Hack Memphis Hackathon 2024
The FedEx Institute of Technology welcomes back Hack Memphis to help the city reimage itself through tech, shaping its future
The event buzzed with excitement as innovators, coders, and problem-solvers from across the region converged on the University of Memphis’ FedEx Institute of Technology for the HACK Memphis Fall 2024 City Hackathon. The event was more than a competition—it was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the power of technology to shape the city's future.
70 hackers formed 14 teams and developed solutions over 36 hours to tackle neighborhood blight, transportation access, and AI/Smart City technology challenges. Another 25+ volunteers helped behind the scenes to provide coaching, skills workshops and keep hackers happy and well-fed throughout the weekend. The hackathon wasn't just about competition—it was also about mentorship and learning. Workshops led by local tech leaders helped participants refine their pitches and strengthen their solutions. Judges, ranging from city officials to tech enthusiasts, provided invaluable feedback during the final presentations.
As the event wrapped up, an API designed to summarize Blight data across city departments was awarded the grand prize for their project “Byte the Blight.”
"The HACK Memphis Fall 2024 City Hackathon wasn’t just a weekend event—it was a movement. It reminded everyone in attendance that when a city’s talent and technology come together, there’s no limit to what can be achieved." said Raminder Lotay, Project Manager at the FedEx Institute of Technology.
Winning Projects:
Grand Prize Team ($2,000 prize) – Byte the Blight
- Project Description: A Blight Layer API Gateway that will summarize Blight data across departments and allow GIS-informed Blight remediation by the Mayor's office, civic maintenance technicians, citizens, and non-profits. It will also allow for 3rd-party mapping services to provide auto-routing and crowdsourced data retrieval/submission.
- Team Members:
- Prince Bobo
- Michael Gattas
- Leo Rule
- Mike Schoenberger
Challenge 1 (Blight) Winner ($1,000 prize) – Clean Slate
- Project Description: A program that will allow adults re-entering from incarceration as well as youth to organize neighborhood cleanups and put cash in their pockets while beautifying their city.
- Team Members:
- Hassan Ali
- Kaliaya Dews
- Katerra Payne
- Yusra Salameh
- Yesenia Sanchez
- Tasneem Wakil
Challenge 2 (Workforce Transportation) Winner ($1,000 prize) – Tech Titans
- Project Description: A website prototype where multiple local employers can upload transportation needs/schedules for employees and pool resources to provide rides to and from work.
- Team Members:
- Carl Bledsoe Jr
- Venki Mandapati
- Venky Rajendran
- Balaji Venkatasubramaniyar
Challenge 3 (AI & Smart City) Winner ($1,000 prize) – NEAIA (Non-Emergency Artificial Intelligence Assistant)
- Project Description: An AI assistant designed to alleviate pressure on emergency dispatch systems by redirecting non-emergency calls and help individuals report non-urgent issues effectively, educate the public on proper 911 usage, and enhance response times for true emergencies.
- Team Members:
- Kareem DaSilva
- Marcus Kelly
- Chisom Okonkwo
