How to do a Hackathon
This article is based on a conversation on the podcast Founders Weekly. Please find a link to the podcast at the bottom of this article.
Can you build and launch a startup in just four days? That's exactly what our team set out to do when we decided to create JustRelease.ai, an AI-powered content creation assistant. Here are our key learnings and guidelines for running a successful hackathon.
Pre-Hackathon Preparation
Eliminate Stoppers Early
- Identify and resolve potential blockers before day one
- Handle administrative tasks like payment systems setup
- Set up development environments and necessary accounts
- Ensure all team members have required hardware and access
- Get contracts and approvals out of the way
Validate Your Idea
- Conduct quick user interviews (5-10 minutes) with target audience
- Get commitment indicators ("Would you pay for this?")
- Use validation insights to inform feature prioritization
- Start building a waitlist before the hackathon
- Focus on problems with clear market demand
Structuring the Four Days
Day-by-Day Planning
- Day 1: Core infrastructure and basic functionality
- Day 2: Main feature development
- Day 3: User testing and iteration
- Day 4: Polish and launch preparation
Daily Rhythm
- Morning standup to align goals and priorities
- Midday check-in during lunch
- Evening status update and planning
- Regular communication touchpoints maintain momentum
Marketing Strategy
Effective Channels for Short Timeframes
- Reddit communities (requires expertise)
- Live streaming development progress
- Short-form video content
- Direct outreach to potential users
- Waitlist building from day one
What to Avoid
- Long-term social media building
- Complex marketing campaigns
- Channels requiring sustained presence
- Time-intensive content creation
- Marketing efforts that won't show results within days
Maintaining Momentum
Team Dynamics
- Keep energy positive even during setbacks
- Celebrate small wins along the way
- Stay focused on core objectives
- Handle conflicts quickly and professionally
- Maintain clear communication channels
Managing Dependencies
- Avoid creating bottlenecks where possible
- Plan parallel work streams
- Have clear handoff points between team members
- Be ready to punt on non-critical features
- Keep the core product moving forward
Scope Management
Setting Boundaries
- Define clear MVP features
- Be ruthless about cutting nice-to-haves
- Focus on core value proposition
- Don't get distracted by edge cases
- Keep feature creep in check
Decision Making
- Make quick decisions to maintain momentum
- Don't get bogged down in perfect solutions
- Focus on shipping over perfection
- Stay aligned with validation feedback
- Keep the end goal in sight
Keys to Success
Team Composition
- Ensure all critical skills are represented
- Have clear role definitions
- Keep team size manageable
- Include both technical and marketing capabilities
- Maintain good team chemistry
Technical Approach
- Choose familiar technologies
- Use existing infrastructure where possible
- Build for quick iteration
- Focus on web-first development
- Avoid platform-specific complications
Measuring Success
- Set clear goals (like acquiring paying customers)
- Define metrics for success
- Track progress consistently
- Maintain focus on end objectives
- Celebrate achieving milestones
Our Results
In our case, the hackathon was successful beyond expectations. We:
- Built a functional product in 4 days
- Acquired paying customers
- Created sustainable infrastructure
- Validated our market hypothesis
- Established a foundation for future growth
The experience proved that with the right preparation, team, and approach, it's possible to go from idea to paying customers in just four days. The key is maintaining momentum while staying focused on delivering value to users.
Listen to the full conversation on the Founders Weekly podcast