For the first time, Classified Post is inviting students and fresh graduates to take part in a 24-hour hackathon where participants can unleash their creativity by working together to create apps and technological tools to solve real-world business challenges.
Organised by Classified Post, the hackathon will take place on March 24 and 25 at the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSP), Sha Tin. Working from a brief and from data provided by the organisers, teams of three to five, made up of Hong Kong undergraduate students or graduates with a maximum of two years’ experience, will have 24 hours to build apps, tools and innovative solutions for use in the media and insurance industries.
Teams will be assigned either the media or insurance category by ballot. The event will provide an opportunity for software coders, developers, designers, and budding entrepreneurs with inquiring business minds to come together to brainstorm, problem-solve and co-create. Participating teams are required to build their solutions base on the Application Programming Interface (API) data sets of participating companies hosted at the HKSP Data Studio.
Designed to encourage participants who are curious and passionate about innovation, there is no limitation to the discipline or field of study students joining the Classified Post Hackathon specialise in. “Whether participants come from technology, engineering, science or humanities backgrounds, the organisers highlight how the dynamic problem-solving environment created by hackathons facilitates the creation of innovative ideas and concepts,” says Alex Ho, general manager, recruitment, circulation, syndication business at South China Morning Post Publishers. Ho notes that, in a continuing effort to serve Hong Kong’s HR community, organising the Classified Post Hackathon provides an opportunity to raise the profile of young talent and give employers an opportunity to evaluate potential recruits.
“The challenge provides students with an open invitation to unleash their creative juices to solve problems and develop meaningful solutions,” Ho says.
After working overnight on their projects, participating teams will be given three minutes to make their first presentations. Shortlisted teams progressing from the first round of judging will be allocated 15 minutes to make their demonstration and presentation, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.
Winning teams will receive trophies and cash prizes of
HK$8,000, $5,000 and $3,000, while certificates of participation will be given to all those taking part.
