Why we showed up to a climate hackathon—and what it means for health innovation
HealthInno supported the Desert Dev Lab—a 30-hour software hackathon organized by NM Tech Talks and hosted at the new Builders VC ABQ office.
The focus was climate and energy, not healthcare. But we still showed up.
Here’s why.
Hackathons are an effective tool for sparking innovative thinking.
They lower the barrier to entry, encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, and make space for experimentation—all things we need more of in healthcare and beyond.
A hackathon is a short, intensive event where people from different backgrounds — software developers, designers, scientists, entrepreneurs—come together to solve problems by building working prototypes, fast. It’s hands-on, time-boxed, and collaborative.
This one focused on climate and energy—and it brought together some of the best technical minds in the state.
Software developers, startup operators, researchers, and engineers from our national labs and universities all participated. Mentors and judges from across the public and private sectors supported the effort. The prize money was modest, but the momentum was real—and so was the signal: New Mexico’s innovation community is ready to work.
Hackathons like this help showcase the talent we already have.
New Mexico has depth when it comes to science, research, and tech. But that talent isn’t always visible—especially to investors, companies, or partners looking from the outside in. Events like this put our software, data, and engineering capacity on display and help show that New Mexico isn’t just a place with potential—it’s a place where things are already happening.
In fact: at least 3 organizations attended the hackathon because they want to scope and hire local technical talent.
They also help activate the broader ecosystem.
Hackathons bring people together who wouldn’t otherwise cross paths. They build trust and familiarity across sectors. They give students and early-career professionals a way to engage, and they give experienced builders a reason to stay connected. Over time, this kind of activity strengthens the entire foundation—not just for tech, but for sectors like healthcare, education, energy, and policy.
Read the Albuquerque Journal feature here.
Angelica Maestas, director of strategic partnerships at Builders VC and HealthInno founder, left, and co-founder of NM Tech Talks, Vicki Apodaca, right, at the Builders VC ABQ office.
Photo credit: Jessica Baca/Journal
We see the long game.
New Mexico has deep technical expertise. But our tech and startup community is still growing into its full potential. Events like Desert Dev Lab help build the kind of ecosystem where that potential can actually turn into outcomes—especially when people from industry, research, entrepreneurship, and policy show up together.
Even though this hackathon wasn’t health-focused, it’s part of the same infrastructure we’re working to strengthen. And Builders VC is already planning a health tech hackathon next—which we’re proud to support.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to grow a regional innovation economy, it starts with this kind of activity: collaborative, grounded, community-driven, and rooted in local relevance.
If you care about innovation that’s grounded, inclusive, and relevant to our future—this is the kind of thing to watch.
A stronger innovation economy doesn’t start with headlines. It starts with people in a room, sharing ideas, getting their hands dirty, and building something new.
Be sure to follow us on Linkedin and sign up for our mailing list so you never miss a future announcement or event!
. . .
About HealthInno
HealthInno is a statewide consortium established to grow New Mexico's health tech and health sciences sectors. Through workforce development, educational events, and a regional pilot network that helps industry partners identify and test promising solutions, HealthInno is strengthening the connections, talent, and infrastructure needed to position New Mexico as a hub for health innovation. Learn more at healthinno.io.
