Imagine a space where beginners and experienced tech enthusiasts come together to brainstorm, collaborate, and build innovative solutions to real-world problems. That's the magic of GDI's Hackathon. For the 4th year, GDI will be hosting individuals - new and practiced to coding - to join teams that will work to create solutions to common problems by building innovative applications. Our hackathons empower BIPOC women and non-binary individuals to thrive in tech. Participants gain hands-on experience in software development by collaborating with real tech companies to create data-driven solutions for improved health outcomes. Through this unique opportunity, participants build their professional networks, cultivate confidence, and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.

This year's Hackathon, Wired for Wellness, will focus on challenging participants to harness the power of data to create innovative solutions that improve health outcomes. Think wearable devices, personalized health apps, data-driven wellness platforms – the possibilities are endless! Our pre-hackathon events and skill-boosting workshops will equip newcomers with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed, even for teams starting from scratch. Each team will be assigned a mentor, an experienced technician, who will share tools, resources, answer questions, and pass along passion for their teach journey.

We invite coders to join us; come with ideas, or join a team working on a project that sparks your excitement. Collaborate with your team to design, code, and create a project you're proud of. Your ideas and creations have the potential to transform the world of health tech and improve lives.

Sign Up Here! https://girldevelopit.com/e/mvrs7f/

Looking Back

2023 Hackathon: Transformative Tech

Last year's event, themed "Transformative Tech," saw over 700 participants, most of whom have never before participated in a Hackathon, come together to tackle challenges at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Last year's particular event, designed to foster learning and innovation, resulted in the creation of a simple yet impactful app to support individuals experiencing panic attacks, highlighting the power of accessible design and empathetic technology. But the impact went beyond the apps themselves. Participants not only gained valuable technical skills but also boosted their confidence, expanded their networks, and even discovered new career paths.

The supportive environment and mentorship provided by GDI played a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and accomplishment. First-time hackers like Tanya Thomas and Lee Goullard found their footing, contributing to innovative projects and feeling empowered to take bold new steps in their careers. The hackathon proved to be a transformative experience for many, demonstrating that with a bit of courage and a supportive community, anyone can make a difference in the tech world.

As one participant shared, "Don't worry about what you don't know, just come, enjoy, participate, put in your contribution, and have fun!" This sentiment encapsulates the welcoming spirit of GDI hackathons and their potential to empower individuals from all backgrounds to unleash their creativity and make a real impact.

 Past Hackathon Winning Ideas:

iSoothe

• An app that helps people process and remain calm during a panic attack.

Strolls (Walking Adventure) 

•  An app for your neighborhood walk! Search up your neighborhood, and discover secret spots shared by your community members! Check out the project here: https://strolls.netlify.app/

Green Smile

• A "game" where you write something positive in the app daily and it plants a beautiful plant for you to see your garden grow, like a gratitude journal/keeper.

Crowd Favorite: Clinical Behavior App

• Cross-platform app (react native) to track behaviors for teachers and clinicians, improve upon the design of existing apps, add backend, data visualization, etc.

Spirit of GDI: Note to Chef (Recipe App)

• The Recipe App makes adjusting for dietary accommodations simply by allowing users to select their restrictions and populate a curated list of 10 relevant recipes.Check out the project here.. https://www.notetochef-gdihackathon22.com/

Best Theme Project: ASD Womxn Empowerment App

• Daily inspiration from autistic creators, professionals, and advocates

Judges’ Favorite: BIPOC Wellness App

• An app that will list therapists and medical doctors according to where you live and based on your specific needs: project.. https://bipoc-wd.netlify.app/

Get It Tomorrow: ShyDevs

• An app that provides challenges for people looking to be more social

Best TeamWork: Vaccine Record Tracker

• App to track family vaccination records

Most Creative: ADHD Focus Tracker 

• An app to track productivity sessions and habits and reflect on what helped your productivity.

 Yoga2Go

• A web app that provides users with information and a demo video of the yoga pose of the day, as well as the option to search all the poses: https://tmflower.github.io/yoga2go

EatGram

• EatGram is a social media platform where different types of eaters can learn, network, follow a diet plan, and watch food-related videos. More here: https://eatgram.vercel.app/

City Slickers

• This app will help neighbors track what the city is doing in their area in terms of construction, projects, additions, etc.: https://cityneighborhoodproject.netlify.app/

MoodSwings

• An app with a daily check-in/quick quiz about how you’re feeling mentally and physically. Each check-in is scored and assigned a color which will display a graph for a visual representation of it.