HOW TO WIN AHACKATHON10 Tips For Hackathon

Success

@jukkayl

KNOW YOURCHALLENGEWhat are the rules of thecompetition? What criteria are youjudged on? Emphasize these things inyour solution.

Is certain data, API or technologygiven to you to hack on? Start bythinking what those resources enableand what the biggest challengesarising from them are.

1.

@jukkayl

Solving the biggest problemsusually offers the best chancefor creating value, and the

team creating the most valuewith their solution is usually

the winner.

@jukkayl

THINKDIFFERENTLYChange your perspective. Realizethat hackathons are aboutcreating creative solutions for agiven problem.

The solution doesn’t have to bedeveloped into a workingproduct - creating an appealingconcept and validating it is morethan enough.

2.

@jukkayl

Hackathons aren’t about what youcan do, they’re about what needs to

be done. Create a concept forsomething a good team could makehappen with proper resources.

@jukkayl

BUILD ADREAM TEAMThe greatest hackathon teams aremultidisciplinary. They’re able totackle the challenge with a widerrange of skills and perspective andthis gives them competitiveadvantage.

Aim for a good mix of developers,designers, business people andperhaps something else.

3.

@jukkayl

Teams consisting solely ofdevelopers or business peopleetc. is not a good idea becausethey’re more likely to fall intogroupthink and be blind to

possible solutions.

@jukkayl

TALK TOPEOPLEStart with customers and figure outtheir needs and wants. Solving theirkey problems is your biggest chancefor creating value and making yoursolution count.

Talking to the people on premisesusually goes far, but don’t be afraid toreach out to the people you need. Useyour social media channels forreaching out and quick surveys.

4.

@jukkayl

Talk to the stakeholders andfind out what you can do tomake their lives easier. Yoursolution is dead in the waterif they're not aboard with it.

@jukkayl

BUILD A SOLUTION ONWHAT YOU LEARNEDWhat creates value for the customerand the stakeholders and is relevantin the context of the challenge?Brainstorm this with your team foras long as you need. If you’re able tofind a solution like this, you’re alreadya strong contender.

Get back to the previous stages ifyou're not able to find a propersolution.

5.

@jukkayl

Data/API

Yoursolutiongoes here

Customerneeds

TESTEVERYTHINGRun your idea by your customersand stakeholders. Do they seethe value in it like you do?

Build a quick & dirty prototype totest and present the idea. Usepeople on premises and socialmedia if needed.

6.

@jukkayl

Don’t make guesses on the keyaspects of your concept -validate all assumptions.

@jukkayl

BUILD A VIABLEBUSINESS MODELThe jury is usually very concernedwith who’s going to pay for theproposed solution. Figure out whoyour key customer groups are andwhere the money comes from.

You can use tools like business modelcanvas to brainstorm this further. Berealistic but optimistic.

7.

@jukkayl

Data/API

Viablebusinessmodel

Customerneeds

Yoursolution ishere!

@jukkayl

FAIL FAST AND TRYSOMETHING ELSEIf something looks like it’s not goingto work, get back to the drawingboard and see if it can be fixedor whether you need to try anothersolution.

Again, talk to people and bouncearound the idea. Be quick and decisivein your actions.

8.

@jukkayl

Don’t be afraid to fail and tryanother solution. Remember,you’re on a tight schedule andpursuing dead-end solutions isjust wasting everybody’s time.

@jukkayl

WORK ASA TEAMYour team is your #1 resource. Get toknow each other, make sure you allknow what you’re doing, involveeverybody and fully use your team’scapabilities. Tight schedules can bestressful so be nice to each other.

Take breaks, take it easy andremember hackathons are supposedto be fun. Pull all-nighters only if youabsolutely have to, in most cases youreally don’t.

9.

@jukkayl

Your team has one goal and thatis to create the best possiblesolution for the hackathon, so

work together.

@jukkayl

BUILD AKILLER PITCH!

If you’ve done your work properly, thispart is easy. Simply make your workvisible.

Your pitch needs to cover just 4things: short explanation of theconcept and business model, benefitsfor the customers/owner/stakeholdersand demo of the prototype, ifapplicable. Keep things short, sweetand visual.

10.

@jukkayl

The pitch doesn’t have to be adeck of slides. Think of creativealternatives and don’t be afraidto show personality no matterwhat you decide to do. Again,hackathons are supposed to be

fun :)

@jukkayl

NOW GO AND WIN THATHACKATHON!

If you liked the deck, pleasecomment, share and follow meon twitter and slideshare!

@jukkayl

All images under CC0 license