Nexmo is a global cloud communications platform, providing powerful APIs and SDKs for SMS, Voice, phone verification and advanced multi-channel conversations. We have officially supported open source libraries for Node.JS, Ruby, Python, PHP, Java and C# .NET enabling you to build scalable communications features such as two-factor authentication, notifications, two-way and group messaging, one to one or multi person calls, all with the technologies that you are already using.

Algolia is proud to be a supporter of Hackference 2016! Algolia is an API for building fast, engaging search experiences. We have API clients for all major languages and frameworks, complete with open source JavaScript libraries for building autocomplete and search-as-you-type interfaces. Our team is in Paris and San Francisco and our developer community comes from all over the world. Our mission is to connect people with what they’re searching for and empower others to do the same. Hope to see you this year in Birmingham!

Contentful is a content management developer platform that enables web and mobile developers to manage, integrate, and deliver digital content to any kind of device or service that can connect to an API - be it smartcars, VR, mobile, web, digital signage, or any new platform.

Improbable grants you the tools to build a world where everything matters. Where lasting scars tell stories of epic battles. Where a seed planted yesterday grows into today’s tree, tomorrow’s forest. Where killing that monster really does save the town. Where people are more than players, experiences are more than games.

Microsoft is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

At Mozilla, we’re a global community of technologists, thinkers and builders working together so people worldwide can be informed contributors and creators of the Web. Our mission is to ensure the Internet is a global public resource, open and accessible to all, where individuals can shape their own experience and are empowered, safe and independent.

Mapt is a new developer platform that measures your skills in key areas and provides a clear path to learn essential real-world skills. With Mapt, developers have unlimited access to Packt’s industry-leading 3500+ course library. Fifty new text and video courses released every month, created by thousands of top developers from around the world.

Create interactive, realtime apps in minutes with your technology stack of choice by using Pusher’s hosted API. Pusher is perfect for realtime notifications, activity streams, data visualisations, collaborative apps and much more. It’s secure, it scales from one to millions of connections instantly and you won’t need to set up or maintain your own realtime infrastructure.

Based in Redwood City, California, Pebble is a Kickstarter record-holder and builds wearable technology that enhances, simplifies, and blends into everyday life. In 2016, the company launched Pebble 2, Time 2, and the all-new Pebble Core—providing two smartwatches and a new wearable for every type of user whether they’re busy travelers, fitness enthusiasts, fashionistas, or just lovers of cool technology. Pebble smartwatches support both Android™ and iPhone® smartphones and feature an open platform for developers to make awesome new apps or watchfaces. Learn more at pebble.com.

We are pleased to announce the support of Proactive as a sponsor.

Proactive is the “go to” solution for Devs and Designers who need proper help with their accounts and tax returns. And their prices are highly competitive!

Operating strictly as a business to business provider, the team of accountants and book keepers likes to focus on getting things done. They can handle year end accounts, tax returns and VAT returns quickly and cleanly, and with a minimum of fuss.

Proactive has been running a paperless office since 1 April 2008. How did they do that? Well if you’ve met @ProactivePaul you’ll know he’s a coder on the side! Being paperless makes your relationship with the accountant quicker, easier and cheaper, which is surely something you’d be interested in!

Keep an eye out for more info from Proactive later this year. They’ll be offering a discount to attendees of Hackference 2016. And as usual, they’ll be putting up some interesting prizes in the Hackathon!

Technical Team Solutions IT Recruitment agency is Co-run by Hannah Mitchell and Andy Jones. They are a successful and forward thinking duo with over 15 years of industry experience. However, they bring more to the party than experience and expertise; they are also firm believers in doing things differently. They steer clear of the standard ‘recruitment’ processes, placing their clients and customers firmly at the heart of everything they do. They understand not everyone wants to work the same way, so they create a tailored approach for each client.

They have helped create awesome teams from scratch and supported the companies and employees to ensure they achieved continued growth and development. Technical Team Solutions are also able to advise customers on current market trends and the IT Recruitment market and how it changes from month to month. They see daily the profound impact technology has on the world around us, and it’s an industry they are genuinely excited to be a part of.

They are co-founders of Fusion; one of Birmingham’s most dynamic Tech Meet-Ups, and we sponsor a number of other events too including Brum Hack, Hackference and are the exclusive recruitment partner of Silicon Canal.

Both Hannah and Andy are invested in the Birmingham Tech scene and regularly support local initiatives to put Birmingham firmly on the ‘Tech Hub’ map