Pakathon Boston Hackathon 2017

Do you want to one day go back to Pakistan after studying or working abroad and make a difference in a sustainable way?

Or maybe you are passionate about using technology and business to address problems in developing countries?

​Pakathon Boston is organizing its annual 'hackathon', a workshop where you will learn how to work in teams to create a solution for a social issue in Pakistan and work on a business plan to implement this solution. Perhaps you’d like to create an alternative syllabus taught at schools, or an app that allows easy transfer of money or create a mockup of better farming techniques in Pakistan.

Network with your peers, get advice from investors and entrepreneurs in the Boston area, and get the opportunity to participate in Pakathon Global's "Returners Program". 

What is the format of the hackathon?

Our 'hackathon' is a two-day workshop where teams will work to develop solutions to problems around specific themes. Possible themes are:

Education

Energy

Healthcare

Financial Inclusion

Agriculture

Participants can come in teams or form teams with other participants at the event interested in tackling similar issues.

Over the course of this workshop, you will learn team-building, creating a simple model of a solution to your identified problem and creating a plan on how to implement it. You will also get the opportunity to meet other like-minded Pakistanis who are passionate about going back and making a difference. We will also have mentors on hand specifically to help people who have little or no prior experience in designing solutions, programming or creating a business plan.

Participants of all backgrounds are welcome (no coding required, we promise!).

In addition to working with your teams, you will get to attend a design-thinking workshop, where Pakathon Boston facilitators will walk you through a structured brainstorming process often used by design firms to isolate a particular problem and systematically work through possible solutions.

The workshop will conclude with a pitch session, where each team will get to pitch their idea to a panel of highly qualified judges (more on this year's judges below!) who will provide constructive feedback to all teams and decide which team had the best idea and business plan.

Why should I attend?

We believe that attending the hackathon is a tremendously valuable experience, regardless of your background or future life plans.

If you are interested in launching your own social venture in Pakistan:

The best team from Boston's hackathon will present at the next round at Global Finals in San Francisco in January 2018, either through video or in-person and get feedback from investors and entrepreneurs. We may also nominate the runner-up to attend Global Finals for a wildcard entry.

We will help the winner from Global Finals build their solution. Winners from Global Finals who are moving back to Pakistan will automatically have the option of enrolling in our “Returner’s Program” where we will connect them to our extended mentor network in Pakistan. We also have partnerships with a host of accelerators and incubators in Pakistan (like Plan9, i2i and Nest i/o) that can help with their admission process.

Additionally, for teams that move back to launch for-profit businesses, we will provide opportunities for funding in 2017, either through our fund or through introductions to other funds like the Acumen Fund in Pakistan.

Our previous success stories include Procheck, a company valued at over a $1M, She’kab a subscription car-pool service for women in Lahore, Team Ammi an educational service for pregnant women in Pakistan, and last year's winners, CReSP, a service to help pharmacuetical companies outsource medical research to Pakistani clinical research organizations.

If you are not interested in launching your own social venture:

The hackathon will still be an incredibly valuable experience: you will get the opportunity to connect with your peers, access Pakathon's growing network of CEOs, investors, and mentors, and learn valuable skills such as design thinking, fundraising, team-building and formulating a business plan.

Past participants have leveraged the Pakathon network for professional and business opportunities and have gotten offers at Fortune 500 companies such as Google.

How do I register for the Hackathon?

Sign up through EventCombo page. The event is free and open to the public, however, due to capacity restrictions, please make sure to register and RSVP through EventCombo so that we have an accurate head count of all attendees.

Terms and Conditions

By purchasing a ticket, you give Pakathon Boston the right to use any photographs or videos taken at the Hackathon to be used in any of our publications or materials produced for the purpose of marketing and spreading the word.

Please contact us at pakathonbos2017@gmail.com for any additional questions.

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

No! The event is open to people of all ages.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

The event is being held at District Hall (75 Northern Ave, Boston, MA) which is easily accessible via public transport (take T Red Line metro to South Station and transfer to the SL1 or SL2 bus, get off at Courthouse Station, and walk about 5 minutes down Seaport Avenue or Northern Ave).

If you will be driving to the event, street parking is available.

If you have specific transport requirements, please contact us at pakathonbos2017@gmail.com with questions.

Should I bring my own laptop?

Yes, we encourage you to bring a laptop to help you with doing research and developing any prototypes or presentations. Free high-speed internet access will be provided.

Will food be provided?

Yes! On both days, we will provide refreshments for breakfast, during the afternoon, and provide lunch to all participants.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please email pakathonbos2017@gmail.com

Can I update my registration information?

Yes; if you would like to change anything with your registration, please email pakathonbos2017@gmail.com with the edits.