Hack Smart Sofia 2026 is coming!
Designed as an intensive, fully on-site hackathon built on challenge-based and venture-building methodologies.
The programme will bring together international and interdisciplinary student teams to work on real urban challenges in a highly interactive, time-bound format.
Organised as a Spring School initiative in the field of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the event positions entrepreneurship education as an active driver of sustainable urban development.
Approximately 40 Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students from ERUA partner universities will work in interdisciplinary and international teams to address real urban challenges.
The Timeline of the Programme:
Preparation Stage: 15th and 16th June – Visiting Sofia Tech Park and familiarising with the city of Sofia and its challenges
The Hackathon Stage at NBU: 17 – 19 June.
The Programme of the Hackathon Stage follows a structured innovation process:
Day 1/17th of June – Problem Exploration & Validation:
Participants are introduced to real Smart City challenges and work in teams to analyse urban problems, map stakeholders, conduct rapid user research, and validate the relevance of theselected challenges.
Day 2/18th of June – Solution Design & Prototyping:
Teams refine and select solutions using assumption-based validation methods, develop early prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and experiment with digital, AI, and no-code tools where relevant.
Day 3/19th of June – Testing, Pitching & Sharing:
Teams test their MVPs through real-world feedback using the “go out of the room” approach, iterate based on evidence, and develop pitch decks. Final solutions are presented to a professional jury, with the most promising ideas receiving awards and opportunities for further development.
Participants who complete the full programme and final pitch will receive 3 ECTS credits and/or certificates.
