Executive Summary
On July 22, 2025, Tutor10x, in collaboration with Eden.pm, UTS Startups Hub, High-tech Masterminds, the Australian Institute of Higher Education, and LIHE Sydney, hosted a groundbreaking hackathon in Sydney. The “One-Day Internship™” gathered over 50 backend engineers for a high-pressure, four-hour simulation of a startup’s first day. Participants were challenged to build a backend system for a productivity application, featuring API development, MongoDB integration, and simulated media compression using FFmpeg.
Event Highlight
AI-Powered Briefing
An AI assistant, acting as a senior developer, delivered a live, intentionally ambiguous technical brief via phone to test real-world problem-solving skills.
Talent Discovery
The challenge identified top talent, leading to internship and mentorship opportunities.
Introduction
The leap from academia to industry often reveals a gap between theoretical knowledge and the demands of real-world engineering roles. While universities and traditional internships provide a foundation, they may not fully prepare graduates for the ambiguity, pace, and cross-functional demands of fast-growing startups.
50+ Turnover
Tutor10x is addresesing this gap through short-form, high-impact learning experiences like the “One-Day Internship™.” These events simulate real startup scenarios in condensed timeframes, forcing participants to think fast, collaborate, and solve practical problems using real-world tools. The goal: to deliver experience that is intense, realistic, and immediately valuable to both learners and employers.
Why This Hackathon Was Different
Community Engagement
By supporting this unique learning and development model, Eden.pm demonstrated its commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers and bridging the academic-industry gap,
Turning Hackathons into Hiring Pipelines
Key Backend Needs:
- Session Management: Logging and storing user focus sessions (start times, duration, tasks).
- Media Processing: Efficient handling and compression of audio files using FFmpeg.
- Analytics & Personalisation: Analysing user data to enhance performance and experience.
- Scalability: Supporting a growing user base with reliable, high-performing infrastructure.
Why Eden.pm Joined the Hackathon:
- Talent Identification: To assess engineers in a realistic environment beyond resumes and interviews.
- Skill Relevance: To see how well candidates handled actual backend tasks the startup faces.
- Ecosystem Engagement: To support practical learning and talent development within the tech community.
Eden.pm’s Real-World Challenge
Eden.pm, a rapidly evolving startup, required robust backend development for its productivity platform. The hackathon's core objective was to address this by challenging participants to construct a functional backend system, mirroring live complexities. This involved managing focus session data, integrating a NoSQL database, and handling simulated media compression
Challenge
The task demanded proficiency in:
- Backend Development: Node.js and Express.js for API creation.
- Database Management: MongoDB for data persistence.
- Media Processing: FFmpeg for media handling.
- API Testing: Postman/curl competency. Problem-Solving: Interpreting briefs and building under pressure.
Solution: AI-Driven Hackathon Day
The hackathon's design began with precise project scoping alongside Eden.pm, translating their live platform needs into a targeted challenge.
Uniquely, an AI assistant delivered the technical brief via synchronous phone call to all participants. This innovation rigorously simulated real-world startup communication, testing not just coding ability but critical interpretation under pressure.
The day was structured for high output: rapid team formation, a strict four-hour time allocation, and focused task distribution.
Results and Outcomes
Over 50 engineers took on the challenge, and many teams successfully delivered functioning backends within the tight timeframe. Eden.pm was impressed with the range and quality of solutions, and several participants were shortlisted for internships and mentorships.
Participants reported gaining valuable experience in team-based problem-solving, ambiguity management, and technical decision-making under pressure. Many noted this was the first time an event had tested both their hard and soft skills in such an integrated, real-world manner.
Winners Profiles
1st Place: Justin Lei
A 2024 Software Engineering graduate from the University of Sydney (First Class Honours) with a strong passion for clean architecture and full-stack development. Skilled in a wide range of modern technologies, from React.js and TypeScript to Python, Java, and AWS, Justin combines technical depth with a collaborative mindset. Beyond coding, he enjoys piano, anime, and sports, and is eager to contribute to teams that value continuous learning and high-quality software design.
Second Place: Sreekar Reddy E.
A results-driven professional with over 2.8 years at IBM, specializing in business analysis, process optimization, and strategic problem-solving. Currently pursuing a Master’s in AI at UTS, Sreekar combines technical insight with strong collaboration skills to bridge technology and business strategy. Passionate about delivering measurable impact, he values inclusivity, authenticity, and fostering a positive team environment.
Third Place: Henry Ng
An aspiring cybersecurity professional with 1 year of SIEM and 1.5 years of EDR experience. Beginning his career in Microsoft technical support, Henry has honed exceptional communication, customer support, and troubleshooting skills. Currently pursuing his degree and set to graduate in 2026, he is eager to apply his expertise to future Cybersecurity and IT roles while continuing his commitment to lifelong learning.
Tutor10x Masterminds
Dr. Mohammad, Founder & CEO
Founder of Tutor10x and creator of the One-Day Internship, Dr Mohammad draws on extensive industry and academic experience to bridge the gap between education and real-world careers.
Suman Gautam, Judge & Mentor
A Data Analyst skilled in SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI, Suman brought his expertise in data analysis and visualization to the One-Day Internship as Judge and Mentor, guiding participants and evaluating their problem-solving approaches.
Sagal Mohamed, Judge & Mentor
A Business Analyst with experience in Agile delivery, CRM systems, and digital project coordination, Sagal served as Judge and Mentor at the One-Day Internship, supporting participants with insights into process improvement and stakeholder collaboration.
Chahed Dennaoui, Student Experience Manager
As Student Experience Manager, Chahed supported event coordination by bridging communication between students, mentors, and universities, ensuring a smooth and impactful learning experience.
Sam Anawar, Event Coordinator
As Event Coordinator at High Tech Masterminds, Sam ensured the One-Day Internship ran seamlessly—managing logistics and connecting candidates, mentors, judges, and guests.
Siqi Wang, Photographer
A Master of Commerce student at the University of Sydney and content creator, Siqi blends analytical and creative skills from experiences at L’Oréal, EY, and brand building. Passionate about storytelling and marketing, she captured the spirit of the event through her photography.
Joseph Mergan, Media Team
A Media Arts and Production student at UTS, Joseph is passionate about camera work and visual storytelling. He supported the media team in capturing key moments of the event and is eager to keep growing his skills in production.
Hannah Yim, Media Team
UTS student with experience in event support and social media promotion, assisting with media coverage for the event.
Jisu Choi, Event Support
Supported event preparation and coordination, bringing her skills in data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving.
Cherry Sanchez, Technical Coordinator
Cherry, a CPA turned Odoo ERP Consultant, managed the event’s technical setup—handling registrations, web pages, and communications to ensure everything ran smoothly.