Hackathons can be a powerful way to quickly test an idea by bringing together diverse minds to tackle complex problems and create groundbreaking solutions. At Spare Parts & Gasoline, we are passionate about accelerating great ideas and failing fast. We’ve helped our customers experience firsthand the transformative impact of hackathons on organizations and individuals alike. 

When hackathons are done properly, they increase collaboration, nurture creativity, foster innovation and produce tangible outcomes. Here are a few tips to create a great hackathon experience: 

1. Start with the business in mind: Do the work to ensure you have a tangible business problem where solving that problem is a valuable use of time and resources. 
2. Ensure you have cross-functional teams: Yes, technical people are required but don’t lose the opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with your key stakeholders in other parts of the business by having them participate at key points in the process.
3. Be prepared: It takes time to properly prepare for a good hackathon. You need to define a good problem, recruit the right people, build the ideal environment and accomplish many other tasks. Don’t rush the preparation. 
4. Have a facilitator: Getting a competent facilitator to run the hackathon is critical. You need a balance between creativity and structure to get the best results. It’s also crucial to ensure someone is managing the engagement with your customers as well as providing internal leadership. 
5. Celebrate success and learnings: To get the full benefit from a hackathon you need to be prepared to share the results and create the support if you prove you have a good business opportunity for the company. 

Are you interested in learning more about what a Hackathon can do to inspire innovation and transformation in your business? Spare Parts & Gasoline can support you with your next hackathon event. Reach out for more information.