The City of Albuquerque once again supported the Desert Dev Lab hackathon, now in its second year. This event, organized by NM Tech Talks, brought together tech enthusiasts and professionals to tackle real-world challenges in New Mexico’s food and agriculture sector. It was held at the WESST Enterprise Center, thanks to sponsorship from Talin Market and other local organizations.
Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the spirit of collaboration at the event, saying, “This hackathon is more about collaboration than competition. Uniting our experts will always lead to better solutions.”
This year, 27 teams, made up of 70 participants, worked hard to present innovative solutions. The awards went to:
- First Place: Crimson Devs for their AI meal planning tool.
- Second Place: Beep Bop for suggesting water-saving crop methods.
- Third Place: Sowit for a platform focused on reducing food waste.
- Local Innovation Award: Koko for their alerts helping food distributors.
Judge Carly Heidenfeld, from Talin Market, noted the talent on display, “Desert Dev Lab showcased New Mexico’s strengths. Solutions to our food and agriculture issues can come from our own community.”
Jacky So, an event organizer, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Events like this create a space where people can safely challenge themselves to build something that truly helps others. I heard many say, ‘I could use this.’”
Last year’s hackathon focused on climate change, with the winning team, OptiGreen, presenting an AI solution to cut down on energy use. Such events are crucial for promoting sustainable growth, environmental care, and workforce development in Albuquerque.
Interestingly, a similar trend is developing across the country. Over the past year, hackathons have surged in popularity. According to a 2023 survey by TechSoup, 62% of organizations have hosted a hackathon to address local issues. This reflects a broader movement toward community-driven problem-solving.
For more details about future events, check out the upcoming Desert Dev Lab’s 2027 hackathon here.
