ImpactObesity

A Hack-a-thon Focused on Obesity In Minority Communities and in Concert with the University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Come join us for an event focused on the collective challenge of overcoming obesity in our community. Our hackathon is an event in which computer programmers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and others in the field of software development, like designers, app developers, interface designers, and project managers collaborate intensively on software projects. Some hackathons are intended simply for educational or social purposes, although this event’s goal is to create usable practices and software. Our hackathon is intended to bring together teams who have a business idea around the topic of managing and reducing obesity.

Who Should Participate?

: : Programmers

: : Designers

: : Business students and professionals

: : Healthcare students and professionals

: : Students and Faculty

: : Entrepreneurs

Hackathon Program Overview

THINK: : Understanding the challenge!

We want to create some new ideas around how we can facilitate better health behavior around the obesity problem facing Miami—especially in the unique cultural pockets that make up our great community. So to facilitate some understanding around the challenge, the first few hours will be spent sharing some important details about obesity in the minority population in Miami. Presentations from healthcare specialists, UM researchers, and other experts on the pandemic of obesity in America and Miami will provide development teams with the tactile guidance they need to create a solid solution.

CODE : : Building a solution!

We are interested in seeing what you and your team can create to help manage and reduce obesity in distinct cultural settings using mobile or web enabled interface. Is there an app that can be developed for a specific audience that uses patient data to suggest dietary intake and track dietary habits? Can you think of a game that would engage both child and parent in their native language that enables or inspires better eating or exercise habits? We will provide each team with a place to hack and build your idea—as well as technological and development mentoring support from Rokk3r Labs.

MEME : : Make your idea sticky and desirable!

While understanding the problem and building a cool solution on a technology platform is fun and exciting—it is important that your idea be useful. We will provide you and your team with ongoing guidance and assistance to assure that your tool or idea has a chance at actually being used to help obese communities in need of assistance.

TEAMS : : It takes a solid team to build great ideas!

Hacking is a team sport, and we are looking for teams who complement one another and who are interested in the opportunity to build a useful idea and translate that idea into a business. Ideally, your team will have a visionary or creative side, a solid development compliment, and a concept for a business that might emerge from your hacking efforts.

DEMOS : : Pitch your ideas, win notoriety, & gain opportunity! At the end of the event, all teams will present their ideas to an esteemed panel of judges who will review and rate each idea.

AWARDS

1st Place

: : 12 months CoWork Space membership (a $4200 value)

: : The possibility of a $10,000 seed grant from the University of Miami for an exceptional innovation (contingent on stipulations set forth at time of award)

: : The University of Miami will offer one year of mentorship with clinician scientists to help formulate and perfect concepts

2nd Place

: : 6 months CoWork Space membership (a $2100 value)

3rd Place

: : 3 months CoWork Space membership (a $1050 value)

All teams are eligible to win a $20,000 seed grant to participate in this year’s ProjectLift Miami2013 program—providing your team with cash, a work space, mentoring, advice, and introductions that will get your idea to the next level! However, only those teams with exceptional ideas and execution will be invited to join ProjectLift.

This work is conducted with support from grant #1UL1TR000460, the University of Miami CTSI, from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.