Creating Impact Through Hackathons: HackTribe’s Story and What’s Next?
Hackathons have been a significant part of my journey since I participated in my first one in 2011. Over the years, I’ve been involved in more than 100 hackathons and innovation programs—not just as a participant but also as a mentor, judge, and organizer. Each role brought its lessons, but organizing my first hackathon five years ago was a game-changer. We quickly learned how complex coordinating participants, mentors, judges, logistics, marketing, and communication was.
Managing these elements often required juggling multiple spreadsheets, countless email threads, and a variety of communication tools that weren’t designed to work seamlessly together. This fragmented approach made it difficult to keep track of progress, ensure clear communication, and maintain the high level of organization needed to deliver a truly excellent hackathon experience.
In 2022, HackTribe was born to solve that problem. What began as a tool to simplify the hackathons we were organizing soon caught the attention of other organizers. They reached out, curious about the platform we were using, and wanted to try it for their events. That’s when we realized there was a gap in the market for a solution that could simplify the hackathon process while maintaining the features organizers needed.
Managing these elements often required juggling multiple spreadsheets, countless email threads, and a variety of communication tools that weren’t designed to work seamlessly together. This fragmented approach made it difficult to keep track of progress, ensure clear communication, and maintain the high level of organization needed to deliver a truly excellent hackathon experience.
In 2022, HackTribe was born to solve that problem. What began as a tool to simplify the hackathons we were organizing soon caught the attention of other organizers. They reached out, curious about the platform we were using, and wanted to try it for their events. That’s when we realized there was a gap in the market for a solution that could simplify the hackathon process while maintaining the features organizers needed.
Building HackTribe: A Platform with a Purpose
From the start, HackTribe’s approach has been simple: listen to our customers, build solutions tailored to their needs, and innovate features that add real value. By validating each new idea with users before scaling it, we’ve ensured that HackTribe grows alongside the needs of organizers and participants.
HackTribe is more than just a tool—it’s a community-driven platform that empowers organizers to focus on what matters: delivering exceptional hackathon experiences.
HackTribe is more than just a tool—it’s a community-driven platform that empowers organizers to focus on what matters: delivering exceptional hackathon experiences.
From participant registration to project evaluation, HackTribe streamlines every step, making the process easier and more impactful.
2024: A Year of Growth and Impact
Last year was remarkable for HackTribe, filled with exciting projects and meaningful achievements. We had the privilege of supporting a range of hackathons, including Open FinHack, Valmiera LifeHack, Climathon 2024, Baltic AI Hack, Women in Technology Hackathon 2024, EIT Challenge Labs Meikatons and many more. Each event showcased incredible creativity, teamwork, and innovation, and we were proud to play a role in their success.
Beyond individual events, HackTribe contributed to broader innovation initiatives, such as the Startup House Pre-accelerator and the AI 4 Good Initiative. Our platform supported mentoring and project evaluation, ensuring participants received the guidance and support they needed to excel.
Listening to our customers was a key focus in 2024. Their feedback helped us refine HackTribe, ensuring it aligned with the evolving needs of organizers and participants. This approach paid off: HackTribe graduated from Baltic Impact Accelerator and was accepted into the Escaltech and LIAA Incubation Program—validating our commitment to supporting global innovation.
Beyond individual events, HackTribe contributed to broader innovation initiatives, such as the Startup House Pre-accelerator and the AI 4 Good Initiative. Our platform supported mentoring and project evaluation, ensuring participants received the guidance and support they needed to excel.
Listening to our customers was a key focus in 2024. Their feedback helped us refine HackTribe, ensuring it aligned with the evolving needs of organizers and participants. This approach paid off: HackTribe graduated from Baltic Impact Accelerator and was accepted into the Escaltech and LIAA Incubation Program—validating our commitment to supporting global innovation.
Baltic AI Hack Award ceremony
Why Hackathons Matter
Hackathons are more than just competitions—they’re transformative experiences. They create spaces where people can collaborate, experiment, and innovate. The “learn by doing” philosophy at the heart of hackathons empowers participants to acquire new skills, solve real-world challenges, and push the boundaries of their creativity.
However, the human connections they foster make hackathons truly special. They bring together people from diverse backgrounds and unite them in a shared mission. I’ve seen strangers come together at hackathons, form teams, and create incredible projects. Some of these connections even evolve into partnerships—like the one I share with my business partner, whom I first met at a hackathon.
Hackathons also inspire confidence. Whether students attend their first event or entrepreneurs refine their next big idea, hackathons empower individuals to take risks, tackle challenges, and unlock their full potential.
However, the human connections they foster make hackathons truly special. They bring together people from diverse backgrounds and unite them in a shared mission. I’ve seen strangers come together at hackathons, form teams, and create incredible projects. Some of these connections even evolve into partnerships—like the one I share with my business partner, whom I first met at a hackathon.
Hackathons also inspire confidence. Whether students attend their first event or entrepreneurs refine their next big idea, hackathons empower individuals to take risks, tackle challenges, and unlock their full potential.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we look to the future, we are more motivated than ever to expand HackTribe’s impact. In 2025, we’re focused on:
HackTribe’s goal is to simplify the hackathon process and amplify its impact. Whether it’s helping organizers run smoother events or empowering participants to innovate, we’re here to make a difference.
- AI-Powered Features: We integrate AI into HackTribe to enhance participant matchmaking, automate feedback generation, and provide real-time analytics. These tools will make hackathons more efficient and insightful for organizers and participants.
- Expanding Partnerships: We aim to collaborate with more organizations and event planners, bringing HackTribe to new sectors and regions.
- Driving Innovation: We remain committed to supporting high-impact projects that empower individuals and teams to create meaningful change.
HackTribe’s goal is to simplify the hackathon process and amplify its impact. Whether it’s helping organizers run smoother events or empowering participants to innovate, we’re here to make a difference.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
Let's connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlisskuja/ - if you plan a hackathon or innovation program in 2025. HackTribe is ready to help you create an unforgettable experience that delivers value to participants and stakeholders.
Let’s make 2025 a year of bold ideas, groundbreaking innovation, and incredible achievements.
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© 2024 HackTribe
HackTribe - hackathon and innovation program management platform
HackTribe - hackathon and innovation program management platform
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