Hitabis was founded 20 years ago! Of course, that calls for a celebration a day filled with experiences, memories, and time spent together as a team.
We kicked things off with an initiative that showcased our vision of green coding beyond the realm of software development. Inspired by our work with Oaklean, we planted a truckload of young trees together in Klosterfelde, near Berlin, under sunny skies.
We were guided by the local forest ranger, who led us through the morning with her expertise, great empathy, and a palpable passion for the forest. Her personal stories, surprising anecdotes, and last but not least the musical welcome and farewell left a lasting impression on us.
Once the work was done, it was time to relax: a group meal by the lake with sparkling wine, pizza, and pasta. This was the perfect opportunity to reminisce, strike up new conversations, and continue the day in a laid-back atmosphere. Meanwhile, photos from 20 years of Hitabis were displayed—a retrospective that showed just how much we’ve experienced and achieved as a team. To celebrate the anniversary, everyone received jackets featuring a gold-embroidered 20-year wreath and Hitabis branding.
A special highlight of the evening was our anniversary quiz, featuring questions about Hitabis, our projects, and team trivia. From “How many staging branches does our Git flowchart show?” to “What’s our combined age in days?”, there was something for everyone. In mixed teams, we puzzled, guessed, and laughed, and for every correct answer, a donation was made to the local hunting club to support forest conservation. The winning teams were delighted to receive small gold, silver, and bronze shovels, fitting for our joint effort that morning.
To wrap things up, we had another round of drinks, lively conversations, and the satisfying feeling that we share more than just our daily lives.