Last month we explored the move with ‘The Cheese’, where we discussed the importance of constant change for growth. This month we wanted to explore another exhilarating topic, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ - CSR. This will define the future of professionals and businesses in creating a more sustainable and ethical world for all future generations.
CSR encompasses a range of impactful actions that businesses take to benefit the environment, society, and those in need.
Step into the world of unstoppable innovation and problem-solving mastery as our company, Sensate, joins forces with Big Bloom to revolutionize the concept of CSR through ‘Hackathons For Good’. Big Bloom is a French, non-profit organization founded by Yvan Gatignon in 2019. The concept is to host hackathons and other events that unite diverse minds, fueling social innovation and entrepreneurship. The goal is to bring together people from different backgrounds to tackle society's toughest challenges and pave the path towards a better and greener future. Brace yourself for an extraordinary experience that will blow your mind and change lives in ways you never imagined.
Big Bloom Hackathon Methodology: The Innovative CSR Approach
Welcome to the era of ‘Hackathons For Good’, a groundbreaking fusion of technology, creativity, and social impact. This is no ordinary hackathon, it's a highly thrilling adventure that will challenge your intellect, ignite your imagination, and leave a lasting mark on the world. Big Bloom has crafted a one-of-a-kind approach to hacking problems, the methodology dives headfirst into the heart of an issue, dissecting it, analyzing it, and then calling out all our
collective genius to craft awe-inspiring solutions to help against the existential problems that charities, NGOs, and associations face in today’s world.
Imagine a room buzzing with excitement and anticipation as diverse teams of brilliant minds from all walks of life gather. In this immersive hackathon experience, we follow a design-thinking approach (Empathy, Ideation, Prototyping, Pitching) and guide professionals through an exhilarating journey of problem-solving methodology, based on collective thinking. The mentors and UX designers, who are experts in these fields, will guide the participants with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate uncharted territories. They inspire employees to push boundaries, think outside the box, and unleash their full creative potential.
But here's the twist: we're not hacking into code; we're hacking into the very essence of the problems that plague our society. Our focus is on disrupting the status quo, shattering barriers, and transforming lives. We dive deep into issues that help non-profit organizations relate to a variety of issues like inequality, access to education, climate change, healthcare, and more to empower your employees to craft solutions that create real, tangible change.
As the clock ticks and the adrenaline rises, you'll witness the magic of collaboration and synergy. Brilliant minds unite, feeding off each other's energy, and turning sparks of inspiration into revolutionary concepts. The hackathon becomes a melting pot of ideas, where diverse perspectives collide and create something truly extraordinary.
Finally, one winning solution will be selected from a variety of solutions made by multiple teams and put into practice for the benefit of the nonprofit organization.
Hack the Code with SENSATE
Sensate is proud to announce its partnership with Big Bloom, a renowned organization, to introduce the exciting concept of hackathons to the dynamic landscape of the Middle East. In our inaugural hackathon, we produced it for the beneficiary, the Maria Cristina Foundation, which addresses the pressing issue of poverty-stricken children in Dhaka, and focuses on harnessing the power of education. The hackathon generated a remarkable prototype consisting of branded t-shirts and tote bags, effectively supporting the foundation's mission to raise crucial funds.
Building on the success of our first hackathon, we joined forces with Dana, a distinguished venture builder and investment platform dedicated to empowering women-led startups in the desert-tech sector. This collaborative effort aimed to envision the future of farming in the UAE by the year 2023, specifically catering to the beneficiaries of the esteemed Abu Dhabi Environment Agency and Silal. Among the remarkable submissions, the winning project emerged as the groundbreaking "Burj Garden," determined to revolutionize traditional farming methodologies, thereby shaping the future of agriculture in unprecedented ways.
By cultivating such powerful alliances and channeling collective expertise, Sensate remains committed to driving innovation, empowering communities, and ushering in transformative change across diverse industries. Explore the intricate workings of The Big Bloom Hackathon as we delve into the first-hand account of one of our esteemed employees, sharing her remarkable journey of participation and unwavering support for the Idris Foundation.
“In May 2023, The Big Bloom partnered up with Sensate and facilitated a Hackathon for Good for the benefit of the Idris Foundation. In the bustling world of Sensate, I, as a passionate employee, embarked on an extraordinary journey: which was a nerve-racking yet exhilarating time in my life. Paired with strangers hailing from an intriguing mix of professions, we were tasked with combining our varied skills into a single purpose: a mission for good. The challenge was to assist the Idris Foundation in switching up their current unsustainable funding model of heavily relying on support from family and friends. It was time to explore together as a team innovative approaches to secure the foundation's future and enable them to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve.
We had only three sessions of one hundred and twenty minutes each to evolve an idea into a tangible prototype. The hackathon was a high-pressure explosion of creativity, adaptability, and resourcefulness, where teams relentlessly pushed their limits to bring groundbreaking ideas to life.
Our adventure as a team began with a crucial first step: Empathy Session. We immersed ourselves in the world of the Idris Foundation, seeking to truly understand their struggles and aspirations. Through engaging interviews with the foundation's stakeholders, we gained valuable insights that allowed us to see the world through their eyes.
Next came the Stage of Ideation, where our team gathered together to unleash our creativity. Individually, we generated a multitude of ideas, and then came together to combine and refine them. Through this collaborative process, we crafted a powerful and innovative solution that promised to address the Idris Foundation's funding challenge with utmost effectiveness.
But ideas alone were not enough, we needed to bring our vision to life, and that's where the stage of prototyping came into play. We meticulously built a model that encompassed every aspect of our solution, from the processes and operations to the design and financial aspects. We left no stone unturned, ensuring that our prototype not only delivered tangible results but also conveyed the profound impact it would have.
Our combined creative energy gave birth to Full Hearts 67, a social media campaign intended to harness the influence of chefs and public figures. The goal was simple yet powerful: to stir up philanthropic sentiment and transform passive viewers into active contributors with donation links towards the foundation's causes in Sudan.
We were gripped by a frenzied urgency yet driven by the potent promise of making a real-world impact. The stages of design thinking: ideation, prototyping, and pitching, became an exhilarating race against time, with each tick of the clock pushing us closer to our goal.
Then came the moment of truth, As we presented our concept, a tangible hum of passion echoed through the room, wrapping the judges in our shared enthusiasm. To our surprise, Full Hearts 67 emerged victorious, a testament to our collaborative effort.
The Big Bloom Hackathon transcended beyond a mere event to become a transformative experience for me and my teammates. Amidst the intense pressure and the creative rush, I found immense fulfilment. We had embarked on this journey to make a difference, and we left knowing that our idea was now a beacon of change. The victory was ours, the Idris Foundation's, and each child in Sudan who would benefit from the Full Hearts 67 Campaign.” – POV: Marketing Executive at SENSATE.
In the evolving landscape of CSR, hackathons stand as a powerful tool that businesses can employ. Unlock the untapped potential of your business, fuel creativity, and supercharge your digital transformation through our dynamic hackathon programs. At Sensate, we specialize in curating customized hackathon experiences in partnership with Big Bloom that empower companies to harness the collective brilliance of their employees. Why should you choose our hackathons? We believe in the power of collaboration, outside-the-box thinking, and rapid prototyping. This is the best way to cultivate a culture of innovation, where agility and adaptability become second nature, positioning your business at the forefront of your industry. Corporations can thus cultivate an ecosystem that simultaneously nurtures internal talent and contributes to the larger community, by integrating hackathons into their CSR strategies.
Reimagine the future with us! Seize the chance to transform your organization's route and make your mark on the ever-evolving digital landscape. Your next big idea is just an email away, connect with us now to get started at info@sen8ate.com.
Written by Melanie D'silva & Ben Safra