Hackathon Summary
DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good was held from October 5 to 6, 2024 at Columbia University in New York. This Hackathon attracted developers to collaborate and create 64 projects, demonstrating their commitment to enhancing technical and soft skills as well as solving social problems.
Key tracks included education, environment, media, fashion, civic, and health. Sponsored tracks were supported by organizations such as Capital One, Google, and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, focusing on financial solutions, creative technology, and patient safety. MLH-supported tracks involved projects related to MongoDB, domain names, and DEI hacking.
The event aimed to develop impactful solutions in areas such as sustainability, civic engagement, and healthcare. The diverse range of innovative projects attracted by the theme strengthened the goal of utilizing technology to serve society. Platforms such as DoraHacks, Discord, and related websites provided important resources for participant interaction. By bringing together students interested in socially beneficial technology, the Hackathon emphasized creative BUIDLs and encouraged future collaboration.
Hackathon Winners
Best Overall Track Prize Winners
• StrokePlayAR - An AR application using Snap's Spectacles that gamifies activities to promote stroke rehabilitation, improving mobility and health.
• SynapsED - A financial literacy platform aimed at helping young people build wealth and break intergenerational financial struggles by encouraging early investment habits.
• Penny Pals - A financial literacy platform that teaches investment through simulation, with parents providing funds for accounts and children making decisions based on real-time market data. The platform promotes collaboration, risk management, and healthy financial habits, and plans to integrate with iMessage and add parental controls in the future.
General Tracks Prize Winners
• Education: SynapsED
• Environment: Pothos - A SaaS platform for small businesses that uses KPIs and Non-Fungible Token (NFT) secured contracts to optimize loans linked to sustainability, promoting sustainable development.
• Media: NewsLyzer - An AI-driven news bias filter using natural language processing and machine learning to assess credibility, summarize articles, and detect biases in real-time.
• Fashion: Fashion Faeries - A web application that provides personalized clothing recommendations and resale comparisons, using machine learning to promote sustainable fashion.
• Civic Tech: PinPoint - A crowdsourced map that enhances community engagement through user-submitted "Pins" on topics such as accessibility and safety.
• Health: StrokePlayAR
Sponsor Tracks Prize Winners
• Google: Best Use of Google NotebookLM: PunditPal - An AI platform that analyzes political discourse, using NotebookLM and Vapi for debate training.
• Snap AR: Dream It Build It!: StrokePlayAR
• Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative: Patient Safety Technology Challenge: MediTrack - A JavaScript tool using Google's NotebookLM to safely prescribe medications by preventing errors.
• Capital One: Best Financial Hack: Penny Pals
MLH Tracks Prize Winners
• GoDaddy Registry: Best Domain Name: Voice Vision - A virtual learning platform that creates engaging video podcasts from learning materials.
• Auth 0 by Okta: Best Use of Auth 0: NeuroTalent - Connecting neurodiverse students with employers, promoting inclusion through events and customized support.
• Best Use of Fidelity: Strands - Gamifying university learning by enhancing engagement and attendance through interactive text-based games.
• Best Use of MongoDB Atlas: Fashion Faeries
• Best Beginner Hack: What's Cookin' uses web scraping and algorithmic data management to provide meal recommendations and tracking, optimizing campus dining.
For details on all projects, please visit DivHacks 2024.
About the Organizers
DivHacks 2024
DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good, hosted by the Columbia University Women in Computer Science, is a significant platform at Columbia University and Barnard College aimed at amplifying underrepresented voices in the technology field. The Hackathon focused on creating impactful and sustainable technology-driven solutions, exploring the potential of technology to address social challenges. By encouraging participants to combine creativity and technical skills, the event drove progress in tackling pressing social issues, emphasizing its commitment to driving social change through technological excellence.
