An unusual competition could create the shopping experience of the future

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 06. 25. 12:31

Registration is now open for Hungary’s first shopping mall hackathon. Westend will be hosting HackTheMall: the Westend experience between September 11 and 12, where teams will compete to transform the visitor experience by combining technology and creativity.

Participants will have just 24 hours to develop exciting digital solutions in teams of 3-5 people that can have a real impact on Westend’s operations – the goal is to take the customer experience to a new level. Topics include smart mall solutions, fintech and proptech ideas that revolutionize shopping, AR/VR experiences that rethink reality, and AI-based systems. The special thing about the competition is that the teams’ work can impact the everyday lives of up to 20 million visitors – and even groundbreaking solutions can be created that can set the direction for the entire Hungarian retail market. and make the everyday retail experience more exciting by using technological solutions.

The competition is not only open to programmers – in fact, it is a distinct advantage if the team is diverse: marketers, UX/UI designers, financial thinkers, strategists, business developers or content creators can also compete. Those with a business or commercial background, or who would like to try themselves in a real market environment as a career starter, university student or startup team, are also welcome. Individual applications are also possible, in which case the organizers will put together teams from the incoming applicants, or you can even enter in pre-formed teams.

During the 24-hour challenge, a moderator will help the teams with structured thinking, while an inspiring professional presentation will give impetus to their work. On the second day of the competition, a professional jury will select the most promising ideas based on the teams’ on-site presentations. HackTheMall’s professional partner is PropTech Hungary, which supports the teams with an industry perspective and professional mentoring during the competition.

The main prize is a Westend gift card worth 1,000,000 HUF per team, and the winning team will also receive other valuable prizes.

“HackTheMall is not just an event for us – it is a strategic milestone. By providing a shopping center with space for such diverse and impactful digital ideas, we are opening a new era in innovation: where the real business environment and creative technological thinking meet. This is where the retail experience of the future will be decided – and we believe that this must be created together, today,”

– said Patrik Pálvölgyi, head of the Innovation Center.