2015 was a huge year for hackathons, maybe the biggest ever. And judging by the state of my inbox, 2016 is going to be even better and more important for reaching developers. So, whether you’ve thrown hackathons before or you’re just starting out, here are 5 principles that’ll make yours standout.
1. Own your event
The best parts of throwing a hackathon are spending time with the hackers who attend and, assuming your event goes well, the goodwill you’ll cultivate with them.
"That’s why you need to own your event and run it yourself."
Yes, hackathons are specialized events and you may not having any experience with them, but there are TONS of resources available online and it’s entirely possible for you to organize one. It simply takes some care and attention — exactly the same care and attention you want developers to recognize.
If you really don’t have the internal capacity to host your own hackathon, sponsor one near you. Independently organized and collegiate hackathons would love your support. You’ll get to interact with hackers and learn how to organize a great hackathon!
2. Open Up
If your organization hosts internal, employee only hackathons, 2016 is the year to open up and invite others in. I promise you, this is an actual game changer.
First off, your hackathon shouldn’t be an accelerated sprint for your dev team. It’s not about improving you core product or tech. A much better objective is be to make new connections and explore experiments that could lead to something more in the future.
3. Be healthy
I like pizza as much as much as any New Yorker, but let’s stop the health debt at hackathons. Attendees will code, feel, and be happier with proper nutrition. That means fewer bagels and donuts at breakfast and more fruit. Less pizza and more salad. And instead of late night cookies and Redbull, how about a few hours of sleep? You can’t “rise & grind” without a good night’s rest.
4. Think like your audience
This is the number one piece of advice that I give first time hackathon organizers:
"Every decision you make should enhance your hackers’ experience. Aim for a safe, comfortable place to focus and code."
Will loud music make is easier for teams to build? Likely not, so don’t do it. Will a clear, enforceable code of conduct make attendees feel safe and comfortable? Yes. Will nice chairs, extra power strips, and enough table space help? Yes, focus your energy on that.
5. Give prizes that inspire
Prizes are a source of contention in the hackathon world. Large cash prizes attract press, but more often they’ll drain the fun and collaborative spirit out of your hackathon, reducing it to some sort of Idol like competition.
Instead, give prizes that validate team / individual achievements and create opportunities for more creativity. For example, last summer I was involved in a hackathon focused on quantified self. Our top prize was a fantastic sensor kit that the team could use in their next project. The kit wasn’t cheap, but neither did it cost multiple thousands of dollars.
Access and mentorship also make fantastic prizes. What’s the experience you can provide a hacker that they can’t get on their own?
Here’s the Bottom line
At a good hackathon, everybody leaves happy. At a great hackathon, everybody wants to comes back.
Happy Hacking!
Richard hackathons@devpost.com
Thanks to Neal Shyam for his awesome editing skills!