Frontier
Hackathon
A regional 40-hour hackathon for ambitious young builders under 26, in Belgrade, Serbia on November 7–8, 2026, competing for $10,000 in cash prizes.
About
Garaža is organizing a regional 40-hour Frontier Hackathon on November 7–8, 2026 in Belgrade for young builders under 26.
The hackathon follows an open concept format, where contestants work alongside mentors to develop startup ideas from scratch.
We guide teams to think in terms of frontier technology, conduct proper market research, and avoid tarpit ideas that look promising but lead nowhere.
One of the teams we believe has the strongest potential to build a startup will win a fully-funded, week-long trip to San Francisco. In partnership with European Startup Embassy, who will provide accommodation for the week, we'll cover the flights.
We believe it's essential to immerse young talent in the SF startup ecosystem, connecting them with the Serbian diaspora and other key stakeholders along the way.
Applications
Rewards
$10,000 in cash prizes, and one team goes to San Francisco with all expenses paid.
Partners
More partners coming soon.
Partners
Technology Providers
These partners are providing credits and API access to teams during the hackathon.
FAQ
What type of project can we build?
This is an open concept hackathon: you build a startup from scratch. There is no fixed challenge and no assigned topic. We want to see products that can become real businesses targeting global markets, built on frontier technology rather than on ideas that are already commoditized.
What do you mean by "go frontier, avoid tarpit"?
Frontier means building on what has only just become possible, where the technology is still ahead of the market. A tarpit idea is one that looks attractive and gets rebuilt every year, but that has a structural reason nobody has won it yet. Throughout the hackathon, mentors help teams pressure-test their idea, do proper market research, and pivot away from tarpits early rather than spending 40 hours on one.
What does the San Francisco trip include?
One team, the one we believe has the strongest potential to build a startup, wins a fully-funded week in San Francisco. Garaža covers the flights, and our partner European Startup Embassy provides accommodation for the week. The goal is to immerse you in the SF startup ecosystem and connect you with the Serbian diaspora and other key stakeholders along the way.
Who keeps the rights to intellectual property of the project?
You keep all of the rights to the intellectual property of the project.
Which countries are eligible for application?
We accept teams from the Balkan/SEE, which by our definition are: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece.
What if one team member is over 26 years old?
In that case, the team is not eligible for the hackathon. We require that all team members are under the age of 26 years. We will have leniency for edge cases where team members are turning or have just turned 26 years old.
Can I apply as an individual?
Unfortunately, no. The hackathon is intended for teams of 2–4 people. Our main goal is to inspire young teams to build something big and solve high-impact problems that can become a startup.
Can we participate remotely?
No, the hackathon is in-person only. We require that all team members are able to travel to Belgrade, Serbia.
Will we get equipment for the hackathon?
You will need to bring your own laptop and any other equipment you need for the hackathon. We will provide you with access to APIs and credits from our tech partners, as well as food and drinks for the duration of the hackathon.
How is the cash prize distributed?
The cash prize is distributed via non-equity grants to legal entities. The main objective is to help teams kickstart their projects. Projects do not necessarily need to be the ones that were developed during the hackathon. If a team does not have a legal entity, we can provide the rewards in the form of in-app credits for building your projects.
How can we contact you regarding the hackathon?
For any remaining questions, you can contact us via email at george@garaza.org.