Innovating the Future: Highlights from Radware’s Global AI Hackathon 2024


The Radware Hackathon 2024 – AI in Action – was a thrilling event that brought together the brightest minds from our various global functions and teams including R&D, Services, Delivery, Marketing, and Sales. From Tel Aviv to Bangalore, Chennai to virtual Zoom rooms, teams collaborated to redefine AI-powered innovations in cybersecurity and application delivery.

Radware’s past Hackathons have significantly contributed to innovation in cyber security, with some of our key protections and groundbreaking ideas originating from these events. With the AI inflection point upon us, we aimed to surface as many ideas as possible to amplify the impact of this revolution on our products.

Participants tackled three pivotal themes:

  1. Offering – Teams were challenged to elevate Radware’s AI-powered offerings. This included innovating features to improve security threat detection and mitigation, automating processes for greater efficiency, and deriving actionable insights from data to make decisions faster and more effectively.
  2. Operations – This theme focused on revolutionizing operational workflows across SecOps, NetOps, and BizOps. Participants aimed to accelerate the time to actionable insights, streamline incident response times, and implement predictive tools to boost operational efficiency while reducing costs.
  3. User Experience – Participants sought to redefine user interactions with AI-powered designs. Challenges included creating interfaces that simplify workflows, enhance personalization, and deliver intuitive, human-like interactions. The goal was to ensure faster, smarter, and more satisfying user experiences.

"Being part of Radware’s AI Hackathon 2024 was an exhilarating experience. Collaborating with talented colleagues and pushing the boundaries of innovation in such a fast-paced environment was truly inspiring. The mentorship, resources, and camaraderie throughout the event made it an unforgettable journey. It’s incredible to see how our ideas could contribute to shaping the future of Radware’s solutions."

- Magesh Karunakaran, leader of one of the participating teams.

What Made This Hackathon Unique?

  • Cutting-Edge Tools: Teams leveraged advanced AI technologies, including hands-on engineering workshops.
  • Diverse Collaboration: Cross-functional teams brought diverse perspectives, sparking innovative solutions.
  • Real-World Impact: Projects addressed real operational challenges, with the potential to transform Radware’s portfolio.
  • Commitment to Innovation: Full support of senior leadership, encouraging teams to set aside their day-to-day tasks and invest valuable time and effort into innovation.

The hackathon set the stage for intense brainstorming, coding, and collaboration. Mentors from AI, R&D, and product teams guided participants with expertise, offering strategic insights throughout the journey.

"Participating as a mentor in Radware’s AI Hackathon 2024 was an incredible journey. The energy, creativity, and out-of-the-box thinking displayed by the teams were truly inspiring. It was rewarding to see how innovative solutions took shape in such a short span, blending technical excellence with real-world applicability. Events like these not only drive innovation but also foster collaboration across global teams, showcasing the best of what Radware stands for."

– Rakesh Thatha, Mentor.

A panel of experts evaluated ideas based on:

  • Technological & Business Viability – Ideas were evaluated based on their technical and business ability to impact in immediate term.
  • Innovation & Creativity – We sought the innovation spark in each idea and evaluated them accordingly. The more unique, out-of-the-ordinary, and thought-provoking the idea, the better it scored.
  • X-Factor – Last but not least, team spirit, energy, level of collaboration and enthusiasm of each team was also considered.

The top teams pitched their ideas during the grand finale, culminating in the announcement of winners. The prizes included an iPhone 16 Pro for the champions, an Apple Watch Series 10 for second place, and gift cards for third place.

Gabi Malka, Radware’s COO, who led the judging team commented on the Hackathon ideas lineup: “This year Hackathon was exceptional in the depth and breadth of ideas that came along. Many ideas, far beyond the 3 winners, are clear concepts that should be evaluated and implemented in our Offering, Operations and UX. We are looking forward to integrating those ideas into our plans into 2025.”

The 3 winning ideas presented novel AI concepts significantly promoting Radware’s offering, operational and UX. The winning teams were set apart by not only the innovation in their ideas, but also the ability to quickly turn the ideas into our offering and our business processes. It was a pleasure to see the team's energy and enthusiasm bringing forward such innovation at the speed of AI.

“Being part of Radware's AI Hackathon 2024 was an amazing journey! I had the privilege of working with an incredible team where every idea had the chance to shine. The mix of creativity, mentorship, and teamwork created an environment that inspired us to push boundaries and deliver something truly exceptional. It was more than just a competition – it was about turning innovation into reality!”

- Perry Ezra, leader of the winning team.

Understanding the importance of inspiring motivation and fostering a positive, innovative environment, Radware invested weeks of preparation and resources. This included branding, top notch AI training for participants (as part of a wider company agenda of AI implementation), and marketing and pitching tools to help them present their ideas and demos. Event-specific merchandise, food, beverages, and other activities further enriched the experience. By positioning the Hackathon as a prestigious initiative that people were eager to be a part of, we were able to attract top talent and foster a sense of excitement and commitment among the participants.

The hackathon not only showcased Radware’s commitment to innovation but also strengthened bonds within our global community. As we integrate groundbreaking ideas into our offerings, we reaffirm our dedication to leading the AI revolution in cybersecurity and application delivery.

Tamir Ron

Tamir Ron

Tamir Ron is the Vice President of Products at Radware leading Cyber Defense DDoS and AppSec, as well as the ADC product management, for the past 7 years. He has 12 years of product management and product strategy experience, and over 20 years of technical experience as a CTO and Chief Architect, all involving internet technologies. Tamir is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity and empowering organizations to protect their digital assets.

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