As a follow up to its 2020 Impact Challenge, Ascend Leadership invites technologists near and far to hack together a technological solution to revive small businesses and help them recover from economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
THE HACKATHON CHALLENGE
Be inspired by ideas from Ascend’s Impact Challenge business case competition or come up with your own solution that helps build partnerships amongst small businesses, generates new revenue streams, or lowers their expenses.
The winner of this 26-hour social impact hackathon will receive $10,000 and the chance to use Fortune 500 technology company Cognizant’s labs to bring their solution to life!
WHY?
Small businesses are an essential component of every world economy. They provide goods, services and employment to countless millions. With quarantining and social distancing measures in place for over six months now, communities everywhere have seen small business after small business shutter their doors for good. Despite temporary financial support from public and private sources, the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many small businesses simply cannot survive without transforming their business models. In the United States small businesses provide almost 50% of all private sector jobs, which translates to sharply climbing unemployment as many small businesses are forced to shut down temporarily or close permanently.
Ascend challenges you to use your coding/designing skills and business savvy to help small businesses survive, recover, and thrive again! Your solution can address small businesses in any industry, anywhere in the world; including food/beverage service, accommodations, small-scale construction, and retail small businesses.
WHEN?
This virtual hackathon will take place on TBD, 2021.
TEAMS
SUBMISSIONS
Each submission requires:
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Projects will be judged based on the following criteria:
TOOLS, DATA AND IP RIGHTS
Participants are allowed to use any commercially known open source tools. Participants are also encouraged to use their own proprietary solutions to develop creative and efficient products. If you are representing a company, your company’s proprietary software assets are also allowed to be used with the appropriate permission within your organization. Please reference the Terms and Conditions to confirm that all IP rights remain with the participant and/or the organization they are representing.
All participants must agree to the Terms and Conditions listed.
ONE winning team will be selected to receive the $10,000 cash prize and the chance to use Cognizant’s labs to bring their solution to life!
Event start time: TBD, 2021
Code freeze: TBD, 2021
Submit projects: TBD, 2021
Demo Time: TBD, 2021
Winners Announced: TBD, 2021
REGISTRATION
Registration will be available soon.
Check back often for updates!