Water Fintech Hackathon

Feel free to send us all your questions via Slack (Please note that it is a Pro Version of Slack that is free of charge for you but supports hurdles and data upload. We have set-up a dedicated section for the Water Fintech Hackathon with channels for hackers, mentors and also urgent questions.

What is the Water Fintech Hackathon?

The Water Fintech Hackathon is a 5-event for entrepreneurs, in which participants in teams of 2 to 5 people (programmers, designers, managers, analysts, etc) can create prototypes of digital deeptech solutions aiming to support the rebuilding of Mykolaiv in Ukraine.

 How long is the hackathon?

The actual HackWeek runs from July 22 to July 26, 2024. Registration is open between June 10 and July 22, 2024

 Who can attend Water Fintech Hackathon?

The Water Fintech Hackathon is targeted at creative minds with a hacker spirit (in the classical definition of the word). 

How are applicants selected?

Water Fintech Hackathon is open for all entrepreneurs. However, only a project team of a minimum of 2 hackers - that either came into the Hackathon as a team or a newly formed team during the hackathon - will be eligible for prizes. Matching can be done individually via Taikai based on the candidate profiles. CVs don't matter, please don't paste full CVs as an application pitch. What matters is your potential and your passion for technology, no matter your level of experience. 

How much does it cost?

Water Fintech Hackathon is free for all hackers.  

How will the hackathon go?

The HackWeek will start with a kick off event on Monday July 22, 2024. On Tuesday, July 23, registration closes at 10 AM CET. On Tuesday and Wednesday we will have several workshops and during the HackWeek there will be time to work independently on the projects. On Thursday, July 25, we will organize a special Pitch coaching session. Please decide till then if you will present on Friday, July 26. The closing time to send in your pitch will be on Friday, July 26 at lunch time.

The mentors and coaches will be available for questions during the HackWeek. Slack will be our main platform for communication, therefore we recommend you to join our Slack channel. For the presentation and protection of our solutions we chose Zoom. Please install this app in advance and test it with your team members. Our working hours are in the CET zone.

Who is a mentor?

An individual with business experience and experience working with startups, engaged by the organizer of the Hackathon to accompany and advise teams in terms of product thinking, team building, resource planning. The coach assists the teams in setting goals and monitors their achievement during the hackathon. 

How do I book a mentor session?

Please check out the mentor profiles on our Hackathon website. You can send the mentor a message on TAIKAI by clicking underneath their profile on ‘’send a message’’. You can also contact the mentor in Slack through the special Slack channels we have for the hackathon. We highly recommend you to join our mentoring Slack channel. Several mentors will be available in the channel to answer your questions.

How to communicate team topics in Slack?

We recommend you to create a closed Slack channel for your own team. In this channel you can communicate with your team. Slack also offers a lot of useful features. You can call each other or start a huddle within your channel, but you can also record a video or audio clip and send it.

What are the requirements for the developed solution (prototype)?

Blow us away! Feel free to use the blockchain resources available but otherwise, be as creative as possible! However, please note that the created prototype must not: 

• contain elements of pornography or other materials of a sexual nature

• elements and information promoting violence, inciting social, racial, national or religious hatred and enmity, or containing calls for the overthrow of the constitutional order and inciting ethnic hatred

• contain malware, viruses, spyware and other similar electronic programs that may harm the information system or violate the laws that protect the confidentiality of information

• contain pre-prepared code/part of code

What programming languages and technical tools can I use?

Participants are not limited in the choice of programming languages, technologies and implementation tools for creating prototypes, provided that the result of the work solves the problem identified in the case. The prototype can use publicly available resources, libraries, templates, third-party software, as an add-on or basis, however, such add-ons must be available to absolutely every contestant without using or attracting any external resources (money, acquaintances, etc.).

What is the format of the hackathon?

The hackathon will be held online. The final pitch can be given onsite in the Studio at Freifläche Berlin or via Zoom online from any global location.

Can I register our company employees in bulk?

No, candidates must register and apply individually.

Do you pay for the attendees' transportation and/or accommodation costs?

No. 

Do I have to participate in the 5-day program every day?

No, but we do encourage you to participate in the most important events and workshops during HackWeek. Fortunately, there are plenty of activities to choose from.

To be eligible for the pitch, your team has to attend the Pitch Coaching Workshop or has to schedule a 1:1 session with our Pitch Coach and need to be in touch with the organizer team at least three times between July 22 and July 26.

When will the schedule be available?

A detailed schedule is available on our Hackathon page on Taikai. We will also share more insights during the online events we have scheduled and via Slack.

Will there be a live stream from the event?

Yes, live streaming will be available for the final pitch event on July 26. We will share an update on the channel we are broadcasting on the Hackathon page.

I am under 18 years old, but I want to take part in the Hackathon. Is there such an opportunity?

An individual who has reached the age of 18 can take part in the competition. If a team member is under 18 years old, he/she will unfortunately be disqualified regardless of his/her place in the hackathon.

Why is the official language English?

Most of our participants are from different countries, we have attendees coming from all over the world. English is usually well understood and accepted. Our main motivation is technology and talent, and these are global attributes, so our main 'language' is what we use to code. English is not the only language at the event, though. 

Do I get a participation certificate at the end?

Yes, we can provide participation certificates on demand in the days following the hackathon. Just make sure you actually participate.

 Can I participate in multiple teams?

No, each confirmed participant has the opportunity to participate in only one team. You can propose two ideas and start gathering a team but at the end you have to decide which project you want to put into the ring during the pitch event.

I'm a techie, but I also do recruiting. Is it OK if I talk to someone at Water Fintech Hackathon to see if they're interested in working with me?

You cannot engage in direct recruitment activities during the Hackathon. This is one of the core rules of the event. The attendees don't enjoy unsolicited targeting, and we don't want to turn the event into a battlefield for hires. Trust us, it's better for you, not only for attendees. Having said this, it's OK if the interest is mutual and both parties want to talk (meaning the attendee approaches you). It's definitely NOT OK if you're preaching to the crowd or fishing around for interest.