The hackathon organized by MIRRI SR, titled Digital Fair Portal, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic, took place on January 31 and February 1 at 365.labb in Banská Bystrica. Focused on the digitalization of fair organization processes in the city of Revúca, the event attracted both new participants and teams well-known within the Hacknime.to community. The main goal was to simplify and streamline the management of fairs—covering vendor registrations, space reservations, payment processing, and permit issuance—while respecting local government procedures.
“I am very pleased that, thanks to MIRRI SR and my colleagues who came up with this idea, we can be part of such a project. I see many smiling faces here, and I believe you already have brilliant ideas that will help not just with organizing fairs in Revúca but in other Slovak cities as well,” expressed Július Buchta, mayor of Revúca.
“When we conducted market research, we found that the problem we’re addressing today affects not only people in Revúca but across Slovakia,” added Viktor Štefaňák from Campus Innovations.
The winner of the hackathon is the team named Plus
The team Plus took first place by developing a system that simplifies, accelerates, and optimizes administrative tasks for event organizers in Revúcá. Their solution includes a comprehensive set of tools for managing applications, reservations, and payment processing. The system also benefits vendors by offering an intuitive registration process, clear application management, and easy attendance verification through generated QR codes.
Their victory highlighted the importance of mentor consultations, team synergy, and effective internal management.
“The assignment was educational; we learned a lot about how fairs operate in different regions. The best part? We’re all classmates, so this victory stays within our faculty. School brought us together, the academic environment shaped us, and we even managed to earn some prize money,” shared team member Matúš Koleják.
Second place belongs to the team Incomodum
The Incomodum team secured second place with their solution called VirtuFest. This digital platform simplifies the management of fairs and cultural events for cities, vendors, and visitors. Event organizers can create events, manage zones via an interactive map, and automate vendor applications. Vendors can set up profiles, register for events, and pay rental fees online. Visitors benefit from an interactive map with filters based on stall ratings and offerings.
VirtuFest is scalable nationwide, with the option for each city to have its own subdomain. Thanks to AI integration, the platform also supports multiple language options, enhancing accessibility.
“The assignment suited us because it focused on design, which is our strong suit. We learned that sometimes less is more, and having a solid foundation to build on is key,” reflected Daniel Adam Czaja.
The third place was awarded to the team with the thematic name jarmOK
Securing third place, jarmOK based their system design on IDSK 3.0, ensuring consistency and clarity aligned with government web standards. They created a registration form for vendors that is user-friendly and accessible to regular visitors who want to explore fair stalls. Their intuitive design set them apart from competitors.Their solution includes an admin dashboard for easy adjustments and efficient communication within local government structures.
“Our team came together just before the hackathon started. I arrived alone, thinking we’d form teams on-site, but most people already had groups. Two guys approached me, asking if I wanted to join them. Since we didn’t know each other, the hardest part was organizing ourselves and identifying each other’s strengths. By the end of the first day, we found our rhythm, and everything clicked,” shared team member Adam Jankech.
Next Hacknime.to event coming soon
On February 28 and March 1, 2025, hackers will once again tackle a new challenge: developing a centralized online event management system for the city of Galanta.
Registration links and more details about the challenge are available on the Intelligent Event Guide hackathon website. Applications are open until February 26, or until capacity is reached. Participants can register as complete teams, but there’s also an option for individuals to join. Organizers will either form new teams from individual applicants or integrate them into existing ones.
