Individual Ideathon

Kuwait Hacks the Crisis

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About

The Hackathon

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) play an important role in socioeconomic resilience, with their creative ideas and new business models, while tapping on available science, technologies, and/or innovative tools. In order to tap on SME’s potential to be a frontline of economic recovery process, UNDP, and the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD), are hosting this “Kuwait hacks the Crisis” hackathon in partnerships with the National Fund for SMEs Development, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).

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Health

How might we support people in identifying symptoms, facilitate communication with healthcare professionals and access to medical services, and raise awareness regarding prevention?

Well-being

How might we support people in the social isolation phase, offer mental and emotional well-being solutions, and help people deal with anxiety?

Education

How can we provide creative ways for students and teachers to collaborate remotely, introduce innovative means for e-learning, and figure out a digital experience for the whole education process?

Social Solidarity

How can we support the elderly and those vulnerable to the virus, figure out socially-backed compensations for the daily wage workers, and connect people to NGOs that help in eliminating poverty and hunger?

Small Business Support

How can we support small businesses to survive the crisis, connect them to opportunities, and help them in accessing new markets?

Open Track

For any ideas not falling under our 5 themes. As long as your idea is addressing any of the COVID-19 challenges; feel free to let your imagination fly.

How It Works

01 Idea Applications

Interested participants sign up and fill out the application form to submit their ideas. The deadline to register is April 26th midnight GST.

02 Idea Evaluations

Judges evaluate the submitted applications and give feedback to the participants. This evaluation phase will take 3 days.

03 Idea Phase Results

Results are announced; a total of 30 teams will be selected to join the prototyping phase to help them develop their prototypes in 5 days.

04 Prototyping & Mentorship

The 30 teams work with their assigned mentors on developing their prototypes throughout 5 days.

05 Prototype Submission

The 30 teams submit their prototype details on the platform under the prototype phase. The deadline to submit the prototypes is May 4th midnight GST.

06 Prototype Evaluation

Judges evaluate the submitted prototypes and give feedback to the teams. This evaluation phase will take 3 days.

Eligibility

Teams of 2-5 members are encouraged to apply. The team should consist of at least one developer. Designers and marketers in addition to healthcare, well-being, or education experts are encouraged to participate in teams. Individuals can also apply, however, teams are preferred and have a higher chance of getting selected for the prototype development phase.

Selection Criteria

Creativity of proposed new business
Potential number of beneficiaries
Sustainability of proposed ideas
Replicibility by other SMEs

Selection Criteria

Creativity of proposed new business
Potential number of beneficiaries
Sustainability of proposed ideas
Replicibility by other SMEs

Awards

Top 5 projects in the prototype phase to win $10,000 each.

OMAC and hackathon partners to support the top 30 projects in the prototype phase.

Mentorship to the top 30 projects in the prototype phase.

Partners