Young Academies aim to support junior scientists and to get their voices heard by decision-makers as they race to produce academic knowledge and meet ever-evolving research-evaluation procedures. They also advocate science’s role in helping to meet societal challenges, and provide authentic, trustworthy information in an era of misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Many early-career researchers juggle these demands alongside precarious positions and caring responsibilities. The Hungarian Young Academy was launched in 2019. As founding members, we wanted to share how we went about getting it live. We hope our experience will be useful to early-career researchers who are keen to set up a Young Academy in their country, and to raise awareness about the types of activities that Young Academies get involved in.