1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world's population, experience some form of disability, whether it be vision, mobility, auditory, or neurological-related.

Those living with these different abilities face many challenges when shopping for and using beauty products, due to the general lack of accessibility in the beauty industry since its beginning. 

That’s why this year, The Estée Lauder Companies Accessible Beauty Hackathon, Hack4A11y, is focused on ideating and developing accessible and inclusive solutions for the challenges that people with disabilities face in their beauty experience every day. Accessibility is about creating solutions that empower everyone to partake in what the world has to offer.

One of the important current trends in technology is user experience (UX), which focuses on improving technology’s effectiveness and ease of use for consumers. Today, technology accessibility is fundamental for ensuring a positive user experience for all people. What will you develop to create a more inclusive and accessible beauty experience for all?

If you're not a developer, but you have an idea, there is a track for you! In addition to the traditional hackathon, Hack4A11y will offer an Ideathon, which allows teams to submit no-code, idea-based projects that demonstrate design thinking and innovation.

 

Requirements

Technical Track

What to Create

Develop a functional application for an inclusive technology solution to help tackle accessibility challenges in the beauty industry. Solutions can address online or in-person shopping experiences, accessibility in UX design, equal access to beauty products, and more.

What to Submit
  • Utilize any relevant developer tool and build a project 
  • Include a link to functional code repository
  • Include a demo video (around 5 minutes) 
  • Text Description - describe how your solution addresses an accessible beauty challenge  
  • Please see the Official Rules for full details

 

Idea Track

What to Create

Create an idea for an inclusive technology solution to help tackle accessibility challenges in the beauty industry. Ideas can address online or in-person shopping experiences, accessibility in UX design, equal access to beauty products, and more.

What to Submit
  • Include a pitch deck explaining how the idea addresses accessible beauty
    • Pitch Deck Sample 
    • Pitch Deck can include the following:
      • Value Proposition    
      • Problem you are solving
      • Solution to the problem
      • Target customer
      • Competitive landscape
      • Business Model
      • Milestones
      • Marketing Strategy
      • Estimated Cost
      • Hackathon Team details – Meet the team 
  • Include a presentation video of your idea (around 5 minutes)
  • Text Description - describe how your solution addresses an accessible beauty challenge
  • Please see the Official Rules for full details

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$61,500 in prizes

Technical: 1st Place

• $15,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Grand Prize' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Technical: 2nd Place

• $10,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital '2nd Place' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Technical: 3rd Place

• $5,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital '3rd Place' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Idea: 1st Place

• $6,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Grand Prize' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Idea: 2nd Place

• $3,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital '2nd Place' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Idea: 3rd Place

• $1,000 USD
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital '3rd Place' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

Bonus Prize: Most Inclusive Beauty Solution

• $2,000 USD

ELC Employee: Best Technical

• $7,500 USD
• Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Best Technical' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

ELC Employee: Technical Runner Up

• $5,000 USD
• Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
• Three-minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Technical Runner Up' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

ELC Employee: Best Idea

• $3,000 USD
• Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
• Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Best Idea' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

ELC Employee: Idea Runner Up

• $2,000 USD
• Estée Lauder Companies swag bag with skincare, makeup, fragrance or hair care products from our prestige brands (each team member)
• Three minute dedicated slot to present/pitch your project to ELC IT Leaders
• Virtual Coffee Session with ELC IT Leaders
• Digital 'Idea Runner Up' certificate, which can be used by the winner online and in their own digital communications

ELC Employee Bonus Prize: Best Submission by All Women Team (WiT)

• $2,000 USD

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Aria Mia Loberti

Aria Mia Loberti
Actress

Tess Daly

Tess Daly
Makeup Influencer

Susan Li

Susan Li
Fox Business News

Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea
NPR’s Tiny Desk Winner & Broadway Composer

Moaz Hamid

Moaz Hamid
Founder & Managing Partner, mvmt Ventures

Jennison Asuncion

Jennison Asuncion
Head, Accessibility (A11y) Engineering Evangelism, LinkedIn

Laura Allen

Laura Allen
Head of Strategy & Programs, Accessibility & Disability Inclusion, Google

Maximilian Jungreis

Maximilian Jungreis
Plug & Play

Farida Bedwei

Farida Bedwei
Co-founder & CTO, Logiciel

Michael Hess

Michael Hess
Founder & Executive Director, The Blind Institute of Technology

Judging Criteria

  • TECHNICAL TRACK
  • 1) Technical Track: Potential Impact (25%)
    How big is the impact of your idea to bring accessible/inclusive beauty solutions to help people with disabilities tackle the daily challenges they face? Considerations: Number of individuals whose lives are improved, scale and type of positive impact.
  • 2) Technical Track: Implementation (25%)
    How well was the idea executed? How technically impressive is the solution? Considerations: Overall completeness, thoughtfulness, quality of the design, UI/UX, technical quality of the execution of concept.
  • 3) Technical Track: Creativity & Originality (25%)
    How well did the solution address the challenge in a unique and compelling way? Considerations: Originality or innovative solution to the challenge.
  • 4) Technical Track: Presentation (25%)
    How well did the team clearly, effectively, and positively present the idea? Considerations: Storytelling, demos, screenshots, prototypes, and the thought process.
  • IDEA TRACK
  • 1) Idea Track: Potential Impact (25%)
    How big is the impact of your idea to bring accessible/inclusive beauty solutions to help people with disabilities tackle the daily challenges they face? Considerations: Number of individuals whose lives are improved, scale and type of positive impact.
  • 2) Idea Track: Implementation (25%)
    How feasible is an implementation of the idea? The pitch should reflect how the team's assumptions are based on research and data. Considerations: Depth of research and knowledge around the implementation plan, and the friction and cost to implement.
  • 3) Idea Track: Creativity & Originality (25%)
    Has the team compared its idea with what is available in the market? How well did the solution address the challenge in a compelling way? Is it an approach or an improvement on existing ideas? Considerations: Originality in the marketplace.
  • 4) Idea Track: Presentation (25%)
    Was the idea presented clearly and effectively? Was it inspiring and exciting? Considerations: Storytelling and pitch deck content.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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