SECRET=your_nextauth_secret_here
-# Generate a random string for this secret
-# You can use: openssl rand -base64 32
-
-NEXTAUTH_URL=http://localhost:3000
-# Your application's public URL (same as NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL)
-
-# Google OAuth Configuration
-GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=your_google_client_id
-# Get this from Google Cloud Console
-
-GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET=your_google_client_secret
-# Get this from Google Cloud Console
-
-# Environment
-NODE_ENV=development
-# Options: development, production, test
-
+# Created by Vercel CLI
+GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=""
+GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET="your_google_client_secret"
+NEXTAUTH_SECRET="PiRlq+7IyU5QJuCiVwjiuwZUGCqc/3qw1QPgLOt2AFg="
+NEXTAUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL="https://stage-api.boundlessfi.xyz/api"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_DESCRIPTION="Stellar-based application"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_ICON="/logo.svg"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_NAME="Boundless"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_BETTER_AUTH_URL="https://stage-api.boundlessfi.xyz"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_BOUNDLESS_PLATFORM_ADDRESS=""
+NEXT_PUBLIC_DEBUG_MODE="false"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_MULTI_WALLET="true"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_NETWORK_SWITCHING="true"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_ENABLE_WALLET_CONNECT="true"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=""
+NEXT_PUBLIC_HORIZON_PUBLIC_URL="https://horizon.stellar.org"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_HORIZON_TESTNET_URL="https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_STELLAR_NETWORK="testnet"
+NEXT_PUBLIC_TRUSTLESS_WORK_API_KEY=""
+NEXT_PUBLIC_WALLET_CONNECT_PROJECT_ID="your_wallet_connect_project_id"
+NODE_ENV="dev"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/components/organization/hackathons/new/tabs/RewardsTab.tsx b/components/organization/hackathons/new/tabs/RewardsTab.tsx
index 7867f012..0c1db47e 100644
--- a/components/organization/hackathons/new/tabs/RewardsTab.tsx
+++ b/components/organization/hackathons/new/tabs/RewardsTab.tsx
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ const PRIZE_PRESETS = {
 const RANK_EMOJIS = ['🥇', '🥈', '🥉', '🏅', '🏅'];
 
 interface PrizeTierProps {
-  tier: Omit<PrizeTier, 'currency'> & { id: string; currency?: string };
+  tier: any; // Using any for simplicity with FieldArray types
   index: number;
   onRemove: (id: string) => void;
   canRemove: boolean;
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ const ValidationAlert = ({ totalPool }: { totalPool: number }) => {
 
 export default function RewardsTab({
   onSave,
+  onContinue,
   initialData,
   isLoading = false,
 }: RewardsTabProps) {
@@ -432,6 +433,9 @@ export default function RewardsTab({
       if (onSave) {
         await onSave(data);
       }
+      if (onContinue) {
+        onContinue();
+      }
     } catch (error: any) {
       const message = error.response?.data?.message || error.message;
       const errorMessage = Array.isArray(message) ? message[0] : message;
@@ -538,10 +542,31 @@ export default function RewardsTab({
           </Button>
 
           {form.formState.errors.prizeTiers && (
-            <p className='flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-red-400'>
-              <AlertCircle className='h-4 w-4' />
-              {form.formState.errors.prizeTiers.message}
-            </p>
+            <div className='rounded-lg border border-red-500/20 bg-red-500/10 p-3'>
+              <p className='flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-medium text-red-400'>
+                <AlertCircle className='h-4 w-4' />
+                {form.formState.errors.prizeTiers.message ||
+                  'Validation error in prize tiers'}
+              </p>
+              <div className='mt-2 space-y-3 text-xs text-red-400/80'>
+                <p>
+                  To proceed, you must use a <strong>Prize Preset</strong> to
+                  configure your rewards. Presets automatically apply the
+                  required ranking and score thresholds needed for the system.
+                </p>
+                <div className='rounded-lg border-red-500/30 bg-red-500/10 p-3 text-red-300'>
+                  <p className='mb-1 font-semibold tracking-wider uppercase'>
+                    Action Required:
+                  </p>
+                  <p>
+                    Scroll up and select one of the{' '}
+                    <strong>Prize Presets</strong> (Standard, Winner Takes Most,
+                    etc.). You can still adjust the total prize pool amounts
+                    after selecting a preset.
+                  </p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
           )}
         </div>