VisagioX Hackathon Wrap-Up: One of the Biggest Hackathons Perth Has Ever Seen

100+ participants. 29+ teams. 48 hours. 6 teams now in a pre-accelerator. And this is just the beginning.

When the VisagioX team and Venture UWA first started planning this hackathon, the expectation was modest.

"I think it would be good if we got 30-40 people to show up."

What actually happened exceeded every expectation. Over 100 builders packed into the room for what turned out to be one of the biggest hackathons Perth has ever seen.

What Happened

On April 11–12, Visagio and Venture UWA brought together students, developers, designers, and problem-solvers for a 48-hour hackathon tackling real industry challenges.

The problem statements came directly from organisations working in defence, healthcare, professional services, and other key industries. Teams of 1–4 selected a challenge, built a working solution over the weekend, and pitched to a panel of judges.

The energy in the room was unlike anything we've seen before. Teams worked through the night, mentors circulated offering guidance, and by Sunday afternoon, the pitches were sharp, the solutions were real, and the potential was clear.

The Results

This wasn't just a weekend event. The impact is continuing.

6 teams from the hackathon have now been selected to join Visagio's 5-week pre-accelerator program to further develop and validate their solutions. These teams aren't just building prototypes — they're building businesses.

That's the power of hackathons done right. They're not one-off events. They're launchpads.

What Participants Said

Students walked away with more than a pitch. They walked away with clarity.

"One lesson learnt: A solution is only as good as the idea. Although developing the minimum viable product was crucial, it's undeniably more important to come up with a solution that not only tackles the problem statement, but also answers: Who are our stakeholders? How is it practical? How is it innovative? How does it gain traction?"

"Every hour, minute, and second mattered. It was definitely worth the learning experience and I couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity."

This is what hands-on learning looks like — not theory, but real problem-solving under pressure, with real stakes.

Why This Matters

Hackathons like this demonstrate something important: WA has the talent. The builders are here. The ambition is here. What's often missing is the opportunity to prove it.

VisagioX and Venture UWA created that opportunity. And the response — from participants, mentors, and industry partners — shows there's appetite for more.

We knew there was no shortage of talent in WA. This weekend was proof.

What's Next

This hackathon is not a one-off event.

A second VisagioX Hackathon is already being planned for later this year. The goal is to keep raising the bar — connecting challenge owners with solution-makers, and turning weekend projects into real ventures.

If you're inside a corporate, government agency, or research lab with a problem area worth tackling — or a VC looking at what's emerging at the earliest stage — reach out. Let's collaborate.

The impact that can be created through hackathons is immense. And we're just getting started.

Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible:

• Visagio Australia — for leading the charge and backing the pre-accelerator pathway

• Venture UWA — for co-hosting and connecting the student community

• She Codes Australia — our community partner, championing diversity in tech

• Civic Hackers — for bringing the builder energy

• Every mentor, judge, and organiser who gave their time

• And most importantly, every participant who showed up, stayed up, and shipped something real

  
  

This is what happens when Perth's tech ecosystem comes together.

See you at the next one.