Matthias Strolz, Facilitator Hackathon and Andreas Treichl, former President European Forum Alpbach
FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC LITERACY HACKATHON
21-24th August 2025 at European Forum Alpbach in Tyrol
ABOUT EUROPEAN FORUM ALPBACH.
Ever since it was founded, the European Forum Alpbach has focused on building a strong, democratic and united Europe. At the European Forum Alpbach 2025, we want to recharge Europe: an energised Europe that preserves its foundational principles while embracing change to build a better future for all. True to the motto: proud of what it stands for and ready for what is to come.
We bring together the most innovative minds from politics, business, civil society, culture and science to find solutions for the most pressing issues in the areas of climate, democracy and rule of law, finance and economy, and security.
In 2024, around 4,300 participants from around 100 nations, including 500 young scholarship holders under 30, came to the picturesque Alpine village Alpbach.
Our mission with our Alpbach Hackathon
You have a project or initiative aiming to empower financial and economic literacy or entrepreneurship education?
We support you with sparring, coaching and networking.
During the Hackathon, organized by MEGA Bildungsstiftung and LGT from 21th to 24th August 2025 at the European Forum Alpbach we want to tackle the role of financial and economic literacy in shaping the future.
What's the plan?
The Hackathon concept is designed to foster hands-on collaboration, encouraging the further development of national and international projects in a participatory and interdisciplinary setting. Projects must present a specific growth challenge and will participate in intensive collaboration with national and international experts. They will leverage expertise in finance, economics, education, entrepreneurship, and scaling to develop innovative solutions and strategies.
The Hackathon promises not only intellectual stimulation but also rewards. Two outstanding projects will be awarded in the end a substantial prize of 5,000 Euros each.
What makes financial and economic literacy essential?
Good financial and economic education is still a privilege that is often reserved for affluent families with high incomes and social status. In the group of 14- to 27-year-olds, two-thirds of people in Austria feel financially insecure. Additionally, an increasing number of young people are struggling with debt, as figures from the Fonds Soziales Wien show.
QUESTIONS?
Barbara Freitag
Leitung Kommunikation & Marketing
MEGA Bildungsstiftung
barbara.freitag@megabildung.at
WHAT WE OFFER.
Funding for the two best ideas and access to the MEGA growth accelerator program.
As participant of the Hackathon you will receive a 4-day ticket to the European Forum Alpbach 2025 and accomodation between 21th and 24th August.
Engage in sparring and networking opportunities with a diverse array of professionals. Throughout the Hackathon, we'll assemble bright minds from various backgrounds to foster collaboration and exchange of ideas.
TIMELINE.
21th August 2025: Participants arrive during the afternoon. We gather for a welcome dinner.
24th August 2025, 9.00: Projects pitch on the main stage, where the audience votes for their favorite. The two winners receive 5,000 Euros each.
22th August 2025: The Hackathon begins in a workshop-style format after breakfast and continues until late afternoon.
24th August 2025: After the pitch
it´s time for check-out & departure.
23th August 2025: The Hackathon begins in a workshop-style format after breakfast. In the afternoon, participants have the opportunity to engage in the European Forum Alpbach program. In the late afternoon, participants are invited to attend the official opening of the “Europe in the World” Days.
21th August 2025: Participants arrive during the afternoon. We gather for a welcome dinner.
22th August 2025: The Hackathon begins in a workshop-style format after breakfast and continues until late afternoon.
23th August 2025: The Hackathon begins in a workshop-style format after breakfast. In the afternoon, participants have the opportunity to engage in the European Forum Alpbach program. In the late afternoon, participants are invited to attend the official opening of the “Europe in the World” Days.
24th August 2025, 9.00: Projects pitch on the main stage, where the audience votes for their favorite. The two winners receive 5,000 Euros each.
24th August: After the pitch it´s time for check-out & departure.
ABOUT MEGA EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
The MEGA Education Foundation supports innovative educational initiatives in the two areas of equal opportunities and economic competence, helping them grow with funding, expertise, and visibility. MEGA supports innovative educational projects in Austria with 1 Million Euros annually, brings them to the public eye and accompanies their further development in the MEGA Academy. The MEGA Education Foundation was launched by the B&C Private Foundation and Berndorf Private Foundation with an initial budget of 5.5 million Euros.
The MEGA Education Foundation supports innovative educational initiatives in the two areas of equal opportunities and economic competence, helping them grow with funding, expertise, and visibility. MEGA supports innovative educational projects in Austria with 1 Million Euros annually, brings them to the public eye and accompanies their further development in the MEGA Academy. The MEGA Education Foundation was launched by the B&C Private Foundation and Berndorf Private Foundation with an initial budget of 5.5 million Euros.
ABOUT LGT.
LGT was founded in 1921 in Liechtenstein, where we still have strong roots to this day. In the space of a century, we have become one of the world's leading international private banks for high net worth clients and families. We manage assets of more than CHF 367.5 billion. Our largest client, the Princely House of Liechtenstein, is also our owner. We do business according to the same principles that the Princely Family holds dear: respect, friendliness, entrepreneurial commitment, a long-term and holistic perspective, and the relentless pursuit of quality and improvement. The results speak for themselves: Moody's and Standard & Poor's rate our creditworthiness as first-class - thanks to our strong balance sheet, high liquidity, and solid capitalization.
LGT was founded in 1921 in Liechtenstein, where we still have strong roots to this day. In the space of a century, we have become one of the world's leading international private banks for high net worth clients and families. We manage assets of more than CHF 367.5 billion. Our largest client, the Princely House of Liechtenstein, is also our owner. We do business according to the same principles that the Princely Family holds dear: respect, friendliness, entrepreneurial commitment, a long-term and holistic perspective, and the relentless pursuit of quality and improvement. The results speak for themselves: Moody's and Standard & Poor's rate our creditworthiness as first-class - thanks to our strong balance sheet, high liquidity, and solid capitalization.
QUESTIONS?
Barbara Freitag
Leitung Kommunikation & Marketing
MEGA Bildungsstiftung