Hackathons 101: How to Hack Your Way to the Top

Hackathons 101: How to Hack Your Way to the Top

Over the past few years, hackathons have become incredibly popular, drawing thousands of participants and offering enormous prizes. The success of public hackathons has led some companies to start hacking internally by hosting events that encourage employees to get creative and develop something new. Participants spend a day hacking away on various projects that cross all boundaries of the company and address the challenges in their industrry, sometimes resulting in real-world products. Shutterstock, SumAll and Point Inside have all incorporated hackathon projects into their products.

Aside from potentially gaining new product functionalities, companies can benefit from hosting an internal hackathon in a variety of ways. For example, the collaborative nature of a hackathon creates an excellent opportunity for team bonding across departments, and gives employees a fun, creative outlet that can help boost company morale. Also, even if a hackathon doesn’t result in a fully developed product update, it can lead to innovative new ideas that could be developed into a new feature down the line. And the benefits extend beyond the walls of your company — by promoting a positive company culture, hackathons can also support external initiatives such as recruiting.

From an employee perspective, hackathons are a great opportunity to tap into your creative side, develop or show off your skills as a developer, and maybe even create the next great feature for your company’s product. So what can team members do to create the winning hackathon project that becomes part of their company’s product line?

We have seen more and more hackathon rookies turn into seasoned veterans who produce amazing work. I reflected on what has made these people and their projects so successful and distilled it down to some do’s and don’ts that could help you win your next hackathon.

DO Plan Ahead — The time leading up to the hackathon is more critical than the event itself. When the hackathon begins, you should already have an idea of what you want to do, have thought through the technical challenges, and acquired any resources you may need like virtual machines, datasets or API access.

DON’T Work Alone — Hackathons can be a great time to learn something new on your own, but having a team with complementary skillsets will allow you to work more efficiently and learn from others who are already experts.

DON’T Think You Can’t Contribute — Everyone brings unique skills to a team and all members need to contribute to be successful. Figure out how you can contribute most to the team and focus on that part of the project.

DON’T Be Afraid to Pivot — Like many successful startup companies, successful hackathon projects often pivot from their original idea into something else that was discovered along the way. If you think you’ve discovered something even better, or more useful during your project, switch gears and focus on that instead.

DO Develop a Realistic Scope — You must be realistic about what you can achieve during your allotted hackathon timeframe. Start by envisioning the “perfect” solution and then work backward until you reach a realistic scope. If you finish earlier than expected, you can always increase the scope and add new features and more polish.

DO Occupy a Different Space — A change of scenery can help get your creativity flowing and inspire new ideas. Instead of sitting at your desk like always, work in the kitchen, take over a conference room for the day, or just push some desks together into a different configuration.

DON’T Waste Time — You only have a small window to get things done so make sure you are using it effectively. If something isn’t adding value to the project, do you really need to spend time on it or can it be cut from the project scope?

DO Take Shortcuts — Hackathons are more about prototyping and proofs of concept than production-level products. Take any and all shortcuts you can, like static or simulated datasets and “happy case” development, to meet your goal. If you first get to a working solution, you can then go back and work through any shortcuts or assumptions later without sacrificing the success of the project.

Hackathons can be daunting to the uninitiated, but if you plan and use your time effectively, you’ll find yourself achieving things you didn’t think were possible.

About the Author

Bill Johnson is the director of engineering at Point Inside, responsible for the Web Applications and Location Services teams. Prior to Point Inside, he worked at VMware, EMC and Sittercity. Johnson has also been a run coach for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Team Challenge for more than four years. He is an avid Seattle Sounders soccer fan, and holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from University of Michigan.

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
Global Layoffs

Tech Layoffs Are Getting Worse Globally

Since the start of 2023, the global technology sector has experienced a significant rise in layoffs, with over 236,000 workers being let go by 1,019

Cybersecurity Banking Revolution

Digital Banking Needs Cybersecurity

The banking, financial, and insurance (BFSI) sectors are pioneers in digital transformation, using web applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) to provide seamless services to

FinTech Leadership

Terry Clune’s Fintech Empire

Over the past 30 years, Terry Clune has built a remarkable business empire, with CluneTech at the helm. The CEO and Founder has successfully created

The Role Of AI Within A Web Design Agency?

In the digital age, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in web design is rapidly evolving, transitioning from a futuristic concept to practical tools used

Global Layoffs

Tech Layoffs Are Getting Worse Globally

Since the start of 2023, the global technology sector has experienced a significant rise in layoffs, with over 236,000 workers being let go by 1,019 tech firms, as per data

Huawei Electric Dazzle

Huawei Dazzles with Electric Vehicles and Wireless Earbuds

During a prominent unveiling event, Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications powerhouse, kept quiet about its enigmatic new 5G phone and alleged cutting-edge chip development. Instead, Huawei astounded the audience by presenting

Cybersecurity Banking Revolution

Digital Banking Needs Cybersecurity

The banking, financial, and insurance (BFSI) sectors are pioneers in digital transformation, using web applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) to provide seamless services to customers around the world. Rising

FinTech Leadership

Terry Clune’s Fintech Empire

Over the past 30 years, Terry Clune has built a remarkable business empire, with CluneTech at the helm. The CEO and Founder has successfully created eight fintech firms, attracting renowned

The Role Of AI Within A Web Design Agency?

In the digital age, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in web design is rapidly evolving, transitioning from a futuristic concept to practical tools used in design, coding, content writing

Generative AI Revolution

Is Generative AI the Next Internet?

The increasing demand for Generative AI models has led to a surge in its adoption across diverse sectors, with healthcare, automotive, and financial services being among the top beneficiaries. These

Microsoft Laptop

The New Surface Laptop Studio 2 Is Nuts

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a dynamic and robust all-in-one laptop designed for creators and professionals alike. It features a 14.4″ touchscreen and a cutting-edge design that is over

5G Innovations

GPU-Accelerated 5G in Japan

NTT DOCOMO, a global telecommunications giant, is set to break new ground in the industry as it prepares to launch a GPU-accelerated 5G network in Japan. This innovative approach will

AI Ethics

AI Journalism: Balancing Integrity and Innovation

An op-ed, produced using Microsoft’s Bing Chat AI software, recently appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, discussing the potential concerns surrounding the employment of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism. These

Savings Extravaganza

Big Deal Days Extravaganza

The highly awaited Big Deal Days event for October 2023 is nearly here, scheduled for the 10th and 11th. Similar to the previous year, this autumn sale has already created

Cisco Splunk Deal

Cisco Splunk Deal Sparks Tech Acquisition Frenzy

Cisco’s recent massive purchase of Splunk, an AI-powered cybersecurity firm, for $28 billion signals a potential boost in tech deals after a year of subdued mergers and acquisitions in the

Iran Drone Expansion

Iran’s Jet-Propelled Drone Reshapes Power Balance

Iran has recently unveiled a jet-propelled variant of its Shahed series drone, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s drone technology. The new drone is poised to reshape the regional

Solar Geoengineering

Did the Overshoot Commission Shoot Down Geoengineering?

The Overshoot Commission has recently released a comprehensive report that discusses the controversial topic of Solar Geoengineering, also known as Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). The Commission’s primary objective is to

Remote Learning

Revolutionizing Remote Learning for Success

School districts are preparing to reveal a substantial technological upgrade designed to significantly improve remote learning experiences for both educators and students amid the ongoing pandemic. This major investment, which

Revolutionary SABERS Transforming

SABERS Batteries Transforming Industries

Scientists John Connell and Yi Lin from NASA’s Solid-state Architecture Batteries for Enhanced Rechargeability and Safety (SABERS) project are working on experimental solid-state battery packs that could dramatically change the

Build a Website

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

Are you wondering how much it costs to build a website? The approximated cost is based on several factors, including which add-ons and platforms you choose. For example, a self-hosted

Battery Investments

Battery Startups Attract Billion-Dollar Investments

In recent times, battery startups have experienced a significant boost in investments, with three businesses obtaining over $1 billion in funding within the last month. French company Verkor amassed $2.1

Copilot Revolution

Microsoft Copilot: A Suit of AI Features

Microsoft’s latest offering, Microsoft Copilot, aims to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. By integrating various AI capabilities, this all-in-one tool provides users with an improved experience that not

AI Girlfriend Craze

AI Girlfriend Craze Threatens Relationships

The surge in virtual AI girlfriends’ popularity is playing a role in the escalating issue of loneliness among young males, and this could have serious repercussions for America’s future. A

AIOps Innovations

Senser is Changing AIOps

Senser, an AIOps platform based in Tel Aviv, has introduced its groundbreaking AI-powered observability solution to support developers and operations teams in promptly pinpointing the root causes of service disruptions

Bebop Charging Stations

Check Out The New Bebob Battery Charging Stations

Bebob has introduced new 4- and 8-channel battery charging stations primarily aimed at rental companies, providing a convenient solution for clients with a large quantity of batteries. These wall-mountable and

Malyasian Networks

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Growth

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plan to implement a dual 5G network strategy. This move is designed to achieve a more equitable incorporation of both

Advanced Drones Race

Pentagon’s Bold Race for Advanced Drones

The Pentagon has recently unveiled its ambitious strategy to acquire thousands of sophisticated drones within the next two years. This decision comes in response to Russia’s rapid utilization of airborne

Important Updates

You Need to See the New Microsoft Updates

Microsoft has recently announced a series of new features and updates across their applications, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. These new developments are centered around improving user experience, streamlining