What is the purpose of a hackathon?

Hackathons are not single-purpose events, but rather multifaceted opportunities for both the host organization(s) and participants to achieve a diverse set of objectives. Some of the most common applications for the host(s) include; discovering business solutions, accelerated product/service launch, staff training and engagement, canvassing for new talent, and improved developer relations.

What happens during a hackathon?

A hackathon is a versatile competition that brings together creative thinkers to solve various problems in a predetermined (typically short) amount of time. There is a wide variety of hackathon event structures but the typical framework is as follows; 1. The event challenges, objectives, rules, parameters and timelines are clearly defined by the host organization(s), 2. Members from ideal/target demographics are invited and encouraged to participate, 3. Participants form teams of 4-6 people, 4. Teams work to find creative solutions to the challenge and build a prototype of their concept, 5. Once complete teams demonstrate their product to a panel of expert judges, 6. Winners are announced and prizes awarded, the organizer announces the winning team

Why is it called a hackathon?

The term “hackathon” is an amalgamation (more formally known as a portmanteau) of the words “hacker” and “marathon”. A “hacker” generally refers to computer programmers, designers, innovators, and other domain experts. The marathon component is derived from the short time frame in which most hackathons are structured. Challenges typically push participants to work for extended hours without sleep in order to complete their prototype. The term hackathon was first coined in Calgary, Canada, on June 4, 1999 for the OpenBSD Hackathon. Check out our article What is a Hackathon?

How long is a hackathon?

Typically hackathons run for 24-48 hours depending on the expected outcome, however some extend beyond this typical frame if more extensive prototyping is needed.

How do I prepare for my first hackathon?

1. Study and explore previous hackathons by the host organization and winning solutions. These insights will help you to anticipate the types of challenges you’ll face, 2. Determine where to find the resources you will need during the hackathon, 3. Learn how to effectively work in teams, by attributing the right task to the individual with the correct skillset, 4. Explore and research the host organization’s industry

Are hackathons worth it?

Hackathons offer added value to both organizers and attendees. They are a great option when looking to find and assess business solutions, work with startups, train your staff, build a talent pool or launch a new product/service. As an attendee it’s a chance to network with others in similar fields, bring your ideas to life, learn new skills, or push outside your comfort zone and improve your skills.

Who can take part in Hackathon?

Each hackathon is unique and may or may not have specific prerequisites. Some events are open to anyone interested, while others may be specific to students, those with particular certifications or credentials, for example. It’s best to explore the guidelines before registering.

Planning a Successful Online Hackathon: The Essentials

Posted on

December 22, 2021

It takes a lot to host a hackathon. There are seemingly endless considerations to make when planning this activity. One of the most important decisions that need to be made is if you are going to hold an online hackathon or a physical one.

Both types of hackathons will have different demands and specifications. This is why this should be the first decision you make when you plan a hackathon. This blog post will focus on online hackathons and their advantages over their physical counterparts.
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Planning a Successful Online Hackathon: The Essentials

Whether it is your first time or not planning a hackathon, it pays to know the essentials of planning an online hackathon event. Chances are, even if this is not your first time hosting, there is a big possibility that this is one of the first times you hosted an online hackathon event.
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Online Hackathons vs Traditional Hackathons

Online hackathons are slightly different from traditional ones. They also present a whole set of advantages that may not be possible for traditional hackathons, especially in light of the recent situation.
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1 - No Geographical Constraints

With an online hackathon, the world will be your oyster. You will not need to restrict yourself to only inviting IT professionals within your geographical location. Since the event will be held online, you will be able to recruit brilliant minds from different places and invite them to participate.
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2 - More Budget-Friendly

You will not need to spend a fortune when you host an online event. You will have more budget to allot for prizes and giveaways because you will not need to pay for a venue or other expenses.
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Planning a Socially (and Physically Distant) Hackathon

One of the best advantages is that online hackathons will not require participants to be physically together in one location. Even if the pandemic protocols have relaxed somewhat during the previous months, it is still better (and safer) for everyone involved if social and physical distancing is still observed.
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Selecting a Hackathon Platform

One of the most essential considerations you need to make is to look into the hackathon platform that you will use for your event. There are certain features you should be looking out for when you choose the platform you use.

For your participants, you need the platform to be able to offer easy registration, quick team formation processes, and a straightforward way to submit entries for the hackathon event. All of these must be relatively easy, meaning you need to find a user-friendly platform. (We can help!)

On the other hand, the hosts of the event need to be able to have easy access to all the participants’ profiles. Also, they should be able to view all the submissions that participants turn in. The submissions should be accessible without having the need to download them.
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Plan Your Hackathon Today!

Hackathons are great experiences for aspiring programmers and IT professionals. Aside from being a convenient way for great minds to meet, online hackathons are great platforms to allow for fast-paced innovation. Not to mention the participants will have a lot of fun in the process! Now that you know the advantages of planning an online hackathon, we hope that you will be able to walk away with enough information to plan a successful online event.

Create or join a hackathon at Hackathon.com! We are the largest online hackathon community worldwide, connecting over 2000 hackathon organizers with our 10 million+ member innovators around the globe. Be part of the biggest and best hackathons today!

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