how hackathons help companies innovate

Boca Raton IBM Cloud Technologies Meetup

February 16, 2016

Welcome!

How Hackathons Help Companies Innovate

• What is a Hackathon?• Types of Hackathons• Hackathon Examples and Success Stories• How Can a Hackathon Benefit Your Company?• Planning a Hackathon


What is a Hackathon?A hackathon…is an event in which computer programmers and others involved in software development and hardware development, including graphic designers, interface designers and project managers, collaborate intensively on software projects. (Wikipedia)However…Hackathons are not just for startups or tech companies!In fact, they do not even need to be technology-oriented!


Types of Hackathons• Academic (e.g. University)• Specific application type (e.g. Mobile)• Specific language, API, or framework (e.g. Bluemix)• Cause or purpose (e.g. Code4GoodPBC)• Tribute or memorial• Demographic group• Internal company hackathon – used by all kinds of companies!

• Business process hackathon

• Developing a single application (e.g. Facebook)• Innovative economic development• For beginners (e.g. CodeDay)• General (no restrictions)


Hackathon Examples• Code4GoodPBC Hackathon• Florida Polytechnic Hackathon• FAU Hackathon• Hack-For-Good Miami


Hackathon Examples• British Airways – In-flight “Innovation Lab In the Sky” Hackathon

• Venue: Eleven hour long airplane flight (SFO->LHR) – with no WiFi!• Mission: “to brainstorm, productize, and pitch their solutions to the world’s

shortage of great programmers”• Outcome: Presented three ideas at DNA Conference in London


Code4GoodPBC (March 28-29, 2015) – Cause-Based Hackathon• Sponsors

• Quantum Foundation, Modernizing Medicine

• Purpose• Find technology-based solutions for real social problems in Palm Beach County• Need-based presentations from five PBC nonprofit organizations

• Venue• Florida Atlantic University’s Tech Runway

• Outcomes• Three winners (Team Tech Garage, Food Share PBC, Form Ninja)• Team Tech Garage app funded for further development

www.code4goodpbc.org

http://www.code4goodpbc.org/


Florida Polytechnic (March 28-29, 2015) – Academic Hackathon Video

• Sponsors• IBM, Lenovo, Flagship Solutions Group

• Purpose• Design and build interesting and unique apps that solve common problems

using IBM Bluemix and Raspberry Pi (optional)• Real-world experience in teamwork and HW/SW development

• Venue• Florida Polytechnic University (Lakeland, FL)

• Outcomes• Three winners: Travel Mate, Pizza Button, SAT Prep

• Lessons Learned• Allow more time before event for training, getting users comfortable with tools

https://youtu.be/nQsvo1KnGnU


FAU (February 24-25, 2016) – Academic Hackathon (Website)• Sponsors

• IBM, Flagship Solutions Group

• Purpose• Design and build IoT HW/SW apps to improve students’ “Study Fitness”• Use IBM Bluemix and Raspberry Pi, TI MSP430, or Arduino devices• Real-world experience in teamwork and HW/SW development

• Venue• Florida Atlantic University

• Outcomes• TBD• Winners are invited to present their ideas at our next Meetup

http://hackathonfau2016spring.mybluemix.net/schedule/


Hackathon Success Stories• Facebook

• Hackathons since 2007

• Warby Parker• “Bookmark” feature

• PhoneGap (aka Apache Cordova)• Began as a project at iPhoneDevCamp in 2008• Developed into a product by Nitobi Software• Nitobi Software purchased by Apache in 2011• Also the basis for IBM MobileFirst (formerly Worklight)


Facebook Hackathons• First “official” hackathon held in 2007• “…one of the most exciting opportunities people here have to make a major impact in a short

amount of time”• Facebook’s methodology:

• Internal hackathon “every six weeks or so”• Internal wiki for cross-functional communications• Their two rules:

• You have to work on something outside of your day job• If it’s your first hackathon, you have to hack (no spectators)

• Post-hackathon prototype forum a week later (allows time for fine tuning)

• Hackathons are responsible for: Video, the Like button, Chat, Hip Hop for PHP, Tagging in comments, and Timeline

• Campus Hackathons since 2010• Winners flown to Facebook HQ for final competition

(www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-engineering/stay-focused-and-keep-hacking/10150842676418920)

https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-engineering/stay-focused-and-keep-hacking/10150842676418920/


Warby Parker Hackathons• First hackathon held in 2013

• Internal focus• Yielded six projects that were worth implementing• Found they had to reassign people to have a good talent mix in each team• Added “mini-challenges” to add spice• Found people loved the chance to work with coworkers they don’t usually

interact with

• 2015 Hackathon• Brought together 100 summer interns in NYC• Mission: solving a technology issue for three non-profits• Winner: riseUP app to help homeless shelters and kitchens in NYC


How Can a Hackathon Benefit Your Company?• Cross-functional cooperation on common goals

• “See the status quo though fresh eyes”

• A time to hone a new skill or learn a new technology• Build an ecosystem of people knowledgeable in a technology• Employment opportunities – “your chance to shine”• Foster company values: working hard, working fast, working intensely,

working in a team – “afterglow” effect• Fun team building experience with an element of serendipity• Teams have no bureaucracy, no hierarchy, no layers of decision-making –

“move fast and break things”• Produce lasting ideas, and even products!


Planning a Hackathon• Decide on the type

• Internal-only vs. open• Technology or business process orientation• For your own benefit or to help a cause• If technology-oriented, what technologies?• What are the judging metrics? • What are the prizes/rewards?

• Decide on theme/purpose• Is there a problem you are looking to solve?

• Decide on duration• One long slog, or spread out over time


Planning a Hackathon• Location

• Off-site is best to avoid distractions

• Site safety and security• Controlled access, especially at night

• Collaborative environment• Whiteboards and team rooms• Quiet areas for concentration (and naps)• Provide round-the-clock meals, snacks, and drinks

• Infrastructure• GOOD WiFi, adequate power, access to printers• Large flat areas (walls), Post-its, and Sharpies are vital!


Planning a Hackathon• Day-of-Hackathon Agenda

• Sign-ins• Introductions• Orientation and Ground Rules• Start the fun!

• Join the fun• Organizers and leaders should participate• Include some fun challenges and entertainments

• Secure the area during “down times”• Late-night security


Planning a Hackathon• End-of-Hackathon Agenda

• Give several hours’ notice of “pens down” time• Set aside a quite place for final presentation pitch rehearsals• Assign presentation slots to teams, get presentation names

• When Hackathon “Hack Time” is Over• Allow some time for people to “freshen up” before presentations• Show list of teams and presentations

• Hackathon Team Presentations• Limit the pitches to a fixed (and enforced) time limit• Keep it moving, minimal time between pitches

• Final Judging and Awards


Flagship Hackathon – Coming Soon!• Come and Build a Mobile App, from Concept to Prototype!• Bring a Team…• Bring an Idea…• Leave With a Mobile App Based on IBM Cloud Technologies!

• MobileFirst, Bluemix, Cloudant, Ustream, SoftLayer, Watson…and more!• Developer training and assistance will be provided• Free developer accounts will be provided

• Date TBD• If you are interested, reply to the Meetup group or to

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


February 16, 2016Upcoming Meetups• Tuesday, March 15, in Cendyn Spaces at 6PM

• Presentations by winners of the 2016 FAU Bluemix Hackathon

• Tuesday, April 19, in Cendyn Spaces at 6PM• IBM Watson presentation by Demian Codignotto


January 26, 2016

Thanks for coming!