24Ventures at Hackathon for Małopolska: Scouting for “Founder DNA” at the Source

Innovation isn’t born in boardrooms; it sparks where passion meets action.

In late November 2025, the 24Ventures team was at the very heart of the regional innovation ecosystem — the Hackathon for Małopolska 2025.

Our Managing Partner, Łukasz Wąsikiewicz, joined the jury to evaluate projects with the potential to reshape the region’s future. Participants tackled challenges across three critical verticals: green transformation, technology for local communities, and regional development.

The real “X-factor”? Mindset. For an early-stage VC, technology matters — but people are the true currency. Łukasz Wąsikiewicz shared one key observation from the weekend:

“I am incredibly impressed by these young people. In an era of easy digital entertainment and cheap dopamine, they made a different choice. Instead of spending their weekend passively scrolling or gaming, they chose the grind: intellectual effort, teamwork, and building real solutions. This is the exact ‘Founder DNA’ we look for — the drive to shift from being a user of technology to becoming a creator.”

At 24Ventures, we believe initiatives like this are the breeding ground for future tech leaders. Whether building Smart City solutions or tools that support ecology, this energy and grit are exactly what fuel the startups we want to back.

Congratulations to the organizers — the Małopolska Region and Startup Academy — and to all the teams who stepped up to the challenge.

We’re watching your trajectory closely. See you at your future funding rounds!