OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2016. Technology goals: The hackathon series “KickApp Cup” is delighting SAP employees and young people around the world, bringing football, technology, and social engagement together.

The first three of the six stages of the KickApp Cup competition have already been runaway successes.

Now the SAP Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team and SAP partner streetfootballworld are bringing the KickApp Cup to six SAP Labs locations around the world. Each time, SAP colleagues from the Products & Innovation organization work together with young football players in small teams to develop apps designed to make the work of local streetfootballworld partners easier in their sport’s projects and social engagements.

Football and IT: A Dream Duo

The competitions not only build teamwork and social interaction, but also create opportunities in the subjects of mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences, and technology, transforming dreams into real prospects.Providing long-term support to socially disadvantaged children and teens is the focus of the KickApp Cup. After all, passion for football transcends social and national boundaries. It is this incredible potential that brings SAP and streetfootballworld to the table.

Passion for football transcends social and national boundaries.

“The KickApp Cup gives youngsters the chance to share their ideas with experienced IT experts from SAP. This experience will expand their horizons and help them to start a career in the technology sector,” says Vishal Talreja, co-founder and CEO of the local partner in Bangalore “Dream a Dream,” as he summarizes the vision of the KickApp Cup event organizers.

And its working.

“The KickApp Cup has provided me with great insights in the app development process. I really liked to work with the SAP developers, because they were always there to clear my doubts,” said football addict Veeresh from Bangalore. “Having made this experience I am very much interested in working in the field of technology.”

SAP Colleagues: “Personal and Professional Enrichment”

“The event was much more than expected. More challenging. More tiring. More exciting. More socially relevant. It took great effort from all of us. Everyone did their best and it was reflected on the results of the event. I am proud and happy to have worked with everyone I met on the kickapp cup,” beams SAP employee Carlos Bareiro Escobar talking about his experiences during the KickApp Cup hackathon in Sao Leopoldo.

“I like soccer, software development and helping people,” is how Jean Rigotti from SAP describes his reasons for taking part in the KickApp Cup. He and his colleagues from Brazil, India, and Germany praised the  range of skills that they could bring to the KickApp Cup and receive  training in. Thinking outside the box, finding out about new tools and technologies in programming, and working closely in a team of SAP colleagues and customers are just some examples.

More Than a Typical Hackathon

One feature of the KickApp Cup even delighted experienced hackathon veterans: the customer remains part of the team for the whole time. Not only do the young football players bring with them their ideas of what the app should be able to do, but they also design, chat, play football, relax, and celebrate side-by-side with SAP colleagues for the whole three days.

This rich team building between SAP employees and disadvantaged young people is crucial to the KickApp Cup. “The young football players were very enthusiastic, they showed a lot of effort in helping us develop the app,” says Jean, recalling the competition in Sao Leopoldo. In addition to programming, there were many other joint activities to encourage active involvement, just as in Bangalore and Walldorf – not least the football variant “football3” devised by streetfootballworld to foster inclusion.

“The combination of kicking and coding means to me a unique and intense experience that had contributed in several levels for my professional and personal growth,” says design thinking coach Bárbara Reis.

The Big Final

For Thomas Jansen and his fellow members in  the German team, it is clear that they need to remain on the ball for the final push. “We obviously want to stay involved in the ongoing development of our prototype,” he says. “We’re also super excited to meet the other teams and check out their ideas!”

The next stage of the KickApp Cup is in Palo Alto, US, from March 31 to April 2. This is followed by Budapest, Hungary, and Ra’anana, Israel, in May. But what kind of football tournament would it be without a big final? All the victorious teams will meet at the SAP headquarters in Walldorf from June 30 to July 5. And then it’s on to Lyon for the streetfootballworld festival — an official event of the UEFA football European Championships — where the teams can soak up the football fever and show off the sporting spirit and innovation of their creative app prototypes.

Bárbara summarizes the ultimate goal: “Our dream is to actually make the prototype real and offer the app to NGOs like streetfootballworld.”

APPSTOSS, Germany

Host location: Walldorf
Date: July 16–18, 2015
Local partners: Badischer Fußballverband, Stifter-helfen.de
Winning app: Coach+
Video: Kicking and Coding

KickApp Cup, Brazil

Host location: Sao Leopoldo, Brazil
Date: November 19–21, 2015
Local partner: ACM
Winning team: Gol da Vida
Video: KickApp Cup – Kicking and Coding for a better life

KickApp Cup, India

Host location: Bangalore
Date: February 11–13, 2016
Local partner: Dream a Dream
Winning team: Goal4change
Video: KickApp Cup 2016 @ SAP Labs India