What is a hackathon? Introducing recommended tech events to attend in Toronto

Nice to meet you! I'm Miranda, a beginner in infrastructure who is currently working in the Canadian office! Recently, it's been getting warmer in Toronto, and I'm excited to feel the arrival of spring🌸

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but do you know anything about " hackathons

At first glance, you might imagine a shady atmosphere, like a hacker gathering, but it's actually not at all! Hackathon is a combination of the words " hack" (creative use of technology) and " marathon," and refers to an event where engineers, designers, and business people form teams to turn ideas into reality in a short period of time.

For example, participants spend a weekend sharing ideas, writing code, and giving presentations on themes such as "Let's create a new app!" or "Let's think about the technology of the future!" They then present their ideas to a panel of judges, and if they win, they could receive a cash prize or an offer from a company!

It has an exciting feeling, like a cultural festival in the tech world

Examples of services born from hackathons

In fact, some of the services we use on a daily basis were born out of hackathons

For example, Facebook's "Like" button and timeline features are examples of success stories that were born from " internal hackathons ." These are features that are now well-known to everyone as a result of employees brainstorming and quickly putting ideas into shape within a limited time frame.

Additionally, the group messaging app "GroupMe" was developed based on an idea that emerged at a hackathon at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC. GroupMe was acquired by Skype in 2021, and Skype plans to shut down its service in May 2025. It will be interesting to see how GroupMe evolves after that

Looking at these examples of services, you might think that hackathons are only for programmers, but hackathons also welcome participants with no experience or from industries other than programming! Even if you don't have programming experience, you can contribute in a variety of ways, such as by submitting ideas or coming up with designs

A variety of hackathons are held in Toronto, offering opportunities to get in touch with the latest technology and foster new community connections. Are you interested? Here are three hackathons you can participate in in Toronto!

3 Hackathons You Can Attend in Toronto

ETHToronto, one of Toronto's most famous hackathons

🔗ETHToronto

The hackathon "ETHToronto" will be held as part of the Blockchain Futurist Conference, Canada's largest blockchain conference. The event attracts thousands of participants, sharing knowledge about the latest blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, and creating innovative projects

At this hackathon, participants form teams to develop prototypes within a limited time frame and then present their results on the final day. Excellent projects may be awarded cash prizes or investment opportunities, making this a highly exciting event. This not only allows participants to hone their technical skills, but also provides them with a valuable opportunity to connect directly with industry leaders and investors

Another major feature of the event is the "ETHWOMEN" session, which will be held to support women's advancement and participation in the IT industry. This is gaining attention as a networking and support space for women to play an active role in the blockchain and technology fields

Additionally, after the first day of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to join a complimentary cruise boat party for casual networking and deeper networking, providing a great opportunity to tap into Canada's rich networking culture and connect with industry peers

Technology community "HackerNest" event

🔗HackerNest

HackerNest, a Toronto-based technology community, regularly holds networking events called "Tech Socials." These events bring together professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs, and serve as a forum for exchanging ideas and collaborating. HackerNest also hosts hackathons, creating an environment that is easy for working professionals and beginners to participate in

One hackathon that is particularly noteworthy is "DementiaHack." This is an event dedicated to developing technologies to improve the lives of dementia patients and their caregivers, with the aim of using technology to solve social issues. In the past, projects that have been held include the development of an app that can record and share patients' conditions, and a tool to support the memories of dementia patients, resulting in a brilliant combination of social significance and technological innovation

The ability to simultaneously pursue social contribution and technological innovation through such hackathons is extremely appealing, and provides participants with a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives and inspiration

Hack the North, a hackathon for students

🔗Hack the North

Hack The North, Canada's largest hackathon, is held every September at the University of Waterloo. This event brings together over 1,000 students from around the world, who develop innovative projects in 36 hours. Past projects have included an AI-based educational support tool and a blockchain-based fundraising platform, and the diversity and creativity of the projects is astounding

In recent years, the IT market in Toronto and other parts of Canada has become extremely competitive, and students at colleges and prestigious universities are expected to start preparing early for job hunting after graduation. Participating in a hackathon is a great opportunity to improve your technical skills and gain valuable experience working together as a team to achieve something. In addition, including your achievements on your resume can help you build connections with companies and be extremely useful for your future career

Anyone can participate in Hack The North, regardless of their school, so it's a great opportunity for students to build a wide network. Additionally, other universities and colleges in Toronto also hold various hackathons, so it might be a good idea to participate in one at your school

For example, here are some interesting hackathons:

・UofTHacks (hosted by the University of Toronto)

・Seneca Hackathon (hosted by Seneca College)

also find information about Hackathons and various tech events on Eventbrite

lastly...

I studied programming at a college in Toronto, so I've always been interested in hackathons. However, I'm shy and didn't have the courage to participate. However, while writing this blog, I once again felt the appeal of hackathons, and I felt a desire to give it a try!

After doing some research, I discovered that Toronto is home to many tech events, not just hackathons, and that it has a vibrant community of engineers and entrepreneurs. These events not only allow people to experience the latest technology, but also create opportunities for new encounters and collaborations

Beyond GTA actively participates in various events and values ​​connections with the tech community, and in the past has even traveled to Montreal to participate in MEGAMIGS, Canada's largest gaming event.

🎮 Participating in Canada's largest gaming event "MEGAMIGS" + local sightseeing report! 🎮

We encourage everyone to attend any events that interest you. Not only will you discover new things and gain inspiration, but you may also discover unexpected opportunities!

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