On April 17, 2025, an event took place that may forever transform the Polish office real estate landscape. The Real Estate Hackathon, organized by Globalworth, went far beyond a typical tech challenge – it became a creative lab for the future of workspaces. Over the course of 24 intense hours, interdisciplinary teams of innovators, developers and real estate enthusiasts tackled real-world problems tied to the modern office experience.
From sustainability and smart technologies to well-being and community building, the ideas shared during the hackathon reflected a deeper understanding: modern offices are not just about space – they’re about how people feel and function in it.
Why a hackathon for real estate?
The idea was born out of necessity. While commercial real estate is evolving, it still requires a fresh mindset, more flexibility and faster innovation. As a leader in the Polish office space market, Globalworth recognized this gap and designed the hackathon as a testbed for game-changing ideas – ideas that could soon become part of everyday working life.
– “This hackathon was an invitation to co-create the offices of tomorrow,” said Rafał Pomorski, Managing Director – Finance & Operations, Globalworth Poland.
Meet Growie – the winning project that combined tech, emotions and ESG
The winning team, PURRFECTGROW, presented Growie – a smart app that turns eco-conscious daily habits into care for a virtual pet: your personal eco-buddy. The app uses AR, RFID and NFC technologies to gamify office-based sustainability. Users can complete challenges, answer daily quizzes and even scan waste with an AI-powered tool, all while bonding with their digital companion that grows with every green choice they make.
– “We wanted ecology to feel like a joyful daily ritual – not a corporate checklist,” explained Kamila Stachowiak, from the PURRFECTGROW team.
Offices of the future go beyond design and square meters
The projects developed during the hackathon tackled every key aspect of the modern office: from space optimization and community engagement to emotional well-being and employee experience. Jury members were impressed by the level of maturity and implementation-readiness displayed across the board.
– “Teams didn’t just think tech-first. They understood the challenges and crafted real, applicable answers,”noted Mikołaj Sznajder, jury member and Head of AI Business Advisory at CampusAI.
Mentorship + tech = tangible value
Throughout the hackathon, teams had access to expert mentors in fields such as technology, ESG, business strategy, real estate and legal frameworks. This 360° support helped them align their ideas with real market needs and practical constraints.
– “This wasn’t just a hackathon – it was a clear signal of the analog-to-digital transformation happening in commercial real estate,” said Tom Ogrodzki, CEO of REDD Platform and hackathon mentor.
Mentorship played a key role in sharpening each team’s value proposition and creating prototypes that weren’t just cool – they were feasible.
What’s next?
Though this was the debut edition of the Real Estate Hackathon powered by Globalworth, one thing is clear – it’s only the beginning. The event revealed an enormous appetite for innovation at the intersection of tech and real estate.
– “We’re just getting started. We believe this hackathon can become a flagship event on the commercial real estate calendar,” said Rafał Pomorski.
source, photos: media.globalworth.pl
