Events / GiveBackHack: 24-Hour Hack

Overview

Welcome to GBH’s 24-Hour Hack, a new take on GBH’s flagship social innovation weekend. 

Come build a business that makes a difference and earn up to $5K from The Columbus Foundation.

1. Pitch your idea
2. Form teams
3. Start building (with help from us!)
4. Win up to $5K to drive your venture forward

All tickets are pay-what-you-can, $15 suggested, $5 minimum. These include 4 meals, hands-on design and prototyping training, and helps us keep the event open to everyone. Don’t hesitate to chat with us if price is an issue.

​GiveBackHack is generously supported by The Columbus Foundation and Columbus Code & Coffee.

FAQs

Will we be working 24 hours straight?

Nope. The event is split over two days. You’ll be building on Saturday and pitching on Sunday.

Do I have to pitch an idea?

Nope. You can pitch your own idea or join a team.

Do I have to submit my idea online prior to the event?

Unlike previous years, we don’t have the option to submit your idea online prior to the event. Instead, everyone will be going through a brainstorm exercise on Saturday that’ll help you prepare for your initial pitch.

Do all ideas have a chance at getting funded?

Not all ideas will move forward after initial pitches on Saturday. Once pitches are complete, we’ll vote for top ideas and form teams around the 4 – 7 ideas with the most votes. You must recruit at least three total team members (including the founder(s)) to move forward and have a chance at getting funded on Sunday. If your idea doesn’t move forward, you can join another team!

What types of entrepreneurs does GBH support?

While GBH most often works with technology startups, we support any organization (for- or non-profit) that incorporates non-negotiable social impact. Read more about types of social entrepreneurs here.

Schedule

Saturday, November 8

9:00am

Doors open

9:30am

Breakfast and introductions

10:00am

Ideation session

11:00am

Pitches and team formation

12:00pm

Working lunch

2:00pm

Mentor visits

3:00pm

Free work (optional)

9:00pm

Doors close

Sunday, November 9

10:00am

Pitches due

11:00am

Doors open

12:00pm

Showcase begins

1:00pm

Final pitches

1:30pm

Awards announced

2:00pm

Wrap it up!

Judges

Aaron Stamper

Donor Services Advisor, The Columbus Foundation

Aaron is a seasoned leader in program management and institutional development. Currently, he serves as the Donor Services Advisor at The Columbus Foundation.

Brian Suiter

Founder, Downeast Holdings

Brian is the founder of Downeast Holdings, a advisory firm that combines art, philanthropy, and real estate to transform the communities in which it works. He also founded Catalyst Columbus, a 501(c)(3) public-facing art organization, and serves on the Executive Committee for the Board of Lutheran Social Services, one of Ohio's largest nonprofit organizations.

Harley Blakeman

Founder and CEO of Honest Jobs

Harley Blakeman is the Founder and CEO of Honest Jobs - an employment platform helping people impacted by the criminal justice system find better jobs faster. As a for-profit social enterprise, Honest Jobs has raised $3M in venture capital and created a sustainable business model that's driving both scalable revenue and positive social impact. Harley also enjoys advising founders and organizations ... Read More » in the Future of Work and Justice Tech categories.

Mentors

Amber Hunt

Business Systems Analyst, Huntington Bank

Amber is a Business Systems Analyst at Huntington Bank. Previously, she helped start Planting Life, a GiveBackHack company that helps gardeners plant native plants. She also has extensive experience in non-profits, including leading programs at SWAP Working Holidays and Harbourfront Centre.

Casey Calhoun

Founder, Ranz Calhoun

Casey is the founder of Ranz Calhoun, a software consulting firm for real estate developers and startups. Previously, he was a Senior Analyst at Crawford Hoying.

Doug Cichon

Senior Software Engineer, Angel Kids AI

Doug is the founder of Planting Life, a GiveBackHack company that helps gardeners grow native plants. He's also a senior engineer at Angel Kids AI and, previously, Stanson Health.

Priyam Khan

Project Manager, Accenture

Priyam is a project manager with over 15 years of experience in the public and private sector. Currently, she leads projects across multiple domains at Accenture. Previously, she was a Managing Consultant at Guidehouse and Director of Community and Legislative Strategies at CelebrateOne.

Stephanie Navarro Lopez

Founder, Freedom Pipeline

Stephanie is the founder of Freedom Pipeline, a GiveBackHack and SEA Change alumni that reduces recidivism rates for those recently released from prison. She's also a developer at the Franklin County Data Center and, previously, at BBI Logistics.

Event Sponsors

Lead Sustaining Sponsor

The Columbus Foundation is dedicated to strengthening and enriching the Central Ohio community through impactful philanthropy and community-driven solutions. Guided by our core values of innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity, we are committed to supporting initiatives that create lasting change. Our investment in social enterprises exemplifies this commitment, as we believe in the power of entrepreneurial solutions to address complex social issues. Partnering with organizations like GiveBackHack, we aim to empower changemakers to transform visionary ideas into real-world impacts, improving lives and fostering a brighter future for all.

Key Sustainability Partners

Community Leaders

Event Partners

Facilitators

Owen Myers

Education Programs Lead, GiveBackHack

 

Owen Myers leads education programs for GiveBackHack, which have reached over a thousand students since 2022. Previously, he was the founder of TeachTo, a GBH-backed edtech startup, and an associate researcher for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Organizers

Owen Myers

Education Programs Lead, GiveBackHack

 

Owen Myers leads education programs for GiveBackHack, which have reached over a thousand students since 2022. Previously, he was the founder of TeachTo, a GBH-backed edtech startup, and an associate researcher for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Adam Morris

Community Impact Lead, GiveBackHack

Adam is the Community Impact Lead for GiveBackHack, where he oversees community events and programs that empower social entrepreneurs. A co-founder of Wild Tiger Tees, Adam brings his extensive experience in technology and social innovation to his role, guiding teams to create impactful solutions for social issues. He also hosts two podcasts, People Helping People and Green Champions, which focus on ... Read More » social change and sustainability. Driven by a belief that business can be a force for good, Adam is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections within the community.

Suzy Bureau

Founder, GiveBackHack

The ebullient Suzy Bureau (as she was referred to in TechCrunch) is dedicated to building impactful communities & products. Suzy is the Founder of GiveBackHack, an organization that helps bridge the gap between tech & social impact communities through the integration of Lean Startup/Design Thinking. GiveBackHack comes to life via a volunteer-based team of 50+ and has helped vet over 100 social ... Read More » impact concepts into prototyped products and provided over $150,000 in initial funding to take them to next steps. She honed her technology & startup chops via Product Ownership as an early employee at CoverMyMeds, a US-based HIT startup that grew from 40 people to $ 1.3 billion "Unicorn" acquisition over her time there. In addition to GiveBackHack, Suzy is a Group Product Manager for Thirty Madison, a fast-growing unicorn health tech startup. Suzy has been honored as the first “Create Columbus Visionary” award recipient via resolution by Columbus City Council and the Create Columbus Commission, and was recently honored with the VentureOhio Catalyst of the Year award and the YWCA “Woman on the Rise” distinction.

Lydia Stutzman

Art Director & Designer, Lydiary Design

 

Lydia is the senior graphic designer at AndHealth and has over 10 years of experience working with nonprofits, social enterprises, and startups. She is on the boards for the Columbus Center for Architecture and Design (CFAD) and Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA).