My top 5 Hackathon tips
I won my first ever hackathon and took home gold!
Halfway through the Gregorian calendar year and the beginning of the Islamic new year, there have already been so many highlights. Winning my first hackathon gold has to be the biggest one so far.
I’ve taken part in the usual 24 to 48 hour hackathons before, but I’d never submitted a project that earned a Gold award. This hackathon was quite different, spanning eight days instead of the typical 24 to 48 hours, which meant there was more time to refine ideas, iterate, improve the final submission, all whilst acquiring new skills along the way.
I’m not going to lie, there was still burnout and anxiety, I definitely lost sleep, but it never reached the same level of intensity as a 24 to 48 hour hackathon, where you're racing against the clock from start to finish. There was more time to think and reflect.
I had to refresh the page 5 times when I saw my scores, I could not quite believe it, I got 9.5 for innovation, 9.0 for technical and 9.5 for impact. I was not expecting to come away with a gold. I am so glad I challenged myself, its just what I needed to kickstart summer in London and develop an idea I had been thinking about for quite some time.
After spending days developing my idea, refining the solution, and working through the challenges that come with building, seeing the final outcome felt incredibly rewarding. Hackathons are intense by nature, they push you to think creatively and turn ideas into something tangible in a short space of time. This experience reminded me why I enjoy building solutions that aim to create meaningful impact.
Whilst hackathons aren’t considered EdTech, they are incredible spaces for learning. You often come away with a clearer understanding of where you need to improve, the gaps in your skills, and the areas that need more attention. More importantly, hackathons help you test whether your MVP has genuine potential to grow into something more.
I don’t join hackathons just for the sake of participating; I usually enter because I’m already exploring ways to solve a real world problem. I’ve always been an ideas person, constantly thinking about social impact and how we can solve problems rather than add to them. In that sense, hackathons are right up my street.
If you’re creative, solutions oriented, a coder, designer, builder, or simply curious, I highly recommend giving hackathons a try. While it’s not always about the grade or the final result, it’s about the willingness to be curious, learn, experiment and bring ideas to life.
Here are my top 5 tips for anyone thinking about joining a hackathon or preparing to take part in one soon:
Read the submission guidelines carefully - Don’t assume all the requirements will be explained during the hackathon. Often, the important details are shared through a link, hidden in the submission page, or included as small-print recommendations. Take the time to read through the guidelines so you understand exactly what’s expected before you submit. Also, make sure you join any communication channels, such as the WhatsApp group, and be careful not to mute them. I made this mistake myself and ended up missing an important notification!
Create a clear plan and divide your time wisely - Don’t jump straight into building. Start by brainstorming your ideas, identify the problem you’re solving, and decide which features are essential. Then move into the building phase, test as you go, and leave enough time for final touches.
Plan ample time for preparing your pitch and demo video, a great idea can be overlooked if it isn’t clearly communicated, so make sure you showcase your work in the best possible way.
Don’t overthink it or overcomplicate it - Your MVP doesn’t need to be a complete product. Focus on building a simple working prototype that demonstrates your idea and solves the core problem. A clear concept with a strong foundation is often more valuable than an overly ambitious complicated idea.
Focus on the core features and document your progress - Prioritise the features that directly solve the problem you’re trying to address. Don’t get distracted by adding unnecessary extras, you can do that down the line if you decide to move your MVP onto the next steps. As you build, make sure to record your progress, whether through screenshots, videos, or notes, so you can clearly demonstrate the journey and showcase what you’ve created in your pitch video.
Nail your pitch video - Make sure your pitch video stays within the recommended time limit, whether that’s 3 minutes or whatever the hackathon guidelines specify. Keep it clear and focused by starting with the problem, explain your solution, and highlight the impact. A strong pitch doesn’t need to include every detail, it needs to tell a compelling story and show why your idea matters.
I hope these tips help if you’re thinking about joining your first hackathon or preparing for your next one.
Winning gold was an incredible milestone, but the real value was in the journey, taking an idea from concept to MVP and discovering what’s possible when I commit to building.
The experience challenged me, taught me valuable lessons, and revealed areas for growth and improvement. I’m excited to keep learning, building, and pitching meaningful ideas that might solve problems.
Alhamdulillah I’m incredibly grateful for the experience and excited to see what the rest of the year has in store Inshallah, because the journey doesn’t end here, there are always more problems to solve and more ideas to explore.
I hope this inspires others to take that first step and bring their own ideas to life.
Until next time, Jzk,
Cx