HACK 2025

BECOME A HACKER

You want to think entrepreneurially, are ambitious, and ready to create real change? Then apply for Hinterland Hack 2025!
From 19 to 21 September 2025, 60 selected tech talents will come together at the Founders Foundation in Bielefeld to solve real industry challenges in less than 48 hours.

1 WEEKEND I 5 INDUSTRIAL CHALLENGES I 60 PARTICIPANTS I
10 SOLUTIONS I 1 WINNER

ABOUT HINTERLAND HACK

WHAT IS HINTERLAND HACK?

The Hinterland Hack is a 48-hour event hosted at the Founders Foundation, where REAL talent comes together to tackle real-world challenges provided by REAL companies. On Sunday, the teams pitch their REAL solutions in front of a jury. The winning team receives a cash prize of 5.000€ and two tickets to the Hinterland of Things Conference 2026.

CALLING ALL HACKERS - ARE YOU IN?

Ready to build what matters? Hinterland Hack 2025 brings together bold minds from across Germany – coders, designers, strategists, creatives – all driven by one goal: solving real industry challenges. This is your chance to collaborate with leading companies, create REAL impact, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Bring your skills, your ideas, your drive – and let’s build the future.

BE A CHALLENGER.
DRIVE REAL INNOVATION

Let REAL innovators solve your biggest challenges. As a Challenger at Hinterland Hack 2025, your company brings REAL-world problems – and gets bold, fresh solutions from top talents across Germany. Work directly with coders, strategists and creatives ready to shape the future with you. Join us and turn your challenge into your next competitive advantage.

CHALLENGES

TCO Insight – The scalable
tool for full cost transparency

Build an MVP that helps employees quickly and accurately determine the total cost of ownership. The real challenge: identifying all relevant data sources across the company and integrating them into one intuitive tool. It should be easy to use, deliver reliable results, and turn complexity into efficiency.

SALES BRAIN –
The AI boost for Schnellecke's quotation processes

Unlock the full potential of Schnellecke’s “Sales Brain” by integrating AI into the tender process. From optimizing proposals to harnessing historical data, this challenge is all about turning information into impact.

Intelligent response management – AI-supported responses to inquiries from business partners

Create a solution for automated analysis, categorization, and response to incoming questionnaires and inquiries from business partners for Boge.
The goal: replace time-consuming manual work with a smart system that delivers structured, reliable information – faster and more efficiently.

Visual quality control – Automatically detect
anomalies in product quality with AI

Thousands of images of flawless terminals, but only a few with actual defects. This is precisely what a smart AI model is to be trained on: a proof of concept for visual quality control that flexibly, quickly, and reliably detects anomalies in the production process.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

HACK LOVER

You've experienced the thrill, the hustle, the late-night coding sessions? Awesome. No matter your background – your skills and ideas are what make the difference here.

SCIENTIST

You’ve built your foundation in science and technology – now you’re looking to apply it where it matters. Innovation excites you, and you're eager to bring research into action.

INDUSTRY EXPERT

You’ve gained solid experience in your field. You’ve tackled real challenges, solved complex problems – and now you’re ready for the next step: building your own company.

TECH EXECUTER

You live and breathe technology. With hands-on tech skills and a glimpse into the startup world, you’re ready to take it further. You move fast, think practical, and make things happen.

BUSINESS EXECUTER

You bring hands-on experience in business, sales, or marketing? You’re driven by goals, focused on impact, and known for making things happen? You keep the team in mind while pushing forward?

PARTNER

BENEFITS

FOR HACKERS

Build your network & boost your career: Gain access to an exclusive network of company leaders, industry experts, and top talents from across Germany. This is your chance to open doors to exciting new career opportunities.
Create real impact: Work on real challenges provided by leading companies and develop solutions that have the potential to drive real-world change.
Gain hands-on experience: Level up your skills by working in a fast-paced, real-world environment. You'll get to explore cutting-edge technologies, grow your capabilities, and boost your profile for future employers.
Learn from the best: Receive expert feedback and mentoring from experienced professionals and company insiders. Take your ideas to the next level – and grow personally and professionally along the way.

AGENDA

FRIDAY

IDEATION DAY

14:00 ARRIVAL @ FOUNDERS HOME

14:30 WELCOME

16:30 START HACKING

18:00 DINNER TIME

19:00 HACKING & COACHING

21:00 NETWORKING

SATURDAY

HACK DAY

08:30 WAKE UP BREAKFAST

09:00 WELCOME

09:30 INPUT & Q&A

13:00 LUNCH BREAK

16:00 STATUS UPDATE

17:00 PITCH WORKSHOP

19:00 BBQ

22:00 NIGHT SESSION

SUNDAY

SOLUTION DAY

09:00 BRUNCH

12:00 DEADLINE: PITCH DECKS

12:30 START PITCHES

14:00 AWARD CEREMONY

14:30 NETWORKING

16:00 THE END

JURY

WIEBKE HÖRISCH

ROTHSCHILD & CO

STEFAN BETHLEHEM

KPMG

DORIS
ABELN

DR. OETKER

THIES HOFMANN

BRIDGEMAKER

SVEN GRABBE

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HINTERLAND OF THINGS

YOUR CONTACT

If you have more questions, contact Sven!

FAQS & INFORMATION

What is Hinterland HACK?

The Hinterland of Things Conference is a one-day event, where you connect with explicitly selected Series A/B startups, CEOs and innovation drivers. We bring Germany’s brightest innovators together to create a joint digital future with leading hidden champions. You can expect outstanding speakers and an exciting program! Meet startups on-site, experience founders & experts live on stage, listen to first-hand founder stories and much more.

Are there accommodation options?

Please note that we have limited sleeping accommodations available at the Founders Foundation. In addition, we have arranged a hotel contingent. For both options, please get in touch with Celine.

STAYERY
Herforder Str. 69
33602 Bielefeld
Kennword: FOUNDERS10

STAYINN BOARDINGHAUSEN
Herforder Str. 29
33602 Bielefeld
Kennword: Hinterland Hack

B&B HOTEL BIELEFELD CITY
Europapl. 2
33613 Bielefeld

How do I get to Hinterland Hack?

Travel to Hinterland Hack in a climate-friendly and relaxed way – with DB Event offers!
Travel not only comfortably, but also sustainably! The exclusive DB Event offers
allow you to travel to and from the event in an affordable and climate-friendly way on local and long-distance Deutsche Bahn trains – powered by 100% green electricity.

Your benefits:
• Available exclusively for Hack participants
• Favorable conditions for your arrival and departure – starting at an introductory price of €16.19
• Can be combined with a BahnCard discount

Book now!

When is the Hinterland HACK 2025?

The Hack will take place from 19. – 21. September 2025.

WHERE IS THE HINTERLAND HACK 2025 HELD?

The location is FOUNDERS FOUNDATION gGMBH. The address is Obernstraße 50, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany.