Innovating a Brighter Future for Immigrants in Finland at the Herizon x HIVE Hackathon

This October, Herizon and HIVE Helsinki joined forces to host a hackathon dedicated to innovating a more inclusive, empowering future for newcomers in Finland. With a shared vision to uplift underrepresented voices, Herizon and HIVE designed this event to unite diverse talents and ideas around solutions for the challenges immigrants face in building community and connection. Each team brought a unique approach to support newcomers in finding a sense of belonging in Finland—whether by addressing social isolation, fostering social connections, or building tools for integration.

As immigration increases in Finland, the journey for newcomers and first-generation immigrants can be complex, often including hurdles like language barriers, discrimination, and mental health struggles. Recognizing this, the hackathon’s theme focused on creating tools to improve the quality of life for these groups, making Finland a more supportive, welcoming place. Over one intensive weekend, participants demonstrated how much a passionate, diverse community can accomplish when united by a shared goal of inclusion.

Here’s a closer look at each team’s creative achievements, starting with the winning team, Helsinki GO.

Spotlight: Winning Team - Helsinki GO

Team Members: Pablo Markaide, Dorian Jagusch, David Horvath, Lucy Kolotilina, Linh Nguyen, and Nick Saveliev.

A playful, game-inspired app designed to connect people locally through in-person experiences.

Helsinki GO captured first place with an app that makes meeting new people feel fun, friendly, and approachable! Taking inspiration from Pokémon GO, the app encourages users to explore their neighborhoods and create real-life connections. By blending elements of gaming with social features, Helsinki GO tackles social isolation and helps newcomers form personal connections with the support of a “battle” feature where knowing your teammates boosts success.

The jury was especially impressed by the clarity of Helsinki GO’s vision and its practical potential as a real-world app. The team thought through how easily the app could scale, envisioning it as a tool that could be adapted to different cities and regions. They also showcased a creative twist by using “monsters”—fun, engaging characters that add an educational layer by guiding users through key services and organizations. This lighthearted feature has real potential to help newcomers navigate complex systems and connect with resources that might otherwise feel intimidating.

A Conversation with team Helsinki GO

Q: How did the idea for Helsinki GO come together?

David: “I originally pitched the idea to combine social interaction with gaming to help people connect. As a team, we worked on shaping it into something that could be genuinely useful for people new to Finland. Everyone brought their own ideas and experiences, which helped us make something we’re all really proud of.”

Q: What moments stood out during your hackathon journey?  

Lucy: “Our teamwork really shone. We kept each other motivated, even when the hours got long. Humor was a huge part of our team dynamic, and that positive energy carried us through challenges. We all felt a genuine sense of ownership over the project, which made every milestone more rewarding.”

Q: What did you learn from this experience?

Nick: “We learned a lot about prioritizing. With only a few days, we had to focus on what was most important and be ready to adapt. Connecting as a team outside of work also made things smoother and more enjoyable.”

Q: What’s next for Helsinki GO?

Dorian: “We’d love to keep developing the app. It has the potential to help not only newcomers but anyone looking to connect locally. We’re excited about possibly bringing it to other cities too!”

Celebrating Other Inspiring Teams

Team Community Finder: Building Spaces for Belonging

Members: Kadriia Temirbulatova, Edu Laine, Komal Azram, Lingyi Kong and Chi Lee.

A platform that connects immigrants with community events, including a “buddy” feature for shared attendance.

Team Community Finder focused on the all-too-common experience of isolation that newcomers face, especially when trying to find supportive communities. Their platform connects users with NGO-led events, creating a centralized space for community-driven gatherings. Through a “buddy” system, Community Finder also offers users the chance to attend events with a companion, lowering the barriers to participating and helping to make the experience less intimidating.

The team rooted their project in lived experiences, conducting surveys among HIVE members to validate the need for a centralized hub for community events. Their “buddy” feature stood out for its thoughtful approach, helping users feel more comfortable participating. This addition makes the process of social engagement easier, while also helping foster real connections in a welcoming environment.

Team Nomo Fomo: A Community-Driven Hub for Local Events

Members: Ville Savolainen, Aaro Hämäläinen, Eleonora Prits, Jingyi Tu and Yun-chia Hsu.

A swipe-based app where users can discover, vote on, and join local events, creating an experience that’s both accessible and inclusive.

Nomo Fomo was all about making it simple for newcomers to participate in local events. With a swipe-based design inspired by familiar social media apps, their app makes choosing events feel effortless and fun. The “vote” feature allows users to influence which events get organized, adding a community-driven element that empowers users to shape their own experience.

Their concept reflects a strong sense of inclusivity and empowerment, using familiar design features to keep users engaged. By giving users the power to vote on events, Nomo Fomo offers a unique approach to community-building, where participants shape the platform and experience themselves, making the app a space for shared enjoyment and discovery.

The Herizon x HIVE Hackathon is a powerful reminder of how much can be achieved when people come together with shared goals. Each team’s project represents a step toward a more inclusive, empowering future for immigrants in Finland. Beyond the presentations and apps, this hackathon highlighted the strength of a community that values diverse skills, experiences, and ideas to build real solutions.

To everyone involved—thank you for sharing your creativity, your ideas, and your commitment to positive change. We’re thrilled to see what kind of impact the participants go on to make as they step into their careers in tech.

Want to organize a hackathon or learn more about the projects and the people who built them? Reach out to viivi@herizon.io or contact team members directly on LinkedIn (all profiles are linked to team intros).