How N-able Uses Hackathons to Generate New Ideas

Hackathons are becoming increasingly popular, with hundreds of thousands of participants gathering every year to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems. But what exactly is a Hackathon, and how can you succeed at one?

In this article, we explain the concept behind Hackathons and highlight some of the tips and tricks that we use at N-able to get the most out of these events.

What is a Hackathon?

A Hackathon is essentially a collaborative brainstorming session where people come together to solve a problem. They can be run as a competition or as a team-building event, but they can also simply be an opportunity for people to share ideas and learn from each other. Participants are split into teams, and everybody has an opportunity to see the proposed question, or problem, ahead of time.

Hackathons can last between 24 and 72 hours and are usually focused on coding and developing software applications.

In the N-able UX team we also use Hackathons as an opportunity to collaborate with key stakeholders and promote the work we do.

Preparation

Not surprisingly, preparation is key to a successful Hackathon. Using the checklist below will go some way to helping you feel confident whether you’re hosting, moderating, or taking part in the event.

• Research the event, its sponsors, and key stakeholders
• Learn about the challenges or themes
• Familiarise yourself with the tools and technologies that will be used
• Ensure you have a clear understanding of your team’s strengths and weaknesses so that you can collaborate effectively
• Form a team beforehand with a balance of different skills across your business

During the Hackathon

During the Hackathon, it’s important to stay focused and motivated. At N-able we do this by taking regular breaks to avoid burnout and avoiding non-essential tasks. Remember to communicate with your team and seek help if you need it. Be open to feedback and suggestions from other participants and be willing to help others if you can.

Pitching Your Idea

At the end of the Hackathon, you will have the opportunity to pitch your idea to the judges. At N-able we invite product owners to be judges so that they are presented with the innovations resulting from the Hack.

Your presentation is where you need to express your solutions clearly and succinctly. Using a story-telling method with visuals (we use Miro) to help illustrate your ideas is always a good approach. And remember to be prepared to answer questions from the judges.

Final thoughts

Bringing together teams of people to brainstorm and allow ideas to flow in a competitive environment can create a real buzz around the topic you are hacking. Don’t underestimate the vision that can come with this sort of energy, and try not to discount seemingly outlandish ideas until you’ve thought them through, as this is your opportunity to devote time to the creative side of solution-based innovation.

Hackathons are a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, and gain the satisfaction of solving a problem or inventing something new. With the right preparation, focus, and teamwork, you can thrive at a Hackathon, use skills you didn’t know you had, be part of a Eureka moment, and potentially even win some prizes.

We’ve had great success at N-able in the past with our Hackathons, including the ChatGPT integration in our N-central platform which is now in production.

Now go and Hack your way to the next big innovative solution!

Julian Taylor
Senior UX Researcher