As part of Girls in Digital Week and the Code4Europe initiative, Datorium in collaboration with the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA), hosted a national programming hackathon for girls titled “Hello, Future” on March 28 in Riga.
The event took place at Startup House and welcomed young girls from across Latvia, bringing together creativity, innovation, and a shared passion for technology. The hackathon aimed to inspire more girls to explore tech and programming by challenging them to design digital solutions for a better tomorrow.
The theme for this year’s hackathon, “Hello, Future: Tech Solutions for a Changing World”, encouraged teams to develop ideas that address real-world challenges in education, healthcare, and sustainability. A total of 11 teams qualified for the in-person final and presented their projects to a jury of leading industry experts.
The panel of judges included:
- Ļubova Vaivode – Women4Cyber Latvia
- Elīna Ozola-Tērauda – If P&C Insurance
- Alise Gurenko – Riga TechGirls
- Zane Segruma – Accenture
- Zane Biteniece – Riga City Council
- Vita Vītola-Lapiņa – LIKTA
Teams were recognized in the following categories:
- Best Technical Execution (Accenture): CertiLaunch – Kadrija Gerda Vītola, Kate Iesalniece, Sofija Poņemecka
- Most Eco-Friendly Solution (Riga City Council): GlitchGirls – Amina Almazirli, Evelīna Tarasēviča, Bekija Baļčūne
- Design Rising Star (If P&C Insurance): Clip & Save – Rūta Mellenberga, Emīlija Cēbere, Keita Kauliņa
- Most Practical Solution (Women4Cyber): Byte4Brain – Elza Vanaga, Heilija Kopmane, Patrīcija Kozlovska
- Most Inclusive Idea (Riga TechGirls): IT Enjoyers – Darja Sičugova, Darja Kirilova, Marija Markule
- Most Viable Business Idea (Women4Cyber): Teletubiji – Katrīna Gintere, Katrīna Stūre, Tīna Doroteja Skrastiņa
- Most Technically Precise (TestDevLab Special Award): Šmieguļi – Agnese Laurina, Lauma Puriņa, Anna Belova, Polina
- Powerhouse Tech Solution (LIKTA): Dev’s of Imo AI – Enija Koloda, Luize Katkovska, Viktorija Ravdivja, Zlata Daškeviča
Special recognition was also given to:
- 5Musketeers
- Simple Solutions – Study Buddy
- In My Head It Works
- Tech Odyssey
Latvia’s representative for the European finals will be Dev’s of Imo AI, with their impressive project “Imo” – a virtual AI friend for teens. The app offers a safe space to chat, play games, and unwind while supporting mental well-being. The team not only designed the concept but also developed a prototype and delivered a compelling presentation that impressed the jury.
Datorium and LIKTA extend their congratulations to all participants and gratitude to partners and supporters. Events like “Hello, Future” are vital for building the next generation of female leaders in tech.
Best of luck to Dev’s of Imo AI in the European finals — Latvia is cheering you on!
The hackathon was organized under the Code4Europe initiative, co-funded by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under the Digital Europe Programme, Project No. 101158834 — Code4Europe.
