A Startup's Journey from Hackathon Victory to Global Recognition - The Get A Buddy Story

Anthony Hoyas — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:44:36 +0000

Greetings !

Today, I'm thrilled to share a memory and a remarkable journey that began with a hackathon victory and has now evolved into the growth of our startup, 'Get A Buddy.'

In the fast-paced world of tech innovation, our journey started at the Hackathon Citizens of Wallonia in Charleroi. With only three months into our studies at BeCode, an institution dedicated to empowering individuals with web development skills, my colleagues, Laurent Eyckermans, Raphael Haasper and I decided to dive into this intense 48-hour competition. Little did we know, this experience would become the catalyst for something extraordinary.

Driven by the passion to make a difference, we conceptualized a project during the hackathon that surpassed our own expectations. Our idea? A web app designed to be a city guide for newcomers, providing essential information about everything from shopping spots to securing safe transportation. What made our project unique was the integration of a buddy' system : volunteers ready to assist newcomers in navigating their new city, just as Raphael needed when he first arrived in Brussels from Brazil.

Despite the sleepless nights and the formidable competition, our project earned us the grand prize, propelling us to the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona in 2023. This victory was not just a celebration of our hackathon success but also marked the beginning of Get A Buddy's journey towards making a meaningful impact.

Reflecting on this journey, we realized the power of collaboration, innovation, and the impact of technology on creating solutions that genuinely matter. It's not just about winning a hackathon; it's about turning that victory into a project that addresses real-world challenges and connects people in a meaningful way.

In every city, integration is a unique code. We believe it's the local buddy who decodes the nuances, making your city visits and life in a new place not just informative but enjoyable. Get A Buddy is more than information sharing; it's about becoming an integral part of your new city. Join us on this transformative journey, where we're here to seamlessly help you integrate and truly thrive in your new home!

As we journey with Get A Buddy, the memories of our career shifts, BeCode experience, and triumphant hackathon victory remain vivid. From these roots, we've grown, forged wonderful connections, and birthed a startup with a vision—to positively change the world, one city at a time. Stay tuned and watch us grow on Instagram.

Anthony

Do you work during your off time ?

Anthony Hoyas — Sun, 08 May 2022 21:06:22 +0000

Have you ever wanted to finish a task, start a side project, learn new skill while you're off your working hours ?

Of course you did. So do I.

Hello, my name is Anthony and i wanted to talk and share about time off. How i think doing something totally unrelated to your field is a game changer for when you go back to work.

I am a student, i am eager to learn, to know more, to do as many projects as i can. There is so much to learn yet not so much time in a day. How i wish i had a "Seishin to Toki no Heya" so i could master everything that i want, web3 stuff, blockchain, python, javascript etc.

My last holidays i spend them on my tasks, on my project, it was good to practice but i came back not as strong as i wanted to be. Sure my skills were better but what about my motivation and my focus ? I think they were not at their best.

This time, things were different, i didn't lunch vscode a single time for a week, hell, even my laptop started dusting on my desk. Instead i went hiking, biking, visit friends and familly, eat well, i took time for myself, for my mental health. I can only advise you to do so.

I feel strong, full of power, ready to code and move foward with new challenges, let's make the world a better place!

Share your point of view about all of this! Do you feel more productive working on your days off ? Or when you took time for yourself ?

I look foward to hear from you guys ! Take care of your time, it's one of the most precious thing you have

Forem: Anthony Hoyas

A Startup's Journey from Hackathon Victory to Global Recognition - The Get A Buddy Story

Do you work during your off time ?