Please join us for the

2017 Better with Pets Hackathon

RSVP

Oct

13th

,

5:00PM

–

Oct

15th

,

3:00PM

Pets and people are better together.

We love pets. They’re our best friends, profile pictures, and members of our families. They enrich our lives and have the potential to make a lasting positive impact on our communities.

Together, we can make St. Louis a progressive model for pet ownership. Through new, innovative technologies, we can improve the lives of pets and the people who care for them.

During Friday's kick-off, innovators and leader, ranging from clinics, shelters, pet-owners and pet care experts will be on hand to provide insight and direction to our hackathon participants. The event continues on Saturday where teams comprised of students, engineers, designers, technologists, and citizens come together to ideate and create pet-friendly technologies. Area pet experts will provide feedback and guidance to teams, culminating in a project showcase on Sunday and final demos to an audience of peers, industry reps, and participants. A panel of judges will select winners and award more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.

RSVP

The Theme

How can St. Louis become the most pet-friendly city in the United States
through the application of technology?

FRIDAY SCHEDULE

5:00pm

Check-In

Check-in to the venue, get your workspace set up. Don't forget to bring your ID, personal laptop, chargers, or anything else you'll need for the hackathon.

5:00pm

Team Formation

Didn't sign up with a team? No worries! In the Team Formation area you'll get a chance to meet and mingle with other participants.

6:30pm

Learn

We'll introduce the various partners for the event and share more details about what teams will be working on over the weekend.

7:15pm

Friday Dinner

Grab some food, find your workspace, and be sure to send at least one team member to the pet-expert panel that starts at 7:30pm.

7:30pm

Pet-Expert Panel

Learn from local pet experts as they talk about their challenges within the pet-care industry.

10:00pm

Team Registration Deadline

Hackathon teams must register their team name and individual team members via DevPost by 10pm CST on Friday, October 13.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

7:30am

Saturday Breakfast

11:00am

Team Check-In

All participant teams are required to check-in with hackathon organizers for a quick status report.

12:00pm

Saturday Lunch

6:30pm

Saturday Dinner

12:00am

Midnight Snack

For those burning the midnight oil.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

7:30am

Sunday Breakfast

11:00am

Project Submission Deadline

All final projects must be submitted to DevPost by 11am on 10/15. No updates can be made past this time.

11:30am

Round 1 Judging

Judging will be conducted science-fair style, where our experts will rotate among all of the final teams.

12:30pm

Lunch and Public Expo

Guests are invited to grab lunch and check out the final projects.

1:30pm

Closing Ceremony

A select group of finalist teams will be invited to present their demos to the audience.

3:00pm

Teams Dismissed

Get some well-deserved rest and relaxation!

judges

Taylor James Ross

CEO, Marks tower

Ross is CEO and co-founder of Marks Tower, a leading news and media company for young people. From global affairs and politics to technology and science to sports and music, Marks Tower offers insightful stories and compelling perspectives on the issues that define a generation.

Jet Rodriguez

co-founder, Smalls

Jet Rodriguez is co-founder & editor-at-large of Smalls, an apparel and branding company for word travelers. From global affairs and politics to technology and science to sports and music, Rodriguez offers insightful stories and compelling perspectives on the issues that define a generation.

Prizes

Our panel of industry experts will help review teams' final projects and award over $10,000 in cash and prizes.

First Place

$5,000 in cash to be split amongst the team
Ability to direct a $5,000 matched donation to a pet-friendly nonprofit organization of their choice.
A (3-day, 2-night) trip for up to 6 people (depending on team size) to the Better with Pets Summit on Thursday, March 15, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York consisting of round-trip coach air transportation from Lambert International Airport, standard hotel accommodations (up to 6 rooms), ground transfers to/from airport to hotel, and up to 6 tickets to the event.
Purina product (swag) for each team member.
3-month membership with two training classes for each member.

Second Place

$2,500 in cash to be split amongst the team
Purina product (swag) for each team member.
1-month membership with one training class.

Third Place

$1,500 in cash to be split amongst the team
Purina product (swag) for each team member.

People's Choice

$1,000 in cash to be split amongst the team
Purina product (swag) for each team member.

The venue

Participants will be provided with meals, snacks, and plenty of open workspace. Please use the hashtag #bwphackstl before, during, and after the event!

RSVP

FAQ

You've got questions, we've got answers. Still need more information? Send us a note.

What is a hackathon?

A hackathon is an event where people rapidly prototype ideas. Typical hackathons last 48 hours over the course of a weekend.

What do I need to bring?

Bring a valid student ID or government-issued ID for admission and a laptop (and charger) for hacking. We’ll provide pretty much everything else—snacks, sponsor swag, wifi, and more! If you like to be comfy, you can bring a blanket, pillow, or a towel.

Do I need to come with a team?

No! While some individuals participate alongside their friends or co-workers, you are more than welcome to sign up without a pre-formed team. There will be an opportunity to form a team or join an existing team on Friday during the event. You will not hack alone!

What does my admission cover?

Your admission includes (5) meals, snacks, drinks, entry to the hackathon, swag, and a memorable experience!

What project will I be working on during the hackathon?

Generally teams will be working on solutions to make St. Louis the most pet-friendly city in the county through connected technology. We will be providing more direction around the specific challenges we would like you to solve during our Opening Ceremony.

How do teams work?

Hackathon teams can be composed of no more than six (6) members. You can register individually without specifying teammates.

OUR PARTNERS

Interested in becoming a partner?

We rely on the expertise and passion of the St. Louis pet-community to make this event a success. If you're a member of the St. Louis pet-community ― a pet-owner, advocate, business-owner, or professional, we'd love to have you be a part of this exciting event.

CONTACT US