Around 50 employees from Amazon Studios, Prime Video, and MGM came together in August 2022 to harness the power of data to benefit the business during the second annual Tech Tank hackathon hosted by Amazon Studios. Teams raced against the clock to design and build a demo for their solution in 25 hours.
Tech Tank provided an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day and spend time thinking big about something new.
“It’s really important to take time out and sharpen your skills,” explains Eric Iverson, Head of Product Strategy for Amazon Studios. “People were working on skills that they will use all year long. A hackathon is outside of the normal processes, so it spurs imagination and quick decision-making. This is good for the individuals who participate, and for the company in the long run.”
The teams presented to a panel of judges with prizes awarded for each specific challenge, best use of Amazon Web Services (AWS), and a grand prize.
“I had so much fun!” said one participant. “It was very exciting to meet other Amazonians in totally different departments, some even from across the world. It was intense and challenging and all-consuming, in a good way.”