Last month we put a spotlight on HackHarvard, a student-created and -driven group at Harvard College (Harvard’s undergraduate school) that acts as an incubator for programming students over winter break, surrounding them with free workspace, base funding and workshops. HackHarvard’s goal is to help students produce “cutting edge software products that improve student life.” With the group’s first year under wraps, we had a chance to speak with its founders, David Kosslyn and Eric Hysen, to learn more about the group and the web apps that launched this year.
Kosslyn and Hysen started talking this past summer about how to encourage web apps to be built at Harvard that would improve campus life. “We thought we should create an incubator for student projects, and started talking with other student groups about the idea. They were all incredibly supportive.” The SGA gave the group initial funding, and HackHarvard opened up to application submissions. “We were shocked when we received 43 applications,” Kosslyn said. “We were expecting a lot less for our first year.”
The pair had an extensive interview process, including prototype review, code evaluation, and business questions regarding overall goals. In doing so, they narrowed the application pool down to 13 teams (they were aiming to narrow it to 10, but the projects were so impressive they accepted more). Of the 13 HackHarvard teams, 11 were final projects in Harvard’s introduction to computer science class — a 550 person lecture.
Exactly how much hacking vs. mentoring went on during HackHarvard’s week? The week consisted of half workshops, speakers and mentorship – things like trips to Google’s headquarters in Cambridge where Google programmers provided one-on-one advice – and the other half heads-down programming.
When I discussed whether many of these apps, which can be applied in other college settings, were looking to be standalone businesses, Kosslyn and Hysen underscored that first comes the goal of providing real value on Harvard’s campus. “The idea was, ‘let’s start small with projects in the community and solve basic needs,’” explained Hysen. “Business plans are great, but the most important thing is sitting down and actually building things.”
Hysen went on to explain that many HackHarvard teams are applying to the Harvard Innovation Challenge (i3), where winners are provided space and larger funding over the summer with the goal of turning these apps into actual businesses.
I also had the opportunity to ask Kosslyn and Hysen about the state of collaboration between HBS entrepreneurs and those at the undergraduate level. The pair explained that it is still largely informal and student-driven. Several involved in the HBS Startup Tribe acted as mentors during HackHarvard, and the duo remarked that founders at HBS without technical know-how are just now discovering and reaching out to programming students at the undergrad level. “In a weekly email from the Harvard Computer Society, each week HBS students are featured who are looking for technical help,” explained Kosslyn. “It’s still a cultural issue, though, and it is going to take more interaction before collaboration between the schools moves forward.”
Next year HackHarvard hopes to establish more connections outside of Harvard College, and that the hacking week can be longer with more money and more resources (currently only $100 is dedicated to each team). If you’re looking to get involved or provide resources, visit their website for contact information and be in touch!
So what sort of applications launched out of HackHarvard this year? Check out these 10 live apps, be very much wow’ed, and then vote on the 3 you’d most want to see on your college campus!
CollegiateSpark
About: “Harvard’s Digital Wingman” – students indicate who they have crushes on, and if the other person has indicated the same, the site notifies both people. Within two weeks of launching in Dec. 2010, over a quarter of Harvard ugrads registered; the creators are now working to take it to other campuses.
Creators: Junior Ben Enowitz and Freshman Aaron Watanabe
Learn more: https://www.collegiatespark.com/
Aid Aide
About: “Financial aid made easy” – think TurboTax for financial aid, this (soon to launch) app streamlines and walks people through the entire financial aid process, providing help and suggestions along the way
Creator: Freshman Zachary Hamed
Learn more: http://www.aidaide.com/
Harvard Rooms
About: “Giving you an edge on the lottery” – this app allows students to rate and review their rooms, so when the lottery comes, others can see pros and cons (including photos) for dorm rooms around Harvard
Creators: Sophomores Kidus Asfaw and Kevin Chin
Learn more: http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/harvardrooms/
On Topic @ Harvard
About: “What does Harvard really think?” – this app allows students to vote on, discuss and chat issues around campus, e.g. ‘athletes don’t deserve to be here as much as other students’
Creator: Junior Jackson Kernion
Learn more: http://www.ontopicatharvard.com/
Get a Room Harvard
About: “Find what you need, without the hassle or headache of figuring out the logistics or politics of the Harvard room reservation system” – this app overhauls the prior clunky process of reserving rooms around Harvard
Creators: Juniors Bonnie Cao and Louise Laciny
Learn more: http://www.getaroomharvard.com/
Splinkshare
About: “A link sharing site for Harvard” – this app allows you to upload links (videos, photos, news articles), discuss them, and share them with others
Creator: Senior Scott Zuccarino
Learn more: http://www.splinkshare.com/
joinHarvard
About: This app takes the spiderweb of the 450+ organizations at Harvard and puts them online to be rated, see events, and for easier navigation
Creator: Freshman Brooke Griffin
Learn more: http://www.joinharvard.com/
HarvardLunch
About: “Meet Harvard students you might never encounter otherwise” – this app randomly pairs students looking to meet new people over lunch
Creator: Junior Seth Riddley
Learn more: http://www.harvardlunch.com/
Where You At Harvard
About: “A place to find study groups in real time” – this app uses Facebook connect to match people in real time looking to study.
Creators: Freshmen Kenny Yu and Paul Handorff
Learn more: http://www.whereyouatharvard.com/
pARTake
About: “Take a part. Share your art” – this app allows musicians at Harvard to communicate, share ideas, and exhibit their creations
Creators: Freshmen Vanessa Tan and Joseph Ong
Learn more: http://www.partake.fm/
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