We thrive on creating impactful experiences that spark innovation and strengthen collaboration. Our recent collaboration with Elo, an internal hackathon aptly named “Elothon”, was a shining example of these values in action. The day brought together diverse talents, combined data with customer-centric solutions, and delivered meaningful results.
The Challenge: Data Meets Customer Solutions
Elo sought to tackle a challenge at the intersection of data and innovative customer solutions. With this focus, they aimed to create not only practical outcomes but also strengthen collaboration and cross-pollination between teams—an essential aspect of modern problem-solving and innovation.
The Coaches: Experts Supporting Innovation
To guide the teams before and during the hackathon, we brought in three seasoned coaches whose expertise levelled up the event:
Pasi Vuorio: An AI expert from Lastbot, who also served as a juror during the pitching sessions.
Phuoc Tran Minh (Fuki): From Goodin, offering deep insights into data-driven business development.
Aleksi Nuuja: From Reaktor, bringing a fresh perspective on innovation and execution.
Their mentorship ensured that teams stayed focused, pushed boundaries, and delivered high-value solutions. Many participants thought Splended succeeded in providing “a well-organized event and a skilled and enthusiastic team”.
The Event: From Brainstorming to Sauna
The hackathon was hosted at Splended’s office, an innovation center at Aalto-University, designed to create an energizing and collaborative atmosphere. Teams worked intensively throughout the day, brainstorming, building, and refining their ideas. After a successful day of pitching and presenting concrete solutions, we celebrated the day’s achievements with a dinner and sauna experience. This mix of hard work and relaxation strengthened the connections formed during the event.
Concrete Results, Real Value
What set Elothon apart was its ability to deliver concrete, actionable solutions. The participants didn’t just brainstorm—they created concrete implementation plans and detailed solution designs with real potential to add value to the customer. Teams impressed the jury with innovative pitches that demonstrated creativity and commercial viability.
Cross-Pollination and Connections
One of the primary goals of the Elothon was to encourage cross-pollination—bringing together individuals from different teams to collaborate and share their unique expertise. The hackathon managed to break silos and lay the foundation for future collaboration. One participant commented on the experience,
A pleasant day, nice to clear my head and network. Very different compared to the daily grind.
Many participants reflected on building meaningful connections citing having “conversations with coworkers you haven’t spoken to before”.
A Successful Partnership
Our collaboration with Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company exemplifies how innovation, when paired with the right environment and expert support, can lead to impactful results. We are proud to have played a role in making Elothon a success and are excited to see how the ideas generated during the hackathon shape their innovations forward.
