With nearly three thousand registered participants and over two thousand onsite, the 11th edition of HackYeah has gone down in history! But what remains are not only innovative ideas, but also the connections and experiences that this event creates among participants. 

11 challenges for the 11th edition

On 4-5 October 2025, HackYeah participants took on ten tasks and competed in the Capture The Flag competition for cybersecurity enthusiasts. The topics of the tasks were extremely diverse – from gamedev, through defence and biohacking, to travel, and some projects addressed specific challenges, such as Journey Radar from the Małopolska Region, #Prompt2Code2 prepared by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, or the Retirement Simulator and Life Run supervised by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). 

The prize pool exceeded 140 000 PLN

Such a wide range of challenges and an attractive prize pool attracted an extremely diverse group of participants – from programmers, designers, and testers to team leaders. Once again, almost a quarter of all participants were women, which emphasises the importance of HackYeah in opening up the IT industry to diversity. The She Hacks initiative, which was held along with the hackathon for several years, supporting and inspiring women to take action in the world of technology, plays a major role here.

Scale, passion, and cooperation

The numbers are clear – during HackYeah 2025, over 400 projects were created, participants were supported by nearly 200 mentors, and the event was accompanied by almost 100 partners, communities, and media. These statistics show the enormous power and professionalism behind the hackathon, combining passion, knowledge, and cooperation into an exciting event. Its atmosphere event is best captured in the video report, and photos from the entire hackathon can be viewed in the photo report.

Develop, create, inspire – HackYeah in practice

The opportunity to create a winning project and grab real cash prizes is just one of the distinguishing features of HackYeah. The opportunity to test your skills in practice (and under time pressure) and acquire new ones is even more important. Mentors and inspiring lectures at the conference play an invaluable role in this.

This is where ideas come to life

HackYeah is a place where ideas become reality, skills grow in practice, and the IT community gains new contacts, experiences, and a boost of positive energy. The crazy atmosphere of competition, the constant enthusiasm of the participants, and the adrenaline make every moment of the event pulse with creativity. Once again, HackYeah proved that it is not just a hackathon, but a true celebration of innovation, collaboration, and passion for technology.

See HackYeah in action

Check out this year’s materials and follow the HackYeah website so you don’t miss the next edition! Watch the video and photo report from the event and feel the hackathon atmosphere.

The post HackYeah 2025: a hackathon that turns ideas into reality first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

“HackYeah stands out because of its scale. It’s hard to find an event like this in Poland, in Europe, or even worldwide. The event has a unique atmosphere—it brings together interesting, valuable people, allowing you to build new connections, friendships, or even business partnerships.”

What is a hackathon?

Formally: an event where solutions are created for specific challenges.
Informally: you gather a team, build an innovation, and have a great time doing it.

Duration: 24 hours of intensive work (with an option for a short nap).
For whom? Not just for programmers!

“Hackathons aren’t just events for nerds and coders. It’s a space for creative people who can find solutions to any problem.”

The team – who should you start with?

Your first source of teammates is often friends, whether from school, university, or work. Discord and online groups also work well for team-building. You can also form a team on-site; a session will be held for participants looking for a team.

Ideal team composition:

• Developer (backend/frontend) – handles the technical layer.
• Leader/Project Manager – organizes work, keeps tasks and… time!
• UX Designer/Graphic Designer – responsible for the project’s visual side.
• Pitch Master – the “salesperson” who can convince others of the idea.
• Tester/Hacker – ensures the demo doesn’t crash at a crucial moment.
• Creative person – brings fresh ideas, coding not required.

How to choose a challenge?

Don’t waste time on endless discussion – spend at most an hour analyzing topics. Mike recommends a tried-and-true system:

1. Read the regulations and requirements.
2. Narrow the list to three topics.
3. Choose one – if there’s no 100% agreement, pick the one most people like.

You can also listen to teaser presentations of the challenges. At 12:30 and 13:00, there will be short presentations detailing partner challenges.

Remember: it’s better to take a risk and try something new than waste hours deciding.

Team action plan

After selecting a challenge, everyone should do some short research, then hold a “mini stand-up” to present their vision. A good way to optimize this stage is recording ideas (voice recorder + transcription + ChatGPT → list of key points).

Next, create the first project brief and visual mockup. Many free tools are available: Canva, Figma, Miro, or even a piece of paper. Assign tasks and maintain a simple structure; use basic progress-tracking tools like Kanban, Trello, or Linear.

“These 24 hours are like a mini-version of real startup life. At the end, you must not only create a solution but also sell it – the investor or client must believe in your product.”

What to pack

Basic checklist:

• Must-have: laptop, cables, power bank, USB drive, phone for testing.
• Optional tools: e.g., Raspberry Pi or VR equipment if your idea requires it.
• Basics: snacks, water bottle, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, toiletries. Comfort matters!
• Software:
  • Developers: ready repository, basic setup (no heavy CI/CD)
  • Designers: Figma, Canva, FigJam/Miro
  • Task management: Trello, Linear

Stick to simple, proven solutions.

How to take care of yourself during the hackathon

24 hours of intense coding – even with the best company – can be physically taxing. Tips for maximum performance:

• Take breaks from the screen – walk around the arena or outside, play basketball or volleyball in the Small Hall (don’t forget extra shoes).
• Use the large space at TAURON Arena – stretching and movement help concentration.
• Step away from the screen to talk to people, attend a lecture, or take a mental break for a fresh perspective.
• Avoid too much caffeine – opt for short naps instead.
• Stay hydrated and snack regularly.

Use mentors and the community

“Mentors are like cheat codes – teams that consulted them often ended up on the main stage.”

Mentors share technical and business experience. They know what works in the real world and which business approaches are effective for the given challenge. Mentors are available both on-site and via Discord if you prefer remote contact or need quick answers.

Why it’s worth it

HackYeah isn’t just about prizes and prestige. It’s an intense school of creativity, collaboration, and developing a startup mindset. In 24 hours, you’ll experience an accelerated product creation simulation – from idea to prototype to jury presentation.

“It’s a bit like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ – you need to show that your team and product are trustworthy. A hackathon isn’t just about code; it’s about selling your idea.”

A few final words

HackYeah is for anyone who loves to act creatively. Key elements: a strong team, fast challenge selection, and a clear work plan. Maintain balance – take care of your health, take breaks, and use mentor support. Most importantly: have fun and channel that energy into creating something extraordinary.

HackYeah 2025: Step by Step

1. Register at: https://eventory.cc/event/hackyeah-2025/tickets 
2. Check challenges here: https://hackyeah.pl/tasks-prizes/ 
3. Arrive at TAURON Arena Kraków on Saturday (October 4) at 8:00 AM – with your equipment and team, or solo.
4. Take a spot at a table with power and internet access.
5. If you don’t have a team, team building starts at 11:00 AM.
6. At 12:00 PM, detailed challenge info (guidelines and rules) will be published on the website.
7. Choose the challenge best suited for you or your team. Project work continues until 12:00 PM on Sunday (when the submission platform closes).
8. Consult mentors on-site, attend lectures, visit partner zones, use showers or nap areas, or step outside for fresh air.
9. Note: 8:00 PM Saturday is the final deadline for submitting a working project on Challenge Rocket.
10. Sunday, 12:00 – 3:00 PM: free time while projects are being evaluated. Don’t leave if you don’t have to – you’ll miss Mateusz Chrobok’s presentation!
11. 3:00 PM Sunday: finalists announced – if you make it, start refining your pitch.
12. 4:00 PM Sunday: finalists present ideas to the jury (5-minute pitch per team).
13. 5:45 PM Sunday: results announced. Winners take the stage and receive prizes.

The post Your Master Guide to the Largest Hackathon in Europe first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

When human meets machines

Ethics and Responsibility: Generative AI models are trained on massive datasets that may include copyrighted material. Hackathon participants using AI might unknowingly infringe copyright, raising questions about accountability for using such tools.

Dependence on technology: Relying on AI too much can weaken participants’ programming and design skills. There is a risk that AI becomes the foundation of the creative process rather than a supportive tool.

Quality and safety: AI can generate working solutions, but it doesn’t always ensure quality or safety. In hackathons, where time is limited, there is a temptation to accept AI-generated code without thorough verification, which can lead to technical debt and security issues.

To generate or not to generate?

Hackathons in the AI era are not just a race against time – they are also about understanding how technology can enhance human potential in creating innovations. AI offers new opportunities but requires a conscious approach.

Limited trust: Understanding the basics of ethical AI use, verifying generated content, and managing security-related risks.

Balanced approach: Using AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for the creative process – suitable for simple, repetitive tasks.

Interdisciplinary collaboration: Bringing together experts from various fields to fully leverage potential – not only of AI, but primarily of the team and the idea itself.

How to use artificial intelligence during HackYeah 2025? Check the statement

At PROIDEA, we recognize that Artificial Intelligence has become an inseparable part of today’s creative and technological landscape. During HackYeah 2025, participants are welcome to use AI tools for inspiration, research, or as a means of support in the development process. However, the core idea, concept, and final solution must remain the original work of the team.

AI should be used within the limits of common sense, ethical standards, and in full compliance with Polish law. Whenever AI or external resources contribute to the project, participants are obliged to provide proper credit. We trust our hackers to approach AI use responsibly, treating it as a tool, not a substitute for creativity.

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But here’s the question: is your LinkedIn profile really working for you?

On September 29, 2025, at 18:00 CET, join us for the online workshop “LinkedIn Hacks: Build Your Brand and Make Connections” as part of She Hacks @ HackYeah.

During this hands-on session, you will:

• learn how to create a profile that makes you stand out,

• discover how to build your personal brand authentically,

• explore techniques to grow visibility and expand your network,

• practice live exercises that will immediately improve your profile.

The workshop will be led by Aneta Bochenek, Global Employer Branding Lead at StoneX, with expertise in employer branding, recruitment, and supporting women in IT.

When? Monday, September 29, 2025, 18:00 CET
Where? Online

Register now and start making LinkedIn work smarter for you!

SIGN UP

The post Join the Online Workshop: LinkedIn Hacks – Build Your Brand and Make Connections (Sept 29, 2025, 18:00 CET) first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

We hear you – what is a CTF?

Capture The Flag (CTF) events are cybersecurity competitions where you will be tasked with solving puzzles and hacking! Think of it as a playground for hackers –  you will have access to a set of challenges spanning categories like: reverse engineering, cryptography, forensics, web application security – and others. You will be searching for what we call ‘flags’ – special pieces of text that indicate the solutions.

Some challenges that you may see:

• Decrypting encrypted messages by exploiting weak keys or flaws in the algorithms,
• Digging into a network transmission to capture necessary information,
• Reverse engineering an app (that may or may not be malware) to find out what it does,
• Hacking a web application to gain access to the server, or just break it completely

Why join us?

Well, first of all there will be prizes! But it’s the journey that matters, and the friends we made along the way wink, wink.

With each captured flag you will be learning something new, practicing something you’ve just heard about but can actually try now, or reinforcing stuff you’ve already done (maybe with some twists). CTFs are a great way to practice your hacking skills or get started with cybersecurity!

Who can join?

Anyone! Whether you’re a seasoned player or this will be your first CTF – we intend to keep you entertained. Not all of our challenges will be hardcore (although some may!). If you’ve ever been curious about hacking, now would be the time to try it – join forces with a more experienced team to make the most of it.

What’s the deal with 2084?

The theme for the competition is the year 2084 – a spin on George Orwell’s 1984.

The system wants you to obey, the Ministry of Truth wants you silent, and only those who resist can hope to regain freedom… Together with your fellow rebels, you will be attempting to defeat the system – before it can defeat you. 

Vive la résistance! We’re waiting for you!

The post Join the HackYeah 2084 CTF! first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

How to join:

1. Register as a HackYeah 2025 participant (if you haven’t already).
2. Invite your friends to register. → Ask them to write your name in the section “Community Builder Competition: Who invited you to HackYeah?” in the Eventory registration form. 
3. Only attendees who show up in Kraków count.
4. To qualify, you must refer at least 10 people who both register and attend.
5. The participant with the most referred attendees wins!

Prize: Bose QuietComfort Headphones.
Check the rules of the competition here.
Deadline: The contest runs until 3.10.2025.
The winner will be announced onsite at HackYeah 2025.

Don’t miss your chance to become HackYeah’s Ultimate Community Builder.
Register now and start inviting!

The post HackYeah Community Builder Contest: Win Bose QuietComfort Headphones! first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

Why is a hackathon a perfect place to develop soft skills?

Recent studies emphasize that hackathons are a form of experiential learning: short sprints, real-world time and resource constraints, and the need for rapid decision-making and iteration. The result? Improved collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills – under conditions closely resembling real projects.

• Research shows that multi-day hackathons enhance participants’ creativity, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Analyses also indicate that hackathons increase engagement, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• Case studies highlight noticeable improvements in collaboration and communication skills after participating in a hackathon.

Interdisciplinary IT teams – a winning standard

Modern IT projects require diverse skill sets: not only from developers but also from UX/UI designers, testers, analysts, and project managers. Hackathon trend reports for 2025 clearly show that multidisciplinary teams have an edge in delivering valuable projects. HackYeah’s format supports this model: you choose your tasks in advance, but full details are revealed only on-site. Additionally, you have constant access to mentor support and inspiring talks.

4 key soft skills you’ll develop at a hackathon

1. Collaboration and Communication
   Working in a team under tight deadlines, receiving real-time feedback, and clearly defining roles help develop effective communication, collaboration, and accountability.
2. Creativity and Critical Thinking
   Rapid idea generation, hypothesis testing, and eliminating low-value features teach working under pressure and making fast decisions.
3. Project and Time Management
   Defining an MVP, setting priorities, and establishing success criteria under extreme time constraints.
4. Pitching and Storytelling
   Preparing and delivering a short demo that convinces the jury – and potential investors – of your project’s value. Clear and effective presentation of ideas in practice.

Your skills in action

Participating in a hackathon is a real soft skills boot camp. Participants learn to collaborate, make quick decisions, and communicate effectively in teams of developers, designers, and testers. In practice, this means quickly generating ideas, testing solutions, and eliminating low-value features – just like in the real world, only more intense.

For HackYeah partners and brands, it’s an opportunity to see mature projects, build credible employer branding, and observe candidates in action – in situations demanding creativity, collaboration, and rapid problem-solving. It’s a space where any idea can take flight, and relationships with participants translate into real benefits for companies.

Don’t sleep, cooperate – that’s HackYeah

A hackathon is an intense adventure where participants develop skills just as important as technical knowledge: collaboration, creativity, management, and presentation abilities. Thanks to the 24-hour sprint format, everyone leaves the event richer in experiences that will truly help in IT work – and not just in theory!

Join HackYeah on 4-5 October at TAURON Arena Kraków and see how, in a single weekend, you can develop your soft, technical, and presentation skills in practice. Here, you code, collaborate, create, and… Sometimes (don’t) sleep – but you always gain experience.

The post Create, collaborate, don’t panic: Hackathons shape IT Leaders first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.

The first hours – energy and chaos

Your dream team is not yet complete, but you are already browsing the first challenges on your laptop screen. Ideas are spinning in your head faster than your fingers on the keyboard. It’s not just about coding – it’s about a creative approach, experimenting, and picking up on details that can turn a project into something unique.

A night full of code and inspiration

In the middle of the night, the hall is bustling with life. Laptop lights flash like stars, and in the background, you can hear the whisper of teams discussing algorithms or interface design. Someone makes another coffee, and someone else discovers that a great idea only comes after 3 hours of sleep. Here, passion meets challenge, and every minute is worth the effort.

Meaningful meetings

HackYeah is also about people. Conversations during the technology conference, spontaneous brainstorming at tables, exchanging contacts with industry experts – all this creates a community that inspires and motivates. Many participants return every year not only for the prizes, but for the atmosphere that makes 24 hours pass like one long adventure.

The final – emotions that linger

At dawn, the first results of the work are visible: prototypes, presentations, and ready-made solutions. The judges begin to evaluate the projects, and the participants… They can’t believe how quickly the time has passed. The best teams win financial prizes and the opportunity to continue working with technology companies, but the real prize is the experience, contacts, and satisfaction of having created something together.

HackYeah 2025 – join the story

This year, HackYeah returns on 4-5 October 2025. Whether you are a programmer, designer, tester, or simply a curious creator, this event is for anyone who has the passion and courage to create. Register and experience the atmosphere of a hackathon that has been growing in strength since 2017 and inspires thousands of participants every year.

Because HackYeah is not just about code – it’s about emotions, people, and ideas that stay with you forever.

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A story that inspires

HackYeah began its adventure in 2017 and has been growing ever since. From a few hundred participants to almost 2,600 last year, from the first projects to hundreds of innovative solutions in a dozen or so categories – each edition proves that the only limit is your imagination. In 2024, we celebrated the 10th edition and over 400 submitted projects – and 2025 promises to be even more energetic!

HackYeah is not just about coding

Yes, there will be a lot of programming, testing, and designing going on for 24 hours – but HackYeah is also a place to meet, exchange experiences, and have inspiring conversations over coffee (or a third coffee…). The technology conference during the hackathon is an opportunity to broaden your horizons, learn about the latest trends, and find partners for future projects. Who knows, maybe this is where your start-up idea will be born?

Passion is a must

It doesn’t matter if you’re a programmer, designer, tester, project manager, or just a curious creator. HackYeah is a place where passion meets opportunity. You don’t need to have a ready-made idea or a team – all you need is an open mind, a willingness to take action, and a bit of courage.

Challenges, prizes, and adrenaline

Everyone starts with a clean page – the details of the challenges are only revealed at the start. The best teams will receive financial prizes and the opportunity to continue working with technology companies. After all, HackYeah is a place where creativity meets the real world and often changes the professional lives of participants.

Join the largest coding festival in Europe!

If you like challenges, new connections, and hours spent solving problems together, HackYeah 2025 is for you. Register today and join a community that not only creates projects, but above all experiences them together.

Because HackYeah is not just about hacking – it’s about people, energy, and ideas that stay with you long after the last line of code has been written.

The post HackYeah 2025 returns to Krakow – time for 24 hours of code, coffee, and adrenaline! first appeared on HackYeah 2026 – the biggest on-site hackathon in Europe.