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Introduction to Thinkathon Brainstorming and Networking
Make History
Thinkathon 2026 is a global “hyper-brainstorm” designed to make history and break Guinness World Records. On December 10, 2026, over 10,000 Thinkers from more than 100 countries will unite on Zoom for a 3-hour live experience with a singular mission: to generate 500,000+ creative ideas in just 60 minutes during an innovative brainstorming sprint — all while aiming to set multiple Guinness World Records.
Inspired by Gerald “Solutionman” Haman’s astonishing legacy of 454,000 ideas in 60 minutes at the Singapore Thinkathon, this new global event represents both a celebration of past hackathons and an evolution into something bigger and bolder: a more connected Thinkathon that addresses the urgent need for fresh solutions in a world driven by technology and innovation.
A Once-in-a-Generation Global Innovation Experience
Thinkathon 2026 isn’t just another conference, webinar, or summit; it’s a coordinated global innovation experience where thousands of people come together in real time to collaborate on groundbreaking ideas.
· World-record ambition: 500,000+ ideas generated in 60 minutes, aiming for a spot in the Guinness World Records.
· Massive participation: 10,000+ Thinkers collaborating from over 100 countries to drive innovation.
· Single, shared platform: A live 3-hour Zoom event featuring keynotes, rapid-fire idea generation, and global networking that resembles a dynamic hackathon.
· Record-setting legacy: Inspired by the original Singapore Thinkathon that produced 454,000 ideas with 8,000 participants in just one hour, setting the stage for future hackathons.
The energy of Thinkathon 2026 feels like a fusion of a hackathon, innovation lab, world-record attempt, and global town hall — all combined into one high-impact, highly interactive experience centered around technology and creativity.
The Goals of Thinkathon 2026
· Generate 500,000+ ideas in a single, structured 60-minute brainstorming event that could break Guinness World Records.
· Mobilize 10,000+ thinkers worldwide — innovators, executives, educators, students, and community leaders — to tackle urgent global challenges and opportunities through innovative hackathons.
· Spark new projects and ventures — from startups and social enterprises to community initiatives and corporate innovation pilots — that continue long after the event, driving technological advancements.
· Teach reusable innovation methods so participants can apply Thinkathon tools in their companies, schools, and communities, fostering a culture of creativity akin to that seen in successful hackathons.
· Raise funds and awareness for innovation, education, and human rights through 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations supported by the Thinkathon Foundation and partners.
Every idea generated and every connection made is part of a bigger story: a global movement to turn creativity into tangible action.
What Thinkathon 2026 Celebrates
Thinkathon 2026 is carefully timed and designed to align with four historic celebrations and milestones:
· United Nations “Human Rights Day” (December 10): Transforming a day of global reflection on dignity, equality, and justice into a high-energy idea experience focused on solutions for human rights, inclusion, access, and opportunity.
· 25th Anniversary of the Singapore Thinkathon: Honoring the iconic Guinness World Records event where 8,000 people generated 454,000 ideas in just 60 minutes, extending that legacy into a new digital era of hackathons that promote innovation.
· The U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th Anniversary): Celebrating 250 years of innovation, democracy, and civic imagination — and inviting Thinkers worldwide to consider what the next 250 years should look like, especially in the realm of technology.
· Accelerated Keynotes by the “10 World’s Leading Thinkathon Futurists”: Fast-paced, future-focused talks designed to ignite thinking and inspire ideas across business, technology, policy, education, and social impact, echoing the spirit of collaborative hackathons.
In addition, Thinkathon 2026 supports philanthropic impact tied to the United Nations, the Creative Education Foundation, and the Thinkathon Foundation, channeling creative energy into causes that matter.
Who Will Be Involved
Thinkathon 2026 brings together a uniquely diverse and influential community focused on innovation and technology:
· 10,000+ Thinkers: Innovators, executives, entrepreneurs, educators, students, creatives, policy leaders, and community organizers, all eager to explore new ideas at this global hackathon.
· 1,000+ Companies and Organizations: Businesses, government agencies, NGOs, foundations, and startups participating as teams, hubs, and sponsors, aiming to achieve breakthroughs worthy of Guinness World Records.
· 100 Universities and Schools: Faculty and students engaging in a live global learning experience that combines innovation, collaboration, and civic engagement, fostering the next generation of thinkers.
· 10 World’s Leading Thinkathon Futurists: Delivering accelerated keynotes that frame the big questions and point toward future opportunities in the fields of technology and innovation.
· The SolutionPeople Network (TSPN): A 1,650,000+ member ecosystem on LinkedIn driving outreach, engagement, and follow-up innovation opportunities, showcasing the impact of hackathons in various sectors.
Whether you join as an individual Thinker, a team, a school, or a sponsoring organization, you become part of a global innovation network that continues to thrive long after the event.
What We’ll Think About: 10 Key Topics, 100 World-Changing Questions
Thinkathon 2026 is set to spark innovation through a hackathon focused on idea generation, revolving around 100 curated questions organized into 10 impactful themes:
1. AI & Technology for Good
2. Healthcare & Well-Being
3. Environment, Energy & Sustainability
4. Leadership, HR & Training
5. Human Rights & Global Justice
6. Innovation, Education & Personal Development
7. Peace, Security & Diplomacy
8. Community Building & Social Impact
9. Economic Growth & Entrepreneurship
10. Arts, Culture & Creativity
Each of these topics is designed to ignite actionable ideas — ideas that organizations can pilot, communities can adopt, and leaders can champion, potentially even reaching Guinness World Records for the most innovative hackathons.
Supporting Organizations & Innovation Networks
Thinkathon 2026 is powered and amplified by a family of influential innovation networks, which include a diverse range of participants in various fields, such as hackathons and technology. The membership counts are approximate and include:
· The SolutionPeople Network (TSPN) – 1,650,000 members
· Artificial Intelligence Innovators – 1,000,000 members
· Human Resources and Training Innovators – 125,000 members
· Virtual Reality, VR and Metaverse Innovators – 90,000 members
· Energy, Sustainability and Green Innovators – 50,000 members
· The Innovation Association – 34,000 members
· Thinkathon Innovators, Sponsors and Supporters – 23,000 members
· United Nations (UN) Leaders, Innovators & Supporters Network – 17,000 members
· Thinkathon Futurists and Anticipatory Scientists Network – 2,000 members
In addition, there are geographic innovation groups across New York, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Silicon Valley, Florida, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Africa, South America, China, and more. This creates a global scaffolding for Thinkathon hubs and follow-up initiatives, further enhancing the potential for Guinness World Records achievements in innovation.
How You Can Get Involved
There are many ways to plug into Thinkathon 2026, an innovative event that could even set a Guinness World Record in the realm of hackathons:
· Join as a Thinker – Participate live on Zoom as an individual or as part of a team from your company, school, or community, and contribute your ideas to drive technology and innovation forward.
· Organize a Thinkathon Hub – Host a hub inside your organization — a conference room, auditorium, innovation lab, classroom, or community space — where multiple people can engage in hackathons together and brainstorm solutions.
· Become a Sponsor or Partner – Support key themes, provide prizes and scholarships, underwrite outreach, or sponsor specific regions or sectors to enhance the impact of our collective innovation efforts.
· Volunteer & Facilitate – Help host breakout sessions, capture ideas, and support follow-up projects and collaborations that stem from this exciting hackathon.
· Extend the Impact – Apply Thinkathon methods in your own organization after the event to run internal brainstorms, innovation challenges, or student projects that foster creativity and teamwork.
Thinkathon 2026 is designed so that every participant can contribute, whether you bring a big team and sponsorship budget or simply your curiosity and creativity.
Benefits of Participating in Thinkathon 2026
As a participant, you don’t just attend a hackathon — you become part of a global movement:
Be part of a historic, Guinness World Records–scale innovation experience.
Connect with thinkers from 100+ countries and expand your global network.
Enhance your résumé and LinkedIn profile with certificates, medals, and digital badges.
Generate fresh ideas for your career, business, studies, community, and personal growth through cutting-edge technology.
Learn proven hackathon innovation methods you can reuse in your organization or classroom.
Access post-event reports spotlighting top ideas, themes, and collaboration opportunities.
Experience a high-energy, professionally facilitated process tested in record-setting events.
Gain visibility when your best ideas may be highlighted in summaries, showcases, or awards.
Join a global movement advancing creativity, human rights, and innovation for the future.
Discover mentors, collaborators, partners, and potential clients from around the world.
Benefits of Sponsoring Thinkathon 2026
For companies, foundations, and organizations, sponsorship is an opportunity to align your brand with a Guinness World Records-scale initiative that integrates innovation, impact, and visibility.
Align your brand with UN Human Rights Day, the U.S. Semiquincentennial, and a 25-year legacy of hackathons. Gain global visibility across promotions, live event content, and follow-up communications. Engage employees, customers, and partners in a shared, high-energy experience that fosters loyalty and pride.
Host branded breakout rooms, sponsor topics or prizes, and make your mark on the Corporate Innovation Leaderboard. Access curated idea summaries and innovation insights tailored to your industry and strategic focus. Demonstrate leadership in innovation, ESG, CSR, DEI, and human rights while supporting 501(c)(3) non-profits.
Recruit top talent from a highly engaged global pool of innovators, students, and professionals. Use the Thinkathon as a launchpad for internal innovation challenges and cultural transformation. Create powerful PR and storytelling opportunities around a Guinness World Records event for media, investors, and social channels. Show measurable impact with metrics on ideas generated, participants reached, and causes supported.
When & Where: Save the Date
· Date: December 10, 2026 (United Nations Human Rights Day)
· Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST (designed to accommodate many international time zones)
· Format: 3-hour live global Zoom experience featuring keynotes, brainstorming, and networking focused on innovation and technology
· Where: Online on Zoom — join from anywhere (home, office, classroom, innovation lab, community center)
Join us for the "Thinkathon 2026 – Where 10,000 Thinkers Unite to Improve the World," as we aim to set a Guinness World Record for the largest hackathon, bringing together innovative minds to tackle global challenges.
Why Thinkathon, Why Now
We are living in a time of converging crises and unprecedented possibilities. Technology is accelerating, and issues related to climate, health, human rights, and the economy demand innovative thinking. People everywhere are seeking meaningful ways to contribute, and hackathons like Thinkathon 2026 offer a bold solution. This global initiative provides a structured way to mobilize thousands of minds for the common good, transforming their collective creativity into real-world action that could even set Guinness World Records.
Overview of Thinkathon is more than just a page on a website; it’s an invitation:
· To participate as a Thinker in this innovative hackathon
· To step up as a Sponsor or Partner
· To bring your organization in as a Hub
· To help shape the future—one idea at a time
When 10,000 Thinkers unite with a shared purpose, the potential for 500,000 ideas is just the beginning of a wave of innovation.