Hackathon for social and ecological business ideas, products and services
The 2026 Hackathon supports founders and teams in solving specific challenges they face as they further develop their social or environmental business ideas, products, and services. Applications will be accepted through October 18.
Through the hackathon, the Department of Economic Affairs and Employment of the State Capital of Wiesbaden offers a free support program for founders and innovative teams.
The focus is on specific challenges arising from participants’ own projects. Together with coaches and experts, these challenges are analyzed and concrete solutions are developed. The goal is not to explore theoretical concepts, but to take the projects a decisive step forward and then put the developed solutions into practice.
What will participants work on?
Depending on the individual challenge, different topics may take center stage. These include, for example, refining a product roadmap, creating a prototype or mock-up, developing marketing materials, or designing and visualizing a service process.
Participants bring their specific challenges to the program. Based on these, they are paired with coaches and experts who support them in developing a solution.
Schedule for the 2026 Hackathon
September 17 & October 13, 2026:
Virtual Information Sessions
October 18, 2026:
Application period ends
October 21–30, 2026:
Introductions with the head coaches (individual 30-minute calls)
November 4, 2026:
Onboarding at the Altes Gericht
November 12, 2026:
Hackathon at the Altes Gericht
Participation in the entire program is free of charge.
Apply Now
Applications for the 2026 Hackathon will be accepted through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
For more information about the program, the information sessions, and the application process, please visit the Heimathafen GmbH website: Hackathon 2026 - Heimathafen Wiesbaden (opens in a new tab)
The 2026 Hackathon is organized by the Department of Economy and Employment of the State Capital of Wiesbaden. Heimathafen Wiesbaden is responsible for implementing the program.
A Look Back at the 2025 Hackathon
At the 2025 Hackathon, seven projects worked together with coaches and experts in product development, design, marketing, business model development, and sustainability to tackle specific challenges related to their initiatives.
The focus included, among other things, the further development of product ideas, the creation of initial prototypes, and the design of visual concepts and communication materials. The hackathon yielded concrete results and identified next steps for the further development of the participating projects.
