Hackathon F.A.Q.

General

Which goal do you pursue with the hackathon?
We want to bring more innovators into defense tech, so their brainpower goes into solutions that save lives and solve real problems rather than optimizing ad click rates or grocery delivery. Through the hackathon, we want to put you in a position to take the next steps toward bringing your project into the real world, whether by founding a startup or joining an existing defense tech startup.

Is the hackathon about networking/concept papers or about creating a prototype/MVP in a short period?
It’s about creating a product in a short amount of time. There are already many conferences where people meet to talk and network. We want you to get active and work together with others on real projects. It’s also a really fun way to get to know others and maybe even find a co-founder.

Is there a participation fee or prize money?
No and no. Participation is free. There are also no cash prizes, and that’s intentional. The hackathon is about working on real problems, talking to mentors and operators, and building something that could become a real project or even a company. What matters is building things that work in real life, not winning a cash prize for a weekend demo.

What if my background is not tech or defense tech?
That’s great! The aim of the hackathon is to bring together people from various backgrounds to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time. Many participants don’t have a background in tech or defense tech, and a well-balanced team covers more than one function. Ultimately, the event is about learning more about this space and innovating on the spot. No prior experience is required.

Registration & Admission

Do I need to register on both Luma and the EDTH platform?
Luma is to invite our existing network; you can safely ignore it. The EDTH platform (events.eurodefense.tech, running on commonspace) is the information hub for the hackathon, with the challenges, agenda, mentors, updates, and team formation. Once you’re accepted on Luma, your request on the platform will be approved. A “pending” status until then is normal.

Why was my application declined?
Our hackathons often get heavily oversubscribed, so we have to make a selection, and unfortunately we can’t give individual feedback. For some events, our local co-organizers handle the selection. We’d still encourage you to apply for upcoming events and to join our talent pool, which we share weekly with our partner companies.

The hacker spots are full. Can I still come?
Yes. Demo Day on Sunday afternoon is open to EDTH Community members as visitors, so you can still join for the pitches and networking.

What do I need for check-in?
A valid photo ID and a complete EDTH platform registration (i.e., here: events.eurodefense.tech) with your full name and your LinkedIn profile or website so we can verify your identity.

Where exactly is the venue?
We share the exact address with accepted participants only. Because of the sensitive nature of the hackathons, please don’t share the location publicly.

What if I can’t attend after all?
Please change your status to “Not Going” on commonspace as soon as possible. This frees up your spot for someone on the waitlist.

Do I need to be on-site for all three days?
Yes, we strongly recommend being on-site for all three days, from Friday noon until Sunday afternoon. There’s no option to join online as a participant. Many projects involve hardware; mentors can give you feedback in person that they can’t share online with a broader audience, and the experience is much better in person.

On Friday, you’ll learn about the challenges, attend workshops, and form teams. You then build your prototype until Sunday noon and present it at Demo Day on Sunday afternoon. The exact agenda is published on the event page (events.eurodefense.tech). Please check it there, as it can vary between events.

When are the challenges published?
We share the challenges with all registered participants about one week before the event. They’re based on real-world problems and informed by operators and experts from Ukraine, NATO countries, and international allies.

What are the mentor tickets for?
Mentor tickets are for people with military, technical, or business and legal expertise whom we’ve invited to support the hackathon, come on-site, and give feedback to the teams.

Teams

Do I need a team to join?
No. If you already have a team in mind, you can hack with them. Otherwise, there will be plenty of opportunities to network and form teams at the event.

How big should a team be? Can I participate solo?
Teams usually have 3–5 members, with a maximum of 6. You can participate solo, but it is not recommended, because working in a team is more fun and more productive. You can find teammates at the start of the event.

How do we register as a team?
Each team member registers individually on the EDTH platform (events.eurodefense.tech). After that, you can create your team in the Teams section of the EDTH platform, find teammates there in advance, or form a team on-site on Friday.

Projects, Rules & IP

Are there challenges available, or can people bring their own projects?
Both. You can bring your own project, and we prepare challenges for inspiration.

Can I bring pre-existing code, hardware, or an existing startup project?
Yes. You can continue developing your existing project and get feedback from the mentors. Just make clear in your submission what you had before and what you built during the hackathon. The jury considers only what you developed during the event.

Who owns the IP?
You do. All IP you bring or create stays with you, and EDTH and its partners claim no rights to it. If you work in a team, we recommend agreeing early on how you’ll handle the work you create together. Some partner companies may have different IP agreements for their challenges.

Is there a participant agreement or T&Cs?
No, there’s no separate participant agreement. This FAQ sets out the rules of the hackathon.

Can we post about the event afterward?
Yes, please do; we’d love to see it! Just don’t share the venue address, and ask other teams and participants before sharing details or photos of their projects.

Demo Day & Judging

What demo format is allowed?
Live demos or video-recorded demos are perfectly fine. Please don’t bring handouts or marketing materials, since that would be unfair to teams who don’t have time to prepare them.

Who is on the jury?
Judging is reserved for military representatives, selected mentors, and our partner companies, and it takes place in person.

Can my company get a demo or speaking slot?
Dedicated slots are reserved for our sponsors. If you’d like to become a sponsor, get in touch (mail [at] eurodefense [dot] tech). Otherwise, plenty of people will be there to talk to on-site.

Logistics

Do you cover travel or accommodation?
Unfortunately, we can’t provide financial support for travel or accommodation.

Can I sleep at the venue?
It depends on the venue. Some allow overnight stays (bring a sleeping bag), while others have to close at night. Please check the event page. Otherwise, Booking.com or Airbnb are your best options.

Is there luggage storage?
There’s usually a room at the venue where you can leave your bags. It isn’t a staffed cloakroom, though, so you leave items at your own risk.

Is food provided?
Depends on our sponsorship budget, but we’re aiming to provide food and drinks all weekend, including vegetarian options, plus coffee, tea, and water.

What should I bring to the hackathon?
A positive attitude, a laptop, a photo ID, and any hardware you’d like to work with. If you need something special, reach out to us, and we’ll try to arrange it. Some partners also bring their own hardware, which you’re welcome to use. Bring a sleeping bag if the venue allows overnight stays.

What should I not bring along?
As a rule of thumb, if you can’t take it through airport security, don’t bring it to the hackathon. Also, don’t bring anything classified or confidential.

Can we test hardware on-site, e.g., fly drones or use a water tank?
It depends on the venue and local regulations. Please contact us well in advance. In some locations, we can arrange access to test facilities, but we usually need to reserve it ahead of time.

Contact

Who can I ask if I have more questions?
Email us at mail [at] eurodefense [dot] tech about anything missing from this list. You can also reach us through our platform: events.eurodefense.tech