In the last few years we have seen a massive spike in the opportunities for individuals and companies to come together at hackathons. The general goal of these events is to create something new that has never been created before. The great part about hackathons is that they take a normal person and put them into a position where they can be creative and create some amazing ideas that could result in a lot of success. 

It is great to see the growth of these events and the thought process of putting them together. Some of these events have had some success and some have been more challenging than others. The key to any hackathon is to make sure that your project is something that will get people interested so they will want to participate. Here are a few tips that can help you make your hackathon project stand out.

1. Research Before You Commit:

Before you take on a hackathon project you need to know your audience and what they are interested in. This will help direct the research and development of your project. What better way to find out what people want than to ask them. One of the best ways to do this is to reach out to communities that are already working in that field and see if they would be willing to help you crack the code. You can also reach out to communities on Facebook and Reddit, which has a great community of people who are willing to share information. It is important not only to understand the needs of your audience but you need to be able to examine what you already have in the market so your project can be unique and better than what they have now.

2. Have Something Amazing To Show:

People are driven by instant gratification and they want things right away, which is why speed and efficiency are some of the best selling points of any project. You need to give the people what they want and that is to be able to show them something right away so they can get excited. When you are working on the project you should have something that will get people to be impressed with the speed and quality of your work so they will want to back it. You may even need to hire a professional graphic designer or animator to help you create something that blows them away. The key is to give the people what they want, which is how fast you can do it and also how good it looks.

3. Make It Easy For The Public To Participate:

The key to any hackathon is to make it so the average person can bring their ideas. There is no point in having a project that only a few people can do and that means you need to make it easy for others to join in on the fun. The project should be something that anyone can take and run with. The best way to do this is to find out what works for the community then you can have something that functions. The great part about an online hackathon is that team members are always changing and if you have made your project easy for people to use then it will be easy for them to switch up their group and reload it with another set of talented individuals.

4. Make It Something That Has Never Been Done:

People love the idea of being a part of something that has never been done before because they know they will be able to say they were there at the beginning. One of the main reasons why people want to participate in hackathons is because they want to change things up and make them better than ever before. It is best that you have some sort of new idea or something that will be more fun for everyone. The goal of a hackathon is to make things better than ever before and you need to have an idea that will be something the people can get behind. Make sure to have a project that is cutting edge technology so the people who are participating in the hackathon can say they were part of history.

5. Make Sure Your Idea Can Ship:

Anyone who is working on a project should make sure it can actually be made. The hackathon judging criteria is probably the easiest time to show that every aspect of your project will work. You need to know that there are no hurdles that stand in the way of your project from happening and you need to plan for everything imaginable before you get started. This can help give you an idea of the challenges you will face and the steps you will have to take in order for your project to become a reality. It is important that the people who are participating in your project know they can take it to the next level. It is a lot of fun to work with a team and share your project with the world and you need to make sure that your idea is something that is easy to share.

6. Find a Good Team:

It is important to find a good team that will help you achieve your goals. It is important to find at least one person who knows the industry and can help you navigate through it easier. If you do not have anyone in particular in mind then you can reach out to friends and see if they would be willing to help. You will also want someone who is going to be able to communicate with other team members, which means you need a good group leader. The reason why a group leader is important is because they will be able to translate what you are saying, which makes your ideas more clear. It is important to have an idea that can help put your team on top and ensure your team has what it takes to win some great rewards.

Mercer | Mettl is a platform that offers a virtual hackathon platform where you can view and participate in hackathons, as well as offering a way for teams or individuals to host their own. This platform also offers a way for people to get involved with events hosted by communities they are interested in and a chance to find new people who want to help support the cause.