A hackathon is an “innovation sprint” in which teams collaborate to turn crazy ideas into real projects within a tight time limit. At our hackathon, teams of 2-4 collaborate over 36 hours to challenge the status quo, fulfill prize challenges, and create meaningful impact. We provide software, mentors, fun activities, speakers, workshops, buckets of coffee and so much more. You take care of hacking, we’ll take care of you.
START Hack is Europe’s most entrepreneurial hackathon, and this is what makes it stand out. We place a huge emphasis on fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in every one of our attendees, with the main ambition being to spark thinking and creativity that extends far beyond the Hack weekend. This is why we encourage students from business or tech backgrounds to apply.
START Hack 2024 will take place 19. - 21. March 2025, kicking off in the late afternoon.
You might have noticed this is a mid-week event rather than a weekend, and that’s for good reason. Stay tuned for some exciting news!
Nope! START Hack is open to anyone interested in technology and building awesome things, which requires more than just being able to code. We encourage students and young professionals of all backgrounds to apply.
We’ll have a whole host of exciting workshops and resources for participants of all levels, so you can learn more about programming, entrepreneurship, prototyping and much more.
Thanks to our generous sponsors and partners, admission will be free! This includes food, drinks, mentors, workshops, swag, and an unforgettable experience.
Every hacker will get free access to the Summit! However, you must take into consideration that the START Hack and the START Summit take place at the same time. Therefore, you won’t have much time to visit the Summit as a Hacker.
You can apply as an individual or as a team under starthack.eu during the application phase.
Applications will be open from the 5th of December 2024 until the 5th of March 2025.
All we need is some basic information, and you’ll be on your way to START Hack in no time!
Applications will open on December 5th and will stay open until the 5th of March. Apply early to be able to apply for additional benefits, like partial travel reimbursement!
Decisions will be released periodically, so you can expect to hear back from us two to three weeks after you submit your application.
Kindly be aware that your acceptance will need to be confirmed. As the event draws nearer, you will receive a notification to confirm your attendance again.
If you’re a university-/ high-school student, or young professional, you're good to go! We’ll be accepting students and professionals of all academic backgrounds – prior knowledge of coding or business is not required.
Unsure if you’re eligible? Ask us!
Yes! However, you will need a permission letter signed by your parent or guardian in order to take part.
You’ll find instructions for team applications outlined on our applications page, but if you have any questions you can always get in touch.
While applying for START HACK, you can also apply for travel reimbursement, where you can get a chance to receive a partial refund of your travel expenses. You can apply through the application form by ticking the checkbox at the very bottom. Applications for it are open only until the 1st of January.
If you are selected, you'll have to provide proof of purchase of your travel tickets to START Hack 2025.
Further information will follow.
Teams are 2-4 people in size. Teams bigger than 4 people are split up into smaller ones, as we've found large teams aren't ideal in a 36-hour event.
Don’t worry – most of our participants don't! That's why we've come up with a few ways to help you meet other participants before and during START Hack. Just register as an individual hacker and we'll help you pair up with other hackers before and during the event!
Every partner will offer a prize for their respective case. These won’t be announced beforehand, as your chief motivation for participating in START Hack should always be about the amazing experience it offers! There’ll be an overall prize pool for the best teams.
Yes, you can find it here.
TLDR: Be nice and have fun!
START Hack provides free accommodation and food at the event. We are planning to provide a sleeping area for up to 300 participants. There will be a separate women's sleeping area. The sleeping area will be fairly modest, so we would recommend bringing a sleeping bag for comfort. Otherwise, you are free to book accommodation in the city of St. Gallen – you can find our accommodation guide here.
Stay updated on everything happening at START Hack
