InnovaHack 2026: young innovators develop solutions to real-world challenges in Bolivia

What happens when young talent, companies, academia, and technology come together to solve real-world challenges?

On 30–31 May 2026, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, hosted the second edition of InnovaHack, a 48-hour innovation challenge organised by Santa Cruz Innova – CAINCO, in collaboration with UPSA, within the framework of the EU-LAC Social Accelerator.

The initiative brought together 230 young innovators, supported by 18 mentors, to work in multidisciplinary teams on six challenges proposed by organisations from the private sector and civil society.

Hipermaxi, Grupo Venado, BancoSol, FAN Bolivia, WWF Bolivia and Fundares presented the challenges, giving participants the opportunity to address concrete needs and explore solutions using technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools, alongside approaches focused on sustainability.

Women represented 30% of participants, contributing to a diverse community of young people developing and testing innovative ideas.

48 hours to turn challenges into solutions

Throughout the hackathon, participants moved from understanding a challenge to designing and developing prototypes, combining technological skills with teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.

The event also created space for collaboration among young talent, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the innovation ecosystem, demonstrating the potential of cross-sector collaboration to address economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Among the solutions developed during InnovaHack, NexoLab created an AI-powered assistant for Hipermaxi’s supplier platform, while Ceteris 404 developed an AI-based solution to support wildlife monitoring through camera-trap footage.

Beyond the competition itself, InnovaHack provided young participants with an opportunity to apply their skills to real challenges, interact directly with organisations and mentors, and strengthen their capacity to develop technology-driven solutions.

Through initiatives such as InnovaHack, the EU-LAC Social Accelerator supports spaces that connect emerging talent with organisations and innovation ecosystems, contributing to a fair, inclusive, and socially responsible green and digital transition across Latin America and the Caribbean.