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NEWS
Mercedes-Benz Vans’ Hack My Van winner
Company teaching kids how to write code wins competition and receives a free vanMercedes-Benz Vans recently invited small businesses, startups, product developers, industrial designers, creative technologists, hustlers and hackers to put together a team of like-minded entrepreneurial thinkers and pitch an innovative business idea using the Vito van as the canvas.
Six finalists were selected to participate in a one-day hackathon on Saturday, August 6. From a biohacking lab, to a mobile pet photography studio, a story-finding van, an on-demand 3D printing workshop and a rubbish-to-product recycling van, the judges saw diverse business ideas.
Judges Shane Delia (chef and restaurateur), Diane Tarr (Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia & New Zealand), Cathy Anderson (Huffington Post) and Jane Martino (Advisor, Unlockd & TRIBE, CoFounder Smiling Mind and board member LaunchVic) assessed the ideas and selected Code Camp innoVito by Cobalt Designs as the winner. Code Camp were presented with a new Mercedes-Benz Vito by the Hon. Philip Dalidakis, Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade.
"We were blown away by the level of creativity and the brilliance of the business ideas we saw from the six finalists. This is precisely why we created this event as we are excited by the ideas and possibilities for how the Vito van can be re-imagined to transform an existing business, or completely reinvented to create new businesses.
"Congratulations go to Code Camp innoVito by Cobalt who are teaching children the most critical skills for the future. We cannot wait to see them take Code Camp on the road,” said Diane Tarr Managing Director Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia & New Zealand.
Code Camp began in December 2013 as a hobby. In the past 18 months Code Camp has taught more than 8000 students to write code across Australia at both private and public schools. Code Camp’s aim is to teach every student, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, and to reach 100,000 students in the next 12 months. In September, Code Camp are running classes in Arnhem Land with the assistance of the Foundation for Young Australians.
Code Camp co-founder Ben Levi said: "Code Camp is on a mission to teach Australian students to code, and build engagement and passion for technology.
"To have our own Mercedes-Benz Vito, Code Camp will be able to expand a lot faster to teach more students in more remote areas, and it will allow us to run popup events all over the country to raise awareness," he added.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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