After a successful maiden run in 2019, Impact Hackathon returns this year. Its organizer, social impact incubation network Impact Hub Manila (IHM) believes that the ongoing pandemic brings a greater need to find innovations that will address current social challenges in the new normal.
IHM is inviting innovators and aspiring change-makers and entrepreneurs from all across the country to sign up and participate in the weeklong event, which will be facilitated online this time from August 17 to 21, 2020.
Impact Hackathon 2020 is geared towards rebooting the Philippine economy, which is logically in the brink of recession these days. Thus, the event is focused on inclusive digital innovations in five verticals—climate change, education, food and agriculture, health and wellness, and smart cities.
Partners for each of those verticals will pose problem statements for participants to hack though viable tech solutions. Each participating team must create minimum viable products by the end of the hackathon week. Winning ideas will be incubated by IHM and its partners, which will also support the scaling of the projects to ensure impact and sustainability.
At stake is over $100,000 (about P5 million) worth of prizes, including access to IHM’s incubation program and to a global network of experts and entrepreneurs.
During the weeklong event, IHM will also conduct a series of Learning Sessions, capitalizing on its global network of mentors, industry leaders, impact-driven entrepreneurs, and change-makers. Such sessions will equip participants with relevant information for the innovations they will come up with during the hackathon. These will also serve as a platform for rich discussions and network-building among participants, mentors, and partners.
Impact Hackathon will culminate through ‘2050 Fest,’ a festival where experts, industry leaders, and collaborators will come together for panel discussions and the announcement of winners.
July 1 – Opening of registration portal
August 17 – Opening program
August 18 to 21 – Hackathon proper and Learning Sessions
August 22 to 23 – Jury deliberation
August 24 – 2050 Fest culmination program
August 25 – Announcement of national winners
Impact Hackathon is a component of IHM’s Impact 2050, a multi-year program aimed at creating a large-scale economic impact through cultivating the country’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
In 2019, Impact Hackathon gathered more than 80 partners, 300 mentors and jurors, and 1,700 participants that yielded a total of 186 completed projects. Through digital solutions and impact-driven entrepreneurship, it is also aimed at contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that ensure that no person and community will be left behind in pursuit of sustainable development globally.
Partners from Impact Hackathon 2019 will return to support this year’s hackathon along with new collaborators including the Office of Senator Francis Pangilinan, iProcure, Unifinity, Salesforce, and KMC.
Interested participants may register through this link.
