Battle Hack 2025
Participants will collaborate intensively to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges, fostering creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Partners
Prizes
Overall Battle Hack 2025 Champion
--- €1200 ---
Best Teams for Each Case Study
--- €600 per each team ---
Agenda
- Welcome speech by organizers.
- Overview of the hackathon theme, rules, and schedule.
- Random team formation (4 members per team).
- Presentation of the case studies.
- Teams brainstorm and outline their approach to the case study.
- Participants can take a break to enjoy a catered lunch.
- Teams conduct research, gather insights, and start building their solutions.
- Light snacks and beverages available.
- Teams start developing prototypes or initial models of their solutions.
- Mentors visit teams to review progress and provide feedback
- Buffet-style dinner provided.
- Teams focus on refining their prototypes or testing early models.
- Light breakfast and energizing beverages.
- Teams consolidate their progress and finalize their main solution framework.
- Light snacks and beverages available.
- Mentors visit teams to review progress and provide feedback.
- Teams refine their solutions based on mentor feedback and prepare for final presentations.
- A chance to relax and recharge before the final push.
- Teams finalize their solutions and create presentation materials (slides, demos, etc.).
- Each team presents their solution (3 minutes per team + 3 minutes Q&A).
- Judges evaluate the presentations based on criteria like Innovation and Creativity, Feasibility and Practicality, Relevance to the Case Study and Quality of Presentation.
- Announcement of winners and distribution of prizes.
- Closing speech by organizers and sponsors.
Mentors
Georgi Baev
Georgi Baev
Senior Assistant Professor at the Department of National and Regional Security, Faculty of Security and Defense, National Military University.
Researcher in the fields of national security and philosophy, specializing in satellite monitoring and the impact of technological innovations on society
Zdravko Dimitrov
Zdravko Dimitrov
Zdravko Dimitrov founded Sfera Technologies in 2019 with the idea of transforming the way we receive data from satellites. In 2017, he was one of the founders of the SAT-1 Initiative - a non-profit organization working to develop space technologies in our country, where he participated in the development of the first university observation satellite in our country, EFIR.
Zdravko graduated in Communications at the New Bulgarian University, Business Management at the International University of Monaco, and Automation, Information and Control Technology (AIUT) at the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy.
Radostin Radev
Radostin Radev
Radostin Radev has been a System Administrator at AQ Plastronic for about a year and a half. Since 2022 he has been actively involved in programming and in particular web development.
He has experience in the development of full-stack applications and the main technologies he works with are JavaScript, Node.js, React, MySQL, etc. For Radostin, the entire process of developing a product is extremely interesting, and the end user's satisfaction from a job well done is an extremely strong motivating factor.
Denis Antiev
Denis Antiev
Denis Antiev is a 29-year-old GIS specialist with 4 years of experience in the field of geographic information systems.
He has been working at ESRI Bulgaria for three years, where his main tasks include data processing and visualization.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Geography and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Cartography and GIS at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
In his free time, he enjoys watching movies and TV series, as well as traveling.
Georgi Penchev
Georgi Penchev
Georgi Penchev is a senior expert in the Computer Simulations Sector at the Center for Professional and Continuing Education at Vasil Levski National Military University.
He has been working in the field of computer simulations since 2006, with extensive experience in applying constructive, virtual, and live simulations for the training of both military and civilian personnel.
His areas of expertise also include command and control systems, as well as decision support systems.
Georgi has gained significant experience through his participation in multinational operations abroad and working in international staff environments.
Judges
Brig. Gen. Ivan Malamov
Brig. Gen. Ivan Malamov
In 1992, he graduated from the Technical School of Mechanical Engineering with a degree in "Mechanical Engineering Technology".
He graduated with a degree in "Operation and Repair of Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems" from the Higher Military School of Artillery and Air Defense in Shumen in 1997.
He also completed the master's programs "Organization and Management of the Logistic Support of Operational and Tactical Formations" and "Strategic Leadership of Defense and the Armed Forces" (top of the class) at the Military Academy.
Since 15.08.2019, he has been the Head of the Vasil Levski National Military University.
Levtera Kirilova
Levtera Kirilova
Executive Director and member of the Board of Directors of AQ Plastronic AD Veliko Tarnovo.
She has 25 years of experience in manufacturing companies from the electronic and electrotechnical industry in Bulgaria and Europe.
She has worked for large multinational companies, passing through various functions and hierarchical positions in the field of supply chain management, quality, production, development, and customer service.
She was responsible for the development and building of teams in production companies in Bulgaria, Switzerland and Italy.
Levtera is a chemical engineer from the Chemical-Technological and Metallurgical University of Sofia and the National Polytechnic Institute in Toulouse.
He has a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nantes.
He speaks Bulgarian, French, English and Italian languages fluently.
Her interests are focused on transformation and digitization of business processes, building highly efficient teams.
Levtera participates in various programs for mentoring and career development of young people in order to increase the prestige and interest in engineering professions.
Alexander Popov
Alexander Popov
Alexander Popov has more than 20 years of experience in Software Engineering. He has been leading engineering teams in the US, UK and Bulgaria in 3 Unicorn and Decacorn companies since 2012.
Alex led the engineering division of Uber in Bulgaria, overseeing charters related to financial document generation and the analytics products supporting Business Intelligence. He led teams in the UK and subsequently co-founded and headed the engineering site of Skyscanner in Sofia, following a similar role with Kayak in Boston.
Currently, Alex is dedicated to projects in the fields of physics, biology, and space. He serves as an angel investor, actively collaborating with startups, venture capital firms, and NGOs, and acts as an advisor to numerous startups.
Georgi Vladov
Georgi Vladov
Manager of key clients and projects in Esri Bulgaria, exclusive representative of Esri Inc. for Bulgaria, world leader in the field of GIS.
He has experience in managerial positions in telecommunications.
He is a consultant in the implementation of business information systems.
Neven Boyanov
Neven Boyanov
Neven Boyanov is an entrepreneur, educator, and maker who is passionate about sharing knowledge and enabling others to learn through innovation, creativity, and a strong commitment to community building.
Neven Boyanov founded the Tinusaur project, an innovative educational platform that provides STEM products as well as the necessary content and training for teachers.
Neven Boyanov holds a Master's degree in mathematics and computer science from Veliko Tarnovo University and specializes in Computational Linguistics at the University of Wolverhampton.
Participants
- Vasil Levski National Military University, Bulgaria
- Academy of the Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria
- N. Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Bulgaria
- Military University of Technology Warsaw, Poland
- Polish Air Force University, Dęblin, Poland
- „Nicolae Balcescu“ Land Forces Academy, Sibiu, Romania
- „Ferdinand I“ Military Technical Academy, Bucurest, Romania
- “Henri Coanda” Air Force Academy, Brasov, Romania
Organizer
Research and Innovation Institute
General Rules
- Eligibility:
- Only cadets from Bulgaria, Romania and Poland are eligible to participate.
- Participants must be officially registered for the hackathon on Day 1.
- Team Formation:
- Teams will be formed randomly at the start of the event, with 4 members per team.
- Once teams are assigned, no changes are allowed.
- Case Study Assignment:
- Each team will be assigned a case study on the first day.
- Teams are expected to work only on their designated case.
- Professional Behavior:
- Treat all participants, mentors, judges, and organizers with respect.
- Follow ethical practices; plagiarism or use of pre-existing solutions without attribution is prohibited.
- Collaboration:
- Work collaboratively within your team.
- Teams may seek guidance from mentors, but must develop their own solutions.
- Confidentiality:
- Do not share your team’s solutions with other teams during the hackathon.
- Workspace:
- Use the workspace provided for team collaboration.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization in the work areas.
- Equipment and Tools:
- Participants must bring their own laptops, chargers, and other necessary tools.
- Internet access will be provided.
- Mentorship:
- Mentors will be available during designated hours to provide guidance.
- Respect their time and ask specific, solution-focused questions.
- Submission Deadline:
- Teams must submit their final solutions to the organizers by 15:00 on Day 2.
- Late submissions will not be considered.
- Presentation Guidelines:
- Each team will have 3 minutes to present their solution, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session.
- Evaluation Criteria:
- Innovation and Creativity
- Feasibility and Practicality
- Relevance to the Case Study
- Quality of Presentation
- Prizes:
- The winning team will receive a prize, which will be announced during the opening ceremony.
- All participants will receive certificates of participation.
- Decision of Judges:
- The judges’ decisions are final and binding.
- Teams may request constructive feedback after the event.
- Breaks and Meals:
- Ensure you take regular breaks and utilize mealtimes to recharge.
- Stay hydrated and report any medical issues to the organizers immediately.
- Emergency Contact:
- Emergency contact details will be shared at the beginning of the event.