Come one, come all, to our ultimate hackathon survival guide. We’re going to cover all the bases today.
This guide isn’t just about hackathon survival. It’s about going beyond that and thriving!
Before we begin, do you want to brush up on what a hackathon is? Otherwise, let’s dive right in, shall we?
Know What You Want to Achieve at the Hackathon
Hackathon Benefits via Event Tornado
So, the first step in adequate hackathon survival is to consider what you want to achieve.
There are loads of cool hackathon benefits for you to focus on. Do you want to win a prize? Get hired? Develop an idea? Learn a skill? All of the above?
Having this clarity from the start helps you prep more concisely and structure your time better when the event comes.
Do Your Homework on The Theme
Every type of hackathon has a pre-determined theme. Nobody turns up and decides what they’re going to do on the day.
So to give yourself the best chance of reaping the hackathon benefits: do your homework on the theme!
This consideration and effort will save you from thinking on the spot and wasting time coming up to speed with the topics at hand and save you the embarrassment of appearing unknowledgeable.
More than that, it allows you to be more actionable, authoritative, and time-savvy in your operation during the event. So, in short, doing homework on the theme is a top tip in our hackathon survival guide.
Brainstorm Your Pitches and Ideas in Advance
If you have ideas you want to present. If you want to pitch a product or solution to a sponsor or a leading judge, that’s amazing!
Hackathons are great places to pitch your wondrous ideas. But do yourself a favour, and brainstorm them and flesh them out before you get there.
This will allow you to sound more confident, knowledgeable, and will lead you to more conversions and positive feedback.
Brush up Your Skills
Types of Hackathon via Cointelegraph.
Now, this could well be the keystone of any respectable hackathon survival guide.
There are loads of alluring hackathon benefits for people who code well, from major top prizes worth hundreds of thousands to landing a top job or securing funding or lucrative partnership deals.
So, practice, practice, practice. Whether it’s ava, C++, HTML, or CSS, master your craft!
Do Research on Sponsors
A key part of hackathon survival is researching sponsors. Many companies use hackathons to scout for talent. So if you’re looking for an internship or a job, knowing about who they are and what they do will be a core element in your hackathon survival.
Moreover, knowing how they operate, and the areas in which they want to grow can help you brainstorm and pitch solutions, helping you to stand out from the crowd!
- N.B. While we’re on this topic, a key to yielding hackathon benefits is to make sure you have some CVs and/or business cards on you!
Know How Long it Lasts
Hackathons can last anywhere from half a day to 72 hours. Knowing how long they last and what the itinerary looks like is a key part of hackathon survival.
It will give you an idea of what to pack and how much. Plus, it gives you a good idea of how to pace yourself!
Take Advantage of Mentorship
As great as google, Youtube tutorials, and books are, nothing matches a hands-on tutorial. That’s one great advantage of attending hackathons.
There are almost always volunteers who have years of industry experience at hackathons. They’ll be happy to answer your questions and guide you through demanding sessions. So make sure you don’t let this awesome access slip out of your fingers while you have the opportunity!
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions
And on that note, a huge part of reaping hackathon benefits is not being afraid of answering questions.
Sitting there not having a clue can leave you feeling uncomfortable and hinder your chance of success and growth.
So ask away. Whatever comes to mind!
Accept it’s Okay Not to Know Stuff
Just like asking questions is important, so is first accepting that it’s okay not to know stuff.
There are so many types of hackathons covering all manner of industry sectors and skill sets. So, of course, you’ll encounter topics and people you’re not an expert in. Embrace it, and see it as a chance to learn something new!
Embrace the Side Events, Demos and Breakout Sessions
So, remember in our intro, we spoke about this guide not just being about hackathon survival but thriving?
Well, this is a case in point. Make sure you embrace the side events, demos and breakout sessions to make the most of your experience.
Take Lots of Breaks
We’ve had some light jokes along the way but now for some sincere hackathon survival advice: take lots of breaks.
Exhaustion can cause stress. It can lead to mistakes in your work and will hinder you from enjoying the hackathon experience to the fullest.
So refresh your body and your mind in short, regular intervals. You’ll be more relaxed and more competitive. Trust us!
Pack Lots of Snacks and Fluids
So, now onto the most literal part of our aptly named hackathon survival guide: nourishment. Yes, let’s talk snacks and fluids, two things you really do need to survive.
Regardless of the type of hackathon you’re attending, they all have one thing in common: they’re intense. So although they’re usually short, they’re still intense. They require a lot of energy: physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally.
So it’s convenient that most hackathon organisers offer some kind of catering. But when it comes to all-day and all-night coding, what they offer usually isn’t enough.
Now, here’s what we’ll say when it comes to snacks and fluids. Yes, to get the best nourishment it’s best to ditch the high-sugar snacks and drinks that will cause you to crash; and yes, it’s better to have slow-burning snacks like fruit and trail mix, and a massive amount of water.
However… we’re not dieticians. So the occasional unhealthy snack is always allowed, and sometimes quietly encouraged! And if they’re favourites that make you happy – that put a smile on your face during an exhaustingly long session – then the positives can beat away the negatives.
Don’t Forget Your Essentials
There are two kinds of people in the world. People who enjoy packing, and people who do not.
Some people make lists, fold, and play an intricate game of Tetris of essentials in their rucksacks. Others, stuff things into a bag on their way to the airport.
To learn more about good packing, read our ultimate guide to packing hackathon essentials right here! [ADD LINK WHEN PUBLISHED]
Get Some Sleep for Hackathon Survival
Hackathon Survival Guide via Medium
The final element of our hackathon survival guide is a simple one. Get some sleep.
So, as we all know, your brain is stronger when you’ve had some sleep. So if you can, try to grab some.
We get it though, it can be tough. There are loads of like-minded people around you. There’s cool stuff going on. But just a little nap could really give you the momentum you need!
Wrapping up
Okay, folks, there you have it. We hope you’ve enjoyed our ultimate hackathon survival guide.
And now that you’re ready to take on and flourish with anything your hackathon throws at you, it’s time to meet us at our Launch Pad; let’s take off together!
