If you're looking to accelerate innovation, you have to hack your business, and there’s no better way to do that than with a hackathon. Hackathons are quick and effective ways for companies to tackle problems and innovate for the future.

1. A GUIDE ON:
HACKATHONS

2. 2
ABOUT
If you're looking to accelerate innovation, you have to
hack your business, and there’s no better way to do
that than with a hackathon. Hackathons are quick and
effective ways for companies to tackle problems and
innovate for the future.
As an advisory for startup-driven innovation,
organizing company hackathons with startups is our
bread and butter and we want to share our valuable
insights with you.
Take a read and let us know how we can support your
organization!
2

3. 3
WHAT IS A “HACK”?
Hack = innovative solution to a real-world problem

4. 4
A Hackathon is a form of rapid prototyping organized to develop solutions in a safe
environment and expedited timeframe. In the spirit of friendly competition, startup
teams deliver their results to a concrete task in <48 hours before a panel of judges
and audience for selection of winners.
WHAT IS A HACKATHON?
ü 48 hours
ü 15 startup teams
ü 15 new prototypes
ü 5 jury panelists
ü 3 facilitators
ü 1 topic/challenge
ü 1 winner
Can be tailored to meet each company’s needs
BY THE NUMBERS

5. 5
IDEATION HACKATHON
WHAT TYPES OF HACKATHONS ARE THERE?
PROBLEM-SOLVING HACKATHON
Creative Hackathon in which new
product and service prototypes,
primarily aimed at customers, are
developed.
Hackathon in which startups work on
pre-defined, real-life challenges and
ensure the development of
prototypes that directly address the
challenges.
Pioneers Discover offers two different forms of Hackathons
in order to generate prototypes:

6. 6
An open question is posed to get creative impulses.
Startups from different backgrounds and technologies
will get scouted to join the Hackathon and develop
topic-related prototypes.
I. IDEATION HACKATHON
DEFINE YOUR TOPIC
SPOTLIGHT
Client: BeeOne/Erste Bank
Topic: What customer-centered
tool can we integrate into our
online banking platform?
Outcome: BeeOne and the
winner of the hackathon
announced a collaboration in May
2016
Sample Topic:
• How might we use VR to create a better customer
experience?

7. 7
Define a problem that can’t be solved with the company’s
resources. Startups that could potentially offer meaningful
solutions will be invited to solve the problem by
developing first-working prototypes.
II. PROBLEM-SOLVING HACKATHON
SPOTLIGHT
Client: ANDRITZ
Topic: How can we use Big Data
Analytics to improve processes
related to our core machinery?
Outcome: All participants agreed
to pursue collaboration and work
on creating innovative solutions
for ANDRITZ
CREATE A CHALLENGE
Sample Topic:
• How might we increase the efficiency of a particular
product?

8. 8
HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE A HACKATHON?
PHASE I: STRATEGY & PREP
• Topic definition workshop
• Startup scouting, screening & selection
• Startup onboarding
• Event & travel logistics prep
PHASE II: HACKATHON
• Presentation of topic/challenge
• Rapid prototyping
• Ongoing mentoring & networking
• Pitching session
• Winners ceremony
PHASE III: INTEGRATION
• Results workshop
• Integration action plan development
• Ongoing integration work
There’s a lot of work
that goes into
organizing a
Hackathon, and the
work is not over once
it’s done.

9. 9
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION?
SPOTLIGHT
HOW PIONEERS DISCOVER
HELPS:
ü Scouts for top-fit startups
ü Organizes venue and logistics
ü Briefs and prepares startups
ü Builds schedule
ü Facilitates event
ü Provides mentorship
1
2 4 ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES:
ü Agenda
ü Evaluation criteria for jury
ü Prizes
OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
ü Jury
ü Audience to attend pitching
session and winners
ceremony
ü Facilitators
STARTUPS:
ü Scouting criteria
ü Screening criteria
LOGISTICS:
ü Venue with technology
infrastructure
ü Supplies and materials
ü Meals and drinks
ü Travel and accommodations
for participants
3

10. 10
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF A
HACKATHON?
~60 TOP MINDS
ONLY FOR YOU
Pioneers Discover carefully selects the
highest potential startups. ~60 top-tech
experts will dedicate their minds and
time solely to solve your challenge.
15
PROTOTYPES
What is great about the Hackathon
are the tangible results. The final
outcomes are built around the API of
your company and can be developed
further.
+1,400 HOURS =
€ 130.000- OF R&D
In a Hackathon of 48 hours with ~60 top-
tech innovators, 1,400 working hours are just
devoted to you. That represents an
impressive amount of research &
development.
IDEATION &
INNOVATION INPUT
Receive great impulses and ideas
for potential new revenue streams
and business opportunities also in
other areas.
STARTUP
INTERACTION
Live insights into the startup culture
and direct interaction & exchange of
thoughts with top entrepreneurs and
developers.
CULTURE &
BRAND
Boost internal culture change
toward open-innovation and
enhance the external image as an
innovative brand (material for
content marketing).

11. 11
IS A HACKATHON THE RIGHT TOOL FOR
YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Hackathons are for:
• First-working solutions for urgent
problems
• Reinventing or redesigning existing
products
• Creating customer-centric ideas for
new revenue streams
• Getting access to top-notch startups
Hackathons are not for:
• Serving as a standalone innovation
tool
• Solving long-term and complex
challenges
• Creating an innovative culture
across the wider organization
Hackathons are key for achieving fast, tangible results, and should be
part of a greater innovation strategy.

12. 12
Happy to help!
Feel free to contact us in case you have
questions about hackathons and how
your company might benefit from one!
Harald Federspiel
Consultant
harald.federspiel@pioneers.io
www.pioneers.io/discover

13. Technology needs visionaries to make it fly.
Be Bold. Be a Pioneer.
pioneers.io/discover
@pioneers @PioneersDiscover Pioneers Discover
ADVISORY FOR STARTUP-DRIVEN INNOVATION