FAQ

1) Do I need to know pharmacy or how to develop medicine / drugs?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is not a pharmaceutical challenge. We will not be developing or searching for drugs. The challenge is about making life easier for people with MS using various modern tools and providing support to caretakers. Pharmacists are more than welcome to participate, but please keep in mind that this challenge does not involve pharmaceutical tasks.

2) In the application, you have to describe your idea – how extensive does it have to be?

It is important that you are open minded and have some direction of your idea. In the application, you simply have to explain it in a sentence or two and it will be enough for the start. The proposed idea is a prerequisite for entering the competition, but the uniqueness of your idea will bring higher committee attention to it during the selection process. That is why, with a more detailed description of your concept you will have an advantage in the Hackathon participant selection process. Therefore, with no hesitation – share your concepts and ideas, etc. Keep in mind that talking to your new teammates and mentors while hacking, your initial idea will most likely change – not only once, but several times during the hackathon 😊

3) Will I be working on my own idea?

That isn’t necessary. Actually, it happens quite often that the team develops a mixture of all ideas team members had at the beginning of the Hackathon. This is Roche and Transformation Lighthouse will jointly select the best ideas and put competitors in teams according to similarity of submitted ideas. However, since you never know, you should continue developing your own idea and create a strategy on how to promote it and present it to your team members at the Hackathon. After the applications close, you’ll be assigned to your new team and we’ll connect you with them prior to the event. You’ll share your ideas and on the hackathon your team will proceed in one way or another.

4) Who will I be in the team with?

Based on the applications, the committee will select the participants and assemble the teams. Each team will have 2 – 6 members. We’re also encouraging employees of Roche to compete so you might get some insightful professionals in your team as well 😉

5) Can I apply with a team?

If you already have a team, of course, you can apply together. You have to indicate in the application form that you are applying as a team and who are your team members. However, each member of the team MUST register INDIVIDUALLY, so we can collect all the necessary information for further communication to all the contestants and in order to know that each team member has consented to the hackathon rules. Due to a large number of individuals who apply, it could happen that your team will get some additional members. But we’ll try to keep your team “alone”.

6) How old do I have to be?

The only condition is adulthood, well above the age of 18 😉 Since this is an extremely creative and dynamic event, it is desired that there is also a diversity in age. So, no matter your age, if you have an idea, you want something new, challenging, meet new people and learn new skills – hackathon is the right address for you.
But… hint: yes, we accept also participants younger than 18, we’ll just need consents from your parents 😉

7) What about education?

It is not a prerequisite. It is important that your idea is original. In the competition there are things more important than education. Creativity, originality, the ability to work in a team and openness to new ideas in the competition, can take your idea into an entirely different direction than it is at this moment. Understanding of new technologies, experience with industry and knowledge of latest trends within neuroscience, health tech, antopology, electrical and mechanical engineering, programming will be your advantage. But … don’t forget – you compete in a team. There is your well of knowledge and ideas that really matter.

8) What if I don’t know anything about neuroscience, med-tech, programming,.. ? Can I still apply?

Of course!

This is a challenge where we’ll work on alternatives to existing tools, equipment, new approaches to supoort the ones affected. equipment. Trust us, if you have a great idea, Roche and other mentors will know what to do with it afterwards. Now we’re just searching for your views, your ideas. How would you do help people with multiple sclerosis. What would make their life easier, more convenient,… What will be going on in the future if systems like neuralynk will make it to mass market? We’re interested in your thoughts and your idea development from the conceptual and business model behind it.

9) Location? Where will the hackathon take place?

We’ll be spending some time together in Ajdovscina. But!!! Since we want ideas from all over the world, we’ll have the online version as well. We’ll encourage everyone to join in person but yes, the event will be hybrid. So, you can work and develop from everywhere and have fun with us and your new friends in the physical and virtual space 😊

In the application just please mark offline or online so that we’ll know … ha, how many awesome meals to order for the offline participants 😉😋🤭

10) What do I need to have with me if I want to join the hybrid version in person?

Since the Hackathon is of a technical nature, you should bring a laptop or other means that you will be able to work with. Since you most likely work with a laptop, the final presentation will be in ppt, keynote or a live demonstration. In regards to overnight and sleeping options you have to know that on such events there is little rest. The rest corners will be arranged (deckchairs and some couches at the venue), while any other form of overnight accommodation is not provided. If you think that you will not need continuous work, you should arrange your accommodation yourself. You should not forget that this is a team competition. You will coordinate everything with your team during the competition. In any case, keep with you a blanket, pillow and comfortable clothing. The weekend will be long and a few hours of rest will not hurt. 😉

11) What will it look like? We get the task – what then? Who is responsible for what? How do you develop the idea?

The schedule of the competition is posted on the “Schedule” section of the website, where there is a written detailed course of events. Competitors will get a more detailed description of the challenge at the opening of the Hackathon. Teams receive guidelines at the beginning in which direction to develop an idea, how they develop it depends on each individual team. During the competition the teams are accompanied all the time by mentors, representatives of Roche, Transformation Lighthouse and other domain experts. Mentors are assembled in a way to cover as many segments as possible. They will be guiding you during the competition, if you wander too far with the development of your ideas or have challenges with the team work.

12) What about the final pitching?

On Saturday afternoon, the second day of the hackathon, you will submit all the materials and pitch in front of mentors. Each team will be assessed by the committee and the 3 winning teams will be announced in the same evening.