On May 20–21, the international hackathon "Hack the Future" took place in Tallinn, aiming to find innovative solutions to enhance cities' resilience to climate change and natural disasters.

The hackathon, part of Latitude59's side events, brought together over 100 participants forming 14 teams. Participants focused on developing solutions in five areas: circular economy, mobility and infrastructure, public space recovery, economic revitalization through tourism, and smart cities and digital transformation.

Winning Teams

First Place: Estonian team Sol Navitas for their project SolarDry – a smart, solar-powered ventilation system designed to prevent moisture damage and mold in buildings.

Second Place: Remote Resilience Hub – an AI-based platform to optimize city remote management and work arrangements.

Third Place: Narracity – an interactive application that enables users to explore the city's cultural and historical heritage through community-created routes.

Future Opportunities

Winning teams will have the opportunity to pilot their solutions in Valencia between June and October 2025, supported by funding of up to €50,000. Additionally, they will present their solutions at the Valencia Digital Summit in October 2025.

Organizers and Background

The hackathon was organized by the city councils of Tallinn and Valencia in collaboration with the e-Residency program, Startup Valencia, and Garage48. The event was initiated in response to the DANA floods in Valencia in October 2024, which resulted in over 200 fatalities and forced nearly a million people to evacuate their homes.

"Hack the Future demonstrates Tallinn's commitment to innovation and sustainability by bringing together international teams to find practical solutions for climate change and disaster prevention," stated Tallinn's Deputy Mayor Margot Roose.

Valencia City Council member Paula Llobet emphasized that such collaborative projects not only inspire solutions but also create jobs, investments, and new opportunities for the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Photos and video: Garage48
After-movie by Georg Andres Veskioja
Photos by  Sandra Süsi