SOUTH LOS ANGELES
JANUARY 18, 2025
📍 LA TRADE-TECHNICAL COLLEGE - ARCHITECTURE
THIS HACKATHON IS POWERED BY
A hackathon is where you learn to build inventions under the guidance of mentors from the technology industry and then demo to judges who are venture capitalists, entrepreneurs from the Forbes 30 under 30 List, and elite engineers from Fortune 500 companies.
Hacker Fund is producing hackathons in South LA for youth ages 14-30 in partnership with the Vision Lab, a community-oriented program run by the City of Los Angeles that offers free tech training and resources for youth, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.
This is a safe and fun space for you to build inventions with your friends! Come with your squad or meet a new friend to form a team. We will help you find teammates if you're interested.
This is your time to think about what you can build to help your community. Bring your BIG IDEAS! Our mentors will be available to help you brainstorm how to bring your ideas to life.
We will have Workshops and Mentor Office Hours on-site so that you can learn how to build games, mobile apps, prototype using electronics, and use artificial intelligence to work with data. This is the perfect time to get help with your resume during our Mentor Office Hours!
Ready to build? We've got your back! You'll have open lab time to work on your hackathon projects. Mentors will be going around to support you through any technical challenges.
The hackathon concludes with a demo! You'll have time to present your projects to a group of industry professionals from top technology companies.
You will learn from elite technology companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla across the following topics below. Get ready for an action-packed day of hack-tivities!
You will learn how to build mobile games that you can share with your friends in the browser.
Want to save the world like Tony Stark? We will show you the hardware it takes to get started including microcontrollers like the Arduino! Then, adapt what you have built into a gaming experience.
Security keys and the blockchain! You will learn the foundation of cybersecurity and how blockchain technology can be prototyped to power our institutions.
Every company will become an AI-powered company in the next 5 years. We want you to be ready! You will learn how to use data science to prototype artificial intelligence.
Mixed reality headsets have allowed us to enter the virtual universe. You will learn how to design gaming experiences that you can explore.
Getting your idea across to your team or an audience during a project is a SKILL! And you will learn from the best how to communicate what the impact of your hackathon project.
Hacker Fund mentors are industry leaders and innovators from 150+ top-tier companies like Apple, Google, Tesla, SpaceX, and more. They are experts in AI, software engineering, gaming, hardware design, and advanced technologies, as well as seasoned entrepreneurs who have launched successful startups and pioneered groundbreaking solutions. Combining technical mastery with creative vision, these mentors bring real-world expertise and a passion for teaching, empowering students with hands-on guidance, practical knowledge, and the inspiration to innovate boldly and succeed in today’s tech-driven world.
Cardless
Hallie Lomax is an innovative entrepreneur who transformed her journey as a college dropout into a successful career in Silicon Valley. Driven by a passion for technology and a commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, Hallie has founded and scaled ventures that challenge the tech industry’s norms. Known for her resilience and advocacy for women and underrepresented voices in tech, Hallie continues to inspire others to pursue impactful work beyond traditional paths, embodying the belief that success is accessible to those who are determined to create their own opportunities. She is a software engineer who has worked at Lyft, LendUp, and now Cardless. She attended Howard University and has been leading advocacy for empowering students to learn the power of Javascript, Python, and backend programming languages.
Anima Interactive
Karla Reyes is the Founder & Studio Director at Anima Interactive, a socially conscious games and immersive media studio. Karla serves as an Advisory Board Member at Los Angeles City College for Game Art & Design and as a Board Member at WINGS Interactive. Additionally, Karla is an Advisory Board Member at devcom. With previous experience at Niantic, Inc., Square Enix, ConsenSys, and Visa in various product management roles, Karla has a diverse background in the tech industry. Karla holds a Master of Arts with Honours in French and Management from the University of St Andrews. Karla is a member of the Forbes 30 under 30 List for the Sports & Games category.
Lululemon
Miles Fishman is currently iOS Solutions Architect at Lululemon and prior to that led software development teams at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Nike, Voyager, City National Bank, MedMen, & CBS Interactive. He is a skilled full-stack engineer with expertise in C-based languages, particularly Swift and Objective-C, and more. He has extensive experience with iOS frameworks like ARKit and CoreML, and excels in multi-threading, concurrency, and augmented reality development. Proficient in XCode, Visual Studio, AWS, and Azure, Miles also has a track record of implementing machine learning solutions such as neural networks, NLP, and recommendation engines.
AND MORE TECHNOLOGISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does it cost?
The hackathon is free to attend!
Can I get extra-credit or a certificate for attending the hackathon?
Each student who participates in the hackathon will receive a certificate from Hacker Fund signed by industry professionals. Email us so that we can speak with your teacher about how to get you credit for attending the hackathon!
What if I have never been to a hackathon?
What a time to be alive! If it's your first hackathon, come on through and we'll make sure you find a team, meet mentors, and learn how to save the world through your inventions.
What if I do not know how to code?
A hackathon is THE place to learn to code! You will be around your friends, mentors from the industry, and a support network who will inspire you to create inventions that can bridge the digital divide!
When can I get started?
Students admitted to the hackathon will receive resources that will prepare them for making the most of their hackathon experience.
Who can attend?
Students ages 14-30 can apply to attend the hackathon.
How long is the hackathon?
The hackathon takes place on January 18th, 2025 from 8:00AM PT to 8:00PM PT for a total of 12 hours.
Where is VISION HACK [0]?
VISION HACK [0] will take place at LA Trade-Technical College at the following address: 400 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
What if I am under 18 years of age?
All students who are under 18 years of age must have their parent or guardian sign the permission slip that will be provided to you if your application to the hackathon is accepted.
Will there be food?
Yes! All hackathon participants will be served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Participants will be sent a form to list their dietary restrictions prior to the hackathon.
Will I get help with my resume?
You will receive support from industry professionals who have experience crafting resumes for successful recruitment for apprenticeships, internships, and entry-level tech jobs.
Will this help me build my portfolio?
Yes! Your hackathon project will be submitted to the platform called Devpost that top technology use to recruit talent. All hackathon participants will receive access to Devpost once they are admitted to the hackathon.
ARE YOU READY?
Join the hackathon below.
Public Communications Statement: This project received $120,000 from a grant awarded under the Community Project grant, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
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