Columbia DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good Hackathon Recap

Hackathon Summary

DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good was held at Columbia University in New York City on October 5-6, 2024. The hackathon attracted developers to create a total of 64 projects, demonstrating their commitment to improving technical and soft skills and solving social problems.

Key tracks include education, environment, media, fashion, civics, and health. Sponsored tracks are supported by organizations such as Capital One, Google, and the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, focusing on financial solutions, creative technology, and patient safety. MLH-supported tracks include projects involving MongoDB, domain names, and DEI hackers.

The event aims to develop impactful solutions in areas such as sustainable development, civic engagement, and healthcare. The themes attracted diverse and innovative projects, reinforcing the goal of using technology to serve society. Platforms such as DoraHacks, Discord, and related websites provided important resources for participants to interact. By bringing together students interested in social good technology, the Hackathon highlighted creative BUIDLs and encouraged future collaborations.

Hackathon Winners

Best Overall Track Prize Winners

• StrokePlayAR – an AR app that leverages Snap’s Spectacles to promote stroke rehabilitation, improve mobility and wellness through gamified activities.

• SynapsED – a financial literacy platform that aims to help young people build wealth and break intergenerational financial hardship by encouraging early investing habits.

• Penny Pals – A financial literacy platform that teaches through simulated investing, where parents fund accounts and kids make decisions based on real-time market data. The platform promotes collaboration, risk management, and healthy financial habits, with plans to roll out iMessage integration and parental controls in the future.

General Tracks Prize Winners

• Education: SynapsED

• Environment: Pothos – A SaaS platform for small businesses that optimizes sustainability-linked loans using KPIs and NFT-secured contracts to promote sustainable development.

• Media: NewsLyzer – AI-driven news bias filter using natural language processing and machine learning to assess credibility, summarize articles, and detect bias in real time.

• Fashion: Fashion Faeries – a web app that provides personalized clothing recommendations and resale comparisons, using machine learning to promote sustainable fashion.

• Civic Tech: PinPoint – A crowdsourced map that enhances community interaction 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 for analyzing political discourse, trained on debates using NotebookLM and Vapi.

• Snap AR: Dream It Build It!: StrokePlayAR

• Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative: Patient Safety Technology Challenge: MediTrack – A JavaScript tool using Google’s NotebookLM to enable safe medication prescribing 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 to promote inclusion through events and tailored support.

• Best Use of Fidelity: Strands – Gamifying university learning through interactive word games to increase engagement and attendance.

• Best Use of MongoDB Atlas: Fashion Faeries

• Best Beginner Hack: What’s Cookin’ uses web scraping and algorithmic data management to provide plate recommendations and meal tracking to optimize campus dining.

For details on all projects, visit DivHacks 2024 .

About the Organizer

DivHacks 2024

DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good, hosted by the Columbia University Women in Computing Society, is a key platform for Columbia University and Barnard College to amplify underrepresented voices in technology. The Hackathon focuses on creating impactful and sustainable technology-driven solutions, exploring the potential of technology to solve societal challenges. By encouraging participants to combine creativity and technical skills, the event drives progress in addressing pressing social issues, underscoring its commitment to driving social change through technological excellence.

This article is sourced from the internet: Columbia DivHacks 2024: Tech for Social Good Hackathon Recap

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