School of Computing 60th Anniversary 24 Hour Hackathon

Everyone is invited to our 24 hour non-stop hackathon looking at the challenging and exciting area of FinTech in partnership with major technology leaders (HSBC, IMC, AQL and others). Join us for this event, work in a team and propose a concept, or build a prototype, or design a start-up – whatever you do you will have the chance to win a portion of over £2,000 in prizes, continued mentorship, and gain access to job opportunities.

In 1957, the University of Leeds was one of the first universities in the UK to buy a computer. This was a revolutionary development in university science and engineering, and the springboard for academic computer science in the university.

60 years on, computer science underpins nearly everything we do.

The sponsors have provided a set of topics in the areas of financial tech, digital identity, security, and personal digital assistants. Your team will have 24 hours to propose a great idea for a particular topic and produce an initial prototype. You will then present your idea to a judging panel on Sunday afternoon. A winning team will be chosen for each topic area. Throughout the event you will be given mentoring and support by research staff and engineers in designing and building your concept. Mentors will also be on hand to look at your CV and give you tips on employability etc.

PRIZES

Over £2,000 of prizes to be won across sponsor led challenges as well as opportunities for sponsor mentorship and recruitment.

TEAMS

Teams will consist of 4 people, you can either register as a team or we can help you form a team at the reception event. We encourage multi-disciplinary teams to give you the best the chance of success.

AGENDA

Friday 20th October (18:30) - Welcome reception for delegates and sponsors with an introductory talk by Dr Chris Sier Fintech Envoy for the North

Saturday 21st October (10:30) - Hackathon Start

Sunday 22nd October (12:00) - Judging/prizes by Sponsors (scheduled close 15:00)

FAQs

 Are there restrictions on who can take part?

There are no restrictions on who can take part (other than age requirement of 18+). We would particularly like to see as many students (undergraduate, masters, and PhD) involved as well as staff from the universities in Leeds. We'd also love to see a great mix of disciplines, although having someone with a computing background on your team will help.

 Are meals provided?

Yes, at the reception on Friday we'll provide a buffet. On Saturday we'll provide lunch and dinner. On Sunday we'll provide breakfast and lunch. There will be coffee and soft drinks available throughout as well. There is not cost for the food or drink.

 Do we need to register as a team?

No, teams will consist of 4 people. You can register as a team online before the event or else you can let us know on Friday that you've got team sorted. If you haven't we'll help you either form or join a team during the reception on Friday and Saturday morning.

 Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

Yes, hackathon participants must be over 18 as the event runs throughout Saturday night.

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

After 5PM the University Edge and Multi-Storey car parks are open to the public. Payment is made before exiting. Further details can be found here: http://carparking.leeds.ac.uk/visitors/

What can I bring into the event?

Please bring a laptop.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Either use the contact details on your registration form or contact the School of Computing on 0113 343 5430.