From Pitch to Prototype: Insider Insights from the Sustainista Hackathon Jury

The Sustainista Hackathon is more than just a weekend of coding and brainstorming, it is a launchpad for sustainable innovation. But what does it actually take to impress the experts and turn a 48-hour project into a real-world solution?

To find out, we sat down with Dudu Gencel from the Vienna Business Agency, who will be serving on this year's jury. As a specialist in supporting founders and startups, Dudu shares what she looks for in a winning pitch and how teams can navigate the challenges of data and growth.

Success at the hackathon depends less on technological complexity than on storytelling. Gencel emphasizes: "I look for a clear, simple story built around a real problem", combined with "the energy and credibility of a team that makes me believe they won't just pitch it; they'll actually make it happen."

Für Teams bedeutet das: Die drei Minuten Pitchzeit sollten nicht für technische Details verschwendet werden. Eine klare Problemdefinition, eine glaubwürdige Lösung und ein Team, das man sich in sechs Monaten noch vorstellen kann, das überzeugt Jury-Mitglieder.

Real-world datasets rarely meet ideal standards. Gencel advises teams to prioritize adaptability: "In real-world settings, data is almost never perfect, so I pay attention to how teams work with what's actually available. Often the ability to adapt to real-world circumstances matters more than an elegant algorithm built on unrealistic inputs."

Dieses Learning ist auch für Unternehmen relevant, die den Digitalen Produktpass oder ESG-Berichterstattung angehen: Pragmatismus schlägt Perfektionismus. Wer mit den vorhandenen Daten startet und schrittweise verbessert, ist erfolgreicher als wer auf den perfekten Datensatz wartet.

The Vienna Business Agency provides crucial support beyond the competition weekend. Gencel explains: "After a hackathon, the real work begins. We offer tailored support ranging from workshops for early-stage founders to hands-on guidance on topics such as financial planning and impact measurement."

Für Teams, die beim Hackathon weitermachen wollen: Die Vienna Business Agency bietet konkrete Unterstützung, von Gründerworkshops bis zu Finanzierungsberatung. Sustainista selbst begleitet Teams, die nachhaltigkeitsbezogene Lösungen in echte Produkte überführen wollen.