eMAG Hackathon — Mobile Edition 2015

On 13th and 14th of June, the IT eMAG teams participated at the second edition of the eMAG Hackathon: the Mobile Edition. After a successful first edition, over 80 of our brave colleagues from Bucharest, Craiova and Iasi reunited in the Swan Offices and worked for 24 hours to develop mobile applications: from 13th, 12:00 to 14th, 12:00.

Starting with 11:00 AM, the teams were there to check in and the terraces of the building began to swarm with groups who were discussing the projects that they would develop. The hallways of an entire floor turned into nine-bot tracks, and it seemed like we could only walk on the two-wheeled toy.

The fun was as intense as the coding: we prepared gadgets like flight and F1 simulators as well as nine-bots that the participants could test, and also entertainment moments that turned the breaks into real shows: karaoke, improvisation groups and many more. Moreover, the Burger Van was there to lure the coders with delicious burgers. In a fast-forward view we could see: walks with the nine-bot, jokes and a lot of smiles, frowning glances in front of the monitor, FIFA, 3 hours sleeps on the mattresses, many coffees, sofas, presentations sent in the last minute and a final sigh: “The presentation is the only one left and then we’re done!”

After 24 of working and having fun, the judgement time came. A big purple stain gathered in the space designated for the presentations. The MC officialy oppened the “arena”. Drums! Drums! Drums! After long debates, the projects and, therefore, the winning teams were chosen. The jury selected the winning projects based on 3 criteria:

• applicability and potential on the market
• innovation
• impact and addressability

The public had also an important role in choosing the prize for popularity (most popular project) and best project (Best Hack). So the list of winners was the following:

• Best Hack (Best Project): fun application through which you can invite your friends in an interactive game and purchase gift suggestions based on the votes of each participant and its donation. The application can send video greeting cards to your friends for special moments in their lives. (Team Chip In)
• Popularity Award: Application with which SCRUM meetings are more efficient, more interactive and enjoyable. The application manages all SCRUM meetings, improves system notifications (invitations, reminders), allowing integration with internal systems working, provides advanced analysis. (Team No Name)
• Business Value Award: An application of crowdsourcing for deliveries. (Team C.M.T.E.D.U.)
• Innovation Award: Application of voice commands to smart watches and phones. (Team Vewa)
• Impact Award: Application through which you can sample clothes online. You become your own model without getting up from the couch. (Team Kabina)

That’s how the second eMAG Hackathon edition ended: with a lot of fun, new friendships, many innovating ideas, prizes and thoughts of better projects.

Now we’re looking forward for the next Hackathon.