AthenaHacks 2021

about

Join us for a weekend dedicated to filling the gender gap, exploring technology, and building the next big thing! Our mission is to support and nurture women (trans and non-binary inclusive) in tech by hosting Southern California's premier hackathon for women, femme and non-binary students. Expect a weekend full of workshops, mentorship, tech talks, social activities, food, and more! No experience necessary, you just need passion.

Check us out in the press!

From hardware to mobile, there are so many fields to explore! We want women to explore their ideas and interests, and are looking forward to some amazing projects! Check out last year's projects here!

We're all about helping each other grow! We hope to foster a supportive environment so that each participant at AthenaHacks feels welcome, comfortable and empowered.

Right now, only 20% of hackathon participants are women. We hope to fill that gap by providing a comfortable environment that is focused on learning and exploring!

We're all about helping each other grow! We hope to foster a supportive environment so that each participant at AthenaHacks feels welcome, comfortable and empowered.

Right now, only 20% of hackathon participants are women. We hope to fill that gap by providing a comfortable environment that is focused on learning and exploring!

faqs

What's a hackathon?

A hackathon is a 24 hour event where students with similar interests come together to work on a project. You can attend workshops, hear from people in the computer science field and network with students and reps from companies!
Who can attend?

Undergraduate and graduate women, femme & non-binary students are welcome to attend; we'd love to have any males interested in helping our cause and any women in the industry to mentor or volunteer!
Will AthenaHacks be virtual this year?

Due to COVID-19, the hackathon will be going completely virtual this year and will take place from March 6-7, 2021.
When will applications open and close?

Applications will open on January 4th, 2021. They will close on Feburary 27th, 2021. The link to apply is at the top of our website!
Do I need to be a CS major or minor?

No! This is the perfect place for any student to create their first coding project. We'll have plenty of resources for beginners to get started!
Does this cost money?

Nope! Admission is free! Our sponsors and AthenaHacks will provide you with the free swag!!
How do teams work?

At most teams can have 4 people. You can have your teammates in mind before the event, or you can find a team during our team formation activity before and after opening ceremony!
Will there be hardware available?

Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide hardware this year.
Is there a code of conduct?

Yes, we want to make AthenaHacks enjoyable for everyone! We follow MLH's Code of Conduct: here.
Can I mentor?

Yes! We welcome all regardless of gender who want to help. We appreciate all who want to support our cause. Mentors help hackers during the event with any technical questions they might have. Applications are open now for mentors!
I want to join the organizing team. Where can I apply?

Are you interested in making a huge impact on women in tech? Join AthenaHacks as an organizer! We recruit once a year in the fall for our Programs, Logistics, Finances and Marketing teams.
Where can I find more info about opportunities and events?

If you'd like to stay updated on all things AthenaHacks, subscribe to our newsletter here. We send out links to opportunities, interesting reads, and our favorite songs in every issue!

if we missed your question, hit us up at athenahacks@gmail.com

2021 sponsors

keynote

Sarvenaz Myslicki

Vice President of Engineering at American Express

Sarvenaz Myslicki is Vice President of Engineering at American Express, where she oversees the technology systems that run Credit and Collections Servicing globally. In prior roles, Sarvenaz has modernized global platforms, led agile transformations, and launched innovative solutions at scale. She holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Florida, a Master’s in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. Sarvenaz is a non-profit leader within the Society of Women Engineers, a published author, and a professional speaker.