Last weekend (November 29-30), we had the pleasure of sponsoring and participating in Heroes of the Brain 2025, a 24-hour neurohackathon organized by KN Neuron at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland and dedicated to creativity, neuroscience, and real-world problem solving.
Using our BrainAccess MINI and HALO devices, participants worked intensively in teams to build innovative EEG-based applications in just one day!
This year, the hackathon featured two categories:
- Wellness (9 teams competed in this category)
- Commerce (11 teams in this category)
Each team brought a unique vision of how brain-computer interfaces can change our daily lives, support well-being, and inspire new interactions between humans and technology.
The quality of submissions exceeded all expectations. All teams worked hard and presented outstanding projects. Below is a highlight of this year’s winners.
Wellness Category
1st Place. Real-Time Epilepsy Monitoring System
The team Brainstorm developed a portable EEG-based solution supported by BrainAccess devices aimed at detecting and recording epileptic seizures in real time. Their concept addresses a serious global health challenge affecting more than 50 million people worldwide, with around 25% of cases diagnosed in childhood.
The project comprises a night-time monitoring system for children, capable of alerting parents and improving diagnostic accuracy through continuous EEG analysis. The future roadmap includes multi-device data fusion, automatic emergency alerts, and expanding the system to other conditions such as sleep disorders meaningful project.
2nd Place. Real-Time Emotion Mapping
The runner-up, BrainGradient Team, used our BrainAccess MINI kit to create AuraCloud, a system for real-time EEG-based emotion detection and visualization.
Using the PAD emotional model (Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance), AuraCloud interprets EEG features and places users inside a 3D “emotion cube” to help identify and regulate their emotional state. Their solution includes:
Real-time monitoring of valence, arousal, and dominance
Visual mapping of emotional states
A slideshow-based neurofeedback system offering personalized emotional guidance
Clear applications in psychotherapy support, mental-health prophylaxis, and peak-performance training
Commerce Category
1st Place. Present.IT
Winners of the Commerce track, 4Sigma, built Present.IT, a modular system that uses EEG signal from our BrainAccess HALO headband to control digital presentations hands-free.
The project includes:
A Blink Detection Module
A Movement Detection Module
A Central Unit handling flags and system states
A Presentation Manager adjusting slides based on EEG events
An Indicator Module to communicate system status
Their modular diagram highlights how flexible and customizable the system is, from slide control to playlist navigation or even smart-home interactions.
2nd Place. Harmonizing With Your Mind
The Neuronauts team presented a charming and creative vision: turning EEG signals into sound and musical experiences in real time.
Using our BrainAccess Halo headband, their system converts brainwave patterns into MIDI parameters, enabling users to “play” music with their mind. Perfect for science centers, classrooms, or creative installations.
The project highlights:
Real-time sound generation driven by brain markers
Dynamic calibration and PSD-based mapping
A playful, intuitive interface accessible to all ages
Future plans including multiplayer “brainwave orchestras” and gaming interactions
Conclusion
All teams impressed us with their energy, ingenuity, and passion for neuroscience. The atmosphere during the hackathon was electric, full of curiosity, problem-solving, and the excitement of building something entirely new overnight!
At BrainAccess, our mission is to give people the tools to develop their ideas, explore neurotechnology hands-on, and make innovation in EEG affordable and accessible to everyone, from students to researchers, from artists to entrepreneurs.
Events like Heroes of the Brain reaffirm why we do what we do. We left inspired, motivated, and incredibly excited about the future these young innovators are building.
See BrainAccess devices in action during this year edition!
📸 photos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grelewski/
