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Turn ideas into reality!

Build generative AI-powered apps! Join us for a special AI hackathon at Unitec.


October 9 – 11, 2024 | Unitec, Auckland
Event Organisers:
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Platinum and Cloud Sponsor:
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Event Sponsors:
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Imagine unleashing the combined power of AWS Generative AI technologies and your own ingenuity!

Unitec and Promptech are proud to organize the GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact, a groundbreaking event sponsored by AWS, focused on harnessing the power of Generative AI technologies to create innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


This dynamic hackathon invites participant teams to collaborate with industry experts and professionals, utilizing cutting-edge AWS Generative AI tools like Amazon Bedrock and Q to develop innovative sustainable impact to the New Zealand industries.


The event will culminate in a panel review, where industry leaders will evaluate the projects based on creativity, feasibility, and impact. The most outstanding teams will be honored with awards, celebrating their exceptional contributions and inspiring others to explore new frontiers of innovation.

Tackling Global Challenges with GenAI

Empowering Innovation for Sustainable Solutions

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Driving Innovation with Purpose


The GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Impactful Solutions Across Sectors


SDGs recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests..

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Empowering AI for Global Good


Participants will work on use cases designed to make a meaningful impact across various sectors. Projects will contribute to one or more of the 17 SDG pillars

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Use Cases Aligned with the 17 UN SDGs:

  • No Poverty: AI-driven solutions to alleviate poverty through better resource allocation and access to services.
  • Zero Hunger: Innovations in food security and sustainable agriculture using AI for predictive modeling and optimization.
  • Good Health and Well-being: AI applications in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and access to medical services.
  • Quality Education: Enhancing educational accessibility and quality through personalized learning platforms powered by AI.
  • Gender Equality: Promoting gender equality and empowerment using AI tools to identify and address disparities.
  • Clean Water and Sanitation: AI solutions for improving water management, purification, and distribution.
  • Affordable and Clean Energy: Leveraging AI to optimize renewable energy sources and reduce carbon footprints.
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth: AI-driven initiatives to create jobs and promote sustainable economic growth.
  • Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Developing AI technologies that support resilient infrastructure and industrial innovation.
  • Reduced Inequalities: Using AI to bridge the gap in social and economic inequalities.
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities: AI solutions for urban planning, waste management, and smart city initiatives.
  • Responsible Consumption and Production: Promoting sustainable consumption patterns through AI-based efficiency models.
  • Climate Action: AI applications focused on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and environmental protection.
  • Life Below Water: Protecting marine life with AI tools for monitoring and reducing pollution.
  • Life on Land: AI technologies for conservation, reforestation, and biodiversity protection.
  • Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Strengthening institutions and promoting justice through AI-powered transparency and accountability.
  • Partnerships for the Goals: Fostering collaboration across sectors with AI to achieve the SDGs effectively.
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Enabling Workshops

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Text Generation

You will learn how to generate text using LLMs on Amazon Bedrock.

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Knowledge Bases and RAG

Build a knowledge base and using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to extract information.

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Model Customization

Customize Amazon Bedrock foundation models in order to improve their performance.

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Image and MultiModal applications

Build multimodal image indexing, searching and recommendation applications quickly.

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Agents

Harness the Foundation Model's (FM's) reasoning skills to execute multi-steps business tasks using natural language.

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Prompt Engineering

By using various prompt engineering techniques, you can get better answers from the foundation models.

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We are proud to collaborate with Unitec and be involved in this great initiative. It's a great opportunity for us to upskill the future generation of leaders in NZ, help them realize the value of GenAI and build innovative and impactful solutions using AWS latest technology.
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Agenda

  • Day 1: 9 October 2024
    • 7:30-8:00   Registration
    • 8:00-8:15   Opening ceremony
    • 8:15-9:00   Keynotes
    • 9:00-10:30   Breakout 1: AWS enabling workshop
    • 10:30-11:00   Morning break
    • 11:00-13:00   Breakout 2: AWS enabling workshop
    • 13:00-13:30   Lunch break
    • 13:30-19:00   Start working on projects
  • Day 2: 10 October 2024
    • 7:00-9:30   Working on projects
    • 9:30-10:00   Morning break
    • 10:00-11:00   Breakout 3: Q&A with Mentors
    • 11:00-13:00   Working on projects
    • 13:00-13:30   Lunch break
    • 14:00-15:00   Breakout 4: Presentation practice with mentors
    • 15:00-19:00   Working on projects
  • Day 3: 11 October 2024
    • 7:00-9:30   Working on projects
    • 9:30-10:00   Morning break
    • 11:00   Final submission
    • 12:00-12:30   Lunch break
    • 12:30-17:00   Presentations
    • 17:00-17:30   Break
    • 17:30-18:30   Keynotes + Awards
    • 18:30-19:30   Networking
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Welcome Speech

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Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga

Executive Director (Region/Rohe 1), Te Pukenga

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Dr. Haren Sam

Head of Enterprise, Industry & Greenfield, AWS

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Dr. Helena Bahrami

AI and Machine Learning Team Leader, Wine-Searcher

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Judges and Panel

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Prof. Martin Carroll

Deputy Chief Executive Academic, Unitec

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Shimi Baliti

Solutions Architecture Manager, AWS

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Dr. Helena Bahrami

AI and Machine Learning Team Leader, Wine-Searcher

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Cyril Ovely

Co-Founder & CTO, Vxceed

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Bec O'Brien

Manager of Sales, DoiT

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Dr. Masoud Shakiba

Senior Lecturer, Unitec

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Judging Criteria

  • 1

    Innovation and Creativity (20%)

    Originality of the idea

    Creative approach to solving the problem

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    Solution Adoption Simplicity (20%)

    Difficulty of the technical implementation

    Use of advanced technologies and methodologies

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    Impact and Usefulness (25%)

    Practicality and real-world application of the solution

    Potential impact on the targeted industry or community

    Alignment of the idea with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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    Team Collaboration (10%)

    Teamwork and collaboration during the hackathon

  • 5

    Presentation and Demo (25%)

    Clarity and effectiveness of the presentation

    Demonstration of a working demo

    Ability to answer questions and engage the audience

Meet The Mentors

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Dr. Amir Mohammadi

Founder & CEO, Promptech

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Ratan Kumar

Principal Solutions Architect, AWS

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Nataliia Mikhailova

Associate Solution Architect, AWS

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Jobandeep Singh

Associate Solution Architect, AWS

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John Buckwell

Head of Advanced Solutions, Wine-Searcher

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Robin Gu

Generative AI (Large Language Models) Expert, Wine-Searcher

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ZhongYi Li

Machine Vision and Deep Learning Expert, Wine-Searcher

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Santosh Shenoy

Chief Design & Architectural Officer, Vxceed

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Dr. Soheil Varastehpour

Postgraduate Program Coordinator & Senior Lecturer, Unitec

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Susan Bennett

Head of School, Unitec

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Troy May

Coach and Independent Consultant

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Dr. Mohammad Norouzifard

Research Fellow, University of Auckland

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Snehanshu (Sneh) Bhaisare

Sr. Partner Solutions Architect, AWS

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Deepika Kumar

Solutions Architect, AWS

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Mariya Milkova

Technical Consultant, AWS

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Ash Siddiqui

Head of ICT Transformation

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Min Long

Data Analyst, Marketing Specialist, Huawei Marketing Manager

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Vida Ramin

Ambassador, Promptech

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Dr. Sara Zandi

Data Science and Machine Learning Lecturer, NZSE

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Avinash de Silva

Head of Technology, Alvarium

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Corinna Stukan

Product & Startup Advisor, Impact Chain

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Paul O'Brien

Engineering Manager, DoiT

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Christopher Bradley

AWS Account Executive, DoiT

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Dr. Sara Hajighorbani

Data & Commercial Analyst

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Victoria Jack

Director, Maslow - Founder, Actualise.io

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Prizes

More Prizes TBC

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Second Team

$1500

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First Team

$4000

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Third Team

$750

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Vxceed Internship

Best Student Award

Invitation to Interview

Requirements

  • Eligibility: The GenAI Hackathon is open to everyone—students, developers, researchers, and business decision-makers alike.
  • Citizenship: Participants from any country are welcome. However, please note that visa support letters are not provided to Hackathon Pass Holders.
  • Email Address: You will need to provide an academic or business email address. If you are not affiliated with tertiary institutions or industries in New Zealand, you may be placed on a waiting list.
  • Team Size: Teams should consist of 3-4 members.
  • Registration: All participants must register through the application form.

Answers to frequently asked questions

The GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact is for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the latest technology advancements on AWS and capitalize on transformative innovations like generative AI, analytics, and cloud operations. Whether you’re a student, a developer, a researcher, or a business decision-maker, there’s something at AWS GenAI Hackathon for you.
The theme of this hackathon is "GenAI and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." Participants will focus on creating innovative solutions that harness the power of Generative AI to tackle real-world challenges aligned with the 17 SDG pillars. These solutions should aim to make a meaningful impact across various sectors, from reducing inequality to promoting sustainable industry practices. The event encourages creativity and technical prowess in developing AI-driven solutions that contribute to a better and more sustainable future.
October 9–11, 2024, at Unitec venue in Auckland, New Zealand.
Submitting this form does not guarantee a ticket to the event. We will review all applications and contact you after 22 September regarding the status of your application.
The GenAI Hackathon offers a unique experience, empowering participants to deepen their expertise in AWS technologies through a range of activities. From keynotes by AWS leaders to focused innovation talks and hands-on enabling sessions led by AWS experts, attendees can engage in various learning opportunities.
The following services are available to everyone onsite, with no advanced request required:
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Accessible parking
  • All-gender restrooms
  • Prayer Centre/ Halal meals
  • Cafes
To inquire about a service you don’t see listed, contact Access4Success team at [email protected]
Short answer: No! The GenAI Hackathon breakout content is highly interactive and designed for in-person participation, so we aren’t able to make the majority of learning sessions available virtually. Participants from any country are allowed to participate. Visa support letters are not supplied to Hackathon Pass Holders.
While we will provide morning and afternoon refreshments, coffee, and tea, please note that lunch and dinner will not be provided. There are cafes and shops available at Unitec where you can purchase meals.
Participants are encouraged to form teams of 3-5 members. However, if you don't have a team, don't worry—you can still attend the event individually, and we'll help you join a team on the day.
No, all teams will focus on solving use cases aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, all solutions must be developed on the AWS platform.
We encourage participants to submit a proposal before the event. However, if you don't have a use case, you can still join and contribute to the event. We'll provide guidance on how you can get involved.
While we will send updates via email, all participants are required to join our Discord community by October 1st. Invitations will be sent to you via email.
The best entrance is Gate 3 of Unitec on Carrington Road. The event will be held at Unitec Student Central, located at: 139 Carrington Road Mount Albert, Auckland 1025 Unitec Student Central Google Map
All car parks at Unitec are available for parking. However, free parking is available at the car park listed below, which is the most convenient option for the event: Best Carpark Google Map

Post Hackathon Workshop:

Coffee with Talent International

25 October 2024, 11:00 - 13:00 | Unitec, Auckland | Venue: 180-2045

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In this post-hackathon workshop, we invite you to grab a free coffee sponsored by Talent International and dive into practical insights on how to stand out in the competitive tech and AI job markets. Whether you're looking to transition into tech, land your first AI role, or elevate your current career, this session will provide you with actionable advice and the latest trends.

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  • Learn how to structure your CV for tech and AI roles.
  • Learn how to communicate your understanding of your experience’s challenges.
  • Discover what companies are looking for and how to position yourself as a desirable candidate.
  • Learn strategies for building connections in the tech industry.