Sxsw Preliminary Panel How to Hack hack hackathons for non-technical hackers
1. Hacking Hackathons for Non-technical Hackers
How to win hackathons as well as learn something, even for the non-technical hackathoner.
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2. Do I know anything about
Hackathons?
• Yes
• I’ve competed in or advised teams for
about 10 hackathons in last 4 years
• Various sizes, technology, and industry
focus.
• Last three won prizes.
Placeholder
Boston
Hackathon
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3. Projects I have worked on or
advised
• Encrypted Twitter Client
• Hardcopy Facebook mailer for the non-
technical
• ATT Uverse integration with Social media
• Interactive TV and mobile phone
integration
• Beacon triangulation for location tracking
and text-to-speech guidance indoors
• TV and Travel mobile interactive app
• “AirBnB for Adult/Fetish Parties”
Placeholder
Boston
Hackathon
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4. There is no perfect size or
team makeup
Teams range in size and technical skill
Smallest team size = 1 person
Largest team size = 8 people
Winning teams = 2, 4, and 7 people per team
From 0 developers to 4 developers
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5. Strategize for the Sponsors
• Know the primary sponsors
• Target their API’s
• Use the personal help they provide
• Ask questions, even if you think you
don’t need to
• Check what prizes you want to ‘compete’
in and use those API’s somehow
• Winning begets winning
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Interactive Panel Picker
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6. What you need
Project management
Strategy for Sponsors, API’s, and Prizes
Design the workflow for the project
Code a working example
Social Media for Hackathons targeting public
interaction
GREAT PRESENTATIONS DANG IT!!!
Sample Presentation for SXSW Interactive
Panel Picker
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7. GREAT PRESENTATIONS
DANG IT!!!
Write a script
Practice, and Practice, and Practice
Be FAST
2/3rds of the allotted time at most in
practice
Get a Lead speaker, but feel free to add
others.
Walk Through the real world use case.
Sample Presentation for SXSW Interactive
Panel Picker
Final Presentation will have more info