March 25–26, 2026 | Educa Building, UEF, Joensuu
Innovate at the speed of light
Sohjo Hacks is a 30-hour international hackathon where developers, designers, and innovators build working prototypes and web apps for real research and commercial challenges.
Organized by ShadowStack & Business Joensuu | Part of Sohjo 2026
Build something heavy. The world will see.
The hardest challenges don't get solved in weekend projects. They take years. Unless you put the right people, the right tools, and 30 uninterrupted hours in the same room. With AI-assisted development, a team of ambitious builders can go from a hard problem to a working solution faster than many companies move in a quarter. 30 hours. Enough to ship something that changes your next chapter.
Challenges
University of Eastern Finland
Pitch a pilot project idea that pairs a real business problem with the research expertise and lab infrastructure available at UEF Joensuu Campus — and turn it into a concrete collaboration plan.
The problem:
Many innovative companies have R&D needs but lack access to the specialized lab environments, testing facilities, and domain expertise required to move ideas forward. At the same time, UEF Joensuu Campus sits on a wide range of underutilized RDI capabilities (from photonics and sustainable chemistry to immersive XR technologies and natural resource research) that could accelerate company innovation. The gap between business ambition and research capacity remains untapped.
What you'll build:
A compelling pilot or proof-of-concept proposal that identifies a specific business or customer problem, maps it to one or more UEF Joensuu labs, and outlines how a joint RDI project, contract research engagement, or co-funded research partnership could be structured. The strongest submissions will articulate clear novelty, a path to business value, and a realistic collaboration model with UEF.
Prizes:
€1,000
More challenges will be announced soon
What you get
Beyond the prize money
Portfolio projects for students
Ship a real prototype or web app and add it to your portfolio
Partnerships for company representatives
Meet potential partners, facility providers, researchers, and industry professionals
Travel grants for company representatives
Apply for a travel grant to cover your expenses (max €400 per team, more info in Rules)
Guidance on AI-assisted development tools
A workshop where you'll learn tools like Lovable, Claude Code, Cursor, and Antigravity to ship faster
Meals and workspace
Coffee, free meals, and a dedicated hacking environment for 30 hours
Networking
Connect with 50 developers, designers, and innovators + get a chance to connect with 500+ attendees at Sohjo (for finalists)
Partners & Sponsors
Your hackathon journey
Now
Apply on the Vivunity platform
We will review applications and get back to you as soon as possible. In the application, tell us about yourself, your skills, and why you want to participate in Sohjo Hacks.
Then
Assemble your team
It's allowed to participate solo or in teams of up to 5 people. If you don't have a team, you can use Vivunity's team matching tool to find the best team members for you.
March 25, Morning
Arrive
Check in at Educa Building, UEF, Joensuu. Meet other participants. Hear challenge presentations from company partners. Meet your team.
March 25-26, 30 Hours
Build
Access to mentors, workspace, meals, and tools. Ship working prototypes, web apps, and research proof-of-concepts. We guide you on modern development practices like AI-assisted coding and rapid prototyping.
March 26, Evening
Present
Demo your solution to challenge partners and judges. Winners present at the Sohjo event.
After
Opportunities
Portfolio piece. Partnership and collaboration opportunities. Potential job offers. Connections with Finland's deep tech ecosystem. Proof you can ship fast.
Ready to write your next chapter?
Join 50 builders for 30 hours of AI-assisted development. Tackle hard industry challenges. Ship a working solution and make an impact.
Application period ends March 13, 2026 | Event: March 25–26