Hack Midwest offers coders freedom through 24-hour app creation competition
April 6, 2018 | Bobby Burch
Technologists are often surprised by what they’re able to accomplish when they work together in a competitive format, Mike Gelphman said.
That’s part of the reason Hack Midwest is returning this summer with the objective to inspire more techies to embrace their imagination, said Gelphman, founder of the competition, as well as KCITP, an area tech professionals group.
“The mission is to get people to create more — there’s a freedom that comes from that,” Gelphman said. “It is where they realize their own potential and what they’re truly capable of.”
One of Kansas City’s largest coding competitions, Hack Midwest challenges about 300 techies to build a mobile- or web-based app in 24 hours for a chance at winning a variety of prizes. A panel of judges will review the apps, judging on creativity, user interface originality and usefulness.
Prizes include an Amazon Alexa device, drones, tech gadgets, $500 in Ethereum cryptocurrency and more.
Hack Midwest can also serve as a first step on the road of entrepreneurship, Gelphman said. Some participants have gone on to launch companies from their projects, he added.
“When you get a bunch of smart, motivated people who love what they do in the same room, you never know what could be built,” Gelphman said. “You’ll get a chance to connect with other passionate developers and make connections that last a lifetime, and you’ll get to demonstrate your skills, get feedback on your ideas.”
Applications to compete in the July 21 competition open April 16.
Learn more about the competition with the video below.
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
OneHQ launches hiring spree for anticipated growth
OneHQ, formerly NexusHQ, is beefing up its staff in anticipation of a projected revenue boom. The insurance and finance software company plans to add 13 employees — bringing its total headcount to 20 — in the next year as it anticipates more than doubling its annual revenue. The company reported revenue of more than $1 million…
Former Kauffman Foundation VP on how to scale via networking
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Lesa Mitchell knows a thing or two about making — and fostering — valuable connections. Previously the vice president of innovation at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and a former executive at Marion Labs, Mitchell now is the founder of Networks for Scale, a company that works…