Mentorship
Accelerating innovation beyond the hackathon
EUDIS Mentorship Programme
The EUDIS Mentorship Programme is a cornerstone of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon ecosystem, providing continued support to competing teams beyond the Hackathon event.
Unlike most European hackathons that end once winners are announced, the EUDIS Hackathon goes further by offering top-performing teams an exclusive, structured follow-up programme designed to turn promising concepts into real-world front-line applications.
What the Mentorship Programme Delivers to teams
A unique growth pathway for teams ready to advance
Selected teams gain access to a tailored mentorship journey with experts from the active warzone, technology, business, innovation and investment communities.
Through this programme, participants receive hands-on guidance in essential areas essential for product development, such as:
The mentoring builds further on the knowledge transfer experienced during the EUDIS Hackathon. Where teams received training, pitch support and sector insights, the Mentorship Programs will help them further refine the solutions after the event.
Tailored Business &
Product Go-to-Market
Accelerating transition from prototype to deployment-ready innovation
The EUDIS Mentorship Programme accelerates the transition from early product to deployment-ready innovation. It supports teams in strengthening their business model and value proposition:
Hackathon winning teams so far have used the Mentorship Programme to enhance their solutions and gain visibility at major European innovation events – displaying the impact of the EUDIS Hackathon long-term support system.
Continued benefits from the EUDIS Hackathon Ecosystem
A complete innovation pipeline — not just a one-off event
This Mentorship Programme is one of the features that truly sets the EUDIS Hackathon apart from other European hackathon initiatives. It is not a stand-alone event, but part of a complete innovation pipeline designed by DG DEFIS and implemented across Europe to:
01
Support the EU’s broader defence innovation agenda
02
Ensure solution development after the hackathon weekend
03
Create a space where innovators, industry and end-users can collaborate long-term
The EUDIS Hackathon is not just a competition—it is a fast track to reaching the customer, where the most promising teams gain the tools, skills and network to take the next step forward.
Teams & Professionals
Ready to Scale
Targeting advanced, professional-level participants
Participants may join the EUDIS Hackathon either individually or as already established teams. This year EUDIS Hackathon is looking for more mature products to join the initiative, beyond the usual student-oriented experience. Expecting a more advanced, professional level participant instead. The Mentorship Programme extends this solution-scaling focus by offering a specialised, expert-level support. Tailored to the needs of teams with serious ambitions to enter the defence market.
Advantages to other similar programs
Why innovators choose the EUDIS Mentorship Programme
Access to this exclusive Mentorship Programme is a key reason for innovators, startups, researchers and defence-tech entrepreneurs choose EUDIS. The opportunity to work directly with experts, refine concepts and move closer to market makes participation highly attractive for teams aiming to scale their technology or business.