The Ultimate Hackathon Guide — From Preparation to Winning

14 min readMar 31, 2025

In this research, we take a deep dive into the key roles of Superteam in the ecosystem, such as community building, instagrants, hosting online and IRL events alongside constantly pushing educational content. Additionally, we’ll take a look at Solana Hackathons, who they are meant for, what purpose they serve and explain how we can help your idea succeed.

1. What is Superteam?

A Superteam is a community-driven collective that helps builders, developers, and entrepreneurs launch and scale projects in the Solana ecosystem. Additionally, Superteams operate as regional hubs that provide resources, funding, and connections to accelerate the adoption of Solana.

These teams offer guidance, financial support, and access to mentorship for anyone interested in building on Solana or participating in Hackathons. Whether you are a developer, designer, marketer, or entrepreneur, Superteam can help you get started and succeed by connecting you with experienced builders and opportunities that can fast-track your project’s development.

Superteams operate in different regions all around the world, supporting local communities while contributing to Solana’s global adoption.

Key functions of a Superteam:

Help developers and entrepreneurs build on Solana by providing connections and key hires.
Facilitate Solana grants and organize bounties.
Host regular educational events, IT quizzes, Startup Villages, and meetups.
Create guides, tutorials, and case studies to help people understand and use Solana’s on-chain and real-life use cases alongside its powerful technical infrastructure.
Connect startups with investors and partners.

2. What is a Hackathon?

A hackathon is an event where developers, designers, and entrepreneurs collaborate intensively in teams within a set timeframe to create solutions for existing problems and user pain points. Larger Solana hackathons extend over several weeks, allowing for more refined project development. As of now, the official Solana Hackathons are hosted by Colosseum and officially last one month. There are additional thematic hackathons, such as the AI Agent or the Global Creator Competition, alongside frequent smaller competitions.

Colosseum hackathons are global, online competitions designed to grow the Solana startup ecosystem. If you’re considering building a crypto startup, these hackathons provide the perfect opportunity to showcase what you can build as just participating can arm you with great experience, and in case you perform well, you receive rewards and can enter into Colosseum’s accelerator program. The Colosseum’s hackathons are fully free.

Colosseum runs two hackathons per year, each followed by a new accelerator. In between the two hackathons, a longer event, Eternal is your opportunity to compete for the recurring Eternal Award, as well as admittance into Solana’s leading accelerator program. More information about Eternal at the Ongoing Hackathons section of the article.

Colosseum hackathons are different from traditional hackathons. The competitions are intended for serious developers and entrepreneurs to compete, formulate a business idea and sprint through development.

It’s crucial to note that this hackathon format is for new projects that haven’t raised outside capital. It is not intended for established projects who have been building the same product for years and have already raised venture funding. Projects cannot have started development more than 2 months before the commencement of the Colosseum hackathon.

Projects will only be judged on the code and work produced between the start and end dates of the hackathon. This rule does not mean that if you previously built an unrelated product and raised funding that you’re ineligible. Builders may use any pre-existing code in project submissions only after they have notified the Colosseum team about the nature of their previous work and have received approval.

It is highly recommended to go through the FAQs and official rules before submitting your work.

3. How can Superteam specifically help you in Hackathons?

Since Superteam has vast amounts of data from previous hackathons and multiple members who have won tracks, they provide a collection of resources new startups can use for their advantage in the competition. For a more hands-on approach and personalized help, Solana Hungary can be your go-to partner.

Global ST resources include:

Developer Toolkits: a curated list of essential development resources to help you build efficiently.
Past Hackathon Winners’ Insights: Case studies and examples from previous Solana hackathons to guide your strategy and learn from others’ mistakes.
Pitch Deck Templates: professionally designed templates to craft the perfect presentation.
Demo Video Templates: guidelines for creating compelling video demonstrations of your project.
Idea Resources: a hub to help you brainstorm and validate project ideas.

Explore more at Superteam’s Hackathon Guide.

4. Preparation and execution

Understand the Evaluation Criteria

Each project submission in a hackathon is judged based on specific criteria.
The latest Colosseum “Radar” Hackathon evaluation criterias:

Functionality: How well does the project work? Is the code clean and efficient?
Potential Impact: What is the market size for this project? How will it impact the broader Solana ecosystem?
Novelty: How unique and innovative is the idea?
User Experience (UX): Does the project make the most of Solana’s performance to deliver a seamless UX?
Open-Source: Is the project open-source? How well does it integrate with other Solana ecosystem primitives?
Business Plan: Does this project have the potential to develop into a viable startup?

By keeping these criteria in mind from the start, you can ensure your project aligns with the expectations of judges.

Capture Your Ideas

One of the most crucial steps before a hackathon is organizing your ideas. Writing down your concept before it starts provides a clear reference point and ensures that your team is aligned from the beginning.

Describe:

The problem you aim to solve
Your innovative solution
Your assumptions and technologies involved

Define the target outcome. By the end of the competition, you’ll need to submit and present an MVP. An MVP is essentially a functional prototype or initial version of a product that demonstrates its core features and value proposition, allowing for presentation and feedback during the competition.

If you’re struggling to come up with a project, Superteam’s Idea Hub provides a list of over 200+ Solana-based project ideas across various categories, including DeFi, AI, DAOs, and more. We also have a dedicated channel in our Solana Hungary discord server where anyone can submit ideas, give feedback, or join teams.

Browse project ideas: Find Hackathon Ideas and on Colosseum’s Site.

Validate your idea — is it really unique?

Many participants enter hackathons thinking they have come up with a groundbreaking idea, only to realize that similar projects already exist. To avoid redundant work, conduct a quick web search to verify the uniqueness of your idea. Even if a similar solution exists, look for potential differentiators, something that sets your project apart, whether in execution, market positioning, or technical approach. If you find yourself unable to distinguish your idea from existing ones, consider pivoting to an alternative approach that offers a fresh perspective on the problem.

This process ensures that your idea has a competitive edge, or helps you pivot to a better alternative before you start the development.

Have the right team

It is essential to build a balanced team. The most common team structure for these competitions include:

Backend Developers: Responsible for the core infrastructure, database management, blockchain-related development, and API integration.
Frontend Developers: Ensure the user experience is seamless and visually appealing.
UI/UX Designers: Focus on making the product intuitive and easy to use.
Business Strategists: Help with market research, collaborations, roadmap planning, and pitch preparation.

Beyond technical skills, team dynamics matter. Choose teammates who can work under pressure, make quick decisions, and execute rapidly.

Focus on agility and speed.
Appoint a strong product leader with a clear vision.
Include a technical expert with a rapid problem-solving mindset.

It is also essential for the long term, to find a co-founder who can help you take the idea to the next level. We found the best combination to be a technical co-founder with a slightly technical business minded co-founder.

Developer Toolkits and Essential Skills

Time management is key in hackathons, and knowing what to prioritize can make all the difference. Start with the core functionality and progressively add secondary features if time permits.

Use existing tools and APIs rather than building everything from scratch, as this will allow you to move quickly. To speed up development, you can also hard-code non-essential components, mock data, and leverage pre-built assets. Remember, the goal is to demonstrate a working solution rather than a polished final product.

Superteam and Colosseum both provide a curated list of over 50 essential developer tools to help teams build on Solana more efficiently. These include:

Solana CLI: Command-line tools for deploying and managing Solana programs.
Anchor Framework: A framework for building secure Solana smart contracts.
RPC Providers: Access to Solana blockchain data via API endpoints.

Explore the full list: Developer Toolkits and Developer Resources

To maximize your chances of success, it helps to have basic competency in the following areas in your team as a developer:

Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (React.js for front-end, Node.js or Flask for back-end)
Database Management: MySQL, SQLite, or MongoDB
APIs: Ability to integrate third-party APIs using Fetch or Axios
Git & GitHub
Basic UX/UI Design

Get ready to pitch

Prepare your pitch from the beginning, not just at the end. Someone from the team has to think and work on this part of the race from the beginning.

Define your audience and formulate the message accordingly.
Start with your biggest benefit
Then, highlight key aspects: problem, solution, business potential, and differentiation.
Make assumptions, it’s okay to fake certain aspects, as long as you clarify them.
Use statistics to support your assumptions.
Keep it simple and engaging
Rehearse multiple times to refine the flow and delivery.

Check out some tips about pitching from mentors:

A great idea can still fail if it’s not presented well. Your pitch should be clear, compelling, and backed by a working demo. Hackathon pitches typically require:

A well-structured problem statement
A concise explanation of the proposed solution
A functional demo showcasing the product’s core features
A discussion of the potential impact and market opportunity
A closing statement reinforcing why your project stands out

Superteam offers a Figma-based pitch deck template to help structure your presentation. Access the template: Pitch Deck Template

Sometimes, a great demo video can make a huge difference. Superteam’s guide to creating effective demo videos includes:

How to structure your demo script
Essential elements to highlight in your video
Editing tools and best practices

Create a great demo: Demo Video Template

Past Hackathon Winners

Want to see what a winning project looks like? Superteam has compiled a showcase of past Solana hackathon winners, including:

Winning Projects: Case studies of successful hackathon submissions.
Judges Feedback: Insights into what made these projects stand out.
Project Demos: Watch presentations and live demos from past winners.

Learn from past winners: Past Hackathon Winners

Winning Strategies for Solana Hackathons

To increase your chances of success:

Stay Focused: Don’t get lost in unnecessary features. Focus on MVP.
Leverage Mentorship: Seek guidance from hackathon mentors.
Validate Quickly: Gather early feedback from users, ensure that your solution meets real needs.
Polish Your Presentation: Judges appreciate a well-structured and visually appealing pitch.
Use Expert Advice: Learn from past winners and industry veterans.

Check out these:

By leveraging the resources provided by Solana Superteam, you’ll be in a strong position to not just participate, but perform well and win your next Solana hackathon!

5. Last Solana Hackathon (Radar)

Radar was the 10th Solana Foundation hackathon and the 2nd run by Colosseum. The competition brought together founders and developers from 120+ countries to build products spanning Infrastructure, Gaming, DePIN, DAOs, DeFi, Payments, and a long-tail of Consumer Applications. More than 10000 participants teamed up to submit 1359 final projects.

There is a Grand Champion, the absolute winner of the hackathon with the highest prize, and each track also has its own winner.

The Grand Champion at Radar was Reflect, a DeFi currency exchange based on hedge-backed stablecoins, received the Grand Prize of $50,000 USDC, along with passes to attend Breakpoint 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

Consumer Track TOP 3:
- Pregame (a p2p sports betting platform) — $30.000 in USDC
- Trenches.Top (a platform tokenizing the reputation of alpha callers)
- Genesis (a platform for fractional and tokenized IP investing)

DePIN Track TOP 3:
- SvachSakthi (an off-grid cooperative network for renewable energy) — $30.000 in USDC
- AdX (a decentralized ad network)
- Cura (a DePIN pet collar for dog walking enthusiasts)

Payments Track TOP 3:
- FXSwap (protocol that allows for efficient swaps between Forex and stablecoins) — 30k$
- Hylo (a dual-token stablecoin system back by LSTs)
- Split Finance (a buy now pay never payment solution)

DAOs n Network States Track TOP 3:
- AlphaFC (a community platform for fan-operated sports teams) — 30k$
- Marshmallow (an app to teach kids about financial literacy through onchain tools)
- Bizzed (a community platform for evaluation of and group investing in SMBs)

The University Award:
- Lexicon — 10k$ (led by university students)

Public Good Award:
- an open-source project that benefits developers across the Solana ecosystem, goes to Attest Protocol — receiving 10k$

Climate Award:
- recognizing projects that are built with climate change and sustainability in mind, goes to Endcoin — receiving 5k$

6. Ongoing Solana Hackathons

Colosseum just launched a new challenge called Eternal designed for builders who want to push the limits of innovation and secure critical early-stage support.

What is Colosseum Eternal?

Colosseum Eternal is an on-demand, 4-week development sprint any time within Eternal’s timeframe, where teams compete for $250,000 in pre-seed funding, a spot in Colosseum’s next accelerator batch, and the prestigious semi-annual Eternal Award. Unlike traditional hackathons, Eternal allows founders to launch their sprint whenever they are ready, providing ongoing access to funding, mentorship, and resources.

How Does Eternal Fit Into the Solana Hackathon Ecosystem?

Colosseum Eternal isn’t a replacement for the two annual hackathons, launched for the Solana Foundation and its community. Instead, it’s an additional opportunity for ambitious founders to refine their ideas and accelerate their journey. If you’re eager to join our next accelerator cohort, your chances improve significantly by first participating in a Solana hackathon.

Apply now: colosseum.org/eternal

In addition to launching Colosseum Eternal, they just announced the dates for Solana’s upcoming 2025 hackathons:

Solana Breakout Hackathon: April 14 — May 16
Solana [Redacted] Hackathon: September 25 — October 30

Colosseum Applications are now also open: arena.colosseum.org

What are you submitting for?

By applying, you are competing for a $250,000 investment offered on founder-friendly terms, meaning the funding will be provided with conditions that are favorable to startup founders. Additionally, successful applicants will receive accreditation from Solana’s Official Accelerator, which can enhance credibility and open doors to further funding and networking opportunities.

There is also a chance to win up to $50,000 in prize money through various hackathon tracks, providing additional financial support for your project.

Beyond monetary benefits, selected applicants will gain lifetime access to Solana’s exclusive Founder’s Group, where they can connect and collaborate with top founders, investors, and developers in the Solana ecosystem. Moreover, participants will receive one-on-one mentorship sessions with some of the most influential figures in the Solana ecosystem, including Toly, Raj, Mert, and Armani.

However, before your project is reviewed by the judges, applications for Colosseum must first pass a shortlisting process. This means only the most promising submissions will be considered in the final evaluation.

Key bases you need to cover:

Minimum Requirements

Current pitch deck tweaked for solana
Public github of technical lead’s personal account
5 minutes of time to sign up & submit

Average Application

Templated pitch deck (see templates below)
Pre-recorded UX/UI or gameplay video with no voiceover
General github for project

Best Applications

Story-driven pitch deck designed for an accelerator with a presentation video
Product Demo video with voiceover from founder (max 3 minutes)
Github specifically for code repo of hackathon build

Focus your attention towards these areas for greatest leverage:

“One-liner & 50-word description” — short, snappy, clear, and validating.
“Twitter link” — recently active with good content and engagement in Solana circles
“Posting on Colosseum Forums” — getting over 10 likes and more than 2 comments on each post
A 2 minute video is going to be required for the Breakout Hackathon.

Tracks: AI, DeFi, DePIN, Gaming, Stablecoins, Infrastructure, Consumer Applications.

When it comes to GitHub, there’s no need to stress over the details of your code. The reviewers won’t be analyzing your repositories in depth — they’ll only take a quick glance at the linked profile to verify legitimacy.

Don’t stress over winning, simply submitting your application puts your project on Solana’s radar, which can lead to future opportunities, connections, and recognition. Many successful projects didn’t win their first hackathon, so never say never, what matters most is showing up.

Remember to select “Hungary” in your application for where the team is primarily based.

Source: Superteam UK and BLKN

7. How can we at Solana Hungary help you during Hackathons?

Solana Hungary is a collective of industry pioneers, educators, developers and serves as a hub for resources and collaboration. From start to finish we are inclined to help startups in the following aspects:

Idea formation and validation: we dedicated a “hackathon” channel in our discord server, where anyone can submit their business idea and get instant feedback on it. You need the name of the idea, a short description, the problem, necessary competences/skills and finally the MVP that you envision submitting. Upon sharing the brief overview, you can go into detail and explain more about your idea. Others can give you feedback, help validate the viability of the product

Finding teammates and co-founders: we have conducted research on multiple occasions into talent in our community, and if you define your needs clearly (for example: blockchain developer with Rust experience or UI/UX designer with web3 experience) we can connect you with individuals that might be the perfect hire. Our reach goes far beyond local talent, tapping into the global Solana ecosystem. Additionally we can help you utilize Superteam Talent to find crucial team additions for your project.

Pitch deck review: pitching is as crucial as having an MVP. Without an amazing pitch, chances are significantly lower to getting great results. This is why Solana Hungary team members are offering their experience to new projects to review pitch decks and give constructive criticism. A pitching event can also help you gain experience before you record it and submit to the hackathon.

Funding and grants: it’s crucial for startups to survive the pre-hackathon arena while having enough fuel to continue building after results are announced. Solana Hungary can help projects secure grants to sustain the development of the project. These may come directly from the entity or third parties, depending on the startup. Funding may come in additional sources such as access to gated services and payed subscription (APIs, RPCs, software licences), which are crucial to the development.

Hackathon workshops: Solana Hungary is inviting previous winners and participants from hackathons to share their experience, learnings, what they’d do differently and of course, advice to the next generation of startups. These happen weekly and are announced in advance. Each session is recorded, plus a written summary is shared afterwards.

Besides these critically important steps, our team and community is always available to test products, spread awareness, help with connections, advise on development and much more.