Self-Starter Hackathon

Exploring Innovation and Social Responsibility: Recap of the Better Space Self-Starter Hackathon 

In celebration of Social Enterprise Day and aligned with our Self-Starter Series, the Self-Starter Hackathon brought together passionate individuals determined to make a positive change. The event, a melting pot of ideas and collaboration, aimed to address critical social and environmental challenges through entrepreneurship.

Throughout the day, attendees were treated to a rich tapestry of experiences kicking off with inspiring talks from Molly Bevan, Founder of Impactic Volunteers, and Michelle Dawes-Jenkins, Founder of Bespoke Acupuncture.

This was followed by idea development and team building workshops facilitated by Leonore Lord-Patterson and Mark Goodson from Cambridge Social Ventures.  

After a full day of immersive sessions geared at fuelling creativity and crafting impactful solutions, the hackathon culminated in a pitching session, where all participants presented their innovative solutions before a judging panel composed of Ralph La-Fontaine, Head of Entrepreneurship at City, University of London, and Victoria Omobuwajo, Founder of SUNMO Snacks, as well as our keynote speakers.

Following that, two exceptional ideas were awarded prizes, including a £1,000 grant, 6 months of free co-working space, and personalised mentoring from Cambridge Social Ventures. 

A big thank you to everyone who played a pivotal role in shaping the event's success, including the Cambridge Social Ventures team, our keynote speakers and judges, and from Oslo to Islington, all the wonderful participants who illustrated their dedication to impactful entrepreneurship!