#BreakInequality together with our charity partner Plan International Canada in support of Because I Am A Girl seeks to close the gender gap in STEM-related fields and underrepresentation for women. This event will bring female (and male!) developers in Canada together with our charity partner on the ground to create solutions for the most disadvantaged women in rural communities, using web and SMS tools in innovative ways to connect, empower and provide accessibility to the next potential billion users.
We have an limited number of spots available so don't delay in grabbing your ticket!
FAQs
Event
What is a #BreakInequality hackathon?
BreakInequality is a hackathon that empowers women through technology by bringing developers together to build life-changing applications for women, impacting lives both locally (Waterloo) and globally (Bangladesh). If you love to learn and create, are a change-maker and want to build something with tangible social impact then bring your ideas, creativity and passion to BreakInequality and watch your project come to life.
Who can participate?
We are encouraging both men and women to apply! Students or working professionals of any skill or education level are eligible to apply. It is a definite asset if you have a background in development, hardware, software or UX/UI design. If you are tech-savvy and want to learn new technologies, build awesome stuff with tangible social impact and work with smart, like-minded individuals please reach out to us.
We have a limited number of spots available.
How much does it cost to attend #BreeakInequality?
We are proud to be able to offer early-bird admission for students to BreakInequality completely free - you need to pay $10 CAD to reserve your spot but you will get a full refund when you attend.
Early-bird general admission tickets will cost $15 CAD.
After early-bird pricing, student tickets are $15 CAD and general admission tickets are $30 CAD.
** We will also be providing lots of really great food and accommodation for the entire event. **
** We have a limited number of spots available. **
How do I get to #BreakInequality?
Arrangements for transportation, if travelling from outside Kitchener-Waterloo must be made by the participant.
Here are some options: Greyhound | VIA Rail | GO Transit
How does judging work?
We have a pretty amazing panel of judges with leading industry experience in technology, international development and international technology implementation who will be assessing solutions on a variety of factors, including but not limited to: scalability, social impact, usability, readiness, usefulness, creativity and design. All groups will have an opportunity to demo their solutions and give a 60-second pitch to our panel and all attendees. New judges will be announced on a rolling basis on our website, on Twitter and Facebook - so make sure to follow us!
What can I win?
The winning solution will be implemented in Bangladesh by our charity partner Plan International Canada in support of Because I Am A Girl. More prizes to be announced!
Are you looking for volunteers?
Yes! We are always on the lookout for people who are passionate, believe in giving back and want to be part of something great. We are accepting applications until November 1 -- you can submit yours here!
Hacking
What if I have never been to a hackathon before?
Don't sweat it. That is actually quite common! It is definitely an asset to have prior coding or technical experience, but it’s not a requirement. If you're interested in getting involved but don't have too much experience, we want help you get there! Hackathons can be a great place to learn a new skills in a short amount of time. Tell us how you think you can add value and let us do the rest.
Can I start working on the hack before the event?
No, and we do not allow participants to work on pre-existing projects. You can however familiarize yourself with all the tools and technologies you intend to use beforehand as well as conduct some contextual research! Case studies and fact sheets will be made available to confirmed attendees closer to the event.
What are we hacking?
You will be hacking to create solutions for social impact projects in low-income countries using technology, with equal-parts innovatiion and creative thinking. Participants will be given a set of case-studies that will help guide their solutions. These case studies have been created by our charity partner, Plan International Canada and focus around on-the-ground needs in Bangladesh. Given that solutions need to have an accessible component to those in rural and impoverished areas, we encourage all solutions and applications to integrate some form of SMS text message component. After all, even with the poorest 20% of people in the world, 55% of their households have a SMS powered phone!
How many hours do we have to hack?
Our schedule is located on our website and is constatnly being updated. Please check here.
Logistics
What can I expect?
You can expect to have a pretty amazing weekend; you will learn a lot, attend workshops, play ping-pong, meet new people, network with industry leading tech experts and build solutions with social impact.
Do I need to have a team in advance of the hackathon?
No, though you are welcome to! We typically suggest teams of about 5 people if you have a group in mind and would like to apply together. If you don't have a team, there will be time at the beginning of the event to join one! We will also be facilitating a Slack channel for confirmed attendees to network with each other prior to the event.
Will there be food?
YES. There will be so much food! You will not go hungry.
What should I bring?
Bring your laptop, charge cord and any hardware you want to hack with! Other than that, come eager to learn, excited to meet lots of awesome people, and most importantly, ready to build.
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
You must be 16 to attend this event. If you are under the age of 19 you will need a parent/guardian to sign a release form on your behalf.
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If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us and a member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.