Five days filled with knowledge, challenges, networking, ideas, bright faces, and enlightened minds marked the first edition of the EdTech Bootcamp hackathon in Chișinău, held from November 15th to 19th, 2023.
Highlights of the Event:
- Over 160 applicants from across Moldova
- 14 teams qualified for the grand final
- Ideas aimed at revolutionizing education in Moldova
- 3 teams receiving 1000, 1500, and 2500 euros
- The youngest participant was 12-year-old Vitalie Dragan from Basarabeasca
- 11 mentors from Estonia, Lebanon, Moldova, Spain, and Ukraine
- 2 teams composed of family members
- 2 days online and 3 days offline
If you encounter a chatbot assisting students in choosing a profession, an online debate tool simulating parliamentary debates, an app aiding exam preparations, a platform connecting students with teachers, a platform teaching and rewarding healthy choices, a gamified English or financial education course, etc., you should know that there's a high probability it was created by the teams listed below.
Three teams were awarded special prizes:
1. Generation Gap Team, 2500 euros
- The team's product is a website containing a library of topics for intergenerational discussions. It will be built in collaboration with mental health specialists, with the primary goal of breaking down barriers between generations, including language complexities, values, and interests.
- Members: Aygun Mamedova, Alexei Terzi, Alexandr Semco, and Irina Pomazanoschi
2. Minivolt Team, 1500 euros
- We can't wait to see this one! A smart physics book as we all would have liked to discover. With definitions for everyone, video experiments, practical examples. Why does a needle sink, but a ship doesn't? Let's find out!
- Members: Irina Burca, Valeriu Mesina, Petru Mesina
3. Plan Sight Team, 1000 euros
- The product proposed by this team is an aid for teachers, trainers, and anyone involved in teaching to create plans for lessons, tests, and even automated evaluations.
- Members: Vladimir Stojoc, Marin Negai, Maxim Plămădeală, and Eduard Balamatiuc
All 14 teams emerged victorious. They surpassed themselves, learned, created at the same pace and with the same enthusiasm. These are: Escoala, FutureFuse, Guardians of Gaia, Justice League, RobinFood, Smartest, The Achievers, ChatNow, Zeno Academy, Wild Mind English, and WiseChoice.
The EdTech Bootcamp was a wellspring of inspiration and innovation for education in Moldova. All this in just one week, but one full of energy and creativity. Each participant and each team took a step forward towards a more dynamic and efficient education system. This event was just the beginning of a fascinating journey toward a current and progressive educational future.
The event was organized by Garage48 and Yep!Moldova, with financial support from the Estonian Centre for International Development.
Yep! Moldova is a leading organization that develops early-stage startups and promotes entrepreneurial thinking. Since 2018, Yep!Moldova has organized over 100 local, regional, and international events, with over 10,000 participants, including startup founders, entrepreneurial experts, students, pupils, and teachers. Yep!Moldova's vision is to foster a generation of entrepreneurial thinkers.
With over 13 years of experience in organizing hackathons and global recognition in the field, Garage48 has organized over 300 events in more than 50 countries, resulting in over 2000 prototypes in the fields of AgriTech, FoodTech, EdTech, SpaceTech, e-Governance, and Big Data.
