Students Deliver Fully Functional Booking Systems in Just 24 Hours
Northamptonshire-based digital agency Toru Digital has successfully completed its second annual Hackathon in partnership with University of Northampton, bringing together emerging software engineering talent for an intensive real-world development challenge.
The event saw students tasked with designing and building a fully functional online booking system from scratch in just over 24 hours — an ambitious brief designed to simulate the pressures and expectations of professional software delivery.
Divided into four teams, students were challenged to manage the complete project lifecycle at speed. Working directly with Toru Digital staff acting as clients and end-users, participants gathered requirements, developed back-end databases and APIs, created polished front-end interfaces, and ultimately presented not only working software solutions, but detailed commercial business cases complete with costings.
Dr Mark Johnson, BSc Software Engineering Degree Course Leader at the University of Northampton, praised the ongoing collaboration:
“I cannot thank Toru Digital enough for their continued support of the University of Northampton through the Challenge Event hackathon series. The opportunity for students to gain real-world experience working on an authentic industry project is invaluable. It allows them to benchmark their current skills against professional expectations, build confidence, and better understand what it means to be industry-ready.
Toru Digital not only delivers an engaging and highly realistic challenge, but also provides detailed and constructive feedback on student performance. This feedback enables students to reflect meaningfully on their strengths and areas for development as they progress towards graduate employment. It is an outstanding opportunity for our students, and I am extremely grateful for the ongoing collaboration.”
Beyond the technical challenge itself, the event also opened important discussions around the future of the software industry and the rapid evolution of AI-assisted development tools.
During a follow-up session at the University, Toru Digital team members spoke with students about career opportunities, changing industry expectations, and the enduring importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ifrah Abdi, Full Stack Developer at Toru Digital, shared her perspective with attendees:
“It is easy to get distracted by the noise of new technology, but your value lies in your ability to focus on the problem at hand. Technology will change, but the ability to think critically and solve a client’s challenge is a skill that will always be in demand.”
The Hackathon also reflects Toru Digital’s ongoing commitment to investing in local talent and strengthening the region’s technology ecosystem.
Sean Toru, AI Engineer and Managing Director at Toru Digital, said:
“It’s mind-blowing what these teams achieved in such a short window. In an uncertain time, there is immense opportunity for those who stay clever, creative, and passionate. If you focus on communicating effectively, being honest and diligent, and learning how to win as a team, you will find success regardless of how the industry shifts.”
The event concluded with a networking session attended by students, Toru Digital staff, and fellow industry partners from The Access Group, highlighting the collaborative and supportive nature of Northamptonshire’s growing technology community.
Toru Digital extended its thanks to Dr Mark Johnson and the wider University of Northampton team for their continued partnership and confirmed plans to return for the 2027 event.
2026 Hackathon Award Winners
- Overall Winner: Group 4
- Best Technical Implementation: Group 1
- Best Group Dynamics & Teamwork: Group 2
- Best Commercial Presentation: Group 3
For more information about Toru Digital, visit toru.digital