# MADTA’s Charity Data Challenge returns in January

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/12/21/madtas-charity-data-challenge-returns-january/
- Published: 2018-12-21T16:12:51+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**MADTA (Making a Difference Through Analytics) is hosting its fourth annual Charity
Data Challenge in January and is looking for charities with a specific data problem
or opportunity to take part.**

The Challenge takes the form of a week-long virtual hackathon, matching commercial
data analysts around the world in teams of up to five to charities and their data
challenge. All the data analysts volunteer their time and compete against each other
to impress the judges.

Prizes on offer include £100s of vouchers plus mentoring by the judges.

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The 2019 Challenge takes place from 17 – 25 January.

## Two challenges

This time there will be two separate challenges, both of which will leverage open
source data.

• one set of challenges (as in past years) to focus on generating rich insights 
and simple visualisation using complex data.

• a second challenge to create the best machine learning algorithm using natural
language processing (NLP) on a problem which will not only help many charities but
also society globally.

Organisers, Nandu Govindankutty, Director at Barclays Ventures, and John Conway,
who both founded MADTA, describe the second challenge as particularly “tough”.

All entries have to be submitted by 8am (UK time) on 25 January. For those taking
part from outside the UK or who can’t attend the Barclays office in London, they
should also submit a recording of what they’ve achieved.

 

## Judges

This year’s challenge judges are senior leaders from Barclays, Google, Action on
Hearing Loss, Mencap and Digital Catapult.

Charities and data analysts interested in taking part should contact [Nandu Govindankutty](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/12/21/madtas-charity-data-challenge-returns-january/na*****************@******ys.com).

 

> Had an amazing week. 7 challenges 6 wonderful charities and amazing entries across
> the world [@ParkinsonsUK](https://twitter.com/ParkinsonsUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [@mencap_charity](https://twitter.com/mencap_charity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@equal](https://twitter.com/equal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> education [@action](https://twitter.com/action?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on hearing
> loss [@Shelter](https://twitter.com/Shelter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@MuseumofLondon](https://twitter.com/MuseumofLondon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#charitydatahackathon](https://twitter.com/hashtag/charitydatahackathon?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/nrfTUa4PwF](https://t.co/nrfTUa4PwF)
> — Nandu Govindankutty (@nandutweets) [December 9, 2017](https://twitter.com/nandutweets/status/939392896314281985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 * **[Seven charities to benefit from data hackathon](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/12/01/seven-charities-benefit-data-hackathon/)(
   1 December 2017)**

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