Entrepreneurship Education to Foster Innovation. The Role of Hackathons

This chapter contains an exploration of the role of hackathons in entrepreneurship education, which demonstrates how these events equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the mindset and toolkit needed to accelerate venture-creation processes. In the chapter, hackathons are defined, and their ability to foster experiential learning, peer collaboration, and rapid prototyping of student ideas is illustrated. Case studies from entrepreneurship hackatons organized in Southern Europe are presented to provide a practical framework for designing and deploying successful hackathon activities in entrepreneurial education. Doing so can enhance problem-solving skills, expand professional networks, and speed up idea validation.