XMAS FAF Hackathon 2025: when code resonates with the magic of the holidays

On the eve of Christmas, XMAS FAF Hackathon 2025 compiled code with the magic of the holidays, transforming into a vibrant hub of ideas and pure energy.

During December 20-21, as the city prepared for carols, the future was being written at Tekwill. XMAS FAF Hackathon 2025 exceeded the limits of a simple programming contest, becoming a space where the spirit of Christmas perfectly synchronized with innovation, competition and limitless creativity. There were two intense days of coding, two nights of hacking, dozens of teams and a single common vibe: Build something epic.

Rightly declared the most epic event of the end of the year, this hackathon was a 360° experience: about cool people, brave ideas, inspirational mentors and projects that came to life under the pressure of time and ambition.

Why you had to be there? Because XMAS FAF is not just about lines of code, but also: People first – networking with people who challenge and inspire you; Level up your skills – getting out of your comfort zone to build solutions you can be proud of; Top mentorship – access to industry brains, ready to turn your ideas into real-world solutions; Portfolio boost – battle-tested projects, that clearly say: I know what I’m doing; Festive chaos – holiday vibes, exclusive swag, pizza, coffee and lots of FAF hype. Because End 2025 in style is not about a simple “Happy New Year!”, but about a build, a victory and a memorable memory.

Challenges – the battleground of creativity

The hackathon launched serious challenges, designed to force that out-of-the-box thinking essential in tech:

ELSE Challenge (powered by UTM) – a true endurance test for analytical minds, where logic, critical thinking and elegant solutions made the difference;
Smart Home Sentinel Challenge (powered by Allied Testing) – home security reimagined through smart code, with a focus on reliability and real-world applications;
Architecture Challenge (powered by Stefanini) – building complex and scalable systems, where the big picture was the key to success.
Here, it wasn’t just about coding fast, but thinking smart.

Mentors – the backbone of the experience

The mentors’ lineup brought together university professors, AI Engineers, cybersecurity experts and product managers. They were the ones who asked the tough questions, provided authentic industry feedback and brought that extra spark in critical debugging moments. With such support, ideas quickly left the sketch stage, becoming functional prototypes.

The two days of the competition meant a continuous flow of ideas, without breaks for inspiration, as participants were involved in an intense marathon of coding, collaboration and creativity.

Timeline of an epic weekend

Day 1: Start, Team Formation & Non-stop Hacking. It all started with an electrifying energy. After the team formation, the Tekwill space turned into a brainstorming hive. A special moment was the Stefanini Quiz, a well-deserved break from screens, but full of adrenaline. The prizes – LEGO sets – were the perfect symbol: in tech, as in LEGO construction, you need logic, patience and vision. The evening quickly turned into night, and the night — into a legendary session of uninterrupted hacking.

Day 2: Pitching & The Moment of Truth. The focus shifted to delivery. The last adjustments and moments of constructive “panic” culminated in the morning with the final presentations. The teams demonstrated not only technical skills, but also remarkable clarity in pitching, transforming complex solutions into coherent and impactful speeches.

Partners that fueled the experience

An epic hackathon needs a worthy “engine”, and the FAF community was supported by partners who believe in people and innovation:

Stefanini Institute EMEA (General Sponsor) – the company that proves that innovation starts with people;

Planet Group International and Allied Testing-Moldova (Premium Sponsors) – supporters of technological excellence and software quality;
Technical University of Moldova, Cybercor and Efes Moldova (Official Partners): – pillars of education, digital security and community spirit.

Hall of Fame – 2025 edition winners

After 48 intense hours of hacking, the following took the podium:

• ELSE Challenge – Team 9 (Andi BLÂNDU, Mihai CARAMAN, Daniela COJOCARI, Cătălin DÂRZU, Janeta GRIGORAȘ),
• Smart Home Sentinel – Team 6 (Mihai VIERU, Vlad POLIȘCIUC, Andrei CLIUCOVSCHI, Dmitrii BELIH, Daniel CANTER),
• Architecture Challenge – Team 3 (Igor TACU, Loredana TACU, Ina PANCENCO, Valeria POSTICA, Nichita RUSNAC).

Mentoring and festive vibes

Success doesn’t just come from lines of code, it also comes from the right guidance. The 19 mentors (from AI Engineers to Senior Devs from companies like Orange Systems, Grid Dynamics or Amdaris) were with the participants throughout the event, transforming challenges into lessons and ideas into concrete solutions.

With FAF swag, infectious energy and memories that will last a long time, XMAS FAF Hackathon 2025 proved once again that this community doesn’t just write code, it builds experiences.