HACKATHONS
Fast-paced, team-based problem-solving events for students and innovators
Organised by: North Savo Entrepreneurship Society
Picture This
A weekend, a blank whiteboard, a room full of people who don't know each other yet - and by Sunday night, working prototypes nobody thought they'd pull off. That's a hackathon. You show up with an idea, or you show up with nothing and find a team on the spot. Either way, the clock starts and you build - fast, scrappy, no time for overthinking. Mentors wander the room to help when you're stuck. By the end, you're pitching something real to a panel of judges, standing next to people you met two days ago. You don't need to be a coder, a designer, or have it all figured out. Most people leave with more than a prototype - new skills, new friends, and sometimes the beginning of an actual company.
TEAM UP
Form a team on the spot or bring your own - no experience required to join
BUILD
Work through the challenge with mentors on hand, from idea to working prototype
PITCH
Present your build to a panel of judges and your fellow participants
WIN
Compete for prizes, recognition, and a shot at taking your idea further
Savo Hack
October 3-4, 2026
Venue: Campus Heart, Savonia UAS, Kuopio
Theme/Challenge: IT/ICT
Who can join: Open to all, teams of 2-3
Prizes: €1000 per challenge
Hacklab Challenge
Coming Soon
Dates: TBA
Venue: Kaivotie 38, 70700 Kuopio
Theme/Challenge: TBA
Who can join: Open to all, teams of 2-3
Prizes: €1000 prize pool
Hacklab Challenge is a 2-day hackathon specifically designed for our partner – Hacklab Kuopio, hosted directly inside the Hacklab Kuopio makerspace, where you will team up to solve a real-world operational challenge for the local community. This is your chance to research, prototype, and pitch practical solutions while exploring Hacklab’s facilities and networking with fellow local builders, developers, and designers.
