Source: Google

Running a Hackathon? An insider’s guide!

Hackathon season,

Make it memorable! Make it happen! 😄

Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?🤔

The W⁵ questions I see for running a Hackathon.

Source: Google

The framed four(W⁵ questions) will make you the best organiser or organising team if you really understand it. Organising a Hackathon will involve multiple parameters involving multiple teams, that I brought under these questions or steps.

Before that, What is a Hackathon ?

for aspiring Insiders

Hackathon is an environment that is setup for aspirants to hack i.e, to collaboratively learn and innovate something in a short duration. Students, Developers, Designers, Entrepreneurs and many others join together as teams and work on a their idea based on a short deadline. The diverse environment will create tremendous energy among all the participants to hack.

Step1: The Big Question ? Why?

Why are you hosting a hackathon? and you can say it has serious benefits.

Hackathons are playgrounds for bring out new ideas and talents and conducted based on different themes and causes.

Answering questions to the Why question 😄

  • Do you really have a unique theme? or a problem statement to work on?
  • Hack for recruitment or talent acquisition?
  • Is the event about community engagement or development?

Know why before getting it started, it will help you in further progress and to organise your requirements.

Source: Google

Unless you know why 😜

Now its time for the next steps and kick-off the process!!

Step2: Know What ?

  • Theme of the hackathon.
  • Technology — IoT, Cloud, Fintech or what?.
  • Swags and give aways. — T-Shirts, Tags, Badges, Stickers.
  • Prices 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Runner prices.
  • what are the equipment requirements?.

Step3: The makers, Who?

Source: Google

The backbone of Hackathon’s generally involve team work, knowing who is who is a very important task. Find out the following:

  • Organiser, Co-Organiser & the organising team.
  • Judge & his panel of Judges.
  • Speakers & Guest.
  • Mentors & Guides.
  • Facilitators & Tech Support.
  • Who are and how many participants?.
  • Volunteers
  • Sponsors

Step4: The Big Event , When? Where?

Fix the Deadline, for the Big Event!

Source: Google

Working on deadline always works, fix a deadline for the event and its corresponding tasks. Only after fixing a date and time things can be put together. The process of finding a hackable environment is very important. When?Where? Find out the following:

  • When is the event? Date & Time
  • Venue — Make sure the space is dedicated for the event
  • Schedule 0r Agenda
  • Travel
  • Food & Refreshments
  • Accommodation

Facilities on the Environment will include:

  • Tables with Power strip (Socket depends on the table size).
  • Wifi & Ethernet (Fast enough for all the participants) 5 ~ 10Mbps.
  • White board, Sticky notes
  • Equipments and Kits (Raspberry Pi, Arduino board, etc.).
  • AirConditioning (optional) depending on location.

Step5: On Air, How?

Source: Google
  • Sending out brochure and Invitations.
  • Registration process — Online or if any pre-submissions for getting passes.
  • Schedule the entire day.
  • Hospitality & Guidance.
  • Hack-day Maintenance.
  • How to entertain participants? Entertainment?.

Happy Hacking!!

Sudharsan Rajendran

Written by

The Wanderer, Aspiring Research Scientist, Disruptive thinker.

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