Kutsuvierastilaisuus

Mini Challenge x Connection – Rebuilding connection in an individualised world

Panel discussion and a 2 day social hackathon by Helsinki Think Company and Sitra. The hackathon is for students interested in designing meaningful and scalable societal innovations that make everyday life feel more supported and connected. No coding, no theory — just teamwork, creativity, and good energy.

Location

Tiedekulma

Schedule

Thursday 07.05.2026 at 13.00

Tuesday 12.05.2026 at 09.00

Wednesday 13.05.2026 at 17.00

The Mini Challenge by Helsinki Think Company is a two‑day, hands‑on social hackathon where students work in teams to create practical solutions to real challenges in everyday life.

In May 2026, Helsinki Think Company and Sitra (The Finnish Innovation Fund) together with partners organize the Mini Challenge x Connection where we focus on one big question:

How can we make life in Finland feel less “everyone for themselves” and more “we’re in this together”?

Why this hackathon?

Many young people today feel a growing pressure to manage school, identity, wellbeing, friendships, and future plans all at once — often alone. At the same time, support networks that previous generations relied on, like close communities or extended family, are becoming thinner. These changes create new kinds of everyday challenges for students and young adults in Finland.

Panel discussion

Rethinking Individualism – How Choice, Identity, and Community Shape Our Future

What is this panel about?

In today’s world, young people navigate an overwhelming number of choices, rising expectations, and increasingly fragmented support networks. These pressures affect how we learn, how we build relationships, how we imagine family life, and how confident we feel about the future.

Keynote speaker
Frank Martela, Philosopher and Researcher of Psychology, Aalto University

Moderator
Jenna Lähdemäki-Pekkinen, Sitra

Panelists
Anna Rotkirch, Research Professor, Director, the Family Federation of Finland
Jennifer De Paola, PhD University of Helsinki
Sini Forssell, PhD, Specialist Nyyti ry
Katarina Pettersson, DSocSci, University of Helsinki

More information and registration for MiniChallenge can be found here, and information and registration for the panel discussion here.

More information

Auri Wustrow

Asiantuntija, Ratkaisut