The age of well-behaved data visualization is over, Vancouver. Time to let your datasets get dirty, your models get weird, and your algorithms get gloriously unhinged.
Vancouver’s tech scene is about to witness something different. Not another venture-backed innovation theater where Silicon Valley wannabes solve problems nobody has. This is the Data Storytelling Hackathon – a digital battleground where the cold, hard numbers we’re drowning in finally get to tell their story with soul.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE HACKATHON
Let’s get one thing straight: we’re not here for incrementalism. This isn’t about building another dashboard that’ll gather digital dust in some corporate archive. We’re calling on the full spectrum of Vancouver’s digital ecosystem – researchers, builders, founders, hackers, and nerds – to flex their AI/ML wizardry, creative coding chops, and data storytelling prowess.
The mission is deceptively simple but infinitely complex: Make data feel something.
Because let’s face it – we’ve reached peak graph. We’re saturated with visualizations that tell us nothing new. The world doesn’t need another pie chart; it needs narratives that crack open reality and show us what’s hidden in plain sight.
THE CHALLENGE: MAKE DATA SPEAK
Here’s where it gets interesting. We’ve partnered with Rival Technologies to provide you with custom market research datasets – rich, messy, human information waiting to be transformed. Your canvas is limitless:
- Craft a mind-bending data viz that shifts how we see the world
- Train an AI to narrate the story hidden in the numbers
- Turn statistics into a performance piece or generative art installation
- Use AI to bridge the gap between raw stats and human emotion
The format is yours to define. The medium is your choice. The only requirement is that the outcome reveals something true, something meaningful, something that makes us see differently.
THE BOUNTY: $10,000 IN PRIZE MONEY
This isn’t just about digital clout – though there’s plenty of that to go around. Via our partnership with Rival Technologies’ Andrew Reid There’s real skin in the game: $10,000 in cold, hard cash spread across four hackathon events. That’s $2,500 per winning submission.
But anyone who’s been in this game long enough knows it’s never just about the money. It’s about reputation. It’s about pushing boundaries. It’s about standing in front of Vancouver’s most innovative minds and saying, “This is what happens when we let data breathe.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Our judging panel will be evaluating submissions based on five key dimensions:
- Creativity & Innovation (25%): How fresh and original is your approach? We’re seeking work that pushes boundaries and shows us perspectives we haven’t seen before.
- Clarity & Effectiveness (25%): Does your project clearly communicate the insights? The strongest submissions will transform complex data into meaningful narratives that anyone can understand.
- Engagement & Impact (20%): Is your story compelling and memorable? We want experiences that stick with the audience long after they’ve encountered your work.
- Technical Execution (20%): How well does your chosen medium come together? Show us your mastery of implementation—whether that’s code, design, or any other form your vision takes.
- Community Value (10%): This isn’t a lone wolf competition. This is about sharing approaches, techniques, and inspiration. Solutions that leverage open-source tools, share methodologies, or create reusable components will score higher.
THE TECHNICAL DETAILS
Let’s get into the nuts and bolts:
Key Dates:
Hackathon 1:
- Registration Opens: February 26, 2025
- Submission Deadline: April 16, 2025
- Award Date: April 30, 2025
Hackathon 2:
- Registration Opens: April 30, 2025
- Submission Deadline: June 11, 2025
- Award Date: June 25, 2025
Hackathon 3:
- Registration Opens: June 25, 2025
- Submission Deadline: August 13, 2025
- Award Date: August 27, 2025
Hackathon 4:
- Registration Opens: August 27, 2025
- Submission Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Award Date: October 29, 2025
Submission Requirements:
- Project title and description (max 300 words)
- Link to working prototype/demo
- Brief explanation of your technical approach and tools used
- Team member information
- 3-minute video walkthrough (strongly encouraged)
Dataset Preview: The first round dataset includes consumer sentiment tracking across 4,000+ Vancouver residents, with time series data on local behaviors, qualitative response text, and rich demographic variables. Documentation and exploratory analysis will be provided to all registered participants.
WHO CAN ENTER?
We’re keeping this accessible and community-focused:
- Teams or Solo Mavericks: Bring your crew (up to 3 people) or ride solo.
- Community Connection: At least one team member must have attended a Vancouver AI Community Meetup before the award date.
- Prize Collection: One member of the winning team must be available to collect the prize at a meetup.
- Open to All: Whether you’re a seasoned data scientist, a creative coder, or just a curious mind with a wild idea, we want to see what you can do.
TECH STACK FREEDOM
The only technical requirement is that your solution must leverage at least one AI or machine learning technique – whether that’s NLP for text analysis, computer vision for pattern recognition, or something wildly experimental we haven’t even thought of yet.
- Use any programming languages or frameworks
- Deploy on any platform
- Integrate any AI tools or models
- Visualize using any medium (digital or physical)
BEYOND THE HACKATHON
This hackathon series exists within the larger Vancouver AI community ecosystem we’ve been cultivating. Want to get more involved?
Speaker Opportunities: We’re always on the lookout for bold thinkers, radical builders, and unconventional storytellers to take the stage. If you’ve got a big idea, a wild experiment, or a hard-earned lesson from working with AI, submit through our Speaker Nomination Form on the website.
Other Ways to Engage:
- Sponsor Inquiry: Help power the next wave of AI-driven creativity
- Volunteer Sign-up: Join the crew and help make the magic happen
- Demo Sign-up: Got something cool to show off? We want to see it
JOIN THE DIGITAL REBELLION
Registration for Hackathon 1 is open until April 16, 2025. Sign up at https://hackathon.bc-ai.net/. Our pre-hackathon workshop will cover dataset exploration techniques and team formation for those looking to level up their skills or find collaborators.
This is your invitation to transform how the world interacts with data and AI as active shapers of our technological future.
Stay connected:
- Twitter: @vancouver_AI
- Website: vancouver.bc-ai.net
- Email: kris@motleykrugmedia.com
- Phone: 778.898.3076
This is AI for the people. This is human-centered machine intelligence. This is data storytelling with soul. Let’s make something unforgettable. ?
Direct questions to kris@motleykrugmedia.com or text 778.898.3076. Datasets, documentation, and support channels available to all registered participants.
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