The Cortex Hub, a technology incubator, research lab and entrepreneurial hub in East London's Industrial Development Zone, today announced it will hold a 72-hour women's hackathon from 25 to 27 August. The WomenHackersUnite Hackathon is aimed at showcasing the talents of women in software development, and encouraging them to become involved in the world of technology through the creation of solutions using technology.
The hackathon is expected to attract over 100 women from across Africa who are studying computer science, who are already in a technology-related field, as well as women who are software developers by profession.
Teams comprising up to five women will spend the first 24 hours coming up with solutions affecting societal problems and women today. Solutions may, for example include child development, women's health, work-life-business balance, assisting rural women to upskill, and even ways to help more women become scientists. The only criterion is that technology must be part of the solution. During the next 48 hours, participants will be coding and developing solutions to the problems that affect all types of women.
A panel of judges including three top women software engineers from Facebook, will vote on which team creates the best solution. Delegates will by vying for a prize of R150 000.
Running alongside the hackathon on 26 and 27 August is a conference targeted at career-focused women. The keynote speakers will include Veronica Motloutsi, Vodacom's head of online and Self-International Markets Service and will cover topics focusing on:
* How to use social media to address inequality
* Bridging the gender divide
* Leadership in the connected world we live in.
In addition, the two-day event will cover over 12 other burning topics on women today. Highlights include how women can utilise science and technology to tackle global problems in women's health; technology's role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle; and social impact investing.
A March 2015 article in the Huffington Post stated that the percentage of computing jobs held by women in the US has fallen over the past 23 years, according to a new study by the American Association of University Women, a non-profit organisation that promotes gender equality. In 2013, just 26% of computing jobs in the US were held by women, down from 35% in 1990. During that same period, the number of women earning computing degrees also declined. According to the Huffington Post, Google, women make up 30% of the company's overall workforce, but hold only 17% of the company's tech jobs. At Facebook, 15% of tech roles are staffed by women. At Twitter, it's a low 10%.
Sivu Ngcaba, organiser of WomenHackersUnite Hackathon said, "While there are no recent formal statistics available, it's well known that in Africa, the number of women in ICT is significantly low. The Cortex Hub assists bright young minds to establish their own businesses in the ICT space. That was the main driver for the hackathon. We also wanted the Hackathon to coincide with Women's Month."
Entry is free for all hackers. To register visit www.womenhackersunite.com or if you have any questions contact them on info@womenhackersunite.com
For more information contact Sivu Ngcaba on +2772 901 5183.
e-mail: info@womenhackersunite.com
Facebook: Cortex Hub
Twitter: @cortexhub
LinkedIn: Cortex Hub
Keynote speaker - WomenHackersUnite Hackathon
Veronica Motloutsi is the Head of Online Self Service International Markets at Vodacom. She completed her National Diploma in Information Technology in 2001 from Tshwane University of Technology; she received an award as Best Student in Information Technology. She then studied a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology at Central University of Technology and completed a Masters degree in Business Information Systems. Veronica is currently studying to be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Information Systems.
She has worked for the National Department of Agriculture, Free State Department of Local Government and Housing, and National Energy Regulator of South Africa. She has a wealth of experience in the leadership role from her positions at Sun International, TUT and Nedbank.
Veronica was nominated as a Chairperson of Service Excellence Award Committee, Nersa. She also participates in LinuxChix South Africa and is the Director at Entsika Foundation.
Women Hackers Unite - frequently asked questions
What is the Cortex Hub?
The Cortex Hub is a technology incubator, research lab and entrepreneurial hub in East London's Industrial Development Zone, which aims to bring together bright minds across the Eastern Cape.
In addition, the Cortex Hub assists bright young minds to establish their own businesses in the ICT space. Currently, the Cortex Hub is home to 17 women and 15 men.
The Cortex Hub has partnered with the following universities to source BSc Computer Science graduates and students to join the Cortex Hub:
* The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Port Elizabeth)
* Rhodes University (Grahamstown)
* University of Fort Hare (Alice)
* Walter Sisulu University (Mthatha)
* Unisa
Who leads the Cortex Hub?
Dr Andile Ngcaba leads the Cortex Hub. It also has an advisory board of 10 people who are tasked with increasing entrepreneurs' chances of success. The Hub assigns new entrepreneurship teams in order to advise entrepreneurs about their businesses, provide guidance to entrepreneurs hosted at the Hub as well as introduce entrepreneurs to a greater ecosystem of partners in their chosen industry. The Cortex Hub is looking for veteran entrepreneurs to join the team as mentors.
Why was the Cortex Hub formed?
As an ICT business incubator, the Hub aims to create global scale businesses through a leading research and development and an incubation platform that will activate, nurture and support technology innovation. The Hub's goal is to create an innovative society that is able to sustainably leverage current technologies towards solving societal problems. It aims to achieve this by forming strong partnerships with universities, ICT providers, entrepreneurs and other business incubators to create a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem within the Eastern Cape region.
What is the 1st Annual WomenHackersUnite Hackathon, and how will it work? Elevator pitch
Hosted by the Cortex Hub, the 72-hour first WomenHackersUnite Hackathon takes place from 25 - 27 August at the Industrial Development Zone in East London. Teams comprising of two to five women will compete to solving problems affecting humanity, specifically problems affecting women through technology. The goal of this annual initiative is to encourage more women to become interested in, and play an active role in the creation of technology solutions while at the same time closing the gender gap in the technology sector.
* The objective of the hackathon is to come up with solutions to women's challenges and or opportunities. These could be child development solutions, women's health, women's work life balance, rural women's solutions, women in business solutions, women scientists.
* The hackathon will run for 72 hours (24 hours prep work) and 48 hours of hacking
* There's also a grand prize of R150 000 for the winner/s.
* A chance to win an iPhone 6 for the lady who uploads their outfit for best dressed outfit, using the FashionFreax application.
Is there a keynote speaker at the Hackathon?
Yes. There will be three keynote speakers, namely:
Name | Veronica Motloutsi |
Title | Head: Online and Self-Service - International Markets |
Company | Vodacom |
Keynote topic | Leadership in the Connected World We Live In |
Synopsis of keynote | *included in Press Kit* |
Picture of speaker | *included in Press Kit* |
Name | Ory Okolloh |
Title | Director of Investments |
Company | Omidyar Network |
Keynote topic | Bridging the Gender Divide |
Synopsis of keynote | *included in Press Kit* |
Picture of speaker | *included in Press Kit* |
Name | Ebele Okobi |
Title | Head of Public Policy |
Company | |
Keynote topic | How to use social media to address inequality |
Synopsis of keynote | *included in Press Kit* |
Picture of speaker | *included in Press Kit* |
Why should visitors attend the event? Hackathon
Entrants get a chance to be part of a great initiative. They also get to create the best solutions that affect women on a daily basis and get to be advised by leading engineers from Facebook.
Conferences and Seminars
The event will consist of various conferences targeted at all career-focused ladies and ladies seeking to, in the popular words of Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In To Their Careers. Here, some of Africa's most successful women in business will come together to name, discuss and come up with the appropriate actions forward, concerning the main issues affecting women in business. These various conferences will run simultaneously, and will have themes such as the optimisation of the use of technology in teaching and learning in order to yield the best outcomes, re-inventing one's career, how technology can assist women in creating a work-life balance in the future, just to name a few!
Who will judge the hackathon?
The Hub will have three software engineers from Facebook judging.
What are the criteria to win the Hackathon?
In order to win the hackathon, one should create the best solution according to the criteria that they will be judged on (only available to judges).
The Hub urges women to do their best to win.
What are the topics of the talks that will run alongside the Hackathon?
*List of speakers and their synopsis, and which panel they will be part of will be updated.
Conferences and Seminar Programme (26 - 27 August)
26 August 2015 | |||
08H00 - 09H00 | Registration | ||
09H00 - 10H00 | Welcome (Confirm MC) | ||
10H00 - 11H00 keynote address Veronica Motloutsi - leadership in the connected world we live in | |||
Panel 1 11H00 - 12H30 | Leadership | Science, Technology and Health | The Balancing Act |
How women should go about taking their seat at the table. | How can we utilise science and technology to tackle global problems in women's health? | The Career-Family life balance, does it really exist? | |
12h30 - 13h30 Lunch | |||
Panel 2 13H30 - 15H00 | Entrepreneurship | Technology and Health Care | Mentoring and Motivators |
Encouraging women to succeed in the World of Entrepreneurship | Technology's role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle | How important is mentorship for your life/career in terms of success -Behind Every Success Is a Group of Mentors and Motivators | |
15h00 - 16h00 keynote address, Ory okolloh - bridging the gender divide | |||
Drinks and Refreshments |
27 August 2015 | |||
09H00 - 10H00 Keynote address Ebele Okobi - How to use social media to address inequality | |||
Panel 3 10H00 - 12H00 | Women In Business | Social Impact Investment | Technology and Education |
Women can speak business too | Social Impact Investing: * What is it? | How can the use of technology be optimised in teaching and learning in order to yield improvements of student outcomes? How should academic institutions be strategically leveraging technology? | |
12h00 End of conferences (Move to Hackathon Final Judging Room for Lunch) |
Seminars (27 August)
Time | Event |
08H00 - 09H00 | Registration |
09H00 -10H00 | Welcoming and presentation of the guest speakers |
10H00 - 12H00 | 10H00 - 10H30 Young women's skills development 10H30 - 11H00 Young girls becoming young women 11H00 - 11H30 Learning social development skills 11H30 - 12H00 Young ladies are leaders in making |
12H00 - 13H00 Lunch (Move to Hackathon final judging room for lunch) |
When does the hackathon take place?
The WomenHackersUnite Hackathon takes place from 25 - 27 August from 12:00 to 12:00 where 24 hours is preparations work, prior to the event.
Where is the hackathon taking place?
East London, Industrial Development Zone, Eastern Cape
Why is the Cortex Hub holding a hackathon?
The aim of the hackathon is to create an initiative to get women more involved in the world of technology. As its contribution to Women's Month and making a difference in the world of technology, the Hub is holding the hackathon for women to showcase their talents in software developments. It wants to show people the talent we have across Africa with regards to software development, as it is one of the fields that lacks women.
Who can participate in the hackathon?
All women can enter, but the Hub is targeting university students more as they will be able to meet industry executives and be part of a great initiative. It is also targeting corporates.
What are the criteria for women to enter the hackathon?
Women across Africa who are studying computer science or any technology related field and or women who are software developers by profession.
Who will put the hackathon women into teams, or do women have to create their own teams?
Women have to create their own teams during the registration phase.
Why is the hackathon only for young women?
Sandberg makes a powereful statement in her best seller Lean In. Her statement is as follows: We have to ask ourselves if we have become so focused on supporting personal choices that we're failing to encourage women to aspire to leadership. It is time to cheer on the girls and women who want to sit at the table, seek challenges and lean in to their careers.
The need to cheer on these girls becomes apparent when one looks at the stats from all over the world.
* EU's Women Active in ICT Sector shows alarming underrepresentation of women in IT jobs; For every 1 000 women in the EU with a degree, only 29 hold a degree in Information Technology, as opposed to 95 men (include the source of this information).
* Data from The Level Playing Field Institute depicts that the share in Computer Science degrees women in America had in 2010 to be as follows; Bachelors: 18%, Masters: 27% and PhD: 21%.
* The Institute of Information Technology Professionals states that in South Africa, where 55% of the workforce consists of women, women represent only 20% of the workforce in the ICT space.
After reading the stats, young women are now showing an interest in the computer science field. The Cortex feels it needs to start supporting them.
Why did the Cortex Hub choose Convergence Partners, 1Tightship and Dimension Data as partners for the hackathon?
The hackathon partners are: Convergence Partners, 1Tightship and Dimension Data. Convergence Partners was chosen as a partner because the company is funding the event and the cash prize. 1Tightship has worked with Dr Andile Ngcaba and is also a partner with the branding of the hackathon. Dr Andile Ngcaba is Chairman, Founder and Majority shareholder of investment group Convergence Partners and also the Executive Chairman of Dimension Data Middle East and Africa, these companies will play a major role in their partnership for the hackathon.
What will it cost to enter the hackathon?
It is free of charge to enter the hackathon.
I don't live in East London, so I need accommodation for the three days while I compete in the hackathon. Has the Cortex Hub arranged accommodation at a hotel in East London, and how do I go about booking a room at the hotel?
The hackers will have to bring their own sleeping bags and sleep at the venue.
How will I get from the airport to the hackathon venue?
The airport is ten minutes away from the East London Industrial Development Zone. The Cortex Hub will not be providing transport.
What about meals during the day at the hackathon?
Drinks and food will be available during the hackathon for the three days.
Do I need to bring my own computer to the hackathon, or will the Cortex Hub provide me with one?
You will need to bring your own laptop to the hackathon.
What about Internet connection?
There will be WIFI at the event.
Where do I go to register for the hackathon?
You can register for the hackathon on the Web site. The Web site URL is www.womenhackersunite.com.
Who will come back to me with more details about the hackathon?
If you have any questions, you may call the Cortex Hub on 087 357 7001 and enquire at info@womenhackersunite.com
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