The First Edition

IMPACTHON 2024

7-9 NOVEMBER 2024 | GRAZ, AUSTRIA & ONLINE

Our Impacthon is a three-day event that brings together businesses and young professionals focused on creating innovative, sustainable solutions for businesses to address social, environmental and economic challenges.

Message of oC Team

Hülya Afat | Lilia Yang

IMPACTHON 2024

Impacthon ’24 is a heartfelt beginning for oC, a testament to our shared dream of shaping a sustainable future together through innovation and collaboration. We feel incredibly supported by everyone who came and played their part in making it happen.

“The oC team is overwhelmed with excitement and pride as we host the inaugural Impacthon, a truly historic moment for our organisation and the beginning of a bold journey to shape a better future. This event is a heartfelt embodiment of our unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability, bringing together passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds to address some of the most pressing environmental, social and economic challenges of our time. As our inaugural event, the Impacthon is not just a gathering – it is a statement of purpose, a declaration of our belief in the power of collaboration, and a celebration of the limitless potential of the next generation of leaders.

Together, we are not only laying the groundwork for impactful, real-world solutions, but also building a legacy of hope, resilience and transformative change that will ripple through businesses, communities and the planet for years to come.”

 

IMPACTHON 2024 SCHEDULE

Participants began by registering at IDea_Lab, followed by an opening ceremony and a workshop to build confidence in innovation. Teams engaged in brainstorming sessions and received mentoring to refine their initial ideas. The day concluded with team planning and an optional sustainable cocktail workshop to encourage creativity in a fun environment.

The day started at Science Park with an energizing breakfast, followed by a workshop on effective pitching and presentations. Teams focused on development sessions to create tangible solutions, shared their progress in peer pitch sessions and received valuable feedback. Networking activities in the evening provided opportunities for collaboration and inspiration.

During the morning development session at Unicorn, teams polished their final pitches before presenting their solutions to a jury. The event concluded with a closing ceremony featuring surprise and the announcement of the winners. The day was a culmination of intense collaboration, creativity and learning.

 

During those days, we were thrilled to provide our participants with food and drinks, and we were delighted to award the three winning teams with prizes, including Urban Future tickets, restaurant coupons, and FlixBus vouchers, thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors.

IMPACTHON

IN NUMBERS
Impacthon 2024 was a great success as we have completed our first official event with support from:

4

CHALLENGERS

15

SPONSORS

6

MENTORS

6

JURY MEMBERS

5

WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

18

STUDENT CONSULTANTS

7

OC VOLUNTEERS

4 CHALLENGERS

Our Challengers gave a great chance to our community and students consultants to develop their ideas on their sustainability challenges. We send our appreciation for their dedication on their sustainability journey and the connection we have created.

Vienna AirportCity

This challenge revolves around adapting the business hub at Vienna-Schwechat Airport to climate change by implementing sustainable practices. Solutions should integrate nature-based infrastructure, reduce urban heat islands, and ensure CO2 neutrality, while fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Peter De Leeuw

Urban Future

Just Streets (Romania): The challenge focuses on transforming public spaces in Cugir, Romania by addressing issues like car-centric infrastructure, mistrust toward public administration, stray dogs and neglected streets. Participants were tasked with developing a strategy to foster community trust, involve vulnerable road users, and create participative solutions for sustainable urban development.

Elizabeth Meze

Gemüsebau Janisch

Gemüsebau Janisch, a family-owned farm, challenges participants to optimize the sustainable production of crops like edamame and green beans. Participants were asked to address logistical concerns such as flexible work schedules, sustainable transportation, and marketing while maintaining low environmental impact.

Denise Janisch

Next Incubator

This innovation hub sought strategies to increase its visibility and expand partnerships for impactful sustainability projects. Participants needed to propose creative ways to enhance outreach, strengthen collaborations, and position the incubator as a leader in green business models.

Gernot Schröck

15 SPONSORS

We sincerely appreciate our sponsors for their support in making the first-ever Impacthon possible. Your contributions have been essential in creating a platform for innovation and collaboration. Together we are working towards practical solutions for sustainability and meaningful impact.

6 MENTORS

We are incredibly grateful to our mentors, whose guidance and expertise were invaluable throughout the Impacthon. By sharing their knowledge and providing constructive feedback, they have empowered participants to refine their ideas and develop impactful solutions. Their commitment was key to fostering innovation and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

Antonia Pohlmann

Senior Sustainability Consultant for the Public Sector

Elisabeth Obermann

Green New Deal & ESG-Reporting at ConPlusUltra GmbH

Ivo Etzelt

Sustainable Product Designer and 3D Artist

Frederik Maibaum

Co-Founder at hannovate & Researcher at Leibniz University Hannover

Linus Grob

Senior ESG Consultant at Drees & Sommer

Josephine Pratiwi

Sustainability Consultant at Quantis (a BCG Company)

6 JURY MEMBERS

 

We would like to thank the jury members for their thoughtful evaluation and dedication in selecting the Impacthon winners. Your expertise and insight were instrumental in recognising the most innovative and sustainable solutions. Thank you for your time and commitment and for helping to shape the future of impactful change.

Bernhard Weber

Managing Director at Unicorn Startup & Innovation Hub

Eva Lüftenegger

Consultant at Tomorrow Tribe

Elija Dentler

Business Development at Know Center

Katharina Handler

Circular Economy Professional at voestalpine

Daniel Fitz

Manager Environment & Climate at UN Global Compact Network Austria

Ines Šuh

Senior Innovation Consultant and Project Manager at Science Park

5 WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

We are very grateful to the workshop facilitators for sharing their expertise and providing invaluable knowledge throughout the Impacthon. Their sessions were essential in guiding participants to think critically, refine their ideas and enhance their innovation and sustainability skills. By creating a collaborative learning environment, you empowered teams to develop solutions with real-world impact. Thank you for your commitment to fostering growth, creativity and practical insights that will resonate beyond this event.

Isabella Keilani

Training & Coaching

Stella Viereck

ESADE Lecturer & Coach

Craig Matthews

Senior Innovation Consultant at Science Park Graz

David Dolleschall

Drinks Sprecialist & Bartender at Das Liebig

Thomas Brudermann

Researcher at University of Graz

7 VOLUNTEERS

A heartfelt thank you to the oC team and our dedicated volunteers for their tireless efforts in organising and running the Impacthon. Your dedication, passion and work behind the scenes ensured that everything ran smoothly and created a welcoming and productive environment for all participants. The energy, enthusiasm and support you brought to this event was truly inspiring and vital to its success. We are deeply grateful for your continued dedication and for being the backbone of this memorable event.

Martin Zebinger

Co-President

Lilia Yang

Co-President

Hülya Afat

Head of Finance

Shahroz Nasir

Volunteer

Sophia Ostler

Impacthon Partner

Michael Winter

Impacthon Partner

Katharina Stoisser

oikos Graz Partner

18 STUDENT CONSULTANTS

We would like to thank the student consultants for their dedication, hard work and creativity throughout the Impacthon. Your fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and problem-solving skills were crucial in developing impactful solutions to the challenges at hand. By actively participating in every step of the process, you demonstrated a true commitment to sustainability and collaboration. Your contributions not only made a difference during this event, but will have a lasting impact on the future of sustainable business practices.

One on-site and one online group worked collaboratively to develop a solution for Vienna AirportCity’s challenge, combining their diverse perspectives and expertise. Both groups focused on addressing climate change impacts and sustainability goals for the airport’s infrastructure, using different approaches to ensure the feasibility and effectiveness of their proposed solutions. Congratulations to the on-site team for winning first place – your innovative approach and commitment really set you apart! Your hard work and creativity have made a significant impact on shaping a sustainable future for the airport city.

TERMINAL 2

Sophie Franz

University of Graz

Zuzanna Sadowska

Vienna University of Economics and Business

Taylor Cox-Rancifer

University of Graz

HARVARD TEAM

Barika Edwards

Harvard Kennedy School

Nana Akua Aboagye-Adjei

Harvard Kennedy School

Shanequa Moore

Harvard Kennedy School

One on-site and one online group worked together on the Urban Future challenge, focusing on strategies to increase visibility and foster collaborations for sustainability projects. The teams developed impactful solutions to drive change within the sustainability community and ensure the long-term success of Urban Future’s goals. Congratulations to the on-site team for winning second place – your innovative ideas and commitment really set you apart! Your hard work and creativity has made a remarkable difference in shaping the future of sustainable collaboration.

S.H.I.E.L.D

Beatriz Galdona

University of Graz

Justin Philip Chan

Modul University Vienna

Shiva Ahmadi

University of Graz

SUSTAINABLE FOODIES

Weronika Smolińska

Warsaw School of Economics

Karolina Książak

Warsaw School of Economics

Jule Neumann

University of Graz

One on-site group worked diligently on the Gemüsebau Janisch challenge, focusing on optimizing sustainable agricultural practices and addressing logistical challenges for the farm. The team developed strategies to improve crop production while minimising environmental impact, ensuring the farm’s practices are in line with sustainability goals. Congratulations on winning third place, a well-deserved recognition of your innovative solutions and hard work!

HUMAN BEANS

Xianzhen Lin

University of Graz

Joaquin Cardenas

FH Joanneum

Danae Nyckees

University of Graz

One on-site group worked on the Next Incubator challenge, developing strategies to increase visibility and foster sustainability partnerships. Your innovative approach is highly commendable — congratulations on your impactful contribution!

CREATIVE SUSTAINERS

Carolin Lemke

oikos International

Charlotte Went

University of Graz

Mar López Barreiro

University of Graz

Missed it?

If you missed this year’s event, don’t worry! We’ll be holding the second edition next year. We understand that schedules can get busy, but we hope you’ll join us for the next edition. It will be another fantastic opportunity to connect, learn and enjoy everything the event has to offer. Follow us on social media for the latest news and details. We can’t wait to welcome you with open arms – or, for those who attended this year, to see you again!

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You have questions? Feel free to contact us anytime!