Calling all software engineers, designers, coders and techies: A Palm Beach County grant-making group is planning a “hackathon” aimed at creating technology solutions for local nonprofits. And there are cash prizes.
Code4GoodPBC, set for March 28 through March 29, is the first event of its kind in the county, according to Quantum Foundation. The West Palm Beach-based organization partnered with Modernizing Medicine, a health-care IT company in Boca Raton, and Florida Atlantic University’s technology incubator, Tech Runway, to host it at Tech Runway, at 901 NW 35th St. in Boca Raton.
During the hackathon, participants will break into teams and solve technology-related problems. They’ll present their ideas to a panel of judges on the final day, and compete for three prizes — $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. The first-place team will get a chance to help build their solution into a real-life product.
“At the end of this hackathon, the technology will serve a greater good,” said Eric Kelly, Quantum Foundation’s president.
“What we’re hoping will come out of it is a real solution that will be of use to the people of Palm Beach County,” added foundation spokeswoman Kerry Jamieson. She gave an example: “Imagine an app that can shorten waiting times in a free clinic, so people can get on with their lives.”
The problems that participants will try to crack have not yet been announced. They’re being selected from submissions from local nonprofits. Judges also have not yet been finalized, but their decisions on the top teams will be influenced in part by feedback from the nonprofits themselves, Kelly said.
He’s among three keynote speakers lined up for the weekend. The others are Dan Cane, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine, and Shawn Seipler, executive director of Clean the World, an Orlando nonprofit that recycles soap and shampoo products from the hospitality industry.
The hackathon is open to anyone who has an idea, is interested in helping the community and wants to contribute to a team in a technical or creative way. Attendance is limited and registration is required.
For more information, visit code4goodpbc.org.
bshammas@tribpub.com, 561-243-6531 or Twitter @britsham
