Hackathons bring together people from different backgrounds, all eager to solve real-world challenges in a short amount of time, in this case 48h hours. It was fast-paced, chaotic, but also deeply inspiring.

The energy in the room was contagious; everyone was there to create something that could improve health of patients or the healthcare system.

My first hackathon taught me that progress in digital health doesn’t occurs in a linear way but rather like a rollercoaster, with many ups and downs. Only a resilient team is able to overcome all obstacles, as a cliché it is the saying teamwork makes the dream work is totally true!

This experience also enlighten on how to communicate clearly, manage time under pressure, and adapt quickly when something breaks five minutes before the final pitch (and it always does!).

If I had to describe these two days in only three words it would be:

• little sleep
• endless coffee
• constant buzz in the room

Participating in my first hackathon was both challenging and rewarding.

It showed me that digital health isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. It’s about building tools that empower patients, support healthcare professionals, and make health systems more equitable. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me grow professionally, and strengthened my passion for digital health innovation.

If you ever get the chance to join one — take it! You don’t need to be a coder — you just need curiosity, empathy, and the courage to build something new.

And it might just change how you see healthcare innovation!

All the photos in this publication were taken by Egert Kamenik from Piltilus.

The article was first published in TalTech blog.