ABOUT START HACK
Our History
The Foundation
START Global was founded in St. Gallen. Our mission: bring together entrepreneurial students and empower them to create long-term value.
START Hack is Born
Twenty years later, we created a bridge between business, technology, and innovation. The first START Hack takes place.
Scale Up
Moved to a larger venue, enabling us to welcome the best hackers in Europe and scale our impact.
New Horizons
A milestone year with the launch of START Hack Tour and START Hack Campus, making the event accessible across Switzerland.
10th Anniversary
A landmark year in our history as we celebrate a decade of innovation, coding, and community.
EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TECH LEADERS
START Hack is Europe's largest entrepreneurial hackathon. We create an environment in which striving tech entrepreneurs can become the driving force behind the innovation of our generation.
We don't just bring business and technology together; we connect over 600 hackers from all backgrounds with partners and experts to enhance their knowledge and skills.
START HACK
START Hack is Europe’s most entrepreneurial hackathon, bringing together top tech students and business minds to solve complex problems. For 36 hours, we create an intense, creative environment that bridges the gap between business and tech. Participants, in team of two to four members, build prototypes, pitch real solutions, and connect with the ecosystem while exploring what’s possible. Over 600 hackers from around the world take part in this case-solving competition to innovate, have fun, and compete for a CHF 10,000 cash prize.
START Hack enables attendees to work with leading companies such as Google, Supercell, SIX, and many others. Multiple challenges are offered to best match participants’ interests and skills. Beyond diving into real-world problems, the event is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people, learn from mentors and experts, and explore potential job opportunities by engaging with founders and company representatives. For companies, it is a unique chance to access top tech talent capable of tackling unsolved challenges and offering innovative solutions.
By attending START Hack, participants also gain the opportunity to join START Summit, Europe’s largest student-run startup conference, and broaden their horizons across different fields.
START HACK TOUR
START Hack Tour is a new format created in 2025, aiming to bring START Hack to different cities and make the event accessible to people from all corners of Switzerland. By traveling to multiple locations, the Tour aims to foster a broader community of innovators, thinkers, and tech enthusiasts, giving them the chance to experience the energy and creativity of START Hack firsthand.
The first edition, held in St. Gallen as part of the Swiss AI Weeks, was a great success, attracting a hundred hackers from diverse backgrounds. This 36-hours smaller-scale format allowed participants to connect more meaningfully with one another, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships, creating a collaborative environment that larger events sometimes struggle to achieve.
During the event, three AI-focused cases were proposed to the hackers, each designed to challenge them to integrate artificial intelligence into innovative financial or technological solutions. Participants were encouraged not only to develop practical applications but also to work in teams of two to four people and think creatively to push the boundaries of current technology.
Ready to Join START Hack 2026?
Stay Updated
Get the latest news about START Hack 2026 and be the first to know when applications open.
Apply as a Hacker
Ready to tackle real-world challenges? Apply now to join 600+ hackers at START Hack 2026.
