PR Hackathon 2019: Amplify the Communication for Future Startups

Are you looking for hands-on practical experience in Public Relations? Are you looking for jobs in Non-profit/for-profit business? Do you have an idea but struggle to communicate with others? The PR Hackathon 2019 will be a good fit for you! The PR Hackathon 2019 is a half-day event held at Innovate@BU BUild Lab created and hosted by the Innovate@BU Student Leadership Council.

With the right voice delivered via the right medium, at the right time, organizations can craft the right messages for its target audiences, stay true to its brand essence and ultimately meet its objectives with a profound impact. This signature event will walk you through the journey of self-discovery by applying professional PR expertise to startups and driving innovation further. For starters, startups begin with a clean slate and no brand awareness. Participants with various backgrounds, marketing skill sets, and creative abilities will serve as professional consultants to help startups advance their PR strategy. Participants will receive a certificate at the end of the event.

For individuals: 

You will work in a team to serve as a professional consultant to coach startup based on their needs. You will walk away with practical experiences in PR and entrepreneurial inspirations. One goal of this event is to help startups advance their PR strategy by working with teams of PR consultants on a specific project. You will apply your PR expertise to help startups advance their PR strategy by working with teams of PR consultants on a specific project.

These projects would be focused on a startup-specific objective, such as:

• Educating the public about a new product, service or idea

• Raising funds to build or grow the business

• Generating trials of its products or services

• Acquiring new customers

• Attracting top talent

• Staking out its place amongst the competition

The ventures that you will be working with come from different fields such as Technology, Social Impact, Non-profit, and E-commerce business. You can choose the one that interests you the most to work with. 

This PR Hackathon 2019 kicks-off on April 20th, 2019 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the BUild Lab IDG Capital Student Innovation Center (730 Commonwealth Avenue) with startup companies and teams of professional PR consultants working together to solve real-life PR challenges. The event is sponsored by Boston University Innovate@BU and is open to the public.

**To participate in the actual hackathon as an individual consultant please click here for the application.**

Format/Agenda:

09:00 - 09:30 AM - Introduction to the day, startups and consulting teams

09:30 - 11:30 AM - Consulting Period: PR student consultants work with startups on predetermined problems

11:30 - 11:40 AM - PR consultants prepare the presentation

11:40 - 12:15 PM - Presentations (5 minute presentation + 5 min Q&A from Questrom/COM professors)

12:15 - 12:30 PM - PR Hackathon Certificate of participation

12:30 - 01:00 PM - Networking

*Participants will receive a certificate at the end of the event and walk away with a tangible actionable PR plan to enhance the study in the PR field.