About the challenge

NSBEHacks is the first student-run hackathon centered on the experience of Black individuals in the technology and engineering space. it is a 24-hour-long event aimed at equalling the footing for Black students within Canada by placing them in an environment where they are encouraged to be creative and innovative.

NSBEHacks is open for all participants.

Schedule

February 24th

TIME EVENT
8:00 AM DOORS OPEN 
9:00 AM OPENING CEREMONY 
10:00 AM CAREER FAIR 
11:00 AM  CAREER FAIR + LUNCH 
12:00 PM HACKING BEGINS 
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM COMPANY WORKSHOPS
5:00 PM MINI EVENT
6:00 PM DINNER
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM HACKING CONTINUES

10:00 PM

DE-STRESSOR EVENT: BOB ROSS CHALLENGES 

February 25th

TIME EVENT
9:00 AM  DOORS OPEN 
11:00 AM EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINE 
11:59 AM HACKING ENDS + JUDGING BEGINS  
12:00 PM LUNCH + NETWORKING SESSION 
1:00 PM NETWORK WITH COMPANIES
2:00 PM NETWORK WITH COMPANIES
3:00 PM NETWORK WITH JUDGES 
4:00 PM CLOSING CEREMONY 
5:30 PM DOORS CLOSE

 

Requirements

What to Build

For the 6th year of NSBEHacks, we call on participants to reimagine the cities in Canada to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by today's youth. Design holistic solutions that address issues such as :

  • The housing crisis
  •  Career mapping
  • Sustainable practice and environmental support
  • Healthy living
  •  Medical Access
  • Equal access to facilities and public programs
  • Planning for further education 
  • Financial literacy and financial aid 
  • Community awareness and engagement 

We are taking a social approach to problem-solving by inviting minorities into the space to create and actively making them the centre of the process. This year's hackathon will be multi-disciplinary so we encourage use of other products that are not limited to website and apps. 

What to Submit

Teams can be eligible for multiple prizes, depending on the type of hack that is developed (This is called "Stacking" Challenges, and it's encouraged where possible!) 

You must create a video presentation of your idea that includes all the elements of the judging criteria. The deadline to register and submit projects on Devpost is 11:59AM on Sun, Feb 25th 2024. The length of the video is 2 minutes long.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$CAD 13,450 in prizes
MINI Drone + MLH Winner Pins
1 winner

Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones + MLH Winner Pins
1 winner

4K Smart Projector + MLH Winner Pins
1 winner

Samsung 27" FHD Monitor
1 winner

Best Black Hack

Fitbit Luxe
1 winner

Best Beginner Hack

$100 Amazon gift card
1 winner

UofT Engineering Hack Challenge: HACK an urban university experience to innovate and improve access and engagement to people who self- identify as Black.

NOTE: must have at least one team member who self-identifies as Black

$50 Amazon gift card
1 winner

UofT Engineering Hack Challenge: HACK an urban university experience to innovate and improve access and engagement to people who self- identify as Black.

NOTE: must have at least one team member who self-identifies as Black

M5GO IoT Starter Kit
1 winner

Best Use of MongoDB Atlas

Hack from Home kit
1 winner

Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry

Wireless YoYo Speaker
1 winner

Best Use of MATLAB

Fidelity Branded Wireless Charger
1 winner

Best DEI Hack sponsored by Fidelity

$200 USD in FLOW Token
Cryptocurrency logo
1 winner

Best Use of Flow

Cohere’s Challenge: 1st Place
1 winner

Cohere’s Challenge: 1st Prize

$300 cash prize, per team member (for a max of 4 team members) $4000 Cohere Credits for the winning team (to be shared amongst team) Cohere-branded swag kit per team member

Cohere’s Challenge: 2nd Place
1 winner

Cohere’s Challenge: 2nd Prize

2nd Place: $100 cash prize, per team member (for a max of 4 team members) $3000 credits (to be shared amongst team)

Cohere's Challenge: 3rd Place
1 winner

Cohere’s Challenge: 3rd Prize

3rd Place: $2,000 credits (to be shared amongst team) Honourable mentions: up to 3 teams, $1,000 credits (among team)

BFN Challenge
4 winners

Get selected as a BFN Developer in Residence! Up to 10 spots are available!

$100 Amazon gift card (Challenger Consulting Honourable Mention)
1 winner

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Efosa Obano

Efosa Obano
BFN CEO & Founder

Roxanne Challenger

Roxanne Challenger
Founder/ CEO Challenger Consulting & Associates Inc

Edwina McKennon

Edwina McKennon
Founder of Move Her forward Inc. | FuturIQ Inc. Award Winner

Melisa Ellis

Melisa Ellis
Founder of Nobellum

Kikelomo Lawal

Kikelomo Lawal
Executive Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer at CIBC

Phillip Asare

Phillip Asare
Professor, Dean’s Advisor on EDI

Kyra Stephan

Kyra Stephan
Founder of NSBE Hacks

Ashley Wright

Ashley Wright
Founder, The Wright Success | Co-Founder, Fem T3ch (formerly Crypto Babes)

Judging Criteria

  • Inclusivity
  • Design
  • Technology

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

Hackathon sponsors

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