Berytech E-Hackathon 2021: Bring Your Innovation to the Cleantech Sector!

Berytech has announced that applications are now open for the e-hackathon, themed Cleantech Innovation, organized under its Cleanergy Accelerator Program. This second edition is taking place online on the 13-14-15-16-17 of July 2021. 

 The Hackathon is organized by Berytech in partnership with the full and unwavering support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon and in collaboration with AEE Lebanon Branch. 

This e-hackathon is an exciting opportunity to develop cleantech solutions using technologies such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence. Throughout the e-hackathon, participants will receive the assistance of technical, industry and business experts, and will have access to the tools and hardware prototyping facilities at the Berytech Fab Lab.

The Berytech e-hackathon 2021– Cleanergy will be an engaging 5-day online event, bringing together engineers, makers, data scientists, creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs, and young professionals from various backgrounds. 

During these five days, participants will discover real challenges facing the cleantech sector in Lebanon, learn how to transform their idea into a valid business solution through intensive online workshops, prototype their solution, and then pitch it to a panel of judges to have the chance to win prizes as well as 3-month access to Berytech’s validation support under the Cleanergy Accelerator Program.

Opportunities to innovate lie in energy creation solutions (wind, solar, water, biomass), energy efficiency and optimization, and resource management systems. Berytech has identified nine challenges and what is needed concerning automated water heaters, solar panel positioning and functionality, household water systems, photovoltaic electricity, streetlights, biogas, solar farmlands, and windmill farms.

Water management solutions are one of the dominating opportunities in the industry. Berytech has identified four challenges and what is needed concerning regional water establishments, solar energy in irrigation, wastewater sludge, and valorizing organic waste.

Uncontrolled dumping of waste all over the country has caused water and soil contamination, numerous health and environmental problems and increased GHG emissions. Berytech has identified seven challenges and what is needed concerning medical waste, batteries, household waste reduction and compression, improved collection system, agriculture waste, and construction waste.

Applicants must be in teams of at least three members. Those encouraged to apply are engineers, developers, coders, makers, data scientists, creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs and young professionals. They can apply with their own idea or can hack one of the preset challenges. The online event is open for Lebanese residing in Lebanon.

Their solution – an idea or within an early-stage startup, needs to fall under one of these 5 sectors: Energy, Solid Waste Management, Water and Wastewater management, Agriculture, or Transportation.

On Tuesday 13th, participants will attend technical workshops online to help them with their prototype, whether for hardware or software solutions.

On Wednesday 14th, participants will attend business workshops online to help them  shape their idea, understand the needs of their customers, and develop their business model.

On Thursday 15th and up until Friday 16th in the afternoon, they will be given the time and support to work on their solutions and develop their hardware or software prototypes.

Finally, on Saturday 17th, teams will get to pitch their idea to a jury who will then announce the top 3 winners. The prizes are $5,000, $4,000 and $1,000 respectively as well as 2-month access to Berytech’s validation support under the Cleanergy Accelerator Program.

Berytech is catalyzing cleantech innovations through a yearly three-phase program that allows cleantech entrepreneurs to grow their startups from an idea into a scalable business.