Xathon Berlin Review
Together with HenkelX Ventures, Facebook and SAP.io, we co-hosted Europe's biggest rapid ideation hackathon - the Xathon.
With our project Grace, we were responsible for the concept and execution of the three day hackathon. From the Xathon concept creation, over the development of an Xathon toolbox, to Europe's biggest ideation sessions and pitch competition - Susanne Scheerer, Tech and Learning Expert at Grace, curated Europe's biggest hackathon.
Thus, in mid-November, 150 female talents from Argentina, New York, India, Israel, UK, Switzerland, France and Germany, followed our invitation to Berlin, for Europe's biggest idea hackathon the Xathon. During the 3-day Xathon, all participants developed their business ideas in the fields of AI, Social Impact, FemTech, EdTech, Sustainability and E-Commerce, further. In addition, Henkel's internal participants worked on new ideas in an internal stream.
We started off with an inspirational journey with 8 speakers, inspirational insights and a fireside chat focused on ‘social impact, sustainability and gender diversity’
The second day was opened by ignore gravity's team Jan Bathel and Susanne Scheerer, with an intro to Grace and the rapid ideation concept. Going through several design sprints, all female talents were supported by 11 coaches and 22 mentors that offered 1:1 mentoring sessions. On day three, the focus was on pitch & storytelling with an input by Steffen Kellner, Managing partner ignore gravity. The highlight on Xathon's last day was Europe's largest pitch session with 73 pitches, in 7 verticals, within 2 hours. At the end, 11 winner*teams pitched their idea to the audience and the jury: Brigitte Zypries, Jan Bathel, Marius Swart, Florian Heinemann, Gesa Geissel und Sonja Kohn. Prizes included a 3 day bootcamp with Grace and a one-week Innovation Boat Camp at the Innovation Hub H-Farm.
"Mutual support, solidarity and shared innovation have been outstanding, many socially relevant issues have been discussed, creatively negotiated and resolved, and if the world of tomorrow looks like that, I want to be a part of it. We will hear a lot from these women." says Susanne Scheerer, Tech & Learning Expert, Grace Female Accelerator
Thanks to all partners, mentors, jury members, coaches and co-hosts HenkelX Ventures, Facebook, SAP.iO. Last but not least, thank you to all participants. We are very proud of your innovative ideas, your commitment and the courage to found. We can not wait to see how you revolutionize the startup ecosystem!
Fotos: Carolin Weinkopf
