Did you know there’s an Olympics for young programmers? And that Finland’s participation hinges on a few dedicated volunteers and a modest government grant?
The Finnish national competition is called Datatähti, and it serves as the qualifying round for the international stage. In fact, the first stage of Datatähti 2025 is happening right now!
WHY DOES DIGISALIX CARE ABOUT ALL OF THIS?
Well, we know competitive programming is a powerful motivator for young talent to hone their skills and connect with like-minded peers. These young tech enthusiasts push each other forward and build networks of future tech leaders. And let’s face it – having a thriving pool of skilled programmers can only be good for our local tech ecosystem.
KICKSTART FOR THE CAREER
Take our own Tommi, for instance. He began coding at a young age, developing his problem-solving and coding skills through Project Euler, a massive collection of programming and maths challenges. In Tommi’s words: “By the time I started at Aalto University, I’d already developed solid coding skills, which meant I could dive straight into advanced topics. As a result, I had two academic publications before completing my master’s. Finishing my PhD at Imperial College London felt… kind of easy in the end.”
Similarly, Kalle got his start in his early teens, inspired by the demo scene—a form of competitive programming. Kalle recalls, “The incredible real-time graphics of the early ’90s made me want to create the same. I spent many nights figuring out 3D rendering from tutorials before I’d even learned the necessary maths in school. I never actually entered my code in the competitions, but the experience jump-started my career. After just one winter semester at Aalto, then known as Teknillinen Korkeakoulu, I landed my first coding summer job.”
START CODING EARLY
So, if your child shows an interest in programming, please encourage it! They might end up competing in Datatähti one day. It’s a fantastic motivator for learning and an incredible way to meet bright, like-minded, motivated people. And if you’re able to support the Datatähti organisation in any way, please do!
You can find more information in this Helsingin Sanomat piece about Datatähti and on the competition’s homepage.
