Please check out the 89 selected projects here!

What?

The COVID-19 Global Hackathon is an opportunity for developers to build software solutions that drive social impact, with the aim of tackling some of the challenges related to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

We’re encouraging YOU - innovators around the world - to #BuildforCOVID19 using technologies of your choice across a range of suggested themes and challenge areas - some of which have been sourced through health partners including the World Health Organization and scientists at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.

The hackathon welcomes locally and globally focused solutions, and is open to all developers - with support from technology companies and platforms including AWS, Facebook, Giphy, Microsoft, Pinterest, Salesforce, Slack, TikTok, Twitter and WeChat, who will be sharing resources to support participants throughout the submission period.

Sign up for the Slack group

Why?

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic, governments have issued guidance for members of the community to practice social distancing, while companies have enforced work from home policies in an effort to flatten the curve of viral infections across the population.

Given the isolation currently being experienced within communities right now, we want to create an online space where developers can ideate, experiment and build software solutions to help address this crisis.

Focus areas and themes

We’ve connected with a range of partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand some of the key challenge areas that technological innovation could help solve.

Some examples from the WHO here include the need for accurate disease prevention information around the world in languages/formats that resonate locally, as well as regional needs for expertise, resources/supplies and financial support from donors.

Additionally, we’re suggesting the below seven themes to help spark your ideas. Remember that you’re welcome to build with the technologies of your choice, across any areas that you think would drive impact for these issues, so feel free to think outside the box too!

  1. Health: Address and scale a range of health initiatives, including preventative/hygiene behaviors (especially for at-risk countries and populations), supporting frontline health workers, scaling telemedicine, contact tracing/containment strategies, treatment and diagnosis development.
  2. Vulnerable Populations: Problems faced by the groups of people who are disproportionately affected by the various health, economic, and social issues related to the COVID outbreak around the world, such as those with underlying health conditions or a thin social safety net.
  3. Businesses: The set of problems that businesses are facing to stay afloat, collaborate effectively, and move parts of their business online.
  4. Community: Promoting connection to friends, family, and neighbors to combat social isolation and the digitizing of public services for local governments.
  5. Education: Alternative learning environments and tools for students, teachers, and entire school systems.
  6. Entertainment: Alternatives to traditional forms of entertainment that can keep the talent and audiences safe and healthy.
  7. Other: The above themes are just suggestions. Feel empowered to get creative!

Competition Timeline

3/24: Registration opens on Devpost

3/26: 9:00 AM PST Project submissions open on Devpost

3/30: 9:00 AM PST Deadline to submit projects, including a 2-minute video walk-through

Week of 3/30: Judges will endeavor to provide feedback and connect with selected projects shortly after that (so long as these activities remain unaffected)

4/10: Highlighted projects will be announced

Requirements

What Success Looks Like

  • Option 2: Ship an awesome proof-of-concept with lots of potential

    • These will be conceptual projects with bucket-loads of promise.
    • Examples include tools for:
      • Helping people with supplies or resources locally
      • Combating loneliness
      • Replacing income with work-from-home options

Production-ready projects will not be favored over proof-of-concepts. The judges’ north star will be submissions that have the strongest potential impact on the challenges caused by COVID-19.  

 

Requirements

  • Submission form 
    • Submit your project here on Devpost before the deadline and be sure to answer all of the questions on the submission form. Submission (including video/code links) are editable until the submission deadline.  This and other information related to your submission will be treated consistent with the Devpost privacy policy.
  • Video
    • Upload a video walk-through your solution via YouTube or Vimeo, and include the link on your Devpost page for your project.
    • By submitting a video, you are acknowledging that these materials may be used to promote the hackathon anywhere in the world, without extra obligation to you.
    • Videos should be a maximum of 2 minutes long. 
      • Only the first two minutes of each video will be evaluated.
  • GitHub or other code repo link (optional)
    • Please ensure that this link is publicly shareable so judges can access your project

 

Guidance

  • Guidance for a good video (In order to evaluate all projects, only the first 2 minutes of the video will be evaluated)
    • Introduce yourself briefly (names of the project and the team)
    • What is the problem you are trying to solve for (1-2 sentences)
    • Describe your project:
      • How did you address this problem? (provide enough technical detail to understand technical feasibility but try to keep it brief)
      • What are sample use cases?
      • Who (or what organizations) could potentially benefit from your solution? 

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

Highlighted Project (89)

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

A qualified panel of judges

A qualified panel of judges

Judging Criteria

  • Potential Impact
    Will the project be able to reach a point of completion from a technical perspective, and does it have the potential for positive impact amidst the current pandemic?
  • Technical Feasibility
    Is technology being implemented appropriately to solve the problem at hand? Looking at the technology implementation, is it possible to accomplish this project in order to help solve challenges relating to COVID-19 with urgency and impact?
  • Functionality and Meaningfulness
    Is the project purposefully solving a real problem? Is the project submitted going to have meaningful impact once fully completed?

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.