We refer to UNLEASH Hacks Mental Health Europe as an idea lab or hackathon (also known as a hack day) which can be compared to a fast-paced workshop. The word hackathon is a combination of "hack" and "marathon". Originally it is a marathon for computer hackers and programmers that work together in teams to create functioning software or hardware by the end of the event. An idea lab or hack in the context of UNLEASH Hacks Mental Health Europe means running a fast-paced innovation process with a given timeframe to innovate both technical and non technical solutions, such as social innovations to solve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Any kind of ideas can evolve from the UNLEASH Hacks.

Everyone between 20 and 35 years old.

We accept applicants from all around the world.

No prior experience or special skills are needed.

Interior designers Legislators Social workers Wellness specialists Teachers Researchers Service designers Tech geeks Public policy experts Psychologists Neuroscientists Data scientists Non-formal educators Community enthusiasts Cultural workers Artists Architects Mindfulness coaches Cognitive scientists Environmentalists Engineers School staff VR/AG programmers Journalists

Don't you fit in? Submit your application anyway!

As a principle, we are looking for a diverse pool of participants that come from different countries in Europe, socio-economic backgrounds, and bring a variety of skills and expertise relevant to the UNLEASH Hacks.

UNLEASH believes everyone can bring something of value to solve the SDGs.

There is no cost for participation. Also, we will not ask for any donations from participants.

First step is to apply as a talent to participate in the idea lab. The organizers divide all talents that are accepted for the idea lab into teams. Each team consist of 3 to 6 team members of diverse background and expertise.

The idea lab takes place on 9th and 16th of April. Teams are expected to advance their ideas in between the two lab days by reaching out to relevant community members.

Each team receives a trained facilitator that guide them through the UNLEASH innovation process. Notice that talents will not attend the idea lab with an already existing idea, at UNLEASH we trust the innovation process and generate new ideas and solutions during the lab days. Experts from different industries will be available so the teams can get their questions answered and receive feedback on their solutions.

At the end of the idea lab, each team will deliver a 3-minute pitch for a jury. The most promising solutions are rewarded with the 6-month accelerator program UNLEASH Plus which is co-hosted by Chemonics International.

The winning teams are rewarded with the 6-month accelerator program UNLEASH Plus which is co-hosted by Chemonics International. Note that there is no financial price.

The accelerator support teams with an early prototype to become an impactful organization through mentorship, develop strategy, build a solid team, set a financial plan, and learn how to measure the impact. At the end of the program teams can pitch for investors and partners to accelerate their ventures for large-scale impact.

Everyone that participates in the idea lab is invited to become a member of the UNLEASH community which offer professional development, job opportunities around the world, and a huge professional network of more than 4000 talents.

Yes, participants can receive a certificate upon request.

Yes, you can sign up as a team.

Please note that you must be between 3 and 6 team members and each team member must be between 20 and 35 years of age.

Each team member must apply as a talent and submit one application each. In the application there is an optional field where you should mention your team's name. All of your team members must write the same team name so the organizing team can put you together as a team.

The idea lab is primarily focused on building up ideas and concepts from scratch - so you are invited to leave all existing ideas of your team behind if you already have one.

Yes you can. Please state in your application why you consider taking part in the idea lab even if you are not from the European continent.

Yes, participants should attend the full idea lab program. A minimum requirement is attending the two lab days. We also encourage participants to spend time between the lab days to work on their solutions but this is optional. If there is an urgent need to leave the idea lab for a limited time during the lab days, this can be managed in the most cases. You won’t need to miss coffee and cake when visiting grandparents!

Any generated idea belongs to the teams that worked on them. However, we believe in open source and follow a philosophy of “Sharing is Caring” and ideas will be in an early stage, so pitching them will allow others to build on them, or showing interest in collaborating with the team!

UNLEASH Hacks are a 2-day remote format that invites up to around 150 talents, while UNLEASH Innovation Lab is a more intense onsite program that gathers 1000 talents every year.

In line with this, generated insights and ideas in hacks are rougher. Also, the hacks are more focused on local problems in the countries or regions they are meant for.

You are very welcome to apply for UNLEASH Innovation Lab in India after taking part in one of our UNLEASH Hacks.

Note that you are welcome to apply for any event or program that UNLEASH offers.

Talents participating in the idea lab should commit themselves to spend two full Saturdays (~8 hrs each) plus some preparation and afterwork time (~2 hours).

We also encourage everyone to spend some time between the two lab days to work on their solutions and to reach out to their local community members to verify their ideas and insights for their solution concept.

Experts are available during the lab days and are also expected to attend the Expert Consultation on 14th of April.

The UNLEASH Hacks are fully remote.

If you sign up as a team, you are invited to meet in person but we will still use the digital whiteboards that we provide to work on.

Organizations are invited to send representatives to participate as talents, experts or jury. Please reach out to the organizers if you are interested in an official partnership.

The idea lab is primarily organized by two of the European UNLEASH Ambassadors, Robin Liendeborg and Kilian Karg, coming from Sweden and Germany.

The idea lab is initiated, organized, and executed by various stakeholders. The UNLEASH infrastructure is primarily financed by public-private partnerships, philanthropic donors, and a high amount of personal voluntary work.

Everyone interested in the idea lab must first submit an application as a talent.

The organizers evaluate all applications and select talents for the idea lab based on certain criteria. Selected talents are notified and then divided into a diversified team with talents of different background and skills.

Each team consist of minimum 3 and maximum 6 talents, ideally we aim for 5 talents per team.

The organisers do their best to build teams that are as diverse as possible because UNLEASH believes that diversity in skills and background are necessary to unleash the most impactful creative spirit in innovation.

Each team gets to present their solution with a 3-minute pitch for the jury. Organizing team will strictly cut you off exactly when 3 minutes have passed so all teams get to pitch for the jury on equal terms.

Judges primarily look at four different areas when they judge solutions.

Notice that social innovations and tech innovations are considered equivalent when the jury makes the decision.

Innovation 25%

• Is the framing of the problem highlighting a unique insight, and unaddressed tension or friction?
• Does the idea directly address this tension, in a way that has the potential to truly solve it?

Impact Potential 25%

• Does the idea have the potential to make significant impact on the SDGs?
• Is it clearly mapped to impact metrics, ensuring each element is purposeful in creating change?
• Is the solution scalable?

Feasibility 25%

• Is the solution technically feasible and implementable?
• Did the team consider a business model that ensures it can effectively solve the problem?

Team 25%

• Can the team convince others to care about this problem, and support their solution?
• Does the team have the necessary competences to execute their solution idea?