HackLBS.
Build your way to entrepreneurship.
We do hackathon with a business twist. HackLBS brings together business professionals, app developers, tech enthusiasts, designers, and anyone who loves to problem solve to get their ideas off the ground and launch new ventures together.
Historically, we have asked participants where the market is and how will we make money? At the turn of this decade, we want to also starting why. What does your product stand for in society?
HackLBS is a weekend-long event where people come together to create anything at all. The most common hacks are such software products as mobile apps or websites, however, some also build physical hacks – machines, tools etc. Check out the video provided by our partner MLH!
Good question! You will build a network with like-minded individuals from a diverse technical or professional background and get to work with them in a pressure-cooker environment. The goal? To create an MVP (minimum viable product) and to pitch your product to our panel of mentors and judges. Winning teams will also stand a chance to win monetary prizes!
When and where?
The Hackathon will run from the 26th to 28th of February. It will be held virtually via #Slack and Zoom this year 🥴 (i know, right?) however, you will still get to meet other participants as our team is working hard to make sure that you experience all the essentials of a hackathon!
Do I need to be a student? What else do I need?
Yes, you need to be a current student at any educational institution to join this Hackathon. Bring with you a computer, the tinker in you, a spirit of collaboration, and plenty of ideas!💡
What if I have never hacked?
We will be hosting an array of pre-hack training sessions including business-focused ones (to help you pitch your MVP) before the event! Sign up to our newsletter and stay tuned!
How do I form a team? Can I join as an individual?
You can sign up as a team of up to four OR as an individual.
If you choose the former, we recommend that you build a multidisciplinary team – a mix of design, coding, and business know-how will ensure higher success.
If you sign up as an individual, we will help you (through workshops and networking events), to meet other participants to form a team.
What about prizes? 🥇
Monetary swag 💰worth up to GBP1500 is up for grabs, while we are lining up non-cash prizes from such partners as Microsoft, HubSpot, Stripe and Speechifai
Is there a code of conduct?
TLDR – Be respectful to others, speak up if you experience harassment, abuse or any inappropriate behavior, and have fun! Further reading: MLH Code of Conduct Guide.
Hackathon
Challenges
This year, we are proud to introduce two new challenges on Sustainability and Women. On top of that, we have a generalist (hacker’s paradise) track where participants can build anything they want!
Challenge winners will stand a chance to pitch at a VC panel at the London Business School Women in Business conference.
Judges
Our panel of judges bring years of experience and valuable mentorship to the programme.
Jeff is Executive Director of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at LBS. He teaches on several entrepreneurship courses at the School and leads many of the co-curricular activities supported by the Institute, including all competitions, the London Entrepreneurship Review and the TELL Series. Prior to joining the School, Jeff was commercial director at University College London (UCL), where he built its Technology Transfer division – including the creation of two seed-funds and new units to stimulate consultancy, industry engagement and spin-out creation. Working alongside senior academics, he co-founded more than 30 technology-based spin outs that collectively raised more than £30 million in first round capital. He also introduced management education for engineers and created the first Research Masters Programmes at UCL.
Matthew is a technology specialist with more than 20 years of experience delivering highly complex technology systems in the telecommunications, financial services and payments sectors. He has worked across Australia, Asia and Europe, building network analyzers, flight simulators, high-performance mission-critical EFT payments transaction switches, online and mobile banking and shared mobility platforms. As Engineering Director at BCG Digital Ventures London Center, Matthew oversees technology across all ventures. Matthew’s work has been integral to the build and release of several high-profile ventures at DV, including: Coup (e-scooter sharing platform), FarePilot (professional driver support) and WonderBill (bill aggregation and switching), to name a few.
Kathrin is a femtech expert, community geek and online business strategist with a passion for minimalism and ashtanga yoga. I'm the founder of Femtech Insider, the leading portal for women's health innovation and the co-founder of PERLA Health a platform with the goal to reinvent PCOS care.
Julian is an Associate Partner at Corporate Venture Builder Stryber. He is a passionate entrepreneur and former strategy consultant. He started his career at strategy consulting firm Bain & Company, where he advised clients from the financial services, private equity and other industries.
After his time with Bain & Company, Julian founded a hospitality tech startup in 2016, which he grew to over 100 employees across three countries.
He joined Stryber in June 2020 to lead its expansion into the UK market after Stryber had successfully established itself as the largest independent corporate venture builder in DACH. Julian will be helping organisations based in the UK and beyond to innovate successfully by building portfolios of ventures aligned with the organisation’s strategy.
After his time with Bain & Company, Julian founded a hospitality tech startup in 2016, which he grew to over 100 employees across three countries.
He joined Stryber in June 2020 to lead its expansion into the UK market after Stryber had successfully established itself as the largest independent corporate venture builder in DACH. Julian will be helping organisations based in the UK and beyond to innovate successfully by building portfolios of ventures aligned with the organisation’s strategy.
Nell is an experienced innovation consultant specialised in venture building and new product development.
She currently works at Founders Intelligence, the entrepreneur powered consulting arm of Founders Forum (tech network) and works alongside Founders Factory (accelerator) and firstminute Capital (VC). As an innovation consultant, she helps corporates discover opportunities for growth rooted in technology, form partnerships with start-ups to pilot new solutions and build ventures through intrapreneurship and incubator programmes.
Prior to Founders Intelligence, Nell worked at ?What If! Innovation where she helped companies identify white space and invent new products and services using consumer and in-market experiments to test and develop them.
Her interest in entrepreneurship started at university where she helped build two social impact start ups and she has been passionate about working with entrepreneurs ever since.
Anna is the Product Development manager at DAME - the start-up taking on the Goliaths of the period product world with sustainably made, reusable period products. DAME is on a mission to eliminate plastic waste from period products by making periods acceptable, accessible and sustainable. Anna was previously the New Product Development Manager for HelloFresh ANZ, and it was during her time living in Australia that she fell in love with surfing and protecting the oceans! She also helps other entrepreneurs in the sustainability space get their ideas off the ground.
Sponsors & Partners
Exclusive Partner
BCG Digital Ventures
BCG partners with the world’s most influential companies to rapidly invent, launch, scale, and invest in revolutionary new businesses. Digital Ventures is an early-stage growth platform that includes a diverse team of innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, designers, product specialists, data scientists, operators, growth architects, and seasoned founders.
BCG is building businesses and shaping the world.
BCGDV - Zero to Launch
Our partners
Our team
Kathryn Larin, MBA21'
Team Lead
Kathryn is the co-president of the Entrepreneurship Club at LBS and is part of the founding team at Talent Ladder, a tech enabled recruitment start up. She has recently completed a VC internship at Mosaic Ventures (Series A), and is also the founder and host of the podcast ‘Ride it Out @LBS’📢 Link below!
Marileni Benopoulou, MBA22'
Business Development
Marileni is a curious, engaged tech enthusiast🔌 with a passion for finding innovative solutions that create long term value. You've guessed it right, she was a strategy consultant prior to joining LBS!
Krasen Dimov, MBA22'
Finance
Krasen has six years of experience in Corporate Strategy and Finance 💰 within diversified industries under his belt. He is interested in start-ups and anything tech-related, and is currently working at a VC fund.
Lance Hung, MBA22'
Marketing
Lance is a seasoned professional in the tech industry. His hashtags are unsurprising.. #tech #product...wait a minute.. #diving! 🌊
Agnieszka Prawda, MAM21'
Outreach/Operation
Agnieszka is passionate about high-tech startups and venture building to help companies with disruptive ideas thrive. She is most interested in such areas as Product Management, Data Science, AI and Innovation. Under the hood, she is a talented musician! 🎹 #pianist #piano #data scientist #tech enthusiast.
Yash Dandavante, MIM21'
Outreach/Operations
Yash is passionate about the start-up ecosystem and building innovative products to solve day to day problems. #ProductMarketing #Entrepreneurship #DesignThinking and #Growth 📈
Jimmy Toh, MIM21'
Design/Marketing
Jimmy is a self declared bio-nerd 🧬 and passionate about all things investing and entrepreneurship. He is a scientist, a clinician, and an ultimate foodie.
Zoe Chrysostom, MIM21'
Logistics
Zoe is passionate about retail + innovation and is ready to make a lasting impact in the fashion👒 and tech scene. Her hashtags? #fashion enthusiast #tech lover #travelling!