Forward Costa Rica celebrates the fifth edition of its Hackathon, where nearly 50 young people trained in technology and artificial intelligence solve real business challenges. The event aims to bring emerging talent closer to the job market.
Forward Costa Rica brought together nearly 50 young people on July 8 for the fifth edition of its Hackathon, a day that combines technological training with the real needs of companies. The event, held at WeWork in the C3 – Cariari Corporate Center in Heredia, is supported by the Promotora de Comercio Exterior (PROCOMER), Garnier & Garnier, and their developments WeWork and Centro Corporativo El Cafetal.
The participants, all trained in programming, software development, and artificial intelligence, work in teams to respond to challenges posed by organizations from various sectors. The solutions are presented to a jury made up of business representatives, who evaluate both the technical viability and the innovation of the proposals.
A bridge between training and employment
The goal of the Hackathon goes beyond competition. As explained by Roberto Solano, director of Forward Costa Rica, it is an opportunity for young people to demonstrate their skills in a real professional environment. “Beyond technical experience, it is an opportunity to connect with companies, tackle concrete challenges, and showcase what they have learned during their training process,” he noted.
The teams belong to the Forward Costa Rica Foundation, a social program driven by Garnier & Garnier that offers technical training and human development to young people from communities with limited access to opportunities. The initiative combines education, sports, and art to enhance their job placement prospects.
The hackathon serves as a real networking space. In the previous edition, one of the young participants managed to establish contact with a participating company that later hired him as a software and artificial intelligence solutions developer. This case illustrates the event's potential to generate concrete job opportunities.
Specific training in artificial intelligence
This edition is distinguished by its focus on artificial intelligence applied to Back Office processes, an area increasingly in demand by organizations. Participants have received 80 hours of employability training and have been supported by mentors from the technology sector.
Kembly Brenes, head of Sustainability and Corporate Relations at Garnier & Garnier, highlighted the company's commitment to youth training and employment: “At Garnier & Garnier, we believe that driving the country's development also requires expanding access to training and employment. Forward Costa Rica seeks to provide high-value tools to young people facing greater access barriers.”
The organization has received recognition for its work. In 2025, Forward Costa Rica was awarded Grand Winner of the AMCHAM Sustainable Business Awards, in addition to securing first place in the Social category and receiving a mention in the Public-Private Partnerships category.
Companies interested in participating in future editions can obtain information on the Forward Costa Rica website. The hackathon thus consolidates itself as an effective tool for bridging the gap between young talent and the job market in a context where artificial intelligence is gaining weight in business processes.
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