During the summer of 2018, I participated in my first ever hackathon at Netflix headquarters. Our objective was to create an app that would help the undocumented community. Every team only had 48 hours to bring our vision to life. Together, my team and I, conceptualized and created "El Carrito," an innovative application akin to a Yelp platform specifically tailored to street vendors. Our app was designed to be a convenient tool for anyone seeking treats like raspados (flavored shaved ice), churros, hot dogs, or even tamales. It empowered users to effortlessly locate nearby vendors who offered their desired delectables.

At the time, I had no experience with coding or design so I focused on research, industry analysis, and building a business plan for our company. I then pitched our business model to the judges and we won first place!! This pivotal event not only marked my initiation into the world of technology but also ignited a profound passion within me. It was the first instance where I witnessed the transformative potential of technology and its capacity to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of my community.