Wyncode
By Juha Mikkola
Wyncode’s Pitch Day VIII raised the bar last night, welcoming over 200 MiamiTech enthusiasts to The LAB Miami. Pitch Day is a free community event sponsored by the Knight Foundation highlighting the app creations of Wyncode’s latest cohort of students, who learned to code through Wyncode’s nine week intensive bootcamp program. The apps were conceived and created in the final two weeks of the program, with students putting in long days and nights to get ready for Pitch Day.
The hard work paid off as the apps didn’t disappoint. The Wyncoders of Cohort VIII showed originality and drive in pushing further than the cohorts before them. Highlights included two apps using Miami-based Kairos’ facial recognition API, including one called Peek that was combined with an Internet of things device that recognizes a user’s face and opens the door for you, so you don’t need to grab for your keys. Another app was a game, Eddroid, modeled after Metroid and named after Wyncode’s beloved head instructor where players battle enemies including Javascript and HTML5. One of the apps called Itabo was based on a WynTank project submission, which is an opportunity for community members, non profits or entrepreneurs to pitch Wyncoders to build their app for them. Itabo is a Zillow-like platform for developing countries where real estate information is difficult to find and access.
Wyncode’s part-time iOS program was also on display, with former National Football League start Phillip Buchanon headlining the unveil of his group’s Vite app, an events invitation and creation platform that is already available on the App Store.
Below are links to all the projects:
- TravelPal - a Mint.com for travellers by Matt King, Sara Hincapié and Robert Tassy
- Peek - Facial recognition based internet of things device for opening doors by George Gogarten, Nicholas Sellek and Aldrin Bustos
- Itabo - Zillow-like real estate app for developing countries by Kat Markava, Frank Rycak and Neil Haines
- EDDROID - Metroid-like battle game by Alvaro de Castro, Matt Kellough and Milad Zolnoor
- Wheelz - app to route trips for those that combine biking and public transit, a combination Google Maps does not support by Paul Ingelmo, Bradel Canfield and Alex Melcon
- Tremo - Tracking and reporting on facial reactions to customer service calls using the Kairos API by Sean Gilchrist, Noe Cordovez and Tommy Bisi
- Bid-aero - Reverse auction marketplace for buying aircraft parts by Anthony Leon, Nicholas Rodriguez and Santiago Quintana
- Style - a Yelp meets Facebook for finding, rating and connecting with barbers across the city by Roger Rodriguez, Shannon Hurston and Franklyn Gaztambide
- Flash Deals - Groupon like sales that also build brand loyalty by Brian Kim, Jonatan Frencia and Jermaine Laing
- Vite - a Tinder plus Meetup for creating and attending events by Wyncode’s part-time iOS cohort’s Sebastian Misas and Phillip Buchanon
In between the pitches, Matt Haggman from the Knight Foundation announced the winners of the next two Future Leaders of Tech scholarships, after a demanding application and interview process. The scholarships allow two individuals from groups that are underrepresented in Miami Tech to attend Wyncode Academy at no charge. Congratulations to the next two Knight scholars: John Rhoden and Michael Montero.
Photo from left to right: Juha Mikkola (Wyncode Co-Founder), Jermaine Lang, Matt Haggman (Miami Program Director of Knight Foundation), John Rhoden, Johanna Mikkola (Wyncode Co-Founder), Henry Arbolaez, Aldrin Bustos and Michael Montero.
The winner of Pitch Day VIII was selected by an industry panel, which featured Mary Biggins, Co-founder at ClassPass and MealPass, Josh Siegel, the Chief Technical Officer at CareCloud, Brian Brackeen, Chief Executive Officer at Kairos and Matt Haggman, Miami Program Director at Knight Foundation.
After the longest deliberation to date, the winner was selected: bid.aero, the reverse auction marketplace for aircraft engine parts, built by Anthony Leon, Santiago Quintana and Nicholas Rodriguez. This was a concept that two of the Wyncoders had coming into the program due to previous experience in the aircraft parts business. Rather than hiring developers to build their minimum viable product, these entrepreneurs decided to learn to code and build the concept themselves. The judging panel loved the combination of a fully functioning auction marketplace, the uniqueness of the idea and the entrepreneurial drive of the group.
Photo: Winners Anthony Leon, Nicholas Rodriguez and Santiago Quintana with judges Matt Haggman of Knight Foundation, Mary Biggins CEO MealPass, Brian Brackeen CEO Kairos and Josh Siegel CTO CareCloud.
Thank you to the entire MiamiTech community for supporting Pitch Day VIII and a special thanks to the event sponsors: The Knight Foundation, The Original Greek, Marlee's Green Tea Whiskey, Cold. Pressed. Raw. and Serendipity Creamery & Yogurt Cafe.
Wyncode invites everyone in the tech community to join in for the next two Pitch Days! The next one takes place this coming Thursday, March 17th in Ft. Lauderdale on then the following Thursday, March 24th in Miami Beach join us for Wyncode’s first-ever Pitch Day at WeWork. Stay tuned for a special announcement in Ft. Lauderdale regarding Miami Beach Pitch Day.
If you’re interested in learning to code, Wyncode’s next cohorts start soon and limited seats are available. Miami’s Cohort IX begins March 28th and has 7 seats remaining. This is followed by the next Ft. Lauderdale Cohort IV on April 4th and Miami Beach Cohort II April 11th . You can find out more information or apply at Wyncode’s website.
Juha Mikkola is the co-founder of Wyncode.