GiveBackHack looks to launch new projects combining tech and social enterprise

A weekend hackathon that puts a focus on projects bringing together tech and social change is happening in Baltimore this weekend.

GiveBackHack looks to gather technologists, social impact leaders and citizens to team up on new efforts that can make an impact. Along with spurring new ideas, it also seeks to help projects become sustainable and urging teams to consider their work from technology, business and community perspectives.

The Baltimore event is set to be held at Allovue’s offices above R. House in Remington on Feb. 1-3.

FAQ: What does my #GiveBackHack #Baltimore ticket include? It includes all meals from Friday evening to Sunday evening, a t-shirt designed by @Nitinsampathi, access to mentors, and an amazing weekend aimed at solving the world's challenges.

Feb 1-3 will be here soon! pic.twitter.com/Qm5LFAdVWu

— GiveBackHack Baltimore (@GBHBaltimore) December 24, 2018

Founded in 2015 with an event in Columbus, Ohio, GiveBackHack has since spread to other cities. The Baltimore edition is organized by a local team. More than a dozen mentors and judges from the local tech community will also be onhand.

Teams will form up at the event after formal pitches., but there’s already a chance to propose ideas. On its website, the event has 19 pre-submitted ideas looking at areas like visual art, jury duty and VR for social-emotional learning.

The teams pitch to close out the event on Sunday evening, and there will be a total of about $2,000 in follow-on funding and resources available to prize-winning teams to help keep the momentum going.

While lots happens in a weekend, the goal is to start work that will go beyond the three-day event, said organizer Valerie Garrison.

“Our goal is connect teams to the appropriate folks in the community that can help them move forward, and to teach the teams Lean Startup principles during the event that can be used outside of the weekend,” Garrison said.