From Competitors to Partners – Our 7-Year Journey with DragonHack

DragonHack is the longest-running and largest student hackathon, and it challenges over 150 students each year to compete in a 24-hour problem-solving marathon. Last year, the event celebrated its 10th anniversary, and we are proud to have been part of this incredible journey for the past seven years. Looking ahead, we hope our involvement continues for at least twice as long.

24 Hours to Build a Team

Our journey with DragonHack didn’t begin as company partners - we started on the other side, as competitors. For several years, our founding team participated in the hackathon, experiencing firsthand the adrenaline, creativity, and teamwork that define the event.

Each year, we participated in the 24-hour challenge, fueled by energy drinks, coffee and sugar, learning how to tackle projects, solve key problems, and create something presentable for the judging panel. What made it truly unique was how different it was from working on regular college assignments. In a classroom setting, you collaborate within structured guidelines, but at DragonHack, you're thrown into a real challenge with no predefined solutions. It’s an intense, fast-paced environment where you have to test yourself as a team, experience both highs and lows together, and adapt quickly. The atmosphere was electric - a non-stop cycle of brainstorming, problem-solving, and pushing through moments of stress and fatigue. It wasn’t just about completing tasks; it was about taking an idea, developing it under real-world constraints, and presenting it with confidence.

Through these intense hours, we connected as a team, strengthened our problem-solving skills, and built resilience - experiences that proved invaluable when we launched our own company. But above all, it was an absolute blast.

Continuing the Journey as Partners and Mentors

When we founded zerodays, it was a no-brainer to continue our involvement with DragonHack - this time as partners. However, partnership for us wasn’t just about brand visibility or the potential for finding new developers; it was, first and foremost, about mentorship. Having benefitted greatly from the guidance of industry professionals during our time as competitors, we wanted to pass that on to the next generation of hackers.

Every year, at least two members of our team stay with the participants throughout the night, offering advice, technical insights, and support. We see this as an investment not only in young, promising talent but in the broader tech community as well.

Beyond mentorship, DragonHack also brings value to our team and business. It offers long-term brand-building opportunities, the chance to meet potential business partners, and a platform to exchange ideas with other industry experts. In fact, one of the ideas we originally pitched as competitors even evolved into a business venture.

More Than Just an Event

At its core, our continued involvement with DragonHack isn’t just about giving back — it’s about staying connected, sharing knowledge, and, most importantly, having fun.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and lessons this event has given us. It has shaped us as individuals and as a company, and we firmly believe it’s an invaluable experience for any young team looking to test their skills, discover how they collaborate under pressure, and explore new possibilities.

Here’s to many more years of DragonHack and to the next generation of innovators, creators, and problem-solvers who will take on the challenge.