The ultimate hackathon survival guide

Name a city, pick a date, and you’ll likely find a nearby hackathon, whether you’re in Des Moines, Iowa, or Yerevan, Armenia.

Don’t think you need to be a coder

At the other end of the spectrum, Tauberer says, some hackathons – particularly those that are not corporate-sponsored -- include no prize at all. While a demo still showcases the work accomplished, no winner is declared, and no prizes are awarded. “For me, it would be very distracting to have a winner especially because accomplishing something that’s tangible is unrealistic in a lot of cases,” he says. “As an attendee, [a contest] is not what I’m looking to do, and as an organizer, it’s not what I’m interested in.” Tauberer also feels the lack of pressure and defined winners/losers introduces a more welcoming environment.

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