Less than a year after connecting hundreds of aspiring technologists to several Fortune 100 companies, HackDFW is returning to the Dallas region.
Last October, the HackDFW hackathon — which attracted more than 600 participants — generated a flood of resumes for event sponsors and awarded $20,000 in prizes, including a grand prize to a team from the University of Texas at Dallas.
In a 48-hour period, the winning team of Megan Tran, Reshmi Ranjith, Saloni Shivdasani, Medha Jonnada, and Bryant Hou built a digital platform called “Health Quest,” which allows children and adults to track their health progress through fun virtual quests.
Last year, team members showed up with sleeping bags and laptops, staying up all night to complete their projects on the floor of the Comerica Center in Frisco. This year, the competition is from September 23 to 25 on the top floors of Cityplace Tower, just north of downtown Dallas.
The 2022 HackDFW sponsor list keeps growing. Google is the presenting sponsor, and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas is the platinum sponsor. Gold sponsors include McKesson, CarMax, PepsiCo, State Farm, and Tyler Technologies. PepsiCo, Tyler Technologies, and CarMax are new sponsors. Silver sponsors include Digit7, Lockheed Martin, and Children’s Health. Exhibitor sponsors include USAA, Slalom, Dallas Mavericks, and Goldman Sachs.
“The returning sponsors — and this year’s new sponsors — mean expanding career opportunities for HackDFW participants,” said event organizer Duane Dankesreiter, who is the DRC’s Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation.
The chamber’s talent-attraction arm — Say Yes to Dallas — is powering the event. HackDFW attracted participants from across the country, including Washington, D.C.-based Howard University.
“Last year we gave over 600 resumes to participating companies,” Dankesreiter said. “I can’t think of a better way for an employer to find tech talent than spending 48 hours at HackDFW, watching and working with these aspiring technologists. We’re excited to see what great solutions are created in such a short time. The energy the attendees bring when solving each challenge is contagious.”
Companies and individuals interested in participating in HackDFW can learn more here.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
Students and experienced engineers alike hacked solutions to real-world challenges with algorithms, coding scripts, and data in three days of problem-solving. Some of the world’s biggest names in business—Amazon, McKesson, and USAA (to name a few)—were taking note. Hackathons have became the new career fair for tech talent.
-
North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch. Here are our editors' picks. Plus, you'll find more selections to "save the date."
-
The extended deadline to apply for Fall 2022 is August 15. NPower Texas is the state arm of a national nonprofit offering free tech training to 18- to 26-year-olds and military veterans and spouses. 80% of the program's graduates find full-time jobs or continue their education—with an average salary boost of 384%. In March, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $15 million to NPower, its largest donation ever.
-
The gender gap in computing is getting worse: In 1995 37% of computer scientists were women, dropping to 24% today. State Farm is taking action with a new STEM summit to engage girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. Registration is open until Sept. 18.
-
Last week, BUiLT International celebrated its one-year anniversary as a non-profit organization working to advance the representation and participation of Black people in tech. Peter Beasley, the founder of the organization, was voted back as Chairman of the Board for another year.
