School of Computing and Academic Studies Dean Steve Eccles welcomed Vancouver Startup Week (VSW) to BCIT’s downtown Tech Hub this past Friday night for an all-weekend hackathon. The annual event kicks off a week that brings together diverse participants to celebrate and strengthen Greater Vancouver’s innovation and technology communities.
Twenty-six teams of developers, designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs, helped by mentors, worked all weekend to help develop a “new mobility” solution. Grand sponsor EVO, BCAA’s car share, set the theme. VSW hackathon organizers included staff from Procurify and the BC Tech Association.
Tech sector thought leaders Sandra Phillips, Founder of Movmi, and Tai Silvey, President of EVO, inspired Hackathon participants with kick-off presentations.
BCIT Computing Associate Dean Bethany Edmunds joined the judging panel on Sunday. In the end, team Adcar won with a concept of making taxis free through ad revenue. They took home $7,500 in cash donated by Evo, and $10,000 in-kind services from Two Tall Totems to help them further develop the app. Second place went to Team Vision with a concept for keeping our roads safer by making sure drivers are awake.
BCIT Computer Information Technology Diploma (CIT) student Daniele Lisi was in the set of 10 teams who made it to the final round of presentations.
Wrapping up the weekend, BCIT grad and Procurify co-founder and CEO Aman Mann told hackathon participants, “do not stop, do not make this an endpoint if you truly believe in what you’re doing. This is just a starting point.” He ended with praise for “great presentations, a lot of energy, a lot of heart. I’m really proud to be a part of this community.”
The hackathon was an excellent fit for this bright new high tech space, and it was an energizing weekend. Check out the event video by A Momente Created.
Photo credit: A Momente Created