HackXplore in Karlsruhe: 150 talented individuals develop innovations in 36 hours

At HackXplore 2026 in Karlsruhe, approximately 150 participants will spend 36 hours developing innovative solutions to real-world business challenges. The hackathon brings together students, startups, and companies, strengthening Karlsruhe’s position as a hub for innovation.

It’s 2:30 in the morning. In an attic, young developers, designers, and founders are hunched over their laptops. Some are still discussing the next feature, while others have curled up under the table for half an hour to catch a quick nap.

“I was walking through the rooms one night at half past two,” recalls Tanita Martsch, who is leading the HackXplore. “There was a team sitting there in the dark, working like crazy—and at the same time, they were lying under the table, taking a quick half-hour nap.”

Scenes like this are no exception at this event: Every year, the three-day hackathon brings students, graduates, and young professionals to Karlsruhe to work together on technological solutions to real-world challenges faced by companies. Last year, even several high school students took part.

HackXplore brings students, companies, and startups together

The event is organized by NXTGN in collaboration with the student organization MESH, which organizes interdisciplinary hackathons and connects students with one another. The goal: not just to discuss innovation, but to work together to develop solutions.

The next edition will take place June 26–28, 2026, in Karlsruhe. The event will be held at the SteamWork by GoodSpaces coworking space, which is specifically designed for collaborative work.

Over the weekend, about 150 participants will work in interdisciplinary teams on challenges proposed by corporate partners.

Within about 36 hours of intensive work, prototypes, software solutions, or business models are created—ideas that are pitched to a jury at the end of the hackathon.

Hackathons are deliberately designed as time-limited innovation formats: people with diverse skill sets work together under intense time pressure to develop solutions to specific problems.

But HackXplore is about more than just a weekend. The event also serves as a platform that builds bridges between universities, startups, and companies.

With participants from all over Germany and partners from the business, academic, and startup communities, HackXplore also strengthens Karlsruhe’s position as a hub for innovation. The event demonstrates how closely universities, companies, and young talent collaborate in the TechnologyRegion.

Interdisciplinary teams develop solutions in just 36 hours

Teams are usually formed at the start of the event. Those who already have a team can compete together, but many participants don’t get to know their teammates until they arrive on site.

“The more diverse the teams, the more creative the solutions end up being,” explains Martsch. Different perspectives often lead to innovative approaches more quickly, and that is exactly what this format aims to achieve.

During the hackathon, mentors from companies, startups, and the tech scene will be on hand to support teams with technical questions, product strategies, or pitches. Between the intensive working sessions, there will be workshops, networking opportunities, and group meals—catering is included.

How Hackathon Ideas Turn Into Real Projects

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of HackXplore actually happens after the event—namely, when the ideas that emerged there continue to live on beyond the event itself.

At the 2025 Hackathon, for example, a team impressed the judges with its solution to a challenge posed by Würth Elektronik. After the competition, the team was given the opportunity to present its idea again to an internal jury and was ultimately given the chance to further develop it and put it into practice over the course of several months.

This format also offers interesting opportunities for companies. As partners, they can propose their own challenges, showcase their brand, and connect directly with up-and-coming talent.

For companies, this means one thing above all else: fresh perspectives; for participants, it means a diverse exchange of ideas, inspiration, and networking—and perhaps the next innovative project they can work on.