Ways in · Pricing
Places at our own hackathons and community membership cost nothing. Full membership, sponsorship and patronage are shaped around you — so instead of a price list, each one opens a conversation with a person.
For people
Participants
Free
For anyone who wants to build — any age, any skill level, solo or in a team of up to five.
Events
On Eventbrite
Innovation Forum events are ticketed through Eventbrite.
Community
Free
Join the community in seconds — name and email, nothing more.
Members
Get in touch
For people and organisations who want the member programme.
For organisations
Put your problem in front of the room. Each tier is scoped with you; tell us which one sounds right and we'll come back with a challenge design and a figure. How sponsorship works.
Tick one or more to see which tier covers it.
The tier that covers everything you picked
Get in touch aboutFor organisations that want to be seen backing local talent.
Get in touch
Backs the season — no challenge of your own
Recommended
For a team with a real problem class it wants worked on.
Get in touch
One challenge on your problem, run in full
Not ready to commit a budget? Start lean: the same challenge run virtual-first on open data only, to prove the format on your problem class first.
Get in touchFor an organisation that wants its name on the challenge.
Get in touch
The complete event, named for you
In-kind only is a route on its own. Mentors, judges, datasets or a venue — and "no cash this time" is still a viable pilot. Offer something in kind.
| Benefit | Supporter | Partner | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo on the programme and event materials | ● | ● | ● |
| A seat on the judging panel | ● | ● | ● |
| Participant shortlist after the event | ● | ● | ● |
| Challenge built on your problem class | — | ● | ● |
| Challenge design, facilitation, data preparation and tooling | — | ● | ● |
| Physical finale — venue and hospitality | — | ● | ● |
| Your practitioners as mentors | — | ● | ● |
| First look at internship candidates | — | ● | ● |
| Co-branded write-up | — | ● | ● |
| A named challenge | — | — | ● |
| Knowledge-capture output as a reusable asset | — | — | ● |
| Youth-talent pathway, challenge to internship | — | — | ● |
| Option on a second event | — | — | ● |
For individuals who want to give
Get in touch · any amount
A gift, freely given, that keeps places free. No logo, no influence, no advantage — just your name in the list of supporters, if you would like it there. Innovation Forum is not a registered charity, so there is no Gift Aid.
At our own events, yes: 100 places, free to enter, open to all ages and skill levels — some ages may need parental consent. You will need a free GitHub account, because your team works in its own repository. The exception is a challenge run inside a partner’s event: Beyond the Mainframe takes place at the BCS Hertfordshire Community Conference: teams apply here as usual, and also need a conference ticket from BCS (£5 for students).
Because both are shaped around what you bring and what you need: a sponsor’s problem class, a member’s organisation, in-kind help that replaces cash. We would rather scope it with you and give you a real figure than publish an indicative one.
Innovation Forum events are ticketed through Eventbrite. Hackathon places are different: you apply for those on this site, and they stay free.
No. Places stay free and open to everyone, first come, first served. Membership, sponsorship and patronage give no advantage in getting one.
Sponsorship is a commercial arrangement, so VAT is in scope and any amount agreed is exclusive of VAT. A patron gift is outside the scope of VAT — but Innovation Forum is not a registered charity, so there is no Gift Aid and no charitable tax relief.
Yes. Mentors, judges, datasets or a venue are a route on their own. “No cash this time” is still a viable pilot.
No. Nothing is charged online. Paid routes start with a conversation with a person from the Innovation Forum team.
Tell us what you have in mind — a problem, a team, a gift or an afternoon of mentoring — and we'll point you to the right route.
Or email info@inno-forum.co.uk
