Hack the Gap | Product Hackathon | Paris Edition
🎯 Hack the Gap — Product Craft on Real Problems
Join us November 14-16 at École 42 in Paris for a hackathon where expert problems meet exceptional builders.
International NGOs (UNESCO, Institute for Human Rights and Business) have documented real challenges in areas like ethical migration and social conflicts in green energy. 70-100 builders from Europe's top schools (ENS, Sciences Po, 42, HEC) will transform these into products people actually use.
The twist: No impressive tech demos that die after the event. Teams must finish with 10+ engaged early adopters. If you can't prove adoption, you haven't solved anything.
This isn't about code. It's about creating solutions that matter.
Make sure you follow us on linkedin: hackthegap-event
🗓️ Event Details
📍 Location: École 42, Paris
📅 Dates: November 14-16, 2025
👥 Participants: 70-100 (teams of 3-5)
🧑💻 Format: In-person only
Food & drinks provided.
All participants must apply and be accepted individually.
42 students must register with the ticket 42student
⏱️ Schedule
Friday, November 14
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Check-in & coffee - Participants arrive at 42Paris, receive badges, guided to hackathon area
7:00pm - 8:00pm: Opening ceremony
Welcome speech
Introduction to hackathon rules
Introduction of projects and mentors
Agenda overview
Perks from sponsors
Submission procedure
Introduction to jury and criteria
8:00pm - 8:30pm: Team & project reveals
8:30pm - 9:30pm: Pizza night & networking
Saturday, November 15
9:00am - 9:30am: Check-in & coffee
9:30am - 12:30pm: Working session #1
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
2:00pm - 7:00pm: Working session #2 (mentor support available)
7:00pm - 8:30pm: Dinner & networking
8:30pm - 9:30am: Working session #3 (optional overnight)
Sunday, November 16
9:30am - 10:00am: Breakfast
10:00am - 12:30pm: Final working session
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm: Working session #4
6:00pm - 7:30pm: Team presentations (3 min pitch per team + Q&A)
7:30pm - 8:00pm: Closing remarks & next steps
🏆 Jury Day - November 19
Join us 3 days later for the final jury deliberation and awards ceremony!
📍 Location: École 42, Paris
6:45pm: Doors open
7:00pm: Jury arrival and deliberation
7:45pm: Results announcement and prizes
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Cocktail celebration
🏆 What You Get
For builders:
Work on problems that actually matter
Access to leading AI tools
Mentorship from experts in product, AI, and social impact
Direct connection with organizations that can deploy your solution
For top teams:
💰 Cash prizes
🤝 Partnership opportunities with NGOs
🎁 AI credits & partner perks
📢 Media coverage through our partners
🧠 Jury
Rob Rizk & Richard Rizk - Co-Founders (CEO & CTO) - BLACKBOX.AI
Alexis Deprez - Team Lead H Company
Nikolay Tchakarov - CTO & Co-Founder Asteria
Joffrey THOMAS - Developer Relations Engineer Mistral AI
Maxime Arnulf - Founder and CEO Pioneers
Capucine Marteau - Product Datadog
Sonakshi Nathak 🌸 Nathak - Director of Product Blue Yonder
Carmen Pedraza - Communications and Regional Coordinatior Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
🧠 Mentors [TBA]
Expert Mentors:
Institute for Human Rights and Business researchers
Product leaders from tech companies
Academic researchers from partner institutions
🤝 Our Partners
Challenge Partners:
Institute for Human Rights and Business
Academic Partners:
École Normale Supérieure (ENS)
HEC Paris
Sorbonne Université
École 42
Tech Partner:
Association Partners:
🎯 Who Should Apply
We're looking for product-minded builders who:
Care about solving real problems (not just building cool tech)
Can use AI tools to move fast
Are obsessed with user experience
Want to create impact, not just features
Not just developers - we need business, design, and research profiles too.
📋 Application
Spaces are limited. Apply now and let's prove that when expertise meets execution, real solutions emerge.
More info: hackthegap.xyz