The objective of the inclusive innovation track is to find creative approaches to advance global Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, and Access (GIDBEA) within learning and working spaces. This track is suitable for teams committed to approaching this work from a growth mindset which includes learning about GIDBEA, unlearning personal implicit or hidden biases, and innovating with empathy and curiosity.

While hackathons are aimed at identifying practical and concrete solutions to specific problems, it is important to take into account that systemic racism and structural inequities cannot be solved within a single hackathon. We cannot hack our way out of racism and injustice, but we can create innovative approaches to build global, inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible spaces at NYU and beyond.

Teams should then consider the following in their projects:
Projects should take an asset based approach (versus a deficit based approach) which aim to add instead of take away (ie, instead of trying to eliminate discrimination, which would be a tremendous undertaking, think about how you can create inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and access)
Narrow your focus to address an issue as it appears within a particular setting (ie, instead of trying to create a more inclusive society think about how you can create a more inclusive NYU)
Projects should be research based/informed and should check for assumptions or implicit biases

Challenge Statements:
How can we increase diversity within the fields of technology and innovation?
How can we make hackathons more inclusive for people who are underrepresented within these spaces?
How can we increase gender diversity within hackathons as well as technology and innovation spaces?
How can we elevate the work of researchers and scholars from underrepresented and historically marginalized identities and backgrounds?
How do we improve accessibility for people with physical and cognitive disabilities?
How can we better educate the general community about microaggressions and how to address microaggressions when they happen?
How can we increase funding for anti-racism initiatives?
How can we better address the impact of anti-queer and transphobic acts of violence?
How can we increase value in cultural awareness and cultural intelligence as a skill set in an emerging workforce?

all challenge questions are suggestions, not requirements. Students can submit projects on any topics as long as it fits the track

Resource: https://tinyurl.com/inclusion-track

1st place: prizes up to $150 per participant, 2nd place: up to $100 per participant

The Education track aims to empower students by developing new teaching and learning methods. This is the time to innovate our current educational systems, such as how we approach equity in education, how we can take advantage of remote learning, and how we address the disparity in access to educational technology especially given how learning schedules evolved during the pandemic.

This track brings together the brightest minds in students, app developers, educators, and academic leaders to exchange ideas and build connections between the education sector and emerging technologies at NYU and its partners. This track is suitable for teams working on solving real problems and challenges in the classroom, creating apps that have a substantial impact on fostering a more effective and stimulating learning environment, or looking to connect with people from the worlds of education, technology, and the fusion of the two.

In a future defined by massive change and adaptation, how can education move beyond measuring performance and memory?
If learning outcomes are improved by more personal attention from teachers, but we can’t increase the supply of teachers, how can we help learners form communities of inquiry?
Are there better ways to assess learning occurred?How can we best asses learning, without standardized testing or memorization?
How can we better integrate technology into classrooms without allowing it to become a distraction?

all challenge questions are suggestions, not requirements. Students can submit projects on any topic as long as it fits the track

1st place: prizes up to $150 per participant, 2nd place: up to $100 per participant

This track is an intersection of finding creative solutions, building empathy, and developing transformative technologies that enable universal health for millions around the world. With the goal of bringing impactful change to the practice and distribution of medicine, this track focuses on making healthcare both accessible and preventative. This track is suitable for teams dedicated to improving technologies in illness diagnosis, global health literacy, patient compliance, and information storage. This track is an intersection of finding creative solutions, building empathy, and developing transformative technologies that enable universal health for millions around the world. With the goal of bringing impactful change to practice and distribution of medicine, this track focuses on making healthcare both accessible and preventative. This track is suitable for teams dedicated to improving technologies in illness diagnosis, global health literacy, patient compliance, and information storage.

Challenge Questions:
How can we better improve health outcomes and access to the entire spectrum of physical and cognitive function?
How can technology optimize daily health outcomes?
What role can technology play in addressing health outcome disparities (e.g., race, socioeconomic status, gender)?

all challenge questions are suggestions, not requirements. Students can submit projects on any topic as long as it fits the track

1st place: prizes up to $150 per participant, 2nd place: up to $100 per participant

The Sustainability and Social Impact track is for projects that promote social or environmental good. This can be anything from a hack that helps determine water usage through audio analysis or a website that can help find eco friendly clothing. What’s important is that the hack actively helps people, whether as a community or as a whole.

Example problems include: How can we track emission data within cities? Are there ways to make it more relevant to daily life? Is there a way to explain the effects of global warming in a more clear, comprehensible and nuanced way to the general public.

Challenge Questions:
How can technology play a role in proper waste disposal and waste reduction? (e.g., batteries, textiles, food waste)
How can we best monitor the impact of individual and collective sustainability efforts?
How can technology make sustainability behaviors more habitual and enticing?

all challenge questions are suggestions, not requirements. Students can submit projects on any topic as long as it fits the track

1st place: prizes up to $150 per participant, 2nd place: up to $100 per participant

Financial technology is critical to the global economy and people's daily lives. The fintech track is for hackers who want to use technology to improve the user experience by integrating it into financial transactions.

all challenge questions are suggestions, not requirements. Students can submit projects on any topics as long as it fits the track

Challenge Questions:
Blockchain technology is still not entirely understood by the general population. How can awareness and application of blockchain address the racial wealth gap?
In 2019, the FDIC reported that approximately 7.1 million households in the US were “unbanked”. What role can financial technology play in financial services to the unbanked? Are there solutions beyond banking?
How can we imagine the concept of financial literacy to meet the generation needs/differences of Gen Z?

1st place: prizes up to $150 per participant, 2nd place: up to $100 per participant

A great idea is important, but even more important is the execution of the idea within a realistic timeframe. At Marshall Wace, we have to build robust applications that can stand the test of data and time, but we also have to keep up with an influx of new projects required by the company in order to stay ahead of the ever changing economy. The team which best executes their initial idea pitched to us within this short time frame wins Ipad Airs. Please pitch to us your initial idea by 5pm on Saturday. Pivoting your idea afterwards is fine.

Prize: iPad Air Wi-Fi 256GB

Twilio allows you to incorporate mobile messaging, phone calls and a ton of other awesome communication features right into your hackathon project using a web service API. Are you building an e-commerce website and want to send text notifications or email confirmations once an order is completed? Or maybe you'd like to verify users based on their mobile numbers? Twilio makes all this possible and more. Build a hack that simplifies your life using any Twilio API for a chance to win some awesome prizes! Get started with $50 in free credit!

Prize: Twilio Swag Box & GameGo Console

Register a .Tech domain name using Domain.com during the weekend for your chance to win a Domain.com branded backpack for you and each member of your team! Each team may submit one entry per person on the team. The more creative the domain the better!

Prize: Domain.com Branded Backpack

MATLAB and Simulink are computational tools used at over 100,000 businesses, government and university sites in over 190 countries. Use MATLAB and/or Simulink exclusively or integrate them into another tool for your next hack to win an exclusive MathWorks branded Wireless YoYo Speaker! You can also claim a free MATLAB software license to get started.

Prize: Wireless YoYo Speaker

Hedera is a next generation blockchain technology that’s accessible from familiar programming languages like Java and JavaScript. Their goal? To make Web3 development even more accessible to hackers like you! Build a project on Hedera's test network for a chance to win amazing Glorious Modular Compact Mechanical Keyboards for you and your team!

Prize: Glorious Modular Compact Mechanical Keyboard

We know how difficult it can be to create a phenomenal website in a short period of time, especially when it comes to hackathons. Velo by Wix cuts down your development without sacrificing on functionality! With a built-in database and fully customizable JavaScript front-end and back-end, you can develop a full-stack application directly in your browser. With Velo, all the tools you need are conveniently located in one platform! Build your hackathon project with Velo by Wix for a chance to win Wacom Drawing Tablets for you and each of your teammates.

Prize: Wacom Drawing Tablet

Show us your best hack that required little to no code! No code is too small to be good code!

UX/UI we're looking at you!
Prize: $50 per hacker

Something didn't go quite right or you almost had it perfect but then one bug messed it all up? No big deal! All hacks are good hacks, even if they're not so good.

Prize: $50 per hacker

Built something that you think will make it in the future? Does your project seem like something that will last a lifetime? Some projects are meant to be developed! Try your hand at building something we'll all use in the year 2090.

Prize: $50 per hacker

Made something TOTALLY TUBULAR? Then you are so right for this challenge. Submit your project here if you think your project is out of this world!

Prize: $50 per hacker

Prize: $50 per hacker

Prize: $50 per hacker

You did it, you won everyone over. If most hackers submit your hack as their top choice, you won!

Prize: $50 per hacker

Had a hack that used databases, API's, or incorporated hardware?

Show us how and you could win!
Prize: $50 per hacker

Have a one or two-person team? We got you! Red Bull believes in your teamwork!

Prize: 2 tickets to a New York Red Bulls home match