Hack Instead is a 48-hour virtual hackathon hosted by Hackworks for students across Canada. In these challenging times, Hack Instead offers a fun, engaging, and competitive way to spend a weekend. Hack Instead will be completely online and accessible to all timezones Canada-wide. Put down the hair-cutting scissors, grab a few friends and Hack Instead!
As a Hack Instead participant, you'll be free to tackle whatever problem and create whatever solution you want. Develop an app that addresses food insecurity for vulnerable populations during the pandemic? Amazing. Make a website that tells you who your long-lost celebrity twin is? Wonderful. Participants can choose to show off however they’d like at Hack Instead. Both software and hardware solutions are welcome.
At the conclusion of Hack Instead, the organizers at Hackworks will compile descriptions of the solutions and the awesome teams that made them into a TalentBook. The TalentBook will be shared with recruiters across Canada in the hopes of bridging the physical gap between job-seekers and talent-seekers.
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
Team Formation Party
Event Kickoff
Hacking
Day 2 Kickstart & Team Intros
Speaker Session: How to Hack a Hackathon
Hacking Continues
Activity: Trivia Party
Hacking Continues
Hackey Hour & Networking
Hacking Continues
Day 3 Kick-off
Breakout session: Presentation Tools & Pitching Tips
Hacking Continues
Deadline to Enter Show & Tell
Submissions Due
Speaking Session: Sponsored
Show & Tell
Closing Remarks
All judging will take place after the Hackathon has ended. Judges will evaluate the submissions over the following few days, and we will announce the winners through a video and on Slack! More information about the winners announcement will be revealed during the hackathon. Submissions will be judged based on their Use of Technology, Innovation/uniqueness, Functionality, and Presentation.
Who doesn’t like a little competition? Hack Instead will award $3,000+ in prizes to winners, with more prizes to be announced closer to the hack!
Hack Instead is open to all Canadian residents who are the legal age of majority in the province they live in. This is typically 18 or 19 depending on your province - if you’re old enough to run for mayor, you’re old enough to hack.
While Hack Instead is aimed at students and recent grads, non-students can participate as well.
100%! Hackathons are a great opportunity to have fun, network, and apply your skills in a new way.
Click on the big REGISTER button above, and then click Join on the event page. Follow the prompts and you will be good to go!
Literally anything you want! No theme, no specific challenge - just build to impress. You are free to tackle whatever problem/develop any solution you like, as long as you are using technology to do so.
Forming a team is not mandatory, but it is always a fun option! Teams for this Hackathon can range from 1-4 members.
You’re welcome to bring your team with you. If you don’t have a team but would like one, we’ll be having a team formation party just before hacking starts!
You do! Anything you build for Hack Instead remains yours.
Wherever you like! This Hackathon is fully virtual.
The Hackworks team has been running hackathons for almost a decade, including some of the largest hackathons in Canada and going global last year. We help launch products, companies and careers through innovation programs including hackathons, bootcamps and workshops. We deliver unique, exceptional, engaging events for clients around the world.
