Hackers for Birth Justice
Developing tech solutions for Black maternal health
Hackers for Birth Justice
The UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi) and Twilio present Hackers for Birth Justice — an annual Hackathon event where tech and birth equity meet to improve Black infant and maternal health outcomes. Imagine what we can achieve when we put tech experts and mothers with lived experience in a creative and innovative space together to develop solutions to combat challenges burdening Black mamas and babies.
2025 Hackthon Information
The annual Hackathon for Birth Justice will return in 2025. Check back here for updates in early 2025.
What to Expect
What is a Hackathon?
A Hackathon is an innovation strategy that uses hearts, minds and technology to co-create collaborative solutions for complex issues. For this hackathon, you can expect a two day event where you will form small teams, build creative solutions to a business problem, and demo your app to peers, and PTBi and Twilio leadership. You should anticipate spending 6 - 8 hours total to create a working prototype.
Who can participate?
You don't need to be a developer in order to participate. We need everyone's expertise: Product Managers, Subject Matter Experts, Designers, Data Analysts. If you have a vested interest in the future of Black maternal health, we want you to participate
You may also participate as a VIEWER ONLY if you would like to join for the kick-off and demo ceremony. We ask that you still register as a viewer to received event related details by email.
Why should I participate?
This is a fast-paced opportunity to do something different from your typical work week, to work with others, to learn new tools, and make a difference for Black infant and maternal health outcomes.
What is Twilio?
With Twilio, you can add communications like SMS, voice, video, and chatbots to your apps, using the language you already know, and integrate with the apps and systems you already depend on. At the hackathon, engineers from Twilio will partner with your team to help you build your app. Learn more about Twilio.
Judging Criteria
Social Impact
Prototype demonstrates that it could significantly benefit the business in some way, whether by improving the bottom line, introducing needed tech, or tackling a top-of-mind problem
Technical Feasibility
Prototype integrates Twilio APIs and optimizes for the best solutions. Developers demonstrate consideration for various cases and feasibility of getting the prototype into production
WOW factor
Prototype shows creativity, unique features, or solves a complex problem in an effective way. Extra detail and attention is evident in the demo. Prototype has something special.
Previous Hackathons
2024 Hackers for Birth Justice
June 13-14, 2024
The 4th annual Hackers for Birth Justice event, held in June 2024, demonstrated the power of technology and collaboration in addressing critical health disparities and promoting birth justice for Black communities. Five teams worked to conceptualize and develop solutions to combat challenges faced by Black mothers, birthing individuals, and their families.
2023 Hackers for Birth Justice
June 1-3, 2023
In June 2023, the Hackathon event returned for its 2nd annual occurrence. The event fully brought to life what we imagined we could achieve when tech experts and mothers with lived experience collaborate in a creative and innovative space to develop solutions to combat challenges burdening Black mamas and babies.
2022 Hackers for Birth Justice
June 9-10, 2022
Hackers for Birth Justice 1st annual event took place in June of 2022. It was a successful event where tech and birth equity met to improve Black infant and maternal health outcomes. The event had eight teams to design and build prototype tech-based solutions to address the Black infant and maternal health crisis.
Support the work
Information on how you can engage as a sponsor and/or spread the word about the Hackathon will be shared in early 2024.
