apidays LIVE Hong Kong 2021 - API Ecosystem & Data Interchange August 25 & 26, 2021 How to organize a hackathon that really stands out Mathieu Pincovai, Customer Success Specialist at Amadeus

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How to organize a
memorable hackathon?
Mathieu Pincovai
API Days Hong Kong

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‘80% of Fortune 100 companies use
hackathons to foster innovation’
Hackerearth report, 2017

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Why organize a hackathon?
Gather feedback and test products
Foster a community
Promote your company

5. How to organize a
memorable
hackathon?
Mathieu Pincovai
Customer Success Specialist
Amadeus for Developers

6. Before the event

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1. Define clear
objectives
What do you want to achieve?
• Find new business solutions
• Test your technology
• Finding new talent
• Reach out to the community

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2. Agree on a format
Event duration
Online vs in-person
Internal vs external
Audience
Team creation

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3. Find sponsors &
partners
Find complementary technology
Helps with recruitment and budget
Define sponsorship packages

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4. Logistics
Venue
Catering
Decoration & visual identify

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5. Define agenda
Make agenda public before the event
Be very strict with the time!
Short intro & long hacking time

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6. Establish a
challenge & criteria
to win
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Criteria to win should be extremely clear
for everyone
Potential criteria:
• Innovation
• Business value
• Technical soundness

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7. Swag & prizes
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The better the prizes, the easier it will
be to recruit participants
Cash is king
Leverage on sponsors participation

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8. Juries & mentors
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Mixed profiles in juries and mentors
Streamline the judgement process

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9. Final touches!
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Ensure for technology readiness
Update docs & code samples
Confirm attendance
Establish on call support

16. During the event

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10. What to do
during the hack?
(1/2)
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Stick to schedule
Support & be available at all times
Gather feedback

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10. What to do
during the hack?
(2/2)
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Document the event
Select finalists before pitches to the jury
Prepare for the unexpected!

19. After the event

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11. Retrospective
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Consolidate event feedback
Identify business opportunities from the
created projects
Survey the teams

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12.
Communicate
about the event
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Publish your photos, videos, success
stories across channels
Congratulate participants and everyone
involved

22. Thank you!
Let’s talk!
• mathieu.pincovai@amadeus.com
• @amadeus4dev