The Advanced Technology Development Center is hosting its ATDC FinTech-RetailTech Hackathon competition from Nov. 10 through Nov. 12.

The competition is sponsored by Atlanta-based Worldpay US — the global payments technology and services company and creator of ATDC’s Financial Technology (FinTech) Program — and Menlo Park, California-based Google’s Cloud Platform, a suite of cloud computing services that run on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products. (REGISTER HERE)

A program of the Georgia Institute of Technology, ATDC is the state’s technology incubator. This year’s theme centers on two industries in the midst of disruption: the financial sector and retail.

“In previous ATDC hackathons, we focused on a single industry or theme within that industry, but with this competition, we sought to up the ante by combining two sectors undergoing rapid change,” said Jen Bonnett, ATDC’s general manager. “This is a top-tier competition and we’re looking for disruptive thinkers who like the challenge of solving problems and bringing solutions to market. This is the event where entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and innovators can come create the next big disruptive FinTech or RetailTech idea.”

Participating teams will compete for more than $100,000 in cash, gadgets, and professional-services prizes.

“Georgia is the payments processing capital of the country and retail is another critical segment of the state’s economy,” said Jeff Gapusan, ATDC’s FinTech catalyst and head of the incubator’s FinTech Program. “Bringing FinTech and RetailTech together in one competition supported by two world class partners — Worldpay US and Google — should lead to some truly dynamic and creative ideas and technologies.”

The competition, which will be held at the Centergy building in Atlanta’s Technology Square, is an extension of ATDC’s FinTech and RetailTech programs. The FinTech initiative was launched in 2015 via a $1 million gift and executive mentorship from Worldpay US to Georgia Tech. The idea behind the gift is to foster high-tech innovation and to attract and retain talent in Georgia and its “Transaction Alley,” which processes more than 70 percent of all U.S. payment transactions.

The RetailTech Program was launched in 2017 following a $1 million gift from the Atlanta-based Mookerji Foundation to the Georgia Tech Foundation.

“We chose Georgia Tech because of its commitment to economic development in Georgia and beyond, its focus on incorporating innovation in economic development, and its legacy of success,” the Mookerji Foundation said in a statement. “ATDC is a world-class technology incubator and is at the forefront of helping entrepreneurs not only build companies, but gives them the tools for long term success.”

The team winning the grand prize will receive the critical post-hack engagement, mentoring, and support from ATDC, Worldpay US, Google, and others to create, build, and launch viable startup companies.

Participants will decide which ideas to tackle using sponsors’ APIs. They can work on their own projects or work on challenges presented to them by the hackathon sponsors.

“Worldpay couldn’t be prouder to be teaming with two of the most proven innovators in the industry today, Google and ATDC,” said Joe Kleinwaechter

Worldpay’s vice president of innovation and design. “Our relationship with ATDC has helped create a new energy in the FinTech space. This coupled with a focus on retail and the power of the Google cloud platform will make this hackathon one not to miss.”