Human Connection at the Heart of a Tech Hackathon

Junction 2024: Back?Offline

Junction launched in 2015 with the ultimate goal of bringing like-minded people together to create innovative projects. Since then, the world has changed a lot, with AI transforming industries, remote work becoming the new norm, and digital interactions dominating our daily lives.

That’s why this year, we decided to go back to the basics, Back Offline. But what exactly does it mean in the context of a tech hackathon? Let’s dive in!

Why "Back Offline"?

As seasoned hackers may know, Junction was held in hybrid format in 2020 and 2021. It was great to make the main event happen despite Covid-19, but this experience clearly showed that online interactions cannot match the depth and spontaneity of face-to-face connections. Since then, Junction returned to the fully live format.

Yet, Junction 2024 is not just about being physically present together again; it’s about turning the spotlight on human connections and the creativity that they spark. After all, hackathons are all about collaboration, and nothing beats the energy of brainstorming together in the same room.

"Why take the energy, time and effort to pack your brick laptop and charger in the middle of November in Finland and go to a place for three days? Exactly, that makes no sense. It didn't make sense back in the days of LAN parties either, but we didn’t do it because it was rational; we did it because it is fun! It is fun to be all together doing something that just a few are passionate about, and we want to share that passion and have a fantastic time imagining, thinking, stressing and creating—the satisfaction of being together doing something irrational, something out of the normal." Carlos Daniel Perez Moreno , Creative Director @ Junction

At Junction, we believe that human connection drives technological innovation. We’ve seen firsthand how the best ideas often come from those impromptu, face-to-face moments where you can feel the excitement and build on each other’s enthusiasm. We know that technology can serve as a bridge to human connection, not a barrier.

By choosing “Back Offline” as the event theme, we wanted to remind everyone to keep the human element at the forefront of their projects. We want you to think about the real-world impact of your innovations and the people they will benefit.

Building a Supportive Community

One of our core goals is to create a warm and inclusive community. There’s something special about meeting face-to-face with like-minded people, forming lasting friendships, and finding mentors who can guide you long after the hackathon ends. "Back Offline" is about highlighting the importance of these human support systems for personal and professional growth in the tech world.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Junction 2024 and experience it together. Let’s meet at Kaapelitehdas in Helsinki on November 8-10, spark creativity, build meaningful relationships, and drive human-centric innovation.

See you offline!

Warm regards,

The Junction Team