Hackathons are exhilarating events that challenge developers to transform their ideas into functional prototypes within a limited timeframe. Between planning, building, and pitching, it’s a lot to get done in a short amount of time! But don’t worry, you’re not in it alone.
While the time pressure can be intimidating at first glance, we asked previous hackathon winners to share their insights and strategies—providing you with a valuable roadmap to help navigate the hackathon process from idea to prototype.
Read on for top tips from previous hackathon winners.
Set clear goals and expectations
Before diving into the hackathon frenzy, Nathan, a 22-time hackathon winner, emphasizes the importance of starting with a clear plan.
"Write down your goals jamaica telegram screening and expectations. Allocate how much time you'd like to dedicate to different aspects of the event—be it developing the project, networking, attending workshops, or simply enjoying the fun activities,” said Nathan.
This initial planning phase ensures that you and your team are aligned and focused on the desired outcomes.
Adopt the prototype mindset
Ansh, a second-year computer science major at Georgia Tech and avid student hackathon participant, reminds us to "treat the product you're making as a prototype." Rather than attempting to create a fully-fledged, feature-rich application in a short time frame, concentrate on developing a few key features that demonstrate the viability of your idea. "This means having 2-3 must-have features that are necessary to demonstrate that this is a viable idea," he advises.