Thinking outside the box is a concept not many people get to exercise on a daily basis. It’s actually a good exercise as it challenges you to think differently. Interestingly, one of the best expressions of thinking outside the box is a little event called a hackathon where computer programmers and software developers compete in designing a brand new and innovative product in a short span of time.
Over the years, companies and organizations have run their own hackathons and have produced some of the most outstanding applications being used in the industry today. The question is, what’s stopping you from organizing your own hackathon, given how beneficial it could be to your company? Well, this guide should be able to convince you as we list some of the best reasons why you should run your own company hackathon.
1. Driving Innovation
Here’s a fun fact: Most Fortune 500 companies run their own hackathons as recurring events. Why is that? It’s because of innovation. The concept of hackathons was founded on the principle of bringing people together to innovate and make something great that would benefit others. When you organize a hackathon, you’re actually giving your company an opportunity to create something new that may or may not have been done before. It allows you to explore what your community has to offer and learn about industry developments while generating fresh ideas from some of the brightest minds in the industry.
2. Getting the Word Out
Like any other successful event, a hackathon is also capable of bringing people together and letting them talk about your company and why you’re organizing a hackathon. It’s an extremely fast-paced activity where you can make a lot of noise and get people talking about your company. Organizing a hackathon is perhaps the perfect way to let the people know that you value innovation and critical thinking above everything else. It shows what you believe in as a company and your determination to bring out the best talents in all of the participants. That’s exactly what people would want to talk about for years to come.
3. Recruiting Opportunities
You can organize a hackathon within your company or open it up for outsiders to join. Doing that is actually much more beneficial as it gives you the opportunity to find new talent that could be great for your company. If you’re looking for a young and talented IT specialist or someone passionate about software development and engineering, then a hackathon would be the perfect place to find them. Gathering dozens of promising programmers for a single competition where their skills will be tested is a great career opportunity for the participants. Taking advantage of that while also cultivating their ideas is basically a win-win situation.
4. Branding Opportunities
Organizing events has always been one of the most potent tools for publicity and marketing. But an event like a hackathon is even better because of the goal of cultivating new ideas and discovering better products. Essentially, it’s an excellent way to promote your brand and your company. At the same time, you’re also raising awareness among your target audience, your benefactors, and even your competitors.
Start Your Own Hackathon Today!
You’ll never go wrong with running your own hackathon. In fact, you stand to benefit from it greatly, not just in the short-term but also in the foreseeable future. Looking at this list, you'll clearly see just how much of an impact a simple hackathon can have on your company.
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