Hack the Future 2025 brought together participants from around the world, with exceptional representation from Estonia and Spain. The common goal was to design disruptive technological solutions focused on tackling climate change and managing natural disasters, solutions that are viable and scalable within the urban context of Valencia and have potential for application in other cities worldwide. With the opportunity to reshape a city, our 14 teams jumped into action to provide solutions that empower cities, protect the vulnerable, and build long-term resilience. Their efforts ranged from post-crisis community support and pet safety in emergencies to creating sustainable public spaces, providing rapid housing, and driving innovation in remote work.
“Hack the Future showcases Tallinn's commitment to innovation and sustainability by bringing together talented international teams to generate practical solutions to climate change and disaster preparedness. The winning projects will benefit Valencia and serve as models of urban resilience globally. Tallinn is proud to be part of this initiative, demonstrating that we can increase cities' resilience through collaboration.” - Margot Roose, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn.
The three winning projects stood out for their innovative and scalable approaches to climate resilience and urban sustainability. The winning projects, Sol Navitas, Remote Resilience Hub, and Narracity, will have the opportunity to implement their solutions in Valencia’s urban sandbox between June and October 2025, with the support of local institutions and the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This test period will enable the assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of the solutions in a real-world environment, with the possibility of scaling the applications globally.
“Participating in this hackathon has been an intense and energizing experience. It pushed us to transform a complex real-world challenge into a tangible prototype in just two days. The support from the mentors and team, collaboration, and quality of ideas across teams were inspiring, and the focus on meaningful impact really stood out. We leave more committed than ever to building solutions that make remote work more resilient and inclusive, starting in Valencia.”
But as we always say, everyone who participates in a hackathon is a winner! Let’s give a round of applause to the other 11 teams who devoted their time and energy to this hackathon:
Tailio
Tailio Maps offers cities a smart dashboard to display lost dogs, gather citizen reports, and track real-time dog-related data for enhanced communication and planning.
Omicron
An AI-powered emergency app that provides real-time, offline guidance to nearby shelters, water, and charging points. Users can personalize profiles, share community help spots, and governments can use the data to improve response efforts.
PENSAN
PENSAN produces fire-retardant insulation panels made from recycled cellulose, a safer, easier, and more sustainable alternative to traditional insulation.
OnTimeDing
A smart, affordable platform utilizes lightweight Beacon Tags to help locate lost pets without the need for GPS. Through a mobile app and mesh networks, owners and volunteers can locate pets and access profiles that feature images, behaviors, and medical information. The tags also collect vital signs and movement data, which AI analyzes to improve pet health and safety.
HempShape
Hempshape is a lightweight, low-tech, carbon-negative building block that can be used to create attractive public spaces engagingly.
Coolspots
An AI agent that transforms your passion into an exceptional visitor experience by assisting with the right prices, clear descriptions, language translation, and connecting with guests who are the perfect match for you.
Azalea UPV
Azalea is developing a modular multifamily housing unit specifically designed for deployment in areas affected by emergencies.
Spark Connect
Spark Connect is a platform for freelancers, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and curious minds to create and join local or global events, from SEO breakfasts to casual coworking days. With city-specific portals and cross-border connections, it fosters strong communities and meaningful collaboration.
Material Vivo
A circular materials network and marketplace that transforms debris into value. Our platform enables municipalities and businesses to report reusable materials from demolition sites or disaster areas, which are then processed by a decentralized network of partner material libraries. These hubs categorize, store, and resell the materials to local builders and designers, closing the loop on construction waste.
Community Compass
The Community Compass helps municipalities connect with residents through a familiar, everyday platform. It also enables peer-to-peer support and resource sharing, strengthening community resilience and encouraging a circular economy mindset.
FloodX
The HeatAlert Box is a low-cost, plug-and-play emergency alert system. It works with portable electricity. Doesn't require internet or phone signal.
Hack the Future hackathon sets a precedent as a laboratory of innovation in urban resilience, demonstrating that the challenges of climate change require creative and innovative responses arising from international cooperation.
Our heartfelt thanks to the mentors who joined us for the hackathon: Joao Rei, Kristofer Turmen, Chantel Rowe, Andreas Roosson, Jaanus Jagomägi, Pallas Mudist, Kaisa Hansen, Katharina Skolimowski, Marta Gironés Alcalá, Laura López García, Kalle Killar, and Mauro Xesteira.
This event was a team effort! Together, we brought a fantastic hackathon to life that sought solutions for a worthy cause. A huge applause to the team: Merit Vislapu, Mari Hanikat, Laura Gredzens, Guillermo Chávez García, Mariliis Kulamaa, Merit Pihlak, Jaanus Vahesalu, Kärt Kanne, Krloos Rivera, Lucía Calabria Tasa, Jose A. Fuentes, and to everyone who helped us to share the backstory of how this came to be and why we did this with the broader audience. We could not have done this without the help from our excellent partners: Sandra Süsi (photos), Georg Andres Veskioja (aftermovie), Raido Sooalu (LIVE), Mari Kitsing (Energia Avastuskeskus), Rene Kruze (print materials), Kadri Niinepuu (Maru Catering).