VICENZA | OCTOBER 16th–17th 2026
The Hackathon
Science, technology and creativity to design practical tools to tackle gender-based violence.
TechWarriors is the hackathon that brings together expertise in STEM, design, communication and social innovation pto address one of the most urgent challenges of our time.
On 16–17 October 2026, multidisciplinary teams will work on real-world challenges, turning ideas into solutions that can help empower people and strengthen their self-determination.
36 hours non-stop to turn science and technology into practical tools to tackle gender-based violence.
WHAT IS A HACKATHON?
It’s a collaborative innovation lab
An intensive, inclusive event where diverse, interdisciplinary teams work together to develop ideas, prototypes and practical solutions to complex problems.
Rooted in programming, the hackathon format now brings together a much broader range of expertise: technology, design, communication, research, business, culture and social innovation.
Within a short, focused timeframe, participants share knowledge and perspectives, explore a challenge and develop a proposal that can be presented and tested. The value lies not only in the final outcome, but also in the exchange of ideas across different disciplines and the ability to turn a complex problem into a clear path towards a practical solution.
THE HACKATHON
TechWarriors is a collaborative competition dedicated to developing solutions to tackle gender-based violence.
During the event, participants with diverse skills and experience will work side by side, guided by mentors and experts, to analyse the challenges, develop an idea and turn it into a concrete proposal.
We’re not looking for theoretical exercises or technology for its own sake.
We’re looking for projects that are easy to understand, responsibly designed and feasible, with the potential to make a positive difference to people’s lives and communities.
THE HACKATHON
TechWarriors is a collaborative competition dedicated to developing solutions to tackle gender-based violence.
During the event, participants with diverse skills and experience will work side by side, guided by mentors and experts, to analyse the challenges, develop an idea and turn it into a concrete proposal.
We’re not looking for theoretical exercises or technology for its own sake.
We’re looking for projects that are easy to understand, responsibly designed and feasible, with the potential to make a positive difference to people’s lives and communities.
At TechWarriors, you don't just take part to experience 36 hours of challenge, connection and collaboration.
For the teams that stand out, prizes and opportunities are waiting to give even more value to the ideas developed during the Hackathon and, in some cases, help take them beyond the event.
A €2,000 travel voucher is among the prizes awarded to the winning teams.
An opportunity to share a new experience even beyond the 36 hours of TechWarriors.
A €1,000 Amazon gift card is among the awards up for grabs.
Technology, tools, equipment or new ideas to turn into something concrete.
Three months of the ElevenLabs Pro Plan for each member of the awarded team.
An opportunity to keep experimenting with voice and audio AI technologies even after the Hackathon.
The awarded team will receive a total of 300 points to use on the Open SMACT Open Innovation platform.
The points can be used to redeem a range of prizes and opportunities available in the platform's Rewards catalogue.
Exclusive access to a full day of learning within one of CUOA's Full-Time Master's programmes, offering a first-hand experience of high-level management education.
Members of the winning team will have the opportunity to attend a day of a Master's programme and engage with the knowledge and skills shaping the managers of tomorrow.
A voucher to experience first-hand the skills, craftsmanship and excellence of Vicenza's artisan tradition through VIART experiences.
Workshops, tours, tastings and opportunities to discover the people, workshops and skills that bring the local area to life.
The winning team will have the opportunity to pitch its project during the UNIDAS4EU International Meeting.
An opportunity to take the project beyond the Hackathon, present it in an international setting and give the idea developed during TechWarriors even greater visibility.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Diverse skills.
A common goal.
TechWarriors is designed for those who want to apply their knowledge, experience, and creativity to a concrete social challenge.
You do not need to possess every skill: the value of the hackathon comes from the meeting of different profiles.
WHY TAKING ACTION MATTERS
31,9%
The percentage of Italian women who have suffered physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime from age 16 onwards.
31,9%
The percentage of Italian women who have suffered physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime from age 16 onwards.
12,6%
Women who suffer or have suffered physical or sexual violence within an intimate relationship. Of these, 17.9% have also experienced psychological abuse and 6.6% economic abuse.
45,9%
Percentage of women in abusive relationships who left their partner due to the violence suffered. For another 26.5%, the violence was one of several reasons for the separation.
63,8%
The percentage of total rapes in Italy committed by current or former partners.
Data source: Preliminary findings from the 2025 Istat survey on violence against women.
Behind every percentage are real people, lived experiences, and restricted freedoms.
Countering gender-based violence does not only mean intervening after violence has already occurred. It means focusing on prevention, education, economic independence, access to services, and the ability to identify risk situations early on.
THE CHALLENGES
See what challenges await you
The big reveal is on 16 October: the full list of challenges will be unveiled as the hackathon kicks off.
See what challenges await you
The big reveal is on 16 October: the full list of challenges will be unveiled as the hackathon kicks off.
Allowed output types
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Digital prototypes and applications
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Data analysis and interpretation tools
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AI-powered solutions
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Services and organizational models
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Experiences, interfaces, and information access systems
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Design and communication projects
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Other tools aligned with the official challenges
Datasets, information and resources are available to help teams explore the challenges in greater depth, look at the problem from new perspectives and turn data and insights into concrete solutions.
TIMELINE
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Diverse skills.
A common goal.
TechWarriors is designed for those who want to apply their knowledge, experience, and creativity to a concrete social challenge.
You do not need to possess every skill: the value of the hackathon comes from the meeting of different profiles.
Regulations Note
Participation is free and open to anyone aged 16 and over.
You can apply individually or as a pre-formed team. Individual applicants will be assigned to a working group to ensure everyone participates as part of a multidisciplinary team.
WHY TAKING ACTION MATTERS
31,9%
The percentage of Italian women who have suffered physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime from age 16 onwards.
12,6%
Women who suffer or have suffered physical or sexual violence within an intimate relationship. Of these, 17.9% have also experienced psychological abuse and 6.6% economic abuse.
45,9%
Percentage of women in abusive relationships who left their partner due to the violence suffered. For another 26.5%, the violence was one of several reasons for the separation.
63,8%
The percentage of total rapes in Italy committed by current or former partners.
Data source: Preliminary findings from the 2025 Istat survey on violence against women.
Behind every percentage are real people, lived experiences, and restricted freedoms.
Countering gender-based violence does not only mean intervening after violence has already occurred. It means focusing on prevention, education, economic independence, access to services, and the ability to identify risk situations early on.
Read the full TechWarriors Hackathon 2026 rules: participation requirements, competition format and all the key information you need to take part in the 36-hour challenge.
The Hackathon in 4 steps
LISTEN
Understand the problem and the needs of the people involved.
DESIGN
Transform insights into a service, tool, or experience.
PROTOTYPE
Transform insights into a service, tool, or experience.
PRESENT
Pitch your project to a panel of experts and stakeholders.
ElevenLabs is an artificial intelligence
company specialising in audio and voice technologies
and will be one of the sponsors of the TechWarriors Hackathon.
During the 36-hour Hackathon, participants will be able
to experiment with ElevenLabs tools and use voice AI
to give their ideas new forms, languages and possibilities.
To experiment with ElevenLabs tools during the Hackathon.
To keep developing ideas even after the Hackathon.
A special award for the project that makes particularly original use of ElevenLabs technologies.
Please note: the “Creator Plan” benefit is available only to participants registered by 12 October, as this deadline is required to prepare access to the platform.
The personal coupon can be redeemed through the ElevenLabs Discord server using the same email address provided when registering for TechWarriors.
We are surrounded by an ocean of underlying dynamics and conditions that often go unnoticed, yet allow gender-based violence to proliferate in all its forms—a violence still all too often perceived as a private issue rather than a systemic social phenomenon. TechWarriors was created to harness technology as a lever for awareness and meaningful change.
INTERSECTIONALITY LOOKING AT THE ISSUE FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
Gender-based violence is not an isolated phenomenon.
To understand and address it effectively, we also need to look at the overlap between different social identities, their connections and interdependencies, and the forms of discrimination that may result from them.
Taking an intersectional approach means recognising that gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, culture, religion and other personal and social factors can intersect, creating different experiences of exclusion, vulnerability or access to opportunities.
How does this approach translate into practice?
Diverse voices
Promote the presence of women and men in conversations, panels and discussion groups, avoiding situations where a single point of view is treated as representative of everyone’s experience.
Engaging different communities
Involve anti-violence centres and local organisations that are attentive to multiple forms of discrimination, including those affecting LGBTQIA+ communities.
Accessibility for everyone
Take into account bias related to disability, affecting women and other people, and design solutions that are accessible to people with different needs.
Diaologues across cultures and faiths
Challenge prejudices and assumptions about different cultures and religious beliefs, avoiding stereotypical interpretations of how they view and represent women.
TECH FOR PEOPLEResponsible Innovation
When working on a sensitive issue like gender-based violence, a good idea is not enough.
Solutions need to take into account people’s safety, data protection, accessibility, inclusion, and the possible unintended consequences of technology.
Teams will be encouraged to think not only about what a solution can do, but also about how it should be used, who it is designed for, and under which conditions.
Everything you need to get there, get organised and make the most of your 36 hours at TechWarriors.
How do I get there and where can I park?
The Hackathon takes place at La Centrale, the former Centrale del Latte, at Via G. Medici 96/A, Vicenza.
If you're driving, we recommend parking at Park Cricoli, in Via Pforzheim.
It's around a 6-minute walk from La Centrale and is the most convenient option for leaving your car, as parking spaces around the venue are mostly subject to short time limits.
On Friday and Saturday, from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM, the CentroBus fare for the driver is €2.90 and includes parking plus a return shuttle ticket.
Overnight parking, from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM, costs €1.20.
I'm arriving by train: how do I get to La Centrale?
From Vicenza railway station, you can easily reach the venue by public transport.
From the bus stop directly opposite the station, take Bus Line 2 towards Via Lago di Fogliano / Polegge and get off on Via Medici, near number 87.
From the bus stop, it's just around 140 metres on foot to La Centrale.
We recommend checking the SVT Vicenza app before you travel for the latest timetable and service information.
Where can I buy a bus ticket?
You can buy SVT tickets from physical ticket outlets or directly from your smartphone using:
- SVT Vicenza app
- MooneyGo
Tickets purchased through the apps must be activated when you board by scanning the QR code displayed inside the bus with your smartphone.
When purchasing your ticket through the app, you'll also need to select the date of travel. The ticket will only be valid on the date selected.
Food and coffee: do I need to bring my own?
Throughout the Hackathon, we'll provide several food breaks to keep everyone fuelled and ready to go.
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Lunch Break
lunch -
Taste & Connect
an informal food break to recharge, chat and connect with the other participants
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Breakfast & Recharge
breakfast -
Lunch Break
lunch
If you need anything extra, there are also a few food spots very close to La Centrale.
Two of the closest are Birreria Asgard, at Via Castelfidardo 6, and Speedypizza Vicenza, at Via Castelfidardo 2, both around 150 metres from the venue.
Do I have to stay overnight?
No — you don't have to.
Hacking Time continues through the night for anyone who wants to keep working on their project and enjoy the full non-stop Hackathon experience.
If you need a break, you'll be able to use the relaxation area on the lower ground floor of La Centrale.
Planning to stay overnight? Feel free to bring a sleeping bag and anything else you need to rest comfortably.
Prefer to sleep at home or at your accommodation? No problem at all. You can leave the venue and come back later.
Brought to you by
Together, from concept to delivery
Supported by
SPONSOR
This project is made possible thanks to
An initiative made possible with the support of
PARTNER
The network behind the project
