Yo, Philly! We’re here to announce that during September 2019, our month-long hackathon event is set to return. That’s right. Launchpad is back!

Get your full Particiant Ticket now!

Check out the full Launchpad event page for the entire schedule.

Logo for Launchpad: Phundementals, Code for Philly's 2019 month-long hackathon event

For 2019, we are taking Launchpad back to basics…. Phundamentals, if you may.

Project teams will explore civic tech solutions that help provide equitable access to Philly’s (re)defined set of basic needs. What are those 21st century basic needs? That’s up to us to decide! We’re starting a conversation around the resources and services that are necessary to thrive in Philadelphia today and forming project teams to improve access for Philadelphians.

The proposals around these shared needs, and the projects that form from them, should focus on anything that we collectively rely on. Can that include the big ones, like access to food, water, and shelter? Of course. Emergency services, digital access, and healthcare? Without a doubt. Personal well-being, education, and job opportunities - yes, yes, and yes! Are there more? Way more!

PS - Do you have opportunities worth tackling? Email us at leadership@codeforphilly.org.

Launchpad 2018 idea night


Opening Weekend Events

Friday Night Idea Kickoff

  • Friday Sept. 6
  • 6 - 8:30 pm at Caucus Room, City Hall

Opening Project Work Day - click link to RSVP

  • Saturday Sept. 7
  • 9 am (doors open) at PromptWorks, 123 S Broad St

Additionally, save the date for our Closing Demo Night on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. Location to be announced later.

What’s a Launchpad?

Our Launchpad is a month-long, hackathon-inspired event that facilitates citizen volunteers working together on civic-focused, open source projects.

Evolving from weekend hackathons, Code for Philly’s launchpads provide the resources, setting, and framework for teams and individuals who want to make a lasting positive impact. Project teams have a chance to bond, collaborate, work with stakeholders, and develop viable projects that are sustainable long after Launchpad’s conclusion.

Launchpad project team at work

About the Events:

There are multiple events that make up Launchpad.

Friday Night Kickoff (FREE): Join us for a night of project brainstorming at the City Council Caucus Room in City Hall! Attendees will socialize and project ideas will be proposed. This night is free to attend - RSVP now on Meetup.com!

Opening Saturday Project Work Day (Ticket Required - $25): On this day, teams will organize around the ideas presented the night before. The day includes structured team formation, team collaboration, and opportunity discovery workshops - so that projects new and returning can maximize their time, energy, and impact. Here’s the schedule for Saturday:

  • 9:00am - Doors open
  • 9:00am - 9:45am - Participant sign-in and light breakfast. This is when we recommend participants consider the project ideas that most interest them.
  • 9:45am - Opening remarks
  • 10:05am - Team formation
  • 10:25am - ~12:30pm - Workshop - idea & opportunity discovery (optional)
  • 12:30pm - Lunch is served
  • 1:30pm - Open teamwork and hacking!
  • Late Afternoon - Snacks served *9pm - Doors close …. Note, teams are not required to stay until 9pm.

Hack Nights & Workshops (INCLUDED for project team members with ticket): We’ll have events between kickoff weekend and demo night so that groups can get together to work on their ideas and presentations. Check out 2018’s list of workshops to get an idea of what to expect.

Demo Night (FREE for the Community): Groups will present their work and socialize with the community

Ticket Information

Tickets are $25. This covers the cost of meals and drinks, special programming throughout the month, and an event t-shirt!

Can’t Pay Online? Please contact leadership@codeforphilly.org to pay for your ticket.

Experiencing a Financial Hardship? Limited tickets are set aside for emergency use. Please contact leadership@codeforphilly.org for more information.

About Code for Philly

Founded under Code for America’s inaugural Brigade Program in 2012, Code for Philly currently hosts weekly meetups, regular hackathons and acts as an incubator for civic apps across the city.

We use tech and data as a mode of civic engagement. We’re making Philadelphia into the city we know it can be by bringing together a community of people dedicated to using their talents to improve their home, and themselves.

We’re civic and social entrepreneurs, self-directed learners, and proactive community members. Some of us are thinkers, designers, makers, and coders, but we’re all engaged citizens ready to make an impact on the place we call home.

Code for Philly is non-partisan and non-political.

www.codeforphilly.org/

https://www.meetup.com/Code-for-Philly/