Kolkata: U.S. Consulate,NASSCOM 10,000 Start Ups, Microsoft host 24-hour Hackathon

Approximately 126 participants comprising of students, entrepreneurs, professionals aged 16-60 as well as representatives from startups and corporate bodies participated in the event that uses technology for social good. 

 
Registered participants came in from Kolkata as well as parts of north Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chennai. 

 
Through many hours of computer coding, the participants worked in teams building websites, mobile apps, and hardware hack on apps for next generation enterprises, citizen reporting, and technology to address climate change. 

Starting at 5 p.m. on July 23, the participants were placed into teams to pitch ideas, network, code and get mentored by technical and business experts for the next 24 hours.     

NASSCOM 10,000 Start Ups Deputy Manager Ravi Ranjan and Microsoft Senior Audience Evangelism Manager Mark D’Souza joined Consul General Craig Hall to present prizes to the top three winners and the popular choice awardee on July 24.  

The winning teams App or After, Kolkata Intelligentsia, and Dark Swag have received internships at the Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Lumia devices, free library membership at the American Center in Kolkata, and will have a chance to pitch for incubation at NASSCOM Warehouse Kolkata, Angel & VC investors.  The crowd favorite team was Freakers.        

 
Delivering closing remarks, U.S. Consul General Kolkata Craig Hall, noted,  “This hackathon  is a great example of how the U.S. and India can work together to change the world- in fact it  shows how people like you and me can play a tangible role in the U.S.-India partnership.”