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

nice to meet you! My name is Miranda, a beginner in the infrastructure industry and is struggling 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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It's abruptly...! Do you know about hackathons ?

At first glance, you might imagine the strange atmosphere of a gathering of hackers, but in fact it's completely different! Hackathon is a combination of " Hack (creative technology utilization) " and " Marathon," and refers to an event in which engineers, designers, and business people team up to turn ideas into shape in a short period of time.

For example, on weekends, we share passionate times by sharing ideas, writing code, and giving presentations based on topics such as "Let's create a new app!" and "Let's think about future technology!" In the end, you will be able to present your ideas to the judges, and if you win, you will receive a prize money or an offer from the company!

It gives off a sense of excitement like a cultural festival in the tech world.

Examples of services born from hackathons

In fact, some of the services we use everyday are born from hackathons.

For example, Facebook's Like button and timeline function are one of the success stories that emerged from an internal hackathon These features have now become known to everyone as employees come up with ideas within a limited time frame and quickly turn them into reality.

Additionally, the group messaging app "GroupMe" was developed based on an idea born from the TechCrunch Disrupt NYC hackathon. GroupMe was acquired by Skype in 2021, and Skype is scheduled to end service in May 2025, but it will be very interesting to see how GroupMe will evolve after that.

Looking at examples of these services, I think that hackathons are just for programmers, but hackathons are also welcome to participants from industries that are not experienced or non-programmers! Even if you have no programming experience, you can contribute in a variety of ways, such as coming up with ideas and thinking about designs.

Various hackathons are being held in Toronto, providing an opportunity to get to experience the latest technology and expand the harmony of new communities. Have you become interested? Now, let's introduce three hackathons you can take part in Toronto!

3 Hackathons to participate in in Toronto

ETH Toronto, one of Toronto's most famous hackathons

🔗ETHToronto

The hackathon "ETH Toronto" 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 cryptocurrency, and creating innovative projects.

In this hackathon, participants will team up to develop prototypes within a limited time and present their results on the final day. Great projects sometimes offer prize money and investment opportunities, making it a very exciting event. This gives participants a valuable opportunity to not only hone their technical skills, but also connect directly with industry leaders and investors.

Another major feature is that a session called "ETHWOMEN" is held, and efforts are made to support women in their entry into the IT industry and to help them become active. This has attracted attention as a place for networking and supporting women to become active in blockchain and technology.

Additionally, after the first day of the event, participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a free cruise boat party, allowing them to deepen their networking through casual interactions. It's a great opportunity to leverage Canada's rich networking culture and connect with fellow industry members.

Events from the technology community "HackerNest"

🔗HackerNest

HackerNest, a technology community based in Toronto, regularly hosts networking events called "Tech Socials." This event brings together professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, including engineers, designers and entrepreneurs, and is used as a place for exchange of opinions and collaboration. HackerNest also hosts hackathons, making it an environment that is easy for working adults and beginners to participate.

One of the most notable hackathon is "DementiaHack." This event is specialized in developing technology to improve the lives of dementia patients and their caregivers, and aims to use technology to solve social issues. In the past, apps that can record and share patients' condition, as well as tools to support the memory of dementia patients, have been developed, and projects that beautifully combine social significance and technological innovation.

It is extremely attractive to be able to simultaneously pursue social contribution and technological innovation through hackathons like this, and is a valuable opportunity for participants to gain new perspectives and inspiration.

Hack The North hackathon for students

🔗Hack the North

Hack The North, Canada's largest hackathon, is held every September at the University of Waterloo. The event brings together over 1,000 students from around the world and develops innovative projects in 36 hours. Past projects include educational support tools that utilize AI and funding platforms that use blockchain technology, and are amazed at their diversity and creativity.

In recent years, the Canadian IT market, including Toronto, has been extremely competitive, and students from colleges and famous universities are required to prepare early in preparation for job hunting after graduation. Among these, 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. Also, writing your results on your resume will help you build connections with the company and will greatly help you in your future career.

Hack The North is a great opportunity for students to build a wide network, as anyone can participate regardless of the school they work in. Additionally, there are various hackathons held at other universities and colleges in Toronto, so it might be a good idea to take part in hackathons at your school.

For example, hackathons like the following are also noteworthy:

・UofTHacks (sponsored by the University of Toronto)

・Seneca Hackathon (sponsored by Seneca College)

You can also Eventbrite

lastly...

I myself studied programming at a college in Toronto, so I've always had an interest in hackathons. However, I was shy and didn't have the courage to participate. However, as I wrote this blog, I once again felt the fascination of hackathons and felt the desire to give it a try!

After researching this time, I realized that not only hackathons, but Toronto has many tech events, and a vibrant community of technicians and entrepreneurs. These are places that not only provide exposure to the latest technology, but also create opportunities for new encounters and collaboration.

Beyond GTA , we actively participate in a variety of events and value our connection with the tech community. In the past, he has visited Montreal and participated in the largest gaming event in Canada, "MEGAMIGS."

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

Everyone, please come and visit the event you're interested in. Not only will you gain new discoveries and inspiration, but you may also find unexpected opportunities!

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