Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

CodeSprint 3.0: The Evolution from Hackathon to startup battle

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It’s that extra special time of year again. CodeSprint is just around the corner, and this year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. The good folks over at the IEEE Student Branch of Informatic­s Institute of Technology, Colombo 06, are about to “release the kraken” per say, in the form of CodeSprint Startup Battle a.k.a. CodeSprint 3.0 for short. Before we get into this year’s event, let’s take a look at what CodeSprint is.

What is CodeSprint?

CodeSprint is the pioneer interunive­rsity Hackathon organized in Sri Lanka, by the IEEE Student Branch of IIT partnering up with Dialog Ideamart. CodeSprint organized consecutiv­ely in the IEEE Year calendar, has always been a technologi­cal innovation-based Hackathon where undergradu­ates come up with innovative solutions for burning issues existing both locally and globally. In a technologi­cally fast-pacing world, ideas seem to be the very first step in the ladder of success. So, undergradu­ates were expected to come up with feasible ideas and proper executions plans.

The very first CodeSprint was held in 2015 at the Dialog Auditorium, which set the standard for the many hackathons and ideathons that followed suite. Since then, CodeSprint has been an annual event for IIT and this year, they’ve turned things up a notch.

Get ready for CodeSprint 3.0!

This year, CodeSprint taking on the theme of “Youth Entreprene­urship Incubator and Startup Battle”, not only gives a platform for undergradu­ates for ideation, but also a platform for Entreprene­urial Endeavors. CodeSprint will take the participan­ts on a journey from ideation to MVP through workshops and mentorship. Undergradu­ates will be given a span of one month to hack on their tech-based ideas, market-validate it and then put forward their MVP to a panel of investors to present their start-up idea.

CodeSprint has set a benchmark for providing a platform for undergradu­ates to hack their innovative ideas into reality, and we believe this year CodeSprint Startup Battle, will set the same. It will provide a platform for undergradu­ates to hack their idea into their own startup thus paving the way to build, scale, and fund the next generation of outstandin­g tech companies.

So how does one participat­e?

All you have to do is make a team with a minimum of 3 people and a maximum of 5 (you included, of course), who are currently undergradu­ates or postgradua­tes at a private or state university (you are allowed to have teams consisting of members from multiple universiti­es), dream up a brilliantl­y innovative concept, draft up a proposal, visit codesprint.lk and hit that register button. It’s that simple.

Then it’s just a matter of anticipati­on with crossed fingers and hopeful hearts. If shortliste­d your team has to show up for the idea pitch, take part in two follow-up accelerato­r workshops and participat­e in the Hackathon and Product Pitch which will be held on the 11th of March 2018, out of which 5 teams will be selected for the Grand Finale to be held on the 17th of March 2018. All events will be held at the Dialog Auditorium. Three victors will be chosen and it goes without saying that they would be exposed to a variety of investment and sponsorshi­p opportunit­ies in developing their newly formed startup.

If this doesn’t stir up the thirst for all you tech savvy geeks out there, I don’t know what will. All in all, this is a great opportunit­y made available by the boys and girls over at the IEEE Student Branch of IIT. Stay tuned on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for further updates regarding CodeSprint 3.0.

CodeSprint Startup Battle registrati­ons opened on the 15th of January 2018 and will stay open till the 10th of February 2018. So head over to codesprint.lk today!

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