Smart Sports Facilities Petržalka

Design a system for creating reservations, self-service access to sports facilities, lighting control, and other components of the facilities and their surrounding areas.

  • Prize money for the winner: 3000 €
  • 15th - 16th November 2024
  • SKY PARK offices, Bratislava

Aftermovie

Initial situation

The Petržalka district (MČ Petržalka) is the largest neighborhood in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Located on the right bank of the Danube River, it is home to approximately 114,000 people. Currently, there is a growing need to improve access to and the use of outdoor sports fields. Ongoing renovations of these fields also present a challenge in making such sports facilities available to the public and sports clubs year-round.

Another issue is the lack of efficiency and flexibility in lighting, leading to energy waste and limited ability to adapt the fields to specific activities and events. MČ Petržalka believes that the hackathon environment, which encourages creativity, innovation, and collaboration among participants, has the potential to bring forth a suitable digital solution to create the concept of smart sports facilities.

Aim of the hackathon

Create a mobile reservation system for comprehensive management of sports facilities, including booking with payment, door access, turning on the lights, and reporting any deficiencies or malfunctions.

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Challenge of the hackathon

Design a system for creating reservations, self-service access to sports facilities, lighting control, and other facility components.

The system should consist of:

  • Reservation Management System: A website/app that allows users to book specific sports facilities for one-time or recurring use.
  • Access Control System: Hardware and software components for a self-service entry system, enabling automated access to buildings.
  • Lighting Control System: Hardware and software components for automated lighting control, linked to the reservation system to adjust lighting based on bookings.

Expected solution

Specific proposals for prototypes, software applications, or hardware concepts that can practically improve the management of lighting at sports facilities. The proposed solutions should be easy to implement and contribute to energy savings, increased flexibility, and an overall improved user experience at the sports grounds.

Functionalities of the ideal solution:

  • Control and operation via mobile or web application
  • Modern reservation system
  • Payment acceptance through the app
  • Smart management of sports facility lighting
  • Creation of statistics and tracking of facility usage

Winners

First place
Team Incomodum

During the hackathon, they designed a mobile app – Športuj Too Petržalka. The app allows users to easily book sports facilities through a user-friendly map, featuring detailed profiles of sports venues including availability, ratings, and secure online payments. It also supports community sports by enabling users to create sports events or join existing ones, easily searchable by parameters like sport type, event time, and facility type.

“Although we had one fewer team member on the second day of the hackathon, we managed to perfect the presentation and, most importantly, the entire app to meet the project requirements and ultimately win,” said team captain Daniel Adam Czaja, reflecting on the victory and teamwork.

Second place
Team Lwíčkovci

Their solution was characterized by the slogan “Effortlessly and Flexibly.” It consists of two apps – a mobile app with a reservation system for users and an admin interface for setting parameters of the reservation system and viewing statistics for the city district BA-Petržalka. The final proposal also included a hardware solution concept with a specific architecture and its components.

Team representative Adam Tížik, upon receiving the award, commented on how challenging it was to stand out in strong competition: “I always consider every hackathon in Bratislava to be the hardest when it comes to being in the top three. This time, we didn’t expect it at all. Several teams were made up of very experienced people, resulting in truly complex solutions.”

Third place
Team Old Stars

“I don’t want to write emails, I want to play” was the core idea of their solution, which focused primarily on simplifying and streamlining the reservation process to increase motivation for sportsmen. They even consulted their ideas with sports clubs and universities, which was reflected in a captivating proposal that impressed both the jury and the audience.

“At the hackathon, you learn as much in two days as you normally wouldn’t in 1-2 months or even a year,” said team member Viktor Heveši, expressing his impressions of the event. “My goal, or rather our goal, wasn’t to win, but to see what others come up with. Now, I mainly hope that Petržalka will implement such a modern reservation system because we all need it, both as citizens and as sports facilities,” added Ondrej Michalík.

List of Mentors and Experts

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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.

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Martin Bodický

IT Specialist, Bratislava-Petržalka District

Martin is an expert in IoT devices with over 10 years of experience. He is actively involved in programming, PCB design, and 3D printing. He has contributed to numerous projects in Petržalka, such as smart drinking fountains, people counting with artificial intelligence, and control of parking barriers.

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Martin Holek

Programmer, Bratislava-Petržalka District

Martin specializes in creating eCommerce solutions, with 9 years of experience in developing and designing web solutions. He currently works as a programmer for the Petržalka district.

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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 …

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Tomáš Lörinc

Senior Internet of Things Engineer and Solution Architect, FPT Slovakia s.r.o.

Tomáš studied theoretical and industrial electrical engineering combined with artificial intelligence. He currently works as a solution architect for IoT systems in a multinational IT company. In addition to projects focused on industrial innovation, he is actively involved in research on intelligent building management. He also worked as a lecturer at the Košice Academy …

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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 …

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Pavel Laczko

Senior Policy Advisor - Regional innovation, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic

During the hackathon, Pavel can assist you in designing a compelling value proposition, transforming it into a viable offering (i.e., achieving product-market fit), and optimizing your business model to maximize the value and impact of this initial offering in the market. He has successfully performed these tasks for the past decade, working with both startups and …

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Marko Rybárik

Co-founder, OCTAGO

Marko is the co-founder of OCTAGO, a company that has been building sports facilities, playgrounds, and leisure zones for ten years. He's a sportsman at heart who loves spending his time actively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is behind the Hackathon?

The owner of the topics of the Hackathon is The Petržalka district.

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.

Can I change the team composition during the hackathon?

The team composition can be changed before the hackathon. However, it remains fixed during the hackathon, meaning that no new team members whose names or email addresses were not provided during registration or check-in on the event’s opening day can be added after the official registration and check-in.

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 November 13th, 2024, 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 35

  • 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 10

  • 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 5

  • 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:

  1. Prvé miesto : 3000 Eur

  2. Druhé miesto: 2000 Eur

  3. 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.

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

Prize money

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

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 design system.

Tomáš Lörinc

Senior Internet of Things Engineer and Solution Architect, FPT Slovakia s.r.o.

Tomáš studied theoretical and industrial electrical engineering combined with artificial intelligence. He currently works as a solution architect for IoT systems in a multinational IT company. In addition to projects focused on industrial innovation, he is actively involved in research on intelligent building management. He also worked as a lecturer at the Košice Academy of Software Development for several years and regularly contributes to various projects as a mentor, consultant, or judge.

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 optimizing their technological processes. With a passion for IT and a commitment to continuous learning, he is well-prepared for the challenges of the digital era and delivering innovative solutions.

Pavel Laczko

Senior Policy Advisor - Regional innovation, Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic

During the hackathon, Pavel can assist you in designing a compelling value proposition, transforming it into a viable offering (i.e., achieving product-market fit), and optimizing your business model to maximize the value and impact of this initial offering in the market. He has successfully performed these tasks for the past decade, working with both startups and established companies across various sectors, including retail, multisided platforms, digital services, circular economy, and financial services. In addition to his consulting work, Pavel has lectured on these topics at universities in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Bahrain, and Chile. During his time at these universities, he also collaborated with student entrepreneurs to co-design and lead incubation and acceleration programs.