Robert Martinez, CRO, Code Willing, Inc.
In the fast-paced world of finance and technology, staying ahead of the curve often requires a keen eye for talent and innovation. This is precisely why, in the fall of 2022, Code Willing and Schonfeld Strategic Advisors initiated discussions about a “Hack-a-Thon” as a means of identifying talented interns and potential future data scientists, traders, and employees for Schonfeld. What began as a simple concept soon evolved into a grander vision, and on April 14th, 2023, it culminated in the successful execution of the “Datathon”.
The Datathon, powered by Code Willing’s cutting-edge technology stack and enriched by data from partners RedGraphs, Wall Street Horizon (a TMX Company), and Estimize, was a remarkable endeavor that required meticulous planning and precise execution. Let’s delve into the details of how this event took shape and why it was such a success.
The Datathon Blueprint
The Datathon was more than just a competition; it was an immersive experience, and to bring it to life, Code Willing’s Technology and Data Teams worked diligently. Here’s a glimpse of the foundation they laid:
- Event Registration Portal: The Datathon kicked off with an event registration and terms portal, which allowed participants to sign up and gain access to the competition. This portal was more than just a registration form; it included secure elements like usernames, passwords, event access agreements, and automated email notifications to confirm user registration and provide event updates.
- Mapping Event Data: For the competition to be meaningful, the data had to be both accessible and useful. Code Willing’s team mapped or “CWIQ Coded” the data, connecting it to the Security Master, pricing data, and other datasets that could prove valuable for participants.
- CWIQ Data Store: An event-specific CWIQ Data Store was established on top of the CWIQ File System. This secure environment stored event data and also granted the Code Willing event administrator the ability to provide participants with access to data, summaries, glossaries, whitepapers, presentations, media, and data snapshots. It was a treasure trove of resources for contestants to formulate their initial ideas.
- Data Access Control: The CWIQ File System‘s capabilities extended to providing date-range data access for both out-of-sample and in-sample data for model development and testing. It also had full audit capabilities to ensure data integrity.
- Development Environment: Code Willing’s primary event model development environment was the Code Willing CWIQ Bench. This platform granted users access to tools, sample Jupyter Notebooks, and applications for strategy and model development, as well as the testing environment for participants. Code Willing used CWIQ Central to allocate a defined compute budget to users for the event.
Preparation and Training
Leading up to the Datathon, the Code Willing Team left no stone unturned. They developed instructional videos to assist participants in mastering the Code Willing Technology Stack. These videos were instrumental in preparing participants in just one week. They included:
- Code Willing Model Development Boot Camp: This comprehensive video series provided an overview of the Datathon and training on model development.
- CWIQ Bench: Launch a Cluster: A step-by-step guide to launching a cluster on CWIQ Bench.
- CWIQ Bench: Run a Simple Job: Demonstrated how to run a simple job on CWIQ Bench.
The Datathon in Action
Selected participants gathered in New York to work in teams, embarking on a mission to construct real-world trading models by harnessing data and technology used by today’s most sophisticated traders.
The Datathon was nothing short of a grand success. Five out of six teams completed and submitted their model results to the judges. It was a thrilling day filled with intense competition and innovation, and CWIQ SIM emerged as the victor.
Watch the highlights from the Datathon and witness the energy and creativity that made the event such a resounding triumph.
The Code Willing Datathon stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, technology, and the pursuit of talent in the world of finance and data science. It was not just a competition; it was an opportunity for the brightest minds to shine and a glimpse into the future of trading and data analysis. As Code Willing and Schonfeld look ahead, this Datathon serves as a beacon of inspiration for future endeavors.