Pakathon Boston + Harvard SAI Hackathon 2016

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 partnering with the South Asia Institute at Harvard, the Harvard Pakistan Student's Group, and the HKS Pakistan Caucus this year to organize 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" and the Harvard South Asia Institute's Seed for Change:Pakistan competition ($7,500 prize).

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. This year's themes are:

Education

Energy

Healthcare

Women Empowerment

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 two skill-building sessions: 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, and a pitch-training workshop where the founder and CEO of EventCombo.com will talk about how to "get strangers to write you a check"!

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 DC on November 19th, 2016 either through video or in-person and get feedback from investors and entrepreneurs. We may also nominate the runner-up to attend Global Finals in DC for a wildcard entry.

We will help the winner from Global Finals build their solution. Winners from Global Final 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 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.

Teams that have Harvard-affiliates as members will also be eligible to compete in the South Asia Institute's Seed for Change:Pakistan competition in May 2017, which offers $7,500 in prize money. We will help all eligible teams that attend the Boston Hackathon to continue to develop their idea - connecting them with mentors, industry experts, and offering support - beyond the hackathon to ensure their success at the Seed for Change competition.

Our previous success stories include Procheck a company valued at over a $1M, She’kab a subscription car-pool service for women in Lahore, and Team Ammi an educational service for pregnant women in Pakistan.

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

Who are the judges?

Syed Gilani, founder and CEO of TABS Group International and Z-Square Technology, and honored as one of the 50 Outstanding Asian Business Leaders in America by the Asian American Business Development Council (AABDC).

Robert Kinder, Managing Director at G2 Capital Advisors, a mid-market investment bank in Boston, where he leads the Aerospace, Defense & Security Practice Group with a focus on the aerospace, special operations, intelligence, security and cyber- security industries.

Sameer Sabir, co-founder and CEO of SevenOaks Biosystems, co-founder and CEO of MoMelan Technologies (sold to Kinetic Concepts) and founder and president of the Rehma Fund, a non-profit that aims to provide equal access to healthcare to all children worldwide.

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 pakathonbos2016@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 the Harvard Kennedy School, which is easily accessible via public transport (if you are taking the bus or the Boston T Red Line metro, get off at Harvard Square station and walk about 5 minutes down John F Kennedy Street). 

If you will be driving to the event, street parking is available and free on weekends but Harvard Square is a popular destination, so expect street parking to be limited. 

If you have specific transport requirements, please contact us at pakathonbos2016@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 pakathonbos2016@gmail.com

Can I update my registration information?

Yes; if you would like to change anything with your registration, please email pakathonbos2016@gmail.com with the edits.