{{Short description|Hackathon organizer not-for-profit organization}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Infobox organization |logo = HackerNest logo with tagline and globe August 2014.png |type = [[non-profit organization]] |headquarters = {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada |services = Tech events and innovation consulting |board_of_directors = JJ Beh, Robin Toop, Shaharris, Chloe Kagan |name = HackerNest |founded = 11.1.11 (incorporated 12.12.12) |leader_title = [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] |leader_name = |location = Worldwide |num_members = 100,000+ |website = {{URL|hackernest.com}} }}
'''HackerNest''' is a [[not-for-profit organization]] and [[Social movement|global movement]] founded on January 11, 2011.<ref name=":4" /> The organization unites local technology communities around the world through community events and socially beneficial [[hackathon]]s<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url = https://www.betakit.com/hackernest-sees-global-expansion-thanks-to-their-no-douchebag-policy/|title = HackerNest Sees Global Expansion Thanks To Their No-Douchebag Policy|last = Emrich|first = Tom|date = 16 Oct 2013|work = Betakit|access-date = 15 Dec 2014}}</ref> to further its mission of economic development through technological proliferation. It is Canada's largest, most prolific technology community<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|url = http://www.theantdaily.com/Business-Targeted/Operation-HackerNest|title = Operation HackerNest|last = Choo|first = Ching Yee|date = 17 Oct 2014|journal = The Ant Daily|access-date = 15 Dec 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141225145800/http://www.theantdaily.com/Business-Targeted/Operation-HackerNest|archive-date = 2014-12-25}}</ref> with growing international reach.
==Background== HackerNest was founded on the belief that the fastest, most permanent way to improve the world is to build supportive local technology and innovation communities characterized by trust, sharing, and respect.<ref name=":0" /> The rationale is that the technology community is the cornerstone of economic development enabling collaboration, innovation, knowledge-sharing, recruiting, and scientific progress.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://hackernest.com/faqs/|title = HackerNest FAQ|date = 19 May 2014|access-date = 23 Dec 2014|website = HackerNest|archive-date = 21 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160321123431/http://hackernest.com/faqs/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Growing and strengthening the community lets businesses hire better, perform better, and create more jobs, which ultimately increases economic prosperity.
The organization's ideology is rooted in the idea that minor tweaks at the start of a process in a dynamic system can have a major impact on the result. .<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url = http://hackernest.com/about|title = About|date = 15 Nov 2013|access-date = 23 Dec 2014|website = HackerNest|archive-date = 4 June 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160604101954/http://hackernest.com/about/|url-status = dead}}</ref> HackerNest "splinter cells" (chapters) regularly host "Tech Socials" open to anyone interested in technology. The events vary slightly by city, but maintain the same core tenets: all are friendly and down-to-earth.<ref name=":1" />
The first Tech Social was held in [[Toronto]] on Monday, January 31, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.meetup.com/HackerNest/events/16048507/|title = Toronto Hacker Nest / Coder Collective / Tech Paradise|date = 31 Jan 2011|access-date = 22 Dec 2014|website = Meetup}}</ref> HackerNest Toronto is currently the world's largest [[Meetup (website)|Meetup]] group for programmers<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://programmers.meetup.com/|title = Programmers Meetup Groups|access-date = 25 Dec 2014|website = Meetup|archive-date = 24 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151024090115/http://programmers.meetup.com/|url-status = dead}}</ref> and Canada's largest technologist community.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url = https://www.betakit.com/hackernests-mind-motion-hackathon-next-month-focuses-on-wearable-tech/|title = HackerNest's Mind & Motion Hackathon Next Month Focuses On Wearable Tech|last = Czikk|first = Joseph|date = 14 Jan 2014|work = Betakit|access-date = 15 Dec 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://www.miscmagazine.com/hackernest-taking-tech-social-to-foster-community/|title = HackerNest Taking Tech Social To Foster Community|last = Farshchi|first = Jamie|date = October 2013|journal = MISC Magazine|access-date = 15 Dec 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104024546/http://www.miscmagazine.com/hackernest-taking-tech-social-to-foster-community/|archive-date = 4 November 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref>
As of July 2017, HackerNest splinter cells have run over 550+ events in 34 cities across 14 countries on 5 continents.<ref name=":4" />
== Activities ==
In 2014, HackerNest produced Construct, Canada's largest hardware hackathon<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/video/forget-silicon-valley-here-comes-toronto/7D80EE7D-5838-46ED-96C1-03E24D298EAD.html|title = Forget Silicon Valley, Here Comes Toronto!|last = Lam|first = Eva|date = 4 Jun 2014|work = Wall Street Journal|access-date = 15 Dec 2014}}</ref> and DementiaHack for the [[British government]],<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/toronto-hackathon-to-target-dementia-challenges-with-innovative-ideas|title = Toronto hackathon to target dementia challenges with innovative ideas|last = British High Commission Ottawa|date = 25 Jul 2014|work = GOV.UK|access-date = 15 Dec 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.techvibes.com/blog/actor-seth-rogen-wants-you-to-attend-dementiahack-2014-09-05|title = Actor Seth Rogen Wants You to Attend DementiaHack|last = Lewis|first = Rob|date = 5 Sep 2014|work = TechVibes|access-date = 15 Dec 2014|archive-date = 27 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141227070914/http://www.techvibes.com/blog/actor-seth-rogen-wants-you-to-attend-dementiahack-2014-09-05|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/handy-hacks-that-make-life-easier-new-book-reveals-how-to-rid-your-inbox-of-spam-protect-your-passwords-and-amplify-your-iphone-9812281.html|title = Handy hacks that make life easier: New book reveals how to rid your inbox of spam, protect your passwords and amplify your iPhone|last = Usborne|first = Simon|date = 22 Oct 2014|work = The Independent|access-date = 15 Dec 2014}}</ref> the world's first hackathon dedicated to helping people with dementia and their caregivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://hackernest.com/dementiahack/|title = DementiaHack 2014|date = 16 Oct 2014|access-date = 23 Dec 2014|website = HackerNest|archive-date = 16 December 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216091759/http://hackernest.com/dementiahack/|url-status = dead}}</ref>
In 2015, the organization produced [[Deloitte]]'s first internal innovation hackathon as well as DementiaHack<ref>{{cite news|last1=Leung|first1=Wency|title=Toronto hackathon seeks new solutions to help dementia patients|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/toronto-hackathon-seeks-new-solutions-to-help-dementia-patients/article27122627/|access-date=16 December 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Meagan|title=Facebook invites tech nerds to hack dementia|url=http://www.macleans.ca/society/hacking-dementia-facebook-invites-tech-nerds-to-combine-brain-power/|access-date=9 October 2015|work=Maclean's Magazine|publisher=Maclean's Magazine}}</ref> [[Facebook]] as lead sponsor<ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook and HackerNest to Produce World's Foremost Hackathon to Help Those Affected by Dementia|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/facebook-hackernest-produce-worlds-foremost-123000671.html|access-date=9 October 2015|work=Yahoo Finance|agency=Energi PR|date=Sep 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Leung|first1=Wency|title=Toronto hackathon seeks new solutions to help dementia patients|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com//life/health-and-fitness/health/toronto-hackathon-seeks-new-solutions-to-help-dementia-patients/article27122627/|access-date=13 November 2015|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=Nov 5, 2015}}</ref> and support from the [[UK government]], the [[Public Health Agency of Canada]], and the Ontario [[Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care]].
In 2016, HackerNest produced CourtHack<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burke|first1=Troy|title=NCSC partners with HackerNest for CourtHack Hackathon|url=http://blog.extractsystems.com/government-news/ncsc-partners-with-hackernest-for-courthack-hackathon|access-date=9 October 2015|publisher=Extract Systems}}</ref> with the [[National Center for State Courts]] in [[Salt Lake City]] at t ) and the Hack4Equality<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianhonigman/2016/09/20/grindr-corporate-philanthropy|title=Lessons In Corporate Philanthropy: Grindr Connects Nonprofits And LGBTQ Advocates With Tech Talent|last=Honigman|first=Brian|date=Sep 20, 2016|work=Forbes|access-date=Sep 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/16/grindr-hack4equality/|title=Grindr wants tech people to combat LGBTQ inequalities|last=Dickey|first=Megan Rose|date=Sep 16, 2016|website=TechCrunch|access-date=Sep 30, 2016}}</ref> LGBTQ hackathon with [[Grindr]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grindr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hack4Equality-Media-Alert.pdf|title=Grindr collaborates with the Opportunity Project on an unprecedented hackathon|date=Jul 21, 2016|website=Hack4Equality Media Alert|publisher=Grindr|access-date=September 30, 2016|archive-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001220348/http://www.grindr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hack4Equality-Media-Alert.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Los Angeles]] which heavily featured [[White House]] Promise Zone and Opportunity Project data.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/06/fact-sheet-opportunity-project-unleashing-power-open-data-build|title=FACT SHEET: The Opportunity Project - Unleashing the power of open data to build stronger ladders of opportunity for all Americans|last=Office of the Press Secretary|date=October 6, 2016|website=whitehouse.gov|publisher=The White House Office of the Press Secretary|access-date=24 April 2017}}</ref>
== Awards == * Boryana Damnyanova Award for Corporate and Social Responsibility - [[Tufts University]] * Contributions to the technology community - [[City of Toronto government]]<ref>{{Cite web |url =http://hackernest.com/july-tech-social/ |title =HackerNest News |date =17 Nov 2014 |access-date =22 Dec 2014 |website =HackerNest |archive-date =3 March 2016 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231408/http://hackernest.com/july-tech-social/ |url-status =dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://torontolife.com/norm-kelly-the-norm-show/|title = The Norm Show|date = 16 December 2015|access-date = 16 Dec 2015|website = Toronto Life|publisher = Toronto Life Publishing Company Limited|last = McBride|first = Jason|archive-date = 21 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151221015417/http://torontolife.com/norm-kelly-the-norm-show/|url-status = dead}}</ref> * Finalist - Canadian Global Impact Competition<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title = Meet the Finalists of the 2015 Canadian Global Impact Competition|url = http://www.venturelab.ca/GIC-finalists|website = ventureLAB|access-date = 26 March 2015|last = Kintanar|first = Justine|date = 24 March 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120606/http://www.venturelab.ca/GIC-finalists|archive-date = 2 April 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://hackernest.com}} * [https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/toronto-hackathon-to-target-dementia-challenges-with-innovative-ideas GOV.UK British High Commission Ottawa] * [https://www.wsj.com/video/forget-silicon-valley-here-comes-toronto/7D80EE7D-5838-46ED-96C1-03E24D298EAD.html Wall Street Journal] * [https://www.betakit.com/hackernest-sees-global-expansion-thanks-to-their-no-douchebag-policy/ Betakit] * [https://meetup.com/HackerNest HackerNest Toronto Splinter Cell]
[[Category:International non-profit organizations]] [[Category:Social movements in Canada]] [[Category:Technology organizations]] [[Category:Software development events]] [[Category:Hackathons]] [[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Toronto]] [[Category:2011 establishments in Ontario]]