Hardware Hack - #NYTechWeek

📋 Event Description Hardware Hack NYC is a one-day, in-person sprint for builders who'd rather solder than ship a vibe-coded app. Everyone and their grandma is hosting a hackathon but this is the one where you build something physical. Robots. Sensors. Connected devices. Real hardware that runs in the real world. The Format This is a race-to-win style competition. Root Access drops a live challenge at kickoff. The first three teams to solve it take home the prizes. Every team gets a SparkFun Inventor's Kit on arrival - bring your laptop, your wits, and your soldering instincts. The Challenge Root Access is dropping a deeptech challenge live at kickoff. You won't know what it is until the clock starts. What you can plan for: you'll be working with microcontrollers, sensors, and the SparkFun Inventor's Kit for MicroPython. What it could touch: - Robotics - IoT / sensors / connected devices - Physical/digital interaction - Anything that runs on hardware, not just in the browser The kit: SparkFun Inventor's Kit for MicroPython - get familiar before you show up. What to Expect - A live race-to-win challenge from Root Access (drops at kickoff) - DevKits provided to every team - 5 hours of focused build time - Team formation on-site or come with your crew - Breakfast & lunch will be provided - Cash + credits + perks for the winners ⏲️ Schedule 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. : Doors open, networking mixer, team formation, breakfast 11:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.: Partner intros, demos (Root Access), kickoff, Rules & Judging Criteria 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.: Build sprint (lunch provided) 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.: Demos, judging, & thank yous 🏆 Prizes A mix of cash, credits, and perks for the top three teams. Specific prize breakdown TBA - sponsors are getting locked in. 🥇 1st Place — Cash + credits + perks (TBA) 🥈 2nd Place — Cash + credits + perks (TBA) 🥉 3rd Place — Cash + credits + perks (TBA) 👤 Hosts ​- Somya Gupta - The face of NYC startup ecosystem - ​​Pulse NYC AI - A community, incubator, and venture fund built for founders, researchers, and technologists shaping the future of AI in New York City. - ​CAST-GNY — cross-discipline nonprofit ​- Connext - Elevating career accessibility through professional matchmaking. Find your Next Connection. Launching soon. ​- Dominic Smith is building the future of Al avatars. You can meet these avatars like real people in real places. The platform blends AR, voice, and personality to give venues a digital presence 24/7, helping brands connect with their audience through immersive storytelling and interactive experiences. ​Anubhav Sigdel - Founding Engineer at Lora. 💰Sponsors Root Access - AI for Embedded Engineers