WEISS Hackathon Vol. 2 – Connectivity Reloaded

The WEISS Technology Foundation devised a very broad challenge for its 2nd hackathon: Develop a connectivity solution! The participants were free to choose the type of solution. From coding and UX design to business models, they could focus on any number of themes. The surprising results showed that all the teams leveraged the entire spectrum. Alongside their technological solution and its implementation, they presented the related business concept. Two teams were the winners. 

“The participants’ motivation and enthusiasm were a joy to experience,” said CEO Uwe Weiss of WEISS GmbH to summarize the hackathon. “I was impressed to see how young people who were complete strangers at first were able to generate such energy and deliver convincing team performance. During the past 72 hours, the way that enthusiasm grows when it is shared has been definitely noticeable.” 

WEISS provided the teams participating in the 2nd hackathon three components from the WEISS product portfolio with different controllers and protocols. They were challenged to develop a connectivity solution that meets the industry’s requirements for stability, compatibility, efficiency, and security within 72 hours. While one winning team relied on a solution involving a database to standardize the data, the second team of winners developed an app. The data flows into the app via a unified access point in real time. In both solutions, status data is displayed on a dashboard, saved for later use, and made available. The jury was particularly impressed by the simple user experience, the solutions’ usability on a variety of end devices, and the focus on user benefits. 

The jury wrestled to come to a decision. Alongside the technical implementation of the approach to the task, the way the team distributed its tasks and the degree of collaboration within the team played major roles. The jury consisted of Walter Meier, the first chairman of the board of the WEISS Technology Foundation; Silja Weiss, Uwe Weiss’ wife; and Anne Sauer, the ambassador of the WEISS Technology Foundation. A triple individual champion and seven-time team champion in fencing, Sauer spoke to the hackathon teams and an interested audience about focusing – a keynote speech that provided plenty of food for thought for the participants and their further careers. 

WEISS Technology Foundation 
The WEISS Technology Foundation supports innovative and sustainable activities relating to the STEM subjects and digitalization in vocational training, schools, and universities. Since 2019, the Foundation has supported young people in their efforts to discover their potential through targeted projects and initiatives. The Foundation’s spheres of activity also include projects that promote scientific research and teaching in these subjects at universities and state universities (with cooperative education programs). The hackathons organized by the WEISS Technology Foundation support young talents in the fields of engineering and IT and generate interdisciplinary solutions for mechanical engineering. The board of directors considers these activities a bridge between both academic studies and the working world and between teaching and business.