In February 2023, Maurice Kevenaar and I started discussing an idea that, at the time, felt both ambitious and a little uncertain.
Many Veeam User Groups were still trying to regain momentum following the COVID-19 pandemic. The appetite for connection and learning was still there, but the dynamics had changed. People were looking for opportunities to collaborate, share ideas, and engage with the community in ways that felt more participatory than traditional presentations.
Maurice reflected on one of the things he valued most about being a Veeam Vanguard: the opportunity to interact directly with product managers, strategists, engineers, and community experts from around the world. Those experiences shaped the way he thought about technology, community, and leadership. We began asking ourselves whether there was a way to create something that offered a similar experience to a much broader audience.
The answer eventually became the Veeam Community Hackathon.
Neither of us expected it to evolve into what it is today.
What started as an experiment in bringing people together around a shared challenge has grown into an annual event involving participants from around the world, sponsors investing in the community, mentors volunteering their time, and projects that continue long after the closing ceremony.
Three years later, a few lessons stand out.
The Projects Were Never the Whole Story
The projects have always been important. They showcase creativity, technical skill, and a willingness to tackle difficult problems.
What surprised me was how often people talked about everything surrounding the projects instead.
Participants found mentors they still keep in touch with today. Team members who had never met in person learned how to collaborate across time zones. People experimented with technologies they had been hesitant to explore on their own. Others contributed to open source projects for the first time and discovered they had far more to offer than they initially believed.
The projects gave people a reason to gather. The relationships they built are what kept them coming back.
Community Requires Intentional Design
One of the misconceptions people have about communities is that they form naturally if enough people share an interest.
In reality, meaningful communities require structure and care.
Kickoff sessions help people understand what to expect. Half-time shows with project previews drive friendly competition. Dedicated communication channels encourage collaboration. Sponsors who actively engage with teams become part of the experience rather than simply observers.
Some of the moments people remember most never appear in the final presentations. They happen during troubleshooting sessions, brainstorming conversations, or spontaneous discussions between people who otherwise never would have met.
Creating opportunities for those interactions turned out to be just as important as creating opportunities to write code.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As proud as I am of the projects that have been built over the past three years, I’m even more excited about the people who haven’t joined us yet.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re experienced enough, whether your idea is good enough, or whether you have anything meaningful to contribute, you’re exactly the kind of person we hope to see at the Veeam Community Hackathon.
Some participants arrive with years of development experience. Others submit their first pull request during the event. Some teams build polished solutions that continue long after the closing ceremony, while others use the weekend as an opportunity to learn something entirely new. All of them contribute to what makes this community special.
Registration for the 2026 Veeam Community Hackathon is now open.
Whether you’re a developer, engineer, architect, IT professional, student, designer, community advocate, or simply someone with an idea you’ve been wanting to explore, we’d love to have you join us.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you start. You just need a willingness to learn, collaborate, and build something meaningful alongside an incredible community.
Ready to be part of it? Register today at https://my.veeamhackathon.com, and we’ll see you at the Veeam Community Hackathon 2026.
