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Hack Your Next Event: How Hackathons Spark Innovation and Real Results

Newsletter 166: A high-energy format that transforms meetings into momentum.

Is your event agenda has starting to feel a little too safe, or worse, boring? It might be time to shake things up. This week in Event Pulse, we explore how the hackathon format is moving beyond the tech world to breathe new life into corporate meetings, conferences, and community gatherings. With roots in rapid prototyping and creative collaboration, hackathons offer a refreshingly action-oriented approach to engagement and innovation. Whether you’re planning an internal strategy day or a sector-wide summit, this format might just be the game-changer your event needs.

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How Hackathons Spark Innovation and Real Results

Ditch the dull agendas and discover how the hackathon format can supercharge collaboration, energize your attendees, and deliver outcomes that actually matter.

A couple of years ago, I was invited to take part in a Global Service Jam. The Global Service Jam btw is a worldwide, volunteer-led event where participants from all backgrounds come together over a single weekend to design innovative service-based solutions around a shared theme - no prior experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to collaborate.

Now, I’ve attended my fair share of team collaboration events over the years - World Cafés, brainstorming workshops, corporate retreats - and while they had their moments, many often felt… well, uninspired. You show up, sit at round tables, follow a predictable agenda, and leave with more sticky notes than solutions.

But the Service Jam was different. It had a pulse. For 48 hours, our diverse team (we met for the first time at the event) dove headfirst into solving a challenge. We prototyped, pivoted, argued (constructively!), and laughed. We didn’t walk away with an award, but we did leave with something far more satisfying: a credible prototype and a feeling of true accomplishment. And guess what? Three months later I took part in another similar event and again I walked away with a sense of accomplishment.

Those experiences stuck with me. And it made me wonder - why aren't we incorporating more of this energy and urgency into the events we plan?

Enter the hackathon.

What Exactly Is a Hackathon?

At its core, a hackathon is a time-limited, collaborative event where participants come together - usually in cross-functional teams - to solve a problem, create a new solution, or build a prototype. The format typically lasts anywhere between 24 and 72 hours and ends with a presentation or demo to judges or stakeholders.

Hackathons first emerged from the tech world (the word itself is a mash-up of "hack" and "marathon") but have since evolved far beyond developers and code. Today, they’re embraced across industries as tools for innovation, engagement, and fresh thinking.

What makes a hackathon tick? Here are the key ingredients:

  • Rapid Prototyping: It's about doing, not just discussing. Hackathons favour quick creation and iterative thinking.

  • Team Collaboration: Cross-functional teams bring different skill sets and perspectives to the table. Often team members meet for the first time at the event, the concept of team development: forming -> storming -> norming -> performing flies out the window when you find yourself leapfrogging from storming straight to performing.

  • Time Pressure: The deadline creates focus and urgency. No time for perfection - just progress. You will not believe how quickly ideas get thrown out until you hit one that fits the bill.

  • Challenges and Competition: Whether structured as a contest or a community build, clear goals drive participation.

  • Mentorship: Coaches and subject matter experts provide guidance and feedback.

  • A Finale: Teams pitch their solutions, often in front of a panel of judges or key decision-makers.

Where Hackathons Fit in the Event World

You might be wondering - does this format belong at my event? The answer: quite possibly yes. Hackathons are incredibly versatile and can be tailored to different types of events and objectives.

Corporate Innovation Events

Hackathons are perfect for internal initiatives like:

  • Innovation sprints to crowdsource new ideas from employees.

  • Product development labs where teams rapidly design and test features.

  • Digital transformation efforts that need cross-departmental input.

  • Employee engagement programs that value contribution and creativity.

They create space for voices that might not usually be heard and give structure to open innovation.

Industry-Specific Applications

Many sectors have adopted hackathons to tackle real-world challenges. For example:

  • FinTech: Solve banking and compliance pain points with novel tech solutions.

  • HealthTech: Create digital tools to support patient care or mental health.

  • EdTech: Develop apps or resources that enhance learning and inclusion.

  • Smart Cities: Brainstorm solutions for transport, energy, or public safety.

  • Sustainability: Find new ways to reduce waste, emissions, or consumption.

Hackathons give professionals a sandbox to innovate without the usual red tape.

Community & Networking Events

Hackathons also shine in more informal or public-facing contexts:

  • Developer Conferences often feature hackathons as flagship experiences.

  • Startup Weekends use them to foster entrepreneurship.

  • University Challenges encourage students to solve real problems.

  • Nonprofit Hackathons bring the community together to tackle pressing social issues.

They make an event memorable - not just because people attend, but because they contribute.

Why Hackathons Work (and Why They’re Fun!)

From an event design perspective, hackathons tick so many boxes.

For Organizers:

  • High Energy, High Engagement: Participants are active, not passive. There's momentum throughout the entire event.

  • Tangible Outcomes: You don't just talk about innovation - you make something. Even the roughest prototypes can spark follow-up initiatives.

  • Networking That Matters: Working side-by-side on a challenge for 48 hours builds deeper connections than exchanging LinkedIn QR codes.

  • Cost-Effective R&D: Hosting a hackathon can produce dozens of ideas at a fraction of what formal consultancy might cost.

  • Buzz & Content: Hackathons create natural opportunities for media coverage, social posts, and post-event storytelling.

For Participants:

  • Learning & Upskilling: Whether you're a designer learning about business models or a developer brushing up on public speaking, hackathons stretch people.

  • Portfolio Power: Participants often walk away with projects they can showcase.

  • Career Opportunities: Some companies use hackathons to scout talent or test out internal mobility.

  • Recognition: The competitive element adds stakes. Prizes, mentions, or just the satisfaction of solving a tough problem can be huge motivators.

  • Feedback Loop: Presenting to experts or judges gives teams real-time validation and input they can act on.

Planning a Hackathon: What You Need to Know

Of course, the magic doesn’t happen by accident. Hackathons take thoughtful planning. Here are the basics:

Venue Logistics

  • 24/7 Access: Especially for overnight events, make sure the space supports flexible hours.

  • Power & Wi-Fi: These are non-negotiables. Ideally, you’ll have backup plans in case of outages.

  • Breakout Areas: Teams need space to huddle, brainstorm, and work privately.

  • Comfort Facilities: Think couches, snacks, chill-out zones, and maybe even showers if it’s a longer sprint.

Catering & Care

Hackathons can be intense, so proper food and drink matter. Options like buffet stations, midnight snacks, and plenty of hydration go a long way. Mental health and wellness support are also becoming more common - guided stretch breaks, quiet rooms, and even nap pods are a plus.

Technical & Facilitation Needs

Make sure teams have access to the tools they need - whether that’s whiteboards and Post-its or laptops, prototyping software, or datasets. Having facilitators and floating mentors can help teams stay focused and supported.

Judging & Prizes

You’ll need to design:

  • A judging rubric: What criteria will be used - innovation? feasibility? impact?

  • A panel: Ideally a mix of domain experts and decision-makers.

  • A prize structure: Not all rewards need to be monetary - access to accelerators, coaching, or implementation support can be even more valuable.

The Follow-Up

What happens after the event matters too. Can winning ideas be piloted? Are there pathways for teams to continue working on their solutions? Will you publish a recap, or create a legacy site?

Keeping the momentum going gives your hackathon lasting impact.

Hackathons Aren’t Just for Tech Events

Let’s bust one last myth: hackathons aren’t just for coders. You don’t need laptops and lines of code to host a meaningful hackathon. Design thinking, community planning, social innovation - all of these can thrive in a hackathon format. I’ve seen arts organizations use them to reimagine audience engagement, and civic groups use them to tackle issues like food insecurity. A couple of years ago, a hackathon was used to solve a problem of elephant human conflict – I kid you not.

If you design with inclusivity and clarity in mind, hackathons can become a welcoming, energizing format for all kinds of events - large or small, public or private.

Final Thoughts

The events industry is always evolving, but some formats have started to feel a little too safe, too scripted. Hackathons offer a dynamic alternative - one that puts creativity, collaboration, and action front and center.

They’re not just about solving problems - they’re about transforming how we work together, how we innovate, and how we experience events. And for event professionals looking to infuse their meetings with new life, hackathons might just be the secret weapon we’ve been looking for.

So next time you’re handed a brief for a conference, off-site, or internal strategy day, ask yourself: what if we made it a hackathon?

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