StarterHacks.
Canada's first and largest
beginner-focused hackathon.
Role
Co-Lead
Marketing Director
Platforms
Illustrator
Facebook
Figma
Duration
9 months
Date
2019
overview
Who We Are
StarterHacks is a beginner-focused hackathon that works
to foster collaboration, education, and inclusion. StarterHacks
has been running for two years now and it would not have been
possible without a team of determined, enthusiastic and driven
people who are eager to learn and shares their passion in making
tech an inclusive and diverse place!
What We Do
StarterHacks aims to create an inclusive environment for first-time hackers; providing them the tools they need to succeed and have a memorable hacking experience. We work hard to diversify hackers in their skill sets, backgrounds, and goals. We focus on encouraging collaboration and challenging minds to create meaningful solutions for the real-life problems.
2019 outcomes
Overall Tasks
Led, planned and organized a beginner-oriented hackathon in
January 2019 attended by 1000+ students in both secondary and
post-secondary level of education
Started the StarterHacks Student Ambassadors to help
introduce hackathons and career opportunities in the tech space to secondary students.
Designed and created content for the Impact Partners package to recruit
community organizations to help participants in the hacker
ideation and prototyping process.
Marketing Lead
I first had the role of the marketing lead, establishing
the team, developing each team member's role and onboarding
each member to prepare for our 2019 organizing team and hackathon.
As the marketing lead I created marketing materials for our
social media platforms as well as finalized our 2019 Google Form
for our executive applications. I helped with the smooth transitioning
for our new marketing lead as I transitioned to take on the co-lead role
for Starterhacks. All vector graphics were created by the design team which
I was able to rearrange to create a countdown post like the few below.
Created simple creatives to present available positions for when
individuals apply to be part of our organzing team. Here are examples
of those creatives.
Co-Lead
With the help of the 2019 StarterHacks organizing team and co-founders
I was able to smoothly transition into the Co-lead role. I began organizing
our weekly meetings, ensuring all sub-teams have all information and tools
need for their deliverables, finalizing marketing details with the marketing
team, ensuring all sub-teams are ready and set for the January 2019 hackathon.
I pioneered two major projects for StarterHacks 2019, Impact Partners and high
School Ambassadors Program, that strengthen our relationship with our surrounding
cities and student community.
Impact Partners
Real-life problems and meaningful solutions is what our hackathon is known for,
we wanted to be more connected and invovled with our Kitchener-Waterloo community.
The co-founders and I developed an Impact Partners Package to share with our community
organizations who are interested in working with StarterHacks by sharing any arising
problem of theirs with us, whether that is within their local organization or industry wide,
that we can share to the participants of the hackathon to create a solution that they can
possibly use to alleviate the organization's pain point. Colors and font were created by
the design team of StarterHacks 2019!
in the works
SHASP (ongoing)
The purpose of the High School Ambassadors Program, renamed as StarterHacks After School Program
(SHASP), is to engage and educate students of possible careers in the tech field. We want to motivate
these high school students to find their passion in the tech industry, incorporating their skills with
other streams, self-taught and or learned in school, to go forth with making their passion project come to life.
Regardless of one's experience in tech or with hackathons, all are invited to participate, compete and have fun!
how does it work?
Long-Term
High school students are to form a team to participate in a term* long hackathon (*high school term being 3 months or so) solving one main pain point from a theme for that term. Since 24 - 48H hackathons are typically fast paced and tiring, this will give the students a good
Hone the Idea
amount of time and work at their own pace to create and semi-perfect (although it doesn't have to be perfect and finished) their hack to present to the SHASP (SH After School Program) judges and
Prizes!
StarterHacks team by the end of the program’s term.A grand event or Showcasing of hacks will then
take place at the end of the term where judges determine the best hack etc. The starter hacks team,
Alumnis and start-ups will attend for networking purposes!
Current Standing
This has been an ongoing project that was halted due to the planning of StarterHacks 2020.
I took the lead in ideating, organizing and making this project happen, although it is currently
paused, this will resume later in the upcoming year.
results
Successful 2019 Hackathon
StarterHacks 2019 had About 1000+ participants that consisted of secondary
and post-secondary students, many red-bull and awake chocolate bars were consumed
and many bubble teas were drank! The weekend was full of fun, hacking, cup-stacking
and great people who are aspiring creators!
Growth & Beyond
Due to the success of our 2019 Hackathon, we have gained more recognition
and continue to do so which will help with our recruitment and upcoming hackathons.
The more we grow, the more we can make StarterHacks grow and maintain the tech-opportunities
we show and share with our participants!
January 2020!
The StarterHacks team is now planning for the January 2020 hackathon,
which will have over 3000 participants as well as many great speakers
and mentors to guide students. Great networking opportunities will
come about and many relationships will be made! Just you wait!
my experience
So Far...
My confidence and interpersonal skills grew as I worked and continue to
Work with StarterHacks; I have met so many people that I can proudly call
my friends, family and mentors. This team and community taught me the importance
of relationships, keeping an open mind, and actively learning from one another.
I doubted myself as a co-lead in the beginning of the term, but my StarterHacks
family only reassured and helped me become the leader I was when organizing the 2019
Hackathon, am now and continue to be! My journey with StarterHacks has not yet ended!
I want to share my experience and values of StarterHacks with other students through
the StarterHacks After School Program as well as show the many tech-opportunities
that have not yet been seen by these students!
