From Idea to IT Project in Two Weeks: How the First GoIT Hackathon Went

ITU Partner GoIT Hackathon 2025 brought together 93 participants from various fields — from development to cybersecurity — in nine teams who, in just two weeks, created practical IT solutions for the charity organisation InHarmony and their own startups.

 

The format provided students and graduates with an opportunity to experience real-world conditions — complete with deadlines, team roles, and pitches in front of a jury, while partners were able to see the next generation of specialists in action.

   

During the final Demo Day, the teams presented nine solutions, which were evaluated by experts in UI/UX, AI, product management, career consulting, and the charity sector. Among them were representatives from Grandia Solutions, AI HOUSE, Aurora Multimarket, and Neoversity. Their feedback confirmed that the participants demonstrated a high level of technical and soft skills, as well as the ability to work on real challenges.

 

Four teams were recognised by the jury in the following categories:

• Best Execution for InHarmony — creation of a convenient admin panel with autonomous website management.
• Best Project on a Free Topic — development of the charitable project ECO HOUSE, which helps create affordable and eco-friendly housing for those who have lost their homes, and the online platform TailsFinder for quickly finding lost pets.
• Audience Choice Award — engagement in working on the task from InHarmony and a sincere presentation of their achievements.

 

The partners of the hackathon included the IT university Neoversity, Aurora Multimarket, the AI community AI HOUSE, the IT company Grandia Solutions, and the charity organisation InHarmony.

We wanted to give participants not just a task, but an experience as close as possible to working in IT. This was an opportunity to see themselves not as students, but as specialists who take responsibility for the product and create value. The hackathon became a space where experimentation, making mistakes, and finding solutions together was encouraged — just like learning in real life, 

— said the organisers.

 

Participants had different levels of experience — from the first learning blocks to over two years of commercial work. The teams were formed to combine varying levels of preparation and different fields, creating an atmosphere as close as possible to real-world work.

 

Each participant received a certificate, special conditions for learning at GoIT and Neoversity, and gifts from the partner companies. The most active and initiative-driven students will have the opportunity to intern at Grandia Solutions.

 

The GoIT Hackathon 2025 was the first event of its kind for the GoIT student and graduate community. The hackathon became a space where education met business and societal demand. GoIT plans to make it a regular event, so talented specialists can create real solutions during their studies and strengthen Ukraine’s IT ecosystem.