2023-24 Great Lakes AquaHacking Challenge
Aug 17 2023 - May 10 2024
Virtual
1 - 10 Person Teams
Welcome to the registration page of the 2023-2024 Great Lakes AquaHacking Challenge! If you're ready to register, click "JOIN" on the right. To learn more about the Challenge, please keep reading.
About the Challenge
The Great Lakes are home to a spectacular system of dynamic freshwater and marine environments.
Hosted by AquaAction and Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), the AquaHacking Challenge invites talented young innovators from across Canada and the USA to bring their skills and passion to tackle freshwater issues impacting the Great Lakes.
This program is focused on tech solutions and will run from August 2023 to May 2024. To view the full details, please visit the "timeline" section.
Eligibility
If you are passionate about entrepreneurship and building sustainable solutions to water and environmental issues, this is the program for you!
The AquaHacking Challenge is open to you if:
✔ You are at least 18 years of age; each team must contain one member that is in the 18-35-year age group.
✔ You are a resident of Canada or the USA.
✔ You, or at least one member of your team, is enrolled in a post-secondary institution, is a recent graduate, or is a young professional.
✔ You are passionate about climate action.
All innovators are welcome!
How to participate
➊ Register & create your profile
➋ Build your multi-disciplinary team (You can hack as a team or solo)
➌ Choose one of the water issues
➍ Follow the AquaHacking Curriculum
➎ Develop your solution as a team
➏ Pitch it to the judges
AquaHacking Curriculum: Innovation for Freshwater & the Blue Economy
You will have access to a complete ‘Innovation Mindset’ course that will be available online starting on Nov 1st, 2023.
The course content is built to guide you along your learning journey through the Challenge, with specific content available during Phase 1, in the lead up to the semi-final, and for Phase 2 for those of you who move on as finalists, in the lead up to the Finale.
Prize money
At the Semi-Finals:
✔All participants who pitch their solution at the semi-final and successfully complete the online curriculum will receive a certificate and a digital badge for completing Phase 1 of the AquaHacking Curriculum.
✔ The 10 finalist teams who successfully go through to Phase 2 of Challenge will receive US$1,000 in financial support to help cover costs associated with the development of their solution and their business plan.
At the Finals:
All finalist teams will receive:
✔ A spot in a local Startup incubator
✔ Microcredits and a certification for completing the AquaHacking Curriculum
✔ The TOP 3 teams, as evaluated by the judging panel, will receive seed funding:
1st place: US$20,000
2nd place: US$10,000
3rd place: US$5,000
