FSW invites innovators to inaugural Hackathon
Aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and changemakers are invited to participate in the inaugural Florida Southwestern State College 24-hour Hackathon this week.
Daveler Institute of Entrepreneurship Program Director Dr. Peter Ocsody said participants of Hackathons are given a particular problem, or challenge for which they have to come up with a solution for within 24 hours. The team, or individual who attend either bring their own challenge or problem, or are offered some challenges from which to choose.
Those challenges have come from economic development directors from a five-county region, Collaboratory, and the FSW School of Business and Technology.
“At the very beginning we give them a description or an introduction to those challenges, so they understand, and based on that, they can pick one,” Ocsody said. “All the individuals, or team, based on that one, spend the next 24 hours to try to come up with some kind of solution.”
The Hackathon will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in Building K, at the FSW’s Lee Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers.
Before the event begins they will provide participants with an approach — how to get into a problem and figure out a solution – a step-by-step approach.
“This is how you can think it through and come up with a solution,” Ocsody said.
There will be mentors throughout the 24-hour period, so if participants run into some kind of issue, or obstacle they cannot overcome, they will be able to provide help.
Both students and community members, 18 and older, are encouraged to register, which can be done by visiting fsw.edu/die/events. The event is free. Those who would like to be a mentor, can visit the same website and fill out an application.
“We will be feeding all the participants for 24 hours,” he said. At the very end, 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, there will be a lunch break and opportunity for participants to prepare their presentation for a pitch competition. Prizes range from $250 to $1,000.
The event is organized by the Entrepreneurship Institute, part of a campaign to start their new Associate in Science Entrepreneurship Program degree. There have been four events so far, ranging from open mic to pitch practice events.
“This is the final event before we start the semester,” Ocsody said.
So far, the new program has received more than 170 applications, each of whom received an invitation as a pre-semester boot camp opportunity.
The Frank G. Daveler Entrepreneurship Institute is an accredited degree program. Completion of the program will prepare students for such positions as a small business owner, startup founder, operations manager, franchise operator and social impact entrepreneur.
FSW’s School of Business and Technology received a $1.9 million donation from the Frank G. Daveler Foundation, which created the institute.
“That is when I came into the picture to create a degree program and design a degree program based on the particular needs of the study body at FSW,” he said.
The entire program is designed around the concept of building a business.
The degree is a two-year, four-semester program complete with nine courses that will begin in August.
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