📍London 🌀 Generalist World Hackathon

about this event

We are running our first-ever hackathon! We think generalists are made for the hardest problems. The ones that won't sit inside a single discipline, where the answer needs somebody who can hold four unrelated things at once and see how they join up. So we thought we'd test it!

On 12 September, around 60 generalists will spend one day tackling real-world challenges from the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the 17 goals every UN member state agreed needs solving by 2030. As of the UN's 2025 progress report, none of them are on track. At the Generalist World Hackathon, you'll work in a small team, pick one goal that matters to you and build something concrete that responds to it. On 16 September, International Generalist Day, we'll announce the winner and showcase every team's work to GW's global community.

Who this is for: working professionals, founders, freelancers and career-changers who think across domains and don't fit neatly into one box. No technical background or hackathon experience needed. We're interested in how generalists approach solving challenges. What counts is whether what you build is real, specific and useful. Spaces are limited, so we'll use your application to get to know a little about you and put together a group with a mix of generalist skills. There's no 'right' profile; if the event sounds like your kind of thing, please apply!

What you can build: there's no technical requirement and no required format. Some examples: a tool or prototype (digital or physical), a campaign, a service concept with a working blueprint, a content series or media concept, a new framework, method, or resource, or a workshop or experience format. The only requirements: it should exist by 5pm, be shareable and something a specific person could use. One note: the SDGs have political dimensions, but this hackathon is focused on practical interventions (things a small team can build), rather than political debate or commentary on active geopolitical conflicts.

What you'll be doing: Morning (9:30h - 13:00h): a light breakfast and a few activities to help you meet other participants and form a team of up to 3 people, pick your SDG, and scope a specific, doable problem within it. A framework is provided to get from 'goal the size of the planet' to 'something we can finish today.' After that, you'll start building. Lunch (13:00h - 14:00h): vegetarian lunch and a chance to recharge, plus an optional session on how to create a banging presentation. Afternoon (14:00h - 17:15h): time to keep building, producing something in whatever format works best for your idea. The organising team are available for quick check-ins if you feel stuck. End of day (17:15h - 20:00h): teams submit their builds. 3-minute live presentations are optional but encouraged. The organising team will announce the shortlist on the day and four days later, on International Generalist Day, the winners and full showcase go public online.

Our partner: the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS), a higher education institution that equips undergraduates, postgraduates and professionals with the skills to tackle complex challenges. Short courses for professionals include Cross-functional Leadership which swaps templates for interdisciplinary tools: systems thinking, collective decision making, working with experts outside your lane. Next cohort begins 7 October 2026 with early bird (10% off) ending 4 September.

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