A hackathon is a collaborative event focused on developing innovative technological solutions to address specific challenges within a defined theme. Typically lasting 48 hours, hackathons encourage participation both individually and in teams, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Basic Format:

• Duration: 48 hours
• Teams: Participants can form teams of 3–5 members, with a total of 10–12 teams.
• Thematic Trainings: Sessions on key topics, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coding, and other relevant areas, to guide participants.
• Mentoring: Industry experts will be available on-site to mentor teams and provide guidance on specific challenges (3 mentors).

Team Evaluation Criteria:

• Innovation: Originality and creativity of the solution.
• Impact: Potential environmental or social impact and scalability of the solution.
• Feasibility: Practicality of implementation and ease of use.
• Presentation: Clarity and quality of the final presentation, as well as the delivery.

The Ideathon is a one-day intensive event designed to inspire participants to generate innovative ideas around a specific topic or challenge, develop these ideas, and propose creative solutions to real-world problems.

Priority Topics: Sustainability, Technology, Healthcare, Entrepreneurship, Financial Data Analysis

Up to 50 students are selected to participate in the competition based on a preliminary application process. Early-stage startup teams are also encouraged to join the event.

Program Agenda:

• Team Formation: Participants are grouped into teams
• Thematic Lecture: A field expert delivers an engaging lecture related to the priority topics.
• Subject/Technical Mentoring: Teams receive guidance from mentors specializing in relevant areas.
• Individual Team Training: Customized coaching sessions to refine ideas and strategies.
• Final Presentation: Teams present their solutions to a panel of judges.
• Awards and Networking: Winners are announced, and participants connect with peers and industry experts.

The Business Model Competition is a dynamic event that challenges participants to develop, test, and refine business models, focusing on innovation, feasibility, and sustainability. The competition emphasizes customer discovery, customer segmentation and the validation of business ideas rather than simply crafting a traditional business plan.

Who Can Participate:

• Students and aspiring entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas.
• Early-stage startups looking to refine their business models.

Key Features and agenda:

• Idea Development: Participants identify and explore potential business ideas.
• Customer Discovery: Emphasis on understanding customer needs through market research and direct engagement.
• Mentoring Sessions: Access to experienced mentors who provide guidance on business model design and validation.
• Pitching Skills Development and practice: Training in presenting business models effectively to investors and stakeholders.
• Final Presentations: Teams present their business models to a panel of judges for evaluation.
• Awards and Networking: Winners receive recognition, and participants have opportunities to network with mentors, peers, and industry experts.

SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals

In 2023, the SDG Innovation Acceleration Program was held for the first time in Georgia, with the Caucasus University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center serving as the exclusive partner of the UN Global Compact Network Georgia.

This program, aimed at young professionals working for companies that are members of the UN Global Compact, focuses on increasing the involvement of youth in managing sustainable innovations within their organizations. It emphasizes the planning and implementation of initiatives that hold both market and social value. The acceleration program is supported by the UN Global Compact and the Embassy of Sweden.

SDG acceleration Program for Young Professionals. Final Event of Second intake.

Visits of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Tech Parks Georgia

Within the framework of Caucasus University's Third Mission Project, Caucasus University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in collaboration with  Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency, is organizing workshops and activities across all regional tech- parks in Georgia. These initiatives aim to foster youth development and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The goal of these activities is to offer participants an opportunity to explore key entrepreneurial topics and, simultaneously, to reinforce their theoretical knowledge through active engagement in practical tasks.

Visiti at Tech Park Batumi.

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Pupils

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for pupils  is an engaging, hands-on program designed to equip high school students with essential entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. This program introduces participants to key concepts such as entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, and the development of startup ideas. Students will gain experience in idea validation, refinement, and problem-oriented product development.

The bootcamp spans five days of intensive mentorship and practical workshops, fostering teamwork and collaboration among students from grades IX to XII, representing various schools.

Program Highlights:

• Duration: 5 days.
• Teams: Groups of 3-5 students, forming 10-12 teams.
• Thematic Trainings:
  • Startup idea generation and validation.
  • Customer research and interaction.
  • Value proposition development.
  • Business model creation.
  • Market research and branding.
  • Fundraising and pitching techniques
• Mentorship: Participants will receive guidance from industry experts who will mentor teams on specific entrepreneurial challenges.
• Interactive Workshops: Each session will include practical exercises to help students apply and solidify the theoretical knowledge gained.
• Demo Day: The bootcamp concludes with a presentation day, where teams will showcase their refined ideas and prototypes.

This program provides an invaluable opportunity for young students to delve into entrepreneurship, enhancing their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills, while preparing them for real-world challenges in innovation and business.