• Albania
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Serbia
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

🟡 Note: The She’s Next Hackathon 2025 is tailored for our growing community of women entrepreneurs across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia—represented by the 17 countries listed above. This regional focus and nationality requirement helps us provide targeted support and relevant opportunities.

Timeline

• Registration open until: August 29, 2025 (midnight CEST)
• Educational Webinars: September 3–12, 2025
• Final participant confirmation and team matching: September 16, 2025
• Hackathon kick-off: September 18, 2025
• Mentorship sessions: September 18 – October 1, 2025
• Project submission deadline: October 1 at 18:00 CEST, 2025
• Grand Finale Event (with Live Pitch & Awards Ceremony): October 3, 2025

Platforms and tools

All hackathon activities will take place online. Key platforms include:

• She’s Next platform: main communication, team channels, updates
• Zoom(embedded on She’s Next platform): webinars, mentorship sessions, pitch day
• Microsoft SharePoint: submission templates and resources

Participation and eligibility

This hackathon welcomes:

• Women aged 18+ who are nationals of one of the following 17 countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
• Individuals or teams (you may join solo or as a team of max 5 members; you may form or join a team before the application submission deadline)
• Participants from all backgrounds and stages of business
• Women-led teams (men can participate but must be in supportive/minority roles)

Note: The She’s Next Hackathon 2025 is tailored for our growing community of women entrepreneurs across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia—represented by the 17 countries listed above. This regional focus and nationality requirement helps us provide targeted support and relevant opportunities.

From applicant to participant

Registration on the She’s Next platform is the first step in the hackathon journey.

• All applicants who sign up to the platform will be granted access to four live educational webinars. These sessions are designed to help applicants strengthen their ideas, refine their pitch, and prepare for the hackathon process.
• Attendance at three out of four webinars is mandatory for those wishing to become formal participants in the hackathon.
• Important: Applicants who do not attend will not be considered for final participation.

After the webinars, the organising team will assess applicants based on:

• Participant criteria
• Reputational check
• Active participation in 3 out 4 educational webinars
• Quality of submitted application (motivation, relevance, clarity)
• Fit with the hackathon’s goals and values

Applicants who meet these criteria will receive a formal acceptance email, confirming their status as hackathon participants. Only these confirmed participants (teams) will be eligible to access mentorship and pitch in the final judging round.

Educational webinars

All applicants will take part in four live educational webinars, designed to help them strengthen the concept, refine the pitch, and boost their overall confidence as a founder.

Attendance at three out of four webinars is mandatory for all participants (individuals and teams). The webinars will be delivered live and recorded; however, live attendance is required to participate in the hackathon unless a valid reason is communicated and approved by organisers in advance.

Team formation and mentorship

• Team formation: finalised before the kickoff day
• Mentorship model: hybrid — some matches arranged and/or suggested, others chosen by participants
• Mentorship access: each team is guaranteed 3 (three) mentor sessions
• Mentors: experienced founders, advisors, and innovation experts

Submission requirements

Each team must submit:

• A pitch deck (max 10 slides, PDF format)
• A live pitch (3 minutes), followed by Q&A with judges
• An optional short video (1 min) for visibility on the She’s Next platform
• Project submission deadline: October 1 at 18:00 CEST, 2025

Pitch delivery: all finalists will pitch live to the jury.

Streaming: pitches will be streamed on the She’s Next platform.

Q&A: judges will ask live questions after each pitch.

Optional resources

Teams will be provided with:

• A pitch deck template
• Challenge guidelines
• Links to recommended tools (e.g. business model canvas, lean startup templates)

These are optional but encouraged to help structure your submission.

Judging process

Judges: VC fund managers, successful female entrepreneurs, and ecosystem experts

Pitch order: random draw, scheduled by the organisers

Criteria (equal weighting):

• Clarity of problem and opportunity
• Originality and creativity
• Feasibility and readiness
• Potential for economic or social impact

All judging decisions are final. In the rare case of disputes, participants may contact the organisers, who will review the issue and provide a final response.

Awards and recognition

• Best Idea – $10,000
• Most Innovative Idea – $5,000
• Best Social Impact – $5,000

Cash awards will be disbursed exclusively to legal entities. If the winning individual or team is not yet registered as a legal entity at the time of announcement, a reasonable timeframe will be provided after the hackathon to complete the registration process.

Additional recognition for winners:

• Post-hackathon three-month mentorship with industry leaders
• Extended visibility across the Visa She’s Next and Reinvantage platforms (with a total of 9 content features, with equal representation for each team over the course of 12 months, presented in various formats such as for example interviews)
• Visibility at future She’s Next events
• Participation certificates for all eligible entrants
• Features on social media and blog content (ongoing visibility through Reinvantage social media posts, features within the She’s Next community platform, and inclusion in the She’s Next newsletter)
• Mentions in an official press release distributed across media outlets throughout the CISSEE region

Note: The organisers reserve the right to modify the award structure or allocation if necessary. Any changes will be communicated clearly to all participants.

Intellectual property

All ideas developed during the hackathon remain the property of the individuals or teams who created them. However, by participating, participants grant the organisers the right to showcase the teams’ work for promotional and educational purposes (e.g. in videos, blogs, or reports).

Code of conduct

This is a safe and inclusive space for women innovators. We follow global best practices on inclusivity and safety.

Disqualification grounds include:

• Harassment, discrimination, or misconduct
• Plagiarism or use of undisclosed AI-generated content
• Failure to pitch live without prior approval
• Late or incomplete submissions

Let’s create a culture of support, learning, and bold reinvention.

After the hackathon

Winning teams will receive continued visibility and promotional support through Visa She’s Next platform, and Reinvantage channels. Further mentorship or acceleration opportunities may be offered post-event, based on team potential.

1. General principles

• Respect and professionalism

  All participants and mentors are expected to interact with mutual respect and professionalism at all times.

• Constructive collaboration

  Mentorship is offered to support participants’ learning and project development during the hackathon. Feedback should be constructive and helpful.

• Inclusivity

  This is a safe space for all participants regardless of gender, race, background, or business stage. Discrimination or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.

2. Boundaries of Mentorship

• Non-commercial interaction

  Mentorship during the hackathon is non-commercial in nature.

  Mentors and participants are not allowed to enter into any financial agreements, offers of paid services, or business contracts during the hackathon period.

• No solicitation

  Mentors may not pitch or promote their paid services to participants. Similarly, participants should not solicit mentors for funding, business services, or commercial deals.

• Confidentiality

  Any sensitive information shared during the mentorship sessions must be treated as confidential and not shared outside the hackathon setting without explicit consent.

3. Expectations from mentors

• Provide guidance within the scope of the hackathon.

• Respect participants’ ideas, regardless of their level of development.

• Avoid leading conversations toward personal or commercial interests.

4. Expectations from participants

• Come prepared with clear questions or areas where they seek input.

• Respect mentors’ time and boundaries.

• Avoid requests for personal favours, funding, or partnerships.

5. Reporting Concerns

If a participant or mentor feels that this Code of Conduct has been violated, they are encouraged to report it confidentially to the organising team at shesnext@emergingeurope.org.

6. Consequences of breach

Any violation of this Code of Conduct, especially in relation to financial agreements or inappropriate conduct, may lead to disqualification from the hackathon or removal from the mentorship programme.

Five Scoring Categories

1. Problem clarity and market relevance (max 15 points) – How well does the team define the problem and show market understanding?

• Problem definition: Is the problem clearly defined, specific, and compelling?
• Target audience: Does the team understand who is affected and why?
• Market context: Has the team demonstrated awareness of the broader market or ecosystem trends?

2. Innovation and differentiation (max 15 points) – How original, bold, and strategically sound is the solution?

• Creativity: Does the solution approach the problem in a novel or bold way?
• Uniqueness: Is the concept differentiated from existing solutions?
• Strategic fit: Is the idea aligned with the hackathon theme?

3. Feasibility and Business Readiness (max 15 points) – How realistic and actionable is the solution?

• Viability: Can the solution be implemented with reasonable resources?
• Business model: Is there a clear understanding of how the concept could be monetised or sustained?
• Next steps: Does the team show awareness of what needs to happen next (e.g. MVP, partnerships, funding)?

4. Potential for Social Impact (max 15 points) – What is the scope of positive change this idea could bring?

• Potential for social impact: What is the scope and depth of positive change this idea could bring, especially for disadvantaged or underserved communities?
• Social value: Does the concept create meaningful value for its users, particularly women or vulnerable groups?
• Scalability: Can this idea grow, replicate, or expand across geographies, sectors, or communities with similar needs?
• Alignment with She’s Next goals: Does the project contribute to female empowerment, inclusive entrepreneurship, or business resilience?

5. Pitch Quality (max 10 points) – How effectively was the idea communicated?

• Clarity and structure: Was the pitch clear, well-paced, and logically organised?
• Confidence and engagement: Did the team show conviction, preparedness, and presence?

Total: max 70 points

Awards mapping

• Best idea: Highest total score across all five categories (judges may also consider cohesion, story, and overall merit)
• Most innovative idea: Highest score in Category 2: Innovation and differentiation
• Best social impact: Highest score in Category 4: Potential for social impact

Full legal name (as stated on their official ID)

Nationality

LinkedIn profile or professional website

Email address

Phone number

Self-declaration confirming they:

• Are not under criminal investigation, and
• Are not subject to any international sanctions
  (to be submitted as a simple Yes/No statement)