Hundreds Participate in 4th Annual FirstBuild Hackathon to Innovate Next Big Ideas for the Home

  • 35-hour maker marathon awards more than $10,000 in awards and prizes for new product models
  • Students from 14 universities in 9 states among participants to invent what’s next for the home

Team “My Fridge Safe” pose with Larry Portaro, director of FirstBuild, after winning the top prize at the Hackathon. (Photo: FirstBuild)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--()--FirstBuild, a global co-creation community backed by GE Appliances, a Haier company, brought together teams of designers, programmers, engineers, students, makers and other innovators for the 4th Annual 2018 “Hack the Home” Hackathon. With more than $10,000 in cash and prizes at stake, competitors spent more than 35 hours ideating the next great product for the home.

The top three teams chosen from a pool of more than 30 competing projects were:

  • First Place ($3,000): “My Fridge Safe”
    Josh Weil, Eric Ott and Alex Vance, a trio of local makers competing in their third FirstBuild hackathon, invented a locking drawer inside a refrigerator designed to keep medications, alcohol and even food safely locked away from children.
  • Second Place ($2,000): “Washing Machine Load Sensor”
    Team Borderless, comprised of engineering experts and makers from Mexico, Colombia and the U.S., integrated sensor technology into a washer that warns owners through a series of lights if there is too much weight, helping consumers avoid unbalanced loads while also saving water and energy from an overfilled machine.
  • Third Place ($1,000): “Multi-Dry”
    A group of GE Appliances Edison engineers built a dishwasher handle that allows warm air to flow through to quickly dry wet hand towels.

“FirstBuild is a community of people who love sharing what they can do, and we’re thrilled to give them a stage to showcase their talents,” said Larry Portaro, executive director of FirstBuild. “Our hackathon offers a glimpse at the future of home products, and we’re constantly amazed at the creativity on display. These competitions challenge our makers to think bigger and bolder and, once again, the teams delivered some truly fantastic products.”

The fourth annual hackathon was judged by FirstBuild staff and sponsors as well as by Dr. Emmanuel Collins, Dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering; Grace Simrall, Chief of Civic Innovation and Technology at Louisville Metro Government; and Jimmy DiResta, renowned Master Maker. Additional prizes were up for grabs as teams were challenged to use sponsored products and materials in innovative ways in their designs. Among the highlights:

  • Veil, a team comprised mainly of students from Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), won a $500 sponsor prize from GE Appliances in the Cooking category for its cooktop concealed in a countertop.
  • Toast-e, a warming drawer for clothing, won a Samtec sponsor prize for using the company’s connectors and cables to bring its idea to life. Team members represented a diverse group of colleges, including Florida International University, Grand Valley State University in Michigan, as well as the University of Toledo and the University of Dayton, both in Ohio.
  • Team Fresh took home FirstBuild’s “Community Favorite” award for rethinking the space inside the refrigerator with its slide-out stack of pantry-style shelves.

The event was also made possible by sponsors like Renesas Electronics, 3M Adhesives, U.S. Steel and Samtec who were on site to support the teams with advice, innovative materials and supplies to build their designs.

“At 3M, we’re about helping our customers remake the world of manufacturing,” said Jim McKevitt, Manager, 3M Global Appliance Market. “The FirstBuild Hackathon allows us to share our knowledge of material science and assembly with a new generation of engineers while also gaining insights from their experiences.”

Other notable items from the event include:

  • Members from FirstBuild’s newest location in India participated in the hackathon remotely and presented their products via video conference.
  • Students from: University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Cincinnati, Ferris State University, University of Florida, University of Illinois, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Auburn and Purdue University participated.

About FirstBuild

FirstBuild is a global co-creation community backed by GE Appliances, a Haier company, that harnesses the power of the maker movement to change the way major home appliances are conceived, designed and manufactured. With centers of excellence in Louisville, Kentucky, Shanghai, China, and Hyderabad, India, as well as an online community of more than 30,000 individuals, FirstBuild quickly delivers better products that improve the lives of consumers. For more information about how to get involved, visit FirstBuild.com.

About GE Appliances

GE Appliances, a Haier company, creates “good things, for life” through our passion for great appliances and the happiness they can bring to every household. With the Hotpoint, GE®, Haier, Café™, GE Profile™ and Monogram® brands, owners have more choices for making their kitchens and homes amazing each day. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners and water filtration systems. For more information, visit www.geappliances.com/our-company.

Contacts

GE Appliances
Julie Wood, 502-452-5914
julie_wood@geappliances.com
or
Wendy Treinen, 502-452-5002
Wendy.Treinen@geappliances.com

Release Summary

FirstBuild names top winners for their 4th Annual “Hack the Home” Hackathon.

Contacts

GE Appliances
Julie Wood, 502-452-5914
julie_wood@geappliances.com
or
Wendy Treinen, 502-452-5002
Wendy.Treinen@geappliances.com