Yelp’s Montreal office is putting the final organizing touches on its upcoming Yackathon 2.0, set to take place April 1-3 at La Gare coworking space.

The event is in it’s second year. Last year’s event happened at Notman House. Yackathon 2.0 aims to connect local Yelp community members and Montrealers to the startup community, “encouraging a more profound engagement with local businesses, local government, and local services.”

The idea is to use the “deep data that Yelp has accumulated on local businesses and reviews,” and make it open to local developers to form teams and do something interesting over the weekend.

“The challenge is to mashup Yelp data with any other open data set,” said Risa Dickens. “It’s our second year doing it and Montreal is the only community in the world that currently hosts a hackathon on Yelp’s open academic dataset and on our API.”

Participants will explore Yelp’s open data set through a “mashup,” by combining it with other local datasets. Ultimately, the goal will be to think about how cities can be smarter. Participants will be able to network with representatives from: the City of Montreal’s Smart City Office, InnoCité MTL, La Vitrine Culturelle, Open North, Decideo, MTL Data, Hacking Health, Notman House, Anges Quebec, Ladies Learning Code, Girl Geeks, and more.

Yackathon 2.0 teams should consist of four members, including developers, data analysts, designers, entrepreneurs, open-minded thinkers and Yelpers of all kinds. Prizes will be awarded for Most Useful Data Mashup, Coolest Visualization, Funniest Presentation, and Best Overall Mashup. The prizes are “valued at over $4,000,” and include all-you-can-eat barbecue, passes to a top-rated spa, VIP passes to Just For Laughs Galas and to ComicCon, dinner at Joe Beef, passes to La Ronde, private cocktail classes, passes to Cinema du Parc and the Comedy Works, surfing classes and more.

This year, a new award will be added to the mix. The “Most Valuable Player” will be named by a vote by participants, and will recognize not the most talented hacker, but one who helps others the most.

“We’re trying to encourage what happens naturally, which is people helping each other on their projects. It’s more collaborative than competitive,” said Dickens.

A host of notable Montreal techies will act as judges over the weekend, including Stephane Guidon (Montréal ville intelligente et numérique), Stéphane Pilette (Anges Quebec), David Buckeridge (McGill University Montreal Public Health), Nancy Naluz (Ladies Learning Code) and more.

An exciting twist will be that the three winners of last year’s Yackathon will serve as judges. Vaughn DiMarco, Marek Zaluski and Samantha Bickell, who all worked on data mashing last year as well. They’ll be there to answer questions and guide participants.

Dickens, who has been working at Yelp since it’s inception in Montreal over four years ago. She said perhaps the most attractive part about Yelp’s hackathons, particularly this one, is the local food and drink that will be provided.

Everything from the beer to the meals will be sourced locally, something Dickens was clearly pleased with. Local businesses will also be offering Yelp check-in deals throughout the Yackathon.

“I think it’s a good taste of what its like to use Yelp as a user in Montreal,” said Dickens.

Here’s the full list of all the action that will happen at Yackathon 2.0:

Friday - VENDREDI NUMERIQUE!!

5pm -Data Visualization: Creativity Awakens.  A Vendredi Numérique discussion of the ideas involved in this open data mashup. A conversation between Yelp Engineers and representatives from the Smart City Office, Innocité MTL, and La Vitrine Culturelle. Followed by networking, free drinks and bites.
RSVP to attend just this 5à7 here: yelp.ca/events/montréal-…
7pm - Official Yackathon Kickoff. Pitching ideas, forming teams.
9pm - You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.

Saturday

10am - La Gare open for teams to meet and work.
3pm - Pop up talks by Yelp engineers and other guest speakers (This event is for Yackathon participants only.)
5pm to 6pm - VIP Hour: TECH JOBS PARTY with free drinks and bites! (Yackathon participants and Yelp Elite are invited to network with Yelp Engineering Managers and hiring managers from dozens of other awesome local tech companies, city offices, and startups.)
6pm to 9pm - TECH JOBS PARTY with free drinks and bites.
RSVP FOR JUST THE TECH JOBS PARTY HERE: yelp.ca/events/montréal-…

Sunday

10am - La Gare open for teams to meet and work.
3pm-5pm - Yackathon teams to upload their presentations (PPT) and set up their displays.
5pm - Science Fair Party! Free drinks and bites.
6:30pm - Final Presentations
8pm - Presentation of Awards

Interested in participating? Those interested can join here.