Intelligent Event Guide

Design a clear and efficient system for managing all events organized by the city, municipal organizations, civic associations, or community groups in the city of Galanta.

Prize money for the winner: 3000 €
28th February - 1st March 2025
Neo-Gothic Manor House, Galanta

Aftermovie

Initial situation

The city of Galanta regularly organizes cultural and social events with a city-wide character. Since the organizers include various entities—from organizations and institutions established by the city to civic associations and various interest groups—there are often overlaps between events. Residents perceive this negatively, as they would like to attend multiple events but are unable to do so.

The current calendar of cultural and social events exists as a simple Excel spreadsheet managed by employees of the Municipal Cultural Center. However, issues arise when event organizers fail to report their events, leaving them unrecorded in the calendar.

Through a hackathon, the city of Galanta aims to find an innovative solution that will allow all institutions organizing events within the city to access a clear and comprehensive calendar of planned activities. The expected benefits include eliminating overlaps between similar events, improving program planning, and fostering the long-term development of social life in the city.

Aim of the hackathon

Create a centralized online system for tracking and managing city events, including cultural, social, and sports activities, as well as events organized by municipal organizations. This system will allow organizers to view all planned events in the city while also providing the public and citizens of Galanta with one or more calendar interfaces.

Challenge of the hackathon

Design a clear and efficient system for managing all events organized by the city, municipal organizations, civic associations, or community groups in the city of Galanta.

Expected solution

A refined proposal / concept for an information system or application to manage all events organized by the city, municipal organizations, civic associations, or community groups within the city of Galanta.

What benefits should the new event management system bring?

Two-level access: Admin portal and public portal
Enhance citizen awareness and participation
Simplify the process of recording and editing events
Event filtering options (e.g., culture, sports, kids' activities, etc.)
Integration with an external reservation system
Push notifications based on user-configurable preferences
Personalized recommendations based on user data analysis

Integration of the PAYSY app and “Galacard” for direct use of discounts and benefits
Display of additional information via an interactive map
Option to upload photos and reviews of events
Citizen-to-organizer communication directly through the app
Social media sharing of events
Increase ecological awareness (e.g., carbon footprint of events)

Winners

First place
Team Kavo.war

They developed an application for event organizers and administrators of MsKS to manage cultural events in Galanta. Organizers can create their own accounts, add and edit upcoming events, and access analytical data on past events. The app also features a 3D map for venue selection, direct communication with the city, and a form submission system aligned with local regulations. The admin interface allows event management and organizer approvals, while the PWA (Progressive Web App) for citizens sends push notifications about cultural happenings in the city.

"We focused on having a strong programming team to handle the demos, leaving me with everything else. I took care of the design and functionality, though we all contributed ideas, and I hope I really nailed the presentation on stage," said team member Oskar Vereš.

Second place
Team I2M

Their solution is a web application that includes a public-facing page, a functional portal for administrators and organizers, and a PWA mobile application. The app is deployed in a production environment, allowing users to register/login, manage events, locations, users, and other content. The system is built on secure and scalable technologies. The project also features an AI chatbot prototype capable of answering event-related questions.

"The level of all competitors and their solutions was extremely high, making it tough to secure a spot at all," described Matej Krištín, highlighting the strong competition.

Third place
Team Biznismeni

During the hackathon, they developed a smart centralized platform displaying all events happening in Galanta. Their solution integrates Smart Maps, helping citizens and tourists navigate to events, discover nearby businesses, and use their Galacard at select venues. Another key feature is automatic synchronization with users' Google Calendars. They also built a fully functional demo interface for regular users.

"We learned from past experiences, gained a better understanding of the expected structure at Hacknime.to, and focused on the key evaluation criteria," explained Adam Donoval, reflecting on his team’s success.

List of Mentors and Experts

Matúš Súlovec

Deputy Director for IT and Innovation, Bratislava-Petržalka District

Matúš is responsible for optimizing and digitizing internal processes and developing online services for the public. He leverages his extensive experience from various IT projects, both in and beyond public administration, to improve services within Petržalka. He is actively involved in designing and developing online solutions.

Lucia Lanáková

Project manager

Lucia worked in the Department of Strategy and Project Management at Bratislava Staré Mesto, where she actively participated in the development of the city district by preparing and implementing strategic documents and development projects. With over 15 years of experience, she has been dedicated to the preparation and execution of development projects within both the …

Martin Korček

Senior developer and project manager, QPC s.r.o.

Martin is a graduate in the field of IT management with deep knowledge of information technologies and their effective management. Currently, he works as a consultant and IT solutions architect, where he leverages his professional skills and experience to design and implement complex information systems. His goal is to assist companies in achieving their IT objectives and …

Tomáš Ludwig

UX Expert, jabono s.r.o., MIRRI SR

Tomáš is dedicated to business process analysis, UX design, and software, web, and mobile application prototyping in the UX company jabono. Additionally, he works as a consultant for the mass deployment of Apple technologies in schools and businesses. Currently, he is working at MIRRI on prototyping designs for selected citizen life situations and expanding the ID-SK …

Martin Nemeček

Founder, Potom.sk

Martin comes from the startup world. As a startup scout, he worked for the venture capital fund ZAKA and, together with partners at Katalyst, invests in promising projects. Currently, he is focusing on innovations in Sweden and launching a project to support people coping with the loss of a loved one. He also trains presentation skills and, as a winner of multiple …

Anna Juhosová

Event Coordinator, Galanta Municipal Cultural Center

Anna has been active in the cultural field for 9 years. At the secretariat of the Galanta Municipal Cultural Center, one of her responsibilities is managing the calendar of cultural events taking place in the city of Galanta or organized within the spaces managed by the Municipal Cultural Center.

Radovan Vančo

IT Specialist – City Information System Administration, Galanta Municipal Office

Radovan studied at the Faculty of Economic Informatics at the University of Economics in Bratislava, specializing in Economic Informatics and Accounting. He gained experience in the IT field through various positions and teams at the Social Insurance Agency and Asseco Central Europe Slovakia. He then spent 12 years in municipal administration, managing information …

Denis Sedlák

Partnership development manager, DASATO

Denis works as a Partnership Development Manager and Idea Lab Program Lead at DASATO, an NGO dedicated to enhancing education and personal growth by offering specialized programs, training, and resources in areas like digital skills, entrepreneurship, and professional development, empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. Previously, he was a Manager for …

Peter Remiš

Consultant, MIRRI SR

Peter is a passionate fan of digital technologies and innovations. He is actively involved in prototyping, design, and development of web applications, content portals, custom IT solutions, and digital marketing. Within MIRRI, he currently works as an expert IT consultant for the Hackathon project. In the past, he spent a long time in the telecommunications sector, where …

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List of Partners

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is behind the Hackathon?

The owner of the topics of the Hackathon is the City of Galanta.

How is the "team" defined?

The minimum of 2 people including a speaker e.g. a person that will present the idea, and understands the business and the challenge; and a tech expert who is able to create a prototype or a clickable version of the application / web / product.

What are the ideal roles for our hackathons?

The goal of our hackathons isn’t to program an entire solution but to develop a comprehensive concept. It’s crucial to focus on the feasibility of the solution during its creation and presentation, as this heavily influences the jury’s decision on the winning project. Before arriving at the hackathon, define the roles within your team. Leverage each member’s strengths to save time and avoid conflicts. One person can take on multiple roles, but having clarity helps.

Analyst
Thinks analytically and can quickly understand and map out processes or data structures. Often, technical problems stem from flawed processes, so it’s beneficial to outline, comprehend, and propose adjustments to these processes before suggesting a technical solution.
Designer
Understands the design process and knows that a picture is worth a thousand words. By creating sketches or wireframes, the designer quickly brings the proposed product to life. This makes it easier to iterate on ideas and test solutions with users. Whether you stick to sketches or refine the design, it’s an excellent way to present your product.
IT specialist
Has a strong grasp of technical matters. If you’re designing a software product, this could be a software architect or developer who outlines the technical architecture of the solution. While coding is a plus, it’s not the primary goal. If you decide to code, focus on components that can be completed within the timeframe and set you apart from the competition.
Product manager
Rozumie biznis potrebám a problémom zákazníka. Spoluprácou a spájaním informácií od ostatných členov tímu potom smeruje výsledný produkt tak, aby riešil problémy ako zákazníka, tak aj koncového používateľa a bol realizovateľný v stanovenom čase a rozpočte.
Salesperson
Actively communicates and represents your team during the hackathon, especially when presenting your product to the jury. They believe in the product, can highlight its strengths, address customer business problems, and emphasize the benefits for end users.

Môžem meniť zloženie tímu aj počas hackathonu?

Zloženie tímov sa môže meniť pred hackathonom. Zloženie tímov je nemenné počas hackahtonu, to znamená, že nemôžu počas hackathonu, po oficiálnej registrácii a check-in pribudnúť nový člen tímu, ktorého meno alebo emailová adresa neboli uvedené pri registrácii alebo pri check-in v úvodný deň podujatia.

What will happen after filling out the application?

As soon as you submit your application, a member of the hacknime.to team will contact you within 24 hours (either by email or by phone) with further information and the procedure.

Can I be not selected for the hackathon?

If you register after the capacity is full or you will not match the criteria for the participating teams, you will not be chosen as the participant.

What are the selection criteria for contestants? What do I have to fulfill?

The basic scoring scale includes:

Experience in the IT and TECH industry or
Experience in design thinking procedures or
Experience in the so-called sprint procedures, SCRUM master certificate or
Experience in drawing up business plans, new businesses, creating prototypes or MVP or
You are a high school student focused on computer technologies, economics, business or design (both product and digital) or
You are a student of a university focused on computer technologies, economics, business or design (both product and digital)
If you do not meet any of the above criteria, you can still prove that you have personally participated in at least two hackathons in the past (it is necessary to prove the output of these events)

If as an adept (or combined your team) meets at least two requirements from the above criteria, you have the right to participate in the hackathon. The more requirements you fulfill, you move up in the ranking.

What is a conflict of interest?

A conflict of interest represents a situation where a personal interest motivates or could motivate a judge/mentor/organizer employee/topic owner/competitor to act against the best interests of the hackathon. Involvement of these individuals in activities where a conflict of interest occurs or may occur is not allowed. Such activities include:

Influencing mentors and judges to gain an advantage for themselves or a close person, financially or otherwise,
Influencing individuals working for the organizer, the ministry, or a company with a supplier or partner relationship with the organizer,
Intentional modification of solutions by mentors or possible one-sided mentoring in favor of some participants,
Formation of a competition team by a mentor, judge, or person working for the organizer, topic owner, or the ministry,
and others.

If a participant identifies a conflict of interest, they are required to immediately and verifiably inform about the conflict of interest. If a participant fails to report circumstances that could lead to a conflict of interest, this fact will itself constitute a violation of these principles and may result in the disqualification of the competition team at the hackathon. The decision on disqualification is made by the organizer.

Can I participate in the event if I am under 18 years old?

A person under 18 years of age may participate in the event only after completing and submitting a parental/legal guardian consent form to the organizer or when accompanied by a parent/legal guardian throughout the entire duration of the event.

When is the deadline for registration?

Teams or individuals will be able to register until February 26th, 2025, or until the maximum capacity is reached.

Is there capacity for the attendees?

The attendee capacity is up to 60 people.

How will the best solution be evaluated at the hackathon?

Task Fulfillment / Relevance / Functionality:

Score by the jury: 1 to 20
The solution / POC / MVP / Software relates to the theme of the hackathon and the defined challenges.
The solution / POC / MVP / Software works and meets at least the basic user functions.

Idea / Originality, Uniqueness, Creativity

Score by the jury: 1 to 15
How creative is the idea behind the solution / POC / MVP / Software?
How original is the solution / POC / MVP / Software?
Is it something that hasn’t been done before, and unique compared to competitors?

User Experience / Added Value (or technical design for solutions without a frontend)

Score by the jury: 1 to 15
Is the overall user experience intuitive?
Does the solution / POC / MVP / Software make sense from a UX perspective?
What will be the impact (in terms of scope) and added value of the solution / POC / MVP / Software for the target audience?

Feasibility / Implementability / Viability

Score by the jury: 1 to 35
Does the solution / POC / MVP / Software actually work? Is the solution / POC / MVP / Software easy to scale?
Is there potential for the solution to be realized with the resources that are realistically available?
How relevant and applicable is the use of the solution / POC / MVP / Software for solving the given challenge?

Presentation to the Jury

Score by the jury: 1 to 15
Quality of the presentation, visual aspects, content, and delivery in an engaging manner.

The maximum number of points a team can earn is 100.

What happens if the participating team comes to the hackathon with a pre-prepared solution?

The organizer and owner of the hackathon theme has the motivation to bring, based on the innovative hackathon event, new solutions for our company, improvement of existing available solutions or otherwise innovate the current state. The competition team can come to the hackathon with a ready-made solution, but it must be visibly demonstrated that, thanks to the hackathon, consultations with mentors and experts, the transformation of its ready-made solution into the final form for the requirements of the Topic Owner took place.

Can I be disqualified?

A team may be disqualified by the organizer if caught cheating, copying solutions from other teams, making audio or video recordings, plagiarism, or any other form of copying from other teams, misusing information from other teams, illegally obtaining data from other teams, creating content with the intention of harming other participants, or otherwise violating the ethics of the competition. Anyone who witnesses unfair behavior must inform the organizer.

Suspicion of disqualification can be reported by members of the competition teams, mentors, or the theme owner’s team or the Organizer. Suspicion of unfair behavior must be reported personally to the Organizer. The team or team member who has violated the rules will be asked to leave the hacking area. To ensure the smooth progress and continuation of the hackathon, the disqualification of a team will be announced to other participants during the next break.

Can I withdraw my team during the hackathon?

Teams can withdraw at any time during the hackathon. Merging of teams is not allowed after the initial check-in of the teams. A team that wishes to withdraw must notify the organizer in person.

Is it possible to hack both physically and online during the event?

For the physical hackathon, in-person attendance of the team is required. However, in case of need or personal circumstances, it is possible for a team member to participate and hack online.

Is there a fee for attending the hackathon?

Participation is free of charge. All costs are covered by the organizer.

Can the hacking continue during the night?

Yes, participants will be allowed to continue hacking during the night.

The organizer does not provide sleeping bags, mattresses, beds, or other accommodation directly at the hackathon venue. Drinking water and showers are available throughout the entire hackathon. Each competing team is assigned one access card, allowing them to enter and exit the designated hacking area at any time during the event.

What is required from the attendee and what will be available in the premises?

Each participant needs to bring his / her own laptop or any other hardware that he / she needs to work on challenges. Other things will be provided by the organizer such as WiFi, food for the whole day (buffets, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks).

What is the official language of the hackathon?

The official language is Slovak. However, some keynote lectures and workshops may also be held in English.

Is there any catering during the event?

The hackathon organizer guarantees full meals and snacks throughout the entire event in the form of buffets. Drinks are provided as well.

Prize money pre víťazné tímy

Prvé tri miesta, ktoré porota vyhodnotí ako najlepšie budú ocenené prize money nasledovne:

Prvé miesto : 3000 Eur
Druhé miesto: 2000 Eur
Tretie miesto: 1000 Eur

What will happen after the hackathon in case I win?

Winning teams will have a chance to participate in the development and implementation of the solution in cooperation with the topic owner.

What does it mean to win a hackathon and what are my requirements afterward?

The winning teams enter into a licensing agreement for their solutions developed during the hackathon (the license applies only to what was created during the hackathon). This is a non-exclusive license that is limited to the territory of the Slovak Republic and is unlimited in time. This means, it does not limit the author at all in the dissemination of his work as part of his commercial activities. On the contrary, the owner of the topic (always a public administration institution) is authorized to distribute the license in the interest of the economy within public institutions. The author remains the owner of the work, the owner of the topic has only such a non-exclusive license. In addition, if the winning teams do not agree on the implementation of the winning solution with the Theme Owner, the winning prize money may not be returned to the Organizer.

Gallery

Do you want to be part of the next step towards Slovakia’s digitalization?

Prize money

First place 3 000 €
Second place 2 000 €
Third place 1 000 €

Simply fill out the registration form, and we will contact you in due time with all the details. You will receive information about the competition, updates, and specifics of the challenge.