If you're looking to accelerate innovation, you have to hack your business, and there’s no better way to do that than with a hackathon. Hackathons are quick and effective ways for companies to tackle problems and innovate for the future.
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ABOUT
If you're looking to accelerate innovation, you have to
hack your business, and there’s no better way to do
that than with a hackathon. Hackathons are quick and
effective ways for companies to tackle problems and
innovate for the future.
As an advisory for startup-driven innovation,
organizing company hackathons with startups is our
bread and butter and we want to share our valuable
insights with you.
Take a read and let us know how we can support your
organization!
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WHAT IS A “HACK”?
Hack = innovative solution to a real-world problem
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A Hackathon is a form of rapid prototyping organized to develop solutions in a safe
environment and expedited timeframe. In the spirit of friendly competition, startup
teams deliver their results to a concrete task in <48 hours before a panel of judges
and audience for selection of winners.
WHAT IS A HACKATHON?
ü 48 hours
ü 15 startup teams
ü 15 new prototypes
ü 5 jury panelists
ü 3 facilitators
ü 1 topic/challenge
ü 1 winner
Can be tailored to meet each company’s needs
BY THE NUMBERS
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IDEATION HACKATHON
WHAT TYPES OF HACKATHONS ARE THERE?
PROBLEM-SOLVING HACKATHON
Creative Hackathon in which new
product and service prototypes,
primarily aimed at customers, are
developed.
Hackathon in which startups work on
pre-defined, real-life challenges and
ensure the development of
prototypes that directly address the
challenges.
Pioneers Discover offers two different forms of Hackathons
in order to generate prototypes:
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An open question is posed to get creative impulses.
Startups from different backgrounds and technologies
will get scouted to join the Hackathon and develop
topic-related prototypes.
I. IDEATION HACKATHON
DEFINE YOUR TOPIC
SPOTLIGHT
Client: BeeOne/Erste Bank
Topic: What customer-centered
tool can we integrate into our
online banking platform?
Outcome: BeeOne and the
winner of the hackathon
announced a collaboration in May
2016
Sample Topic:
• How might we use VR to create a better customer
experience?
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Define a problem that can’t be solved with the company’s
resources. Startups that could potentially offer meaningful
solutions will be invited to solve the problem by
developing first-working prototypes.
II. PROBLEM-SOLVING HACKATHON
SPOTLIGHT
Client: ANDRITZ
Topic: How can we use Big Data
Analytics to improve processes
related to our core machinery?
Outcome: All participants agreed
to pursue collaboration and work
on creating innovative solutions
for ANDRITZ
CREATE A CHALLENGE
Sample Topic:
• How might we increase the efficiency of a particular
product?
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HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE A HACKATHON?
PHASE I: STRATEGY & PREP
• Topic definition workshop
• Startup scouting, screening & selection
• Startup onboarding
• Event & travel logistics prep
PHASE II: HACKATHON
• Presentation of topic/challenge
• Rapid prototyping
• Ongoing mentoring & networking
• Pitching session
• Winners ceremony
PHASE III: INTEGRATION
• Results workshop
• Integration action plan development
• Ongoing integration work
There’s a lot of work
that goes into
organizing a
Hackathon, and the
work is not over once
it’s done.
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WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION?
SPOTLIGHT
HOW PIONEERS DISCOVER
HELPS:
ü Scouts for top-fit startups
ü Organizes venue and logistics
ü Briefs and prepares startups
ü Builds schedule
ü Facilitates event
ü Provides mentorship
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RESOURCES:
ü Agenda
ü Evaluation criteria for jury
ü Prizes
OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
ü Jury
ü Audience to attend pitching
session and winners
ceremony
ü Facilitators
STARTUPS:
ü Scouting criteria
ü Screening criteria
LOGISTICS:
ü Venue with technology
infrastructure
ü Supplies and materials
ü Meals and drinks
ü Travel and accommodations
for participants
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WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES OF A
HACKATHON?
~60 TOP MINDS
ONLY FOR YOU
Pioneers Discover carefully selects the
highest potential startups. ~60 top-tech
experts will dedicate their minds and
time solely to solve your challenge.
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PROTOTYPES
What is great about the Hackathon
are the tangible results. The final
outcomes are built around the API of
your company and can be developed
further.
+1,400 HOURS =
€ 130.000- OF R&D
In a Hackathon of 48 hours with ~60 top-
tech innovators, 1,400 working hours are just
devoted to you. That represents an
impressive amount of research &
development.
IDEATION &
INNOVATION INPUT
Receive great impulses and ideas
for potential new revenue streams
and business opportunities also in
other areas.
STARTUP
INTERACTION
Live insights into the startup culture
and direct interaction & exchange of
thoughts with top entrepreneurs and
developers.
CULTURE &
BRAND
Boost internal culture change
toward open-innovation and
enhance the external image as an
innovative brand (material for
content marketing).
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IS A HACKATHON THE RIGHT TOOL FOR
YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Hackathons are for:
• First-working solutions for urgent
problems
• Reinventing or redesigning existing
products
• Creating customer-centric ideas for
new revenue streams
• Getting access to top-notch startups
Hackathons are not for:
• Serving as a standalone innovation
tool
• Solving long-term and complex
challenges
• Creating an innovative culture
across the wider organization
Hackathons are key for achieving fast, tangible results, and should be
part of a greater innovation strategy.
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Happy to help!
Feel free to contact us in case you have
questions about hackathons and how
your company might benefit from one!
Harald Federspiel
Consultant
harald.federspiel@pioneers.io
www.pioneers.io/discover
13. Technology needs visionaries to make it fly.
Be Bold. Be a Pioneer.
pioneers.io/discover
@pioneers @PioneersDiscover Pioneers Discover
ADVISORY FOR STARTUP-DRIVEN INNOVATION