SexHack 2021 Online Hackathon invites tech, creative and entrepreneurial minds to discover innovative digital and hardware ideas for something as fundamental to human beings as sexuality and mental health.
SexHack 2021 is the second edition of the online hackathon dedicated to human connection, sexuality, interpersonal safety, and reproductive health and will take place from March 26 to March 28. When people are socially and physically isolated, we need to look at these issues more boldly and from a different perspective. Therefore, a wide range of voices and ideas is urgently needed to explore how technology can aid in offering sex education, products, and services for sexual health and wellness, assault reporting, and dating.
“Last year, we decided to launch the first edition of SexHack in response to the effects COVID-19 is having on our social, dating, and sexual lives. More than 200 participants worldwide came together last year to build new and innovative solutions. We still face COVID-19 challenges, and based on positive feedback and requests to run the second edition, we decided to organise the SexHack this year again,” says Karlis Skuja, CEO of WindHackers and organiser of SexHack 2021.
The main themes of the hackathon are Privacy and Security, Education, Health and Technology. The hackathon will kick off with a Practical Info webinar for teams, mentors and partners on March 25 and then on March 26, teams will start building.
The event invites students, designers, developers, marketers, entrepreneurs, project managers, therapists and sexologists. After forming teams on Friday, participants will develop new solutions within 48 hours to then present their concepts on Sunday afternoon. During the hackathon, participants and teams will be guided by experienced mentors, specialists in technology, business, design, and health area. At the end of the weekend, an expert and jury will pick the winning solutions based on their potential impact and award them with prizes and resources for further development.
Participation in the event is free of charge, at the same time participants have the opportunity to donate to the association “Papardes Zieds”, whose mission is to ensure that everyone’s sexual and reproductive rights are implemented so that everyone has access to quality services and choices are made based on quality information.
“It is important that the education that young people receive includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are important for life in the 21st century. This includes your body and health, which can protect you from both illness and violence. As last years’ experience proved, such an event allows to find new and bold solutions in the field of sexual and reproductive health and education,” notes Iveta Ķelle, the head of the association“ Papareds Zieds ”.
People of all sexual orientations and identities are invited to participate in this event to create innovative SexTech solutions that will help in times of social distancing and post-pandemic reality. SexTech – be it applications, platforms, sensors, VR, AR, AI and other services – are designed to improve human well-being and sexual experience. The possibilities are vast. The SexTech industry is currently estimated at $20 billion and will be one of the fastest-growing multi-billion dollar industries in the next few years.
“In unprecedented times like these, when we’re isolated in our homes, we need to rethink the way we approach such previously-taboo topics. Hackathon is an ideal platform to explore our own needs and perhaps come up with something that will help millions of people all around the world,” says Alma Ramírez Acosta, CEO & Co-founder of SexTech start-up Vibio.
The event is organised by WindHackers – a community for innovators and entrepreneurs. The aim of the association is to promote the development of innovative and technology-based ideas among young people, as well as to unite people from different industries and spheres, encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation and the creation of new companies. Windhackers is especially known for the organisation of niche hackathons: for the cultural sector (CultHack), the gaming industry (GameHack) and the sports sector (SportHack) in 2020.
For more information, go to www.sexhack.co or visit the FAQ section.
