EnergyLab Northern Rivers Clean Energy Hackathon
Are you interested in the potential of business and technology to address challenges such as decarbonising our electricity grid, making transport more sustainable, or turning waste to renewable energy? Then we hope you will join us and other like-minded people for the EnergyLab Northern Rivers Clean Energy Hackathon.
EnergyLab and the Southern Cross Enterprise Lab have teamed up to organise this 1.5-day event to bring together a diverse group of people to come up with and develop clean energy startup and social enterprise ideas. This will be a great opportunity to meet new people, work on an interesting idea, learn something new, and have some fun. The winning team will receive prizes and support to help them make their idea a reality.
Everyone is welcome to participate, so whether you're a cleantech expert or new to the area, can code or not, are a hackathon junkie or a first-timer, we hope we'll see you there.
We'll provide everything you need, including great workspaces, all meals, and plenty of snacks to keep you fueled! Teams will receive mentoring from industry, business and tech experts to develop their ideas, business models and pitches.
EnergyLab is committed to growing new energy businesses that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. We strive for equality, inclusivity and accessibility, and we encourage all people to participate in this event. If you have any concerns about attending this event, please email odette@energylab.org.au.
How it works
-
Inspiration: We'll kick off with a couple quick presentations about problems you might consider solving.
-
Team forming: You can register as a team if you want, but if you're missing a team member or registering as an individual then we'll help you find teammates.
-
Ideation: Once teams are formed the brainstorming begins! Come up with a bunch of ideas and pick the one you want to work on for the rest of the hackathon.
-
Developing: We'll leave lots of time for you to develop your ideas, build a prototype if possible, and prepare your presentation. Mentors will be around to provide guidance if you want it.
-
Presenting: Each team will present to a panel of judges, who will pick the winning teams.
-
Celebrating: Unwind and celebrate what you've achieved in less than 24hrs over a drink and something to eat.
Key Information
Where: Southern Cross Enterprise Lab, Level 3, A Block, Southern Cross University, East Lismore NSW 2480
When: 5:30pm Friday 16 November to 7:00pm Saturday 17 November
Who: Students, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, hackers, professionals, and anyone else interested in clean energy startups. You can register as an individual or as a team.
Cost: Free, including all meals, snacks and drinks
Agenda
Friday 16 November
-
5:30pm: Arrive, have something to drink and eat, and start to get to know your fellow participants
-
6:00pm: Presentations to provide inspiration, resources and information on what the next 24 hours will entail
-
7:30pm: Dinner, team formation, and team registration
-
8:30pm: Go home and rest (or work if you really want to)
Saturday 17 November
-
8:00am: Doors open and breakfast served
-
Work in your teams with help from mentors
-
12:30pm: Lunch served
-
Optional presentation practice
-
4:45pm: Submissions due
-
5:00pm: 5-minute presentation by each team followed by questions from the judges
-
6:00pm: Drinks to celebrate all you've achieved in 24 hours with winners announced by 7:00pm
Prizes
The winning team will receive a prize package to help them get their idea off the ground.
-
A guaranteed place in EnergyLab's Pre-Acceleration Program
-
Free hot-desk membership at Southern Cross Enterprise Lab for the duration of the Pre-Acceleration Program
-
More prizes to be announced
* Requires submitting an eligible application by the deadline
Challenges
You may work on any startup idea related to clean energy, but we will provide some challenges and resources which you are welcome to use to point you in the right direction.
Judging criteria
-
Impact: If successful, the team will help transition Australia and the world towards a 100% clean energy future.
-
Value: The team has come up with a product or service that their customers are likely to want. They're targeting a market that is either large or growing fast.
-
Differentiation: The proposed product or service is brand new or contains an innovative twist on an existing solution. It is possible they could build an advantage over their competition in time.
-
Business plan: The team has a viable plan for generating revenue and becoming financially sustainable. What they propose is either possible with current regulations or is likely to be soon.
-
Team: The team have complementary skills and experience, and can clearly work well together to produce results in a short period of time.
Frequently asks questions (FAQs)
How many people are allowed in a team?
Teams must contain 2, 3 or 4 people. Teams with 5 or more people in them must break into two or more smaller teams. Individuals can't compete but we will help you find at least one other person to form a team with (see below).
I already have teammates; can I just participate with them?
Yes! As long as you have at least one other person on your team (and your team doesn't have more than four people in it).
I don't know anyone else attending, how will I form a team?
We have your back! We have built in lots of ways for you to meet other people in the same boat and will help you form a team with people you want to spend the weekend with. Before the event, you will be invited to a Facebook Group so you can start to get to know other people attending. The start of the event will include a few different networking opportunities, both casual and structured. During dinner, we'll help match individuals together and make sure no one is left out. If you have any questions or concerns please send an email to odette@energylab.org.au.
Can I still participate if I don't have an idea?
You can! We'll help your team find something interesting to work on over the weekend.
Do I have to spend the entire time at Enterprise Lab?
Nope, but we would encourage you to. It's a great venue and we'll provide a constant stream of food and drink. However, if you would be more comfortable elsewhere or have other commitments then you're free to come and go. Please just be back in time for the presentations on Saturday.
I have another question, who can I talk to?
Send an email to Odette Lawler at odette@energylab.org.au, or Tanya Egerton at tanya.egerton@scu.edu.au.
About the organisers
About EnergyLab
EnergyLab is Australia’s leading platform for launching new energy businesses. Our integrated approach draws on the community of clean energy entrepreneurs and offers a range of ways to engage and leverage their ideas, technologies and resources. To read more about EnergyLab head to energylab.org.au.
EnergyLab is partnering with Southern Cross University's Enterprise Lab to deliver it's Acceleration Programs, designed to help people launch and grow new energy businesses. Find out more at energylab.org.au/programs.
About Southern Cross Enterprise Lab
Southern Cross Enterprise Lab is a startup hub and co-working space located at Southern Cross University's Lismore campus. Functioning as a node in the NSW entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Enterprise Lab is supported by the NSW Government’s Department of Industry through the Boosting Business Innovation Program. Through its programs, the Enterprise Lab supports startups and works to build the entrepreneurial capacity of the Northern Rivers. Find out more at enterpriselab.org.au
Our Partners
This event would not be possible without the generous support of our partners
If you would like to receive invitations to other events EnergyLab organises in the future, please sign up to our mailing list.
Location
Dates
to 17th November 2018 - 07:00 PM