‘Hackathon: Tech for Everyone’ wins Impact Innovation Award 2024
In a world where inclusivity is increasingly important, projects that truly embrace diversity shine. The innovative ‘Hackathon: Tech for Everyone’ initiative developed by codeGorilla and Alyx has not only shaken up the Dutch IT sector, but also won the very first Impact Innovation Award. Public favourite and chosen by the professional expert jury, consisting of Florine Onderwijzer (HeadFirst Group), Olaf Vroom (Nationaal Dataportaal Wegverkeer) and Stef Witteveen (VvDN (Vereniging van Detacheerders Nederland)) during Innovation Excellence 2024. Here you can read how this hackathon turned traditional recruitment methods on their head and created a lasting impact.
A hackathon with a mission
The innovation was born out of a shared mission to put inclusiveness and diversity at the heart of the recruitment process. Traditional selection procedures often place too much emphasis on CVs and formal interviews, overlooking unique talents.
The hackathon offered an alternative: a selection process focusing on practical skills, collaboration and creativity. Candidates were judged on their ability to come up with technical and creative solutions in a challenging, realistic environment. This not only yielded a more diverse palette of talent, but also enabled candidates to excel without the constraints of a conventional application process.
Florine Onderwijzer says: ‘Innovation comes from different voices and backgrounds. The hackathon is proof that when we make space for diversity, we create not only new ideas, but also a new way of thinking.’
Why this works
What makes ‘Hackathon: Tech for Everyone’ unique is its focus on true inclusion. Unigarant, a key partner in this project, played a crucial role by adapting the challenges to their business needs. The collaboration resulted in the successful placement of several candidates in key positions within their organisation.
‘The impact? Women and neurodivergent candidates, who often struggle to break through in the IT sector, finally got a fair chance. For them, it meant a boost to their careers,’ adds Johanna Spiller, co-founder and CEO of Alyx.
Impact for Unigarant
Besides the participants, Unigarant also experienced great benefits. The hackathon not only increased their talent pool, but also strengthened their employer branding. By thinking outside the box, they not only found top candidates, but also proved that investing in diversity and inclusion pays off. Moreover, the hackathon showed how companies can embrace diversity as a strength. In a sector where it is desperately needed, this innovation contributes to a sustainable and inclusive labour market.
What next?
The message is clear: diversity is not a buzzword, but a force driving innovation. ‘Hackathon: Tech for All’ has shown how companies can integrate inclusion into their recruitment process and thereby grow both individuals and organisations. codeGorilla and Alyx already have plans to expand this successful method further, so that more underrepresented groups can find their place in the IT and tech industry.
Want to know more about this hackathon? Watch the video pitch of this award-winning project below.