Submit your ideas before 5PM EST January 4, 2021. Win $1,000. Get mentorship for one year from IBM. Take part in incubation workshops. Share the global stage with IBM executives.

What’s the #Z4Good Ideathon?

Did you know that according to the United Nations, there's a massive disconnect between the skills required to be digitally literate and reality on-the-ground? This is well noted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

By participating, you’ll feel empowered, inspired, students from across the globe with the skills necessary to pay your passion for technology forward in your local community and around the world.

What ideas do you have for solving the digital skills gap? How can we empower more women and girls through technical skill-building? What solutions and actions can we take to bring greater racial diversity into tech by inspiring greater access to digital skills? How can we increase access to digital literacy education by sharing our skills forward?

Use your passion for digital skills and grow as a leader and changemaker.

Oh, and you can even have an opportunity to win $1,000, present on global stages with IBM executives, receive mentorship from IBM for one year, and join IBM leaders in design thinking workshops and incubation sessions to help bring your idea to life.

Challenge Themes

• Gender Inclusion in Technology Skill-Building
• Access to Digital Skills Education
• Racial Equality in Digital Skill-Building Efforts

Prizes

Ideas will be published in a globally recognized e-book where the voice of youth, YOUR VOICE, will be shared with the world. How cool is that? You’ll have an opportunity to get published!

What does it take to win? Read the submission instructions, submit your ideas via the submission instructions following the timeline below, and share your skills forward within your classroom, school, community, and the world. Help make the world more digitally inclusive and play your role in solving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

You can participate alone or with a team. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation, and an invitation to join Open P-Tech, a free skill-building platform to help you prepare for the future of work.

1st Place

• 1^st place winners from each theme will be invited to our Incubation Bootcamp and receive hands-on coaching from IBM mentors and leaders to further progress the idea throughout the year. Winners will have an opportunity to present their progress at the Ideathon Summit in December of 2021, which will be attend by IBM Senior Leadership.

2nd Place and 3rd Place

• 2^nd and 3^rd place winners from each theme will be invited back for an exclusive IBM Design Thinking Workshop focused by theme. During these sessions, 2nd and 3rd place winners will work through design thinking methodologies and practices to help sharpen their ideas and increase chances of successful idea implementation.
• 2^nd and 3^rd place winners will be paired with IBM mentors for the 2021 calendar year.
• Winners will have an opportunity to present their progress at the Ideathon Summit in December of 2021, which will be attend by IBM Senior Leadership.

Key Dates

• 19 December 2020 – 10AM EST: #Z4Good Ideathon event kickoff
• 20 December 2020 – 12PM EST: Submission process opens
• 4 January 2021 – 5PM EST: Submission process ends
• 20 December 2020 – 11 January 2021: Share your digital skills forward actions in your community, led by you
• 11 January 2021 – 17 January 2021: Share your video for a chance to win $1,000 from Goodwall
• 18 January 2021: Winners announced at a global event where winners will be invited to join IBM on the global stage (virtual)
• 18 January 2021: Launch announcement blog here(join now, so you are ready – it’s free)
• February 2021: One-year mentorship journey begins for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners
• March 2021: Design Thinking Workshop & Incubation Bootcamp for winners
• December 2021: #Z4Good Summit – an event to showcase how the winners have transformed their ideas into action throughout their one-year mentorship journey with IBM and its collaborators

Missed the Kickoff Event? It’s not too Late to Watch!

Missed the #Z4Good Ideathon kickoff event and want to check out the recording? You might just have an opportunity to meet Frida and Pippins at the Z4Good doggie fashion show. To watch the event recording, follow the instructions below.

• Step 1: Register for Expert TV here.
• Step 2: After logging in, watch the #Z4Good Ideathon event here.

Come to learn with us. Come code with us. Come change the world with us. We look forward to seeing your videos & cheering you on as you share your skills forward with the world.

Let us know you are participating by using the social media tiles here and using the #Z4Good hashtag!

Read the submission instructions now.

Post your submission now. 

Melissa Sassi

Chief Penguin, IBM Z

Student & Entrepreneur Experience

@mentorafrika

Gilda Doria

Corporate Social Responsibility Leader

@gilda_doria