#online hackathon platform

Hackathons are transforming communities by bringing people together to create new solutions, leveraging the advantages of technology to address issues as diverse as social change, global warming, racism, and sustainability.

If you believe that putting on a geeky t-shirt and checking your WiFi connection is all it takes to organize a successful online hackathon, think again! To organize a successful hackathon, you must use all your planning and organizing abilities and stay awake for hours, as hackathons may run for as long as 36 hours.

You are definitely going to need some tips on how to run a successful hackathon. So, here they are:

Make your hackathon announcement at least five weeks in advance:

This enables participants to clear their calendars for the duration of the hackathon. It also tends to increase community engagement and excitement long in advance. Finally, it allows participants to participate on their own and later join a team right up until the event begins.

Make use of hackathon-specific tools:

Hackathons can make use of group chat and video conferencing platforms. However, if you use a tool designed specifically for the purpose, it will be fairly easy to provide a simple and constructive experience for your participants. Additionally, there is less possibility of the event being delayed by technical errors. An online hackathon platform can assist you in managing the needs of thousands of participants all in one place, from the first contact point to the important post-event communications.

Be specific about your goal and target audience:

Don't presume that everyone understands what a online hackathon entails. There may be a plethora of first-time applicants, which means you may end up leaving out details that influence the number of sign-ups. Furthermore, there is a common misconception that hackathons are mostly for software coders and developers, and you may miss out on garnering quality talent if you are unclear about the intent of your event and the target audience. Create a good FAQ page outlining what events are taking place and who should apply. Many potential participants will be unaware if you do not inform them!

Coaching and mentoring are available:

Identify a few skilled people in the hackathon's target industry who will share their knowledge and mentor participants. As a general rule, there should be six mentors for every 100 participants. Have these people contribute to your participant communications before the event. Once the hackathon starts, have the mentors introduce themselves to their teams and be accessible to them from beginning to end.

Advertise your hackathon in the appropriate places:

Consider where potential sponsors, attendees, and mentors spend their time online and place information about your hackathon there. Anywhere you can use a hashtag is a good place to start. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media platforms are all excellent for promoting your event and creating engagement.