Innovation, AI and quantum technology at the Hanken Quantum Hackathon
This year’s hackathon, the sixth of its kind, challenged participants to explore how AI and quantum computers can advance sustainable finance by rethinking how investment portfolios are designed, evaluated and protected. The teams developed innovative, ethical and data-driven solutions that support the green transition, enhance ESG transparency, and create smarter and more resilient financial systems.
The participants created everything from concept presentations to applications and quantum models. A total of 14 teams worked with support from mentors and industry experts.
"Through the Hanken Quantum Lab and the annual hackathons, Hanken has established itself as one of Finland’s leading universities in this field. The university offers its students the platform to explore this unique technology while also networking with industry specialists," says Madelin Kivikangas from Ultrahack.
Over the years, the hackathon has led to students securing summer jobs and gaining hands-on experience with quantum computing in the financial sector—and in some cases, even founding new companies.
Hanken students were well represented among the winning teams, featuring in both the second and third place teams as well as among those receiving honourable mentions.
Winning teams:
1. place Schrödinger's Bankers: Amplifying Financial AI with Quantum Data Augmentation (2 500€)
The team used quantum computing to generate high-quality synthetic data, addressing a critical need in finance where modern AI models require large and representative datasets. Their quantum-based solution generates more realistic training data, enabling financial institutions to develop reliable and robust AI models better suited to real-world decision-making.
Members: Aki Konga, Reijo Jaakkola, Niklas Jaakkola, Julia Ripatti, Miika Lehtinen
2. place Q-STRESS: Climate Stress-Testing for Banks & Insurers (1 500€)
Q-STRESS uses AI and quantum-ready modeling to stress-test banks and insurers against real climate transition and physical risk data, bringing sustainability insights straight into financial risk models.
Members: Niko Latva-Kiskola (from Hanken), Irving Wang, Matias Salonsaari
3. place GreenQ Capital: Quantum-Aware Sustainable Portfolio Optimization (1 000€)
The team offers cutting-edge portfolio stress testing services powered by Quantum Amplitude Estimation, enabling faster and more reliable simulations. By harnessing quantum speedups, they dramatically improve the efficiency and depth of traditional Monte Carlo–based stress testing, making extreme-risk analysis smarter and more sustainable.
Members: Bastian Speck, Atte Suoninen, Tim Kröger, Filip Hagman (from Hanken)
Honorary mentions:
- DFI Investment Risk Assessment
AI and alternative data solutions for risk assesment in developing nations
Members: Andreas Vuorinen, Timi Kajander, Jimmy Karlsson (from Hanken)
- Credect.AI - Automated Money Laundering Risk Detection
The team created a platform that is capable to detect credit card fraud transactions and stop them with high percentage.
Members: Anna Marushchak, Valtteri Oinonen, Ahmed Amine Bouabyd, Iikka Heino, Aaro Huttunen (from Hanken)
- QuantumOps Autocal - An AI approach using Qiskit Aer to Enhance Efficiency in Finance Operations
The team offered a quantum benchmarking platform that compares quantum computers across providers to help financial institutions evaluate performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness before making high-stakes adoption decisions.
Members: Ding Lin Lee, Lubana Akter, Tommi Raivio
Text: Marlene Günsberg
Photos: Ultrahack