Ever heard of a hackathon? No, it’s not those creepsters who destroy our hard drives or implant deadly viruses on unsuspecting tech newbies. It’s quite the opposite. In fact, you could say it’s where the superheros of development and design compete for the Olympic medal in tech innovation (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea).
Hackathons have become the crème de la crème of app creation. They are places where creativity is pushed to extremes, forcing teams to develop an app, from idea to conception, within a 48 hour time frame. Energy drinks, HALO, pizza, very little sleep, and awesome prizes are all a part of the mix and in the end, great ideas can actually become reality.
Hackathon formats vary in structure; some centering around specific subject matter, while others are purely an idea fest. In addition, prizes can range from cash and sponsorship schwag to job opportunities and angel investments! Even if you’re not a “winner” though, at the basic level its great for networking and honing in those hacking skills.
So what are you waiting for? Get on the hackathon bandwagon! Don’t know where to start?
Here’s a few great sites to get you started:
[DISCLAIMER: shameless plug]
Also, if you happen to be in the DC area, Intridea is hosting America’s Datafest this November 2-3rd. It’s free to the public, food will be provided, and prizes are basically amazing.
So, you should come.
