24-Hour Challenge: Highlights from IDEAHACK 2024 at ELLIS Unit Warsaw
IDEAHACK 2024, part of the European ELIAS project, brought together young innovators to develop AI-driven platforms connecting science, business, and investors. Led by the director of the ELLIS Unit Warsaw Tomasz Trzciński and supported by expert mentors, 14 teams worked intensively over 24 hours to turn bold ideas into practical solutions.
How can we bridge the gap between science and business? This age-old question was at the heart of IDEAHACK 2024, Poland’s first sciencepreneurship hackathon, held on November 16-17, 2024. Organized by IDEAS NCBR, home to the ELLIS Unit Warsaw and part of the European ELIAS (European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability) Project, the event brought together ambitious young talents in technology, programming, and artificial intelligence (AI). As Professor Tomasz Trzciński, director of the ELLIS Unit Warsaw, noted,
“Ambitious young people are trying to solve the eternal problem of science: how to make it commercially profitable.”
A Race Against Time
For 24 hours, 14 teams worked tirelessly to design a platform that could bridge the gap between science, business, and investors. The primary objective was to facilitate collaboration, promote the exchange of ideas, and develop practical solutions to address market demands, particularly within the field of AI. Participants faced not only the technical complexity of the task but also the physical and psychological challenges of a high-pressure hackathon.
Inspiration in Motion
Participants were tasked with creating a platform that integrates academia, business, and investors. The platform needed to address the diverse needs of researchers, entrepreneurs, and financiers, while promoting collaboration among stakeholders. Day one saw participants diving into intense coding sessions, while day two focused on finalizing projects and preparing pitch decks for the jury. The teams were eventually evaluated on four criteria:
- Completeness: Project development and feasibility for future growth.
- Relevance: Effectiveness in connecting business, scientific, and investor communities.
- Presentation Quality: Clarity and understanding of the solution.
- Business Potential: Commercial viability and market readiness.
The winning team, NerdNet, presented a solution that excelled in all areas, delivering both a functional demo and a clear, impactful presentation. Their project demonstrated technical excellence and strong business potential, earning them the victory.
Guidance from Mentors
Support from mentors was a cornerstone of IDEAHACK 2024’s success. Experts in programming, project management, and entrepreneurship provided invaluable advice, helping participants turn their innovative ideas into practical and market-ready solutions. Among the mentors were notable figures such as:
- Marek Dziubinski (Solvemed, founder of Medicalgorithmics S.A.)
- Wojciech Erdmann (ff Venture Capital)
- Fabrice Filliez (Ambassador of Switzerland to Poland)
- Konrad Howard (Booksy)
- Aleksander Kowalski (Accenture Poland)
- Marcin Ledworowski (Accenture Poland)
- Karol Matczak (Warsaw University of Technology Investment Factory ASI S.A.)
- Paulina Skrzypińska (BNP Paribas Bank Polska)
Reflections and Highlights
Mentor Marek Dziubiński praised the participants’ ability to balance technical and business aspects, remarking,
“The task was extremely difficult and nearly impossible to solve completely in one or two days. Yet, some teams showed impressive maturity by prioritizing the business side.”
The role of women in the hackathon also stood out. Paulina Skrzypińska highlighted, that girls were at the heart of many teams, led them, and took on challenges not yet solved in the Polish market.
Curious to learn more? Catch the atmosphere and excitement in the IDEAHACK 2024 aftermovie below:
