In an effort to promote diversity and inclusivity within the technology sector, MetaMorph, an HR advisory firm, is organizing Chhalaang 2.0, India's biggest women in tech hackathon at the Microsoft Office in Bengaluru. With already more than 2,800 sign-ups, the organization anticipates a potential increase to 10,000 participants this year, compared to the over 5,000 registrations received for last year's Chhalaang 1.0 event.
Sanam Rawa, Founder of MetaMorph, said, "At MetaMorph, we firmly believe in the power of diversity to drive innovation and progress; Chhalaang 2.0 is not just a hackathon; it's a catalyst for change. By empowering women to code their way to success and providing them with real-world challenges from startups across various domains, we are not only addressing the gender gap but shattering it all together".
The organization's objective with the hackathon is to confront obstacles and establish fair opportunities for all individuals in the technology industry. The event will serve as a stage for women to demonstrate their abilities, foster innovation, and engage with prominent tech startups. Participants of Chhalaang 2.0 will tackle authentic challenges presented by startups spanning different fields, allowing them to exhibit their talents, resourcefulness, and inventiveness.
Noteworthy companies like Gameskraft, Groww, Bureau, Veera, and DMI Finance are set to participate in the event. Furthermore, the hackathon has garnered sponsorship from well-known brands such as Luzo, Purplle, Plix, Plum, Frido, and BONOMI. Microsoft for Startups is the designated venue partner for the event.
Prithvi Raj Singh, Founder, GamesKraftsays, "Since inception, we've supported Women Krafters in pursuing their career aspirations. Partnering with MetaMorph's Chhalaang 2.0 elevates our commitment as we host talented women coders, shaping the future of tech. Krafterhood thrives on diversity and inclusion, and this is just the beginning".
The jury for the hackathon will feature Mahangi Sri Ramachandran, Chief Data Officer at Yubi; Ajit Narayanan, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Licious; Shivangi Srivastava, Associate Vice President, New Initiatives at Swiggy; Sonia Parandekar - Head of engineering for commerce at Atlassian, and Saurabh Arora, Co-founder of Plum.
The grand prize for the top winner will be valued at Rs 3 lakh, with the second and third-place winners receiving Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. Furthermore, there will be two special prizes worth Rs 50,000 each in addition to prizes in kind. "We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and support for Chhalaang 2.0. We look forward to welcoming more and more women to join us in this initiative and code their way to success. Together, we can drive meaningful change and shape a future where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive in the tech industry", Rawa adds.