Hackathon Experience – Key Takeaways Summary
What is a Hackathon?
• "Hack" = creative solution, "Marathon" = long event
• It’s not just coding, it’s about teamwork, leadership, pressure-handling, and innovation
• Builds confidence, knowledge sharing, networking, and communication
Why Participate in Hackathons?
You develop:
• Skill Leadership Networking Self Belief Self Trust Self Confidence
• Boosts skills: Technical (Java, Python, Blockchain) + Soft Skills
• Improves self-belief and self-trust
• National and state-level recognition is possible
• Open for all streams – not just engineers
• Real-world problem solving experience
Smart India Hackathon (SIH) – World's Biggest Hackathon
• 700+ problem statements
• Participants in lakhs
• Multiple levels: College Internal → National Finals
• Focus: Innovation, feasibility, sustainability, uniqueness
• Deadlines: Final submission by Sept 12
Winning Strategy
• Spend more time on research and planning
• Prepare a strong PPT (Idea, Solution, Tech Approach, Impact)
• Don’t rush product development
• Show a clear technical flow, risk analysis, business model
• Use simple words but deep explanation
Key Lessons
• Winning is not everything, mindset matters most
• Even elite colleges can be defeated with the right planning and vision
• Evaluators want clarity, depth, and feasibility, not fancy words
• Stay grounded, plan well, and believe in your solution
Here’s a structured note you can use to deliver a powerful session on Hackathon Winning Strategy.
You can print it or keep it as a mobile reference:
Hackathon Winning Strategy – Trainer's Notes
1. Introduction (2 mins)
• Welcome participants and introduce yourself briefly.
• Ask: “Who has participated in a hackathon before?” (Interactive opening)
• Define Hackathon:
“Hack = Smart Solution, Marathon = Long challenge”
A hackathon is not just a coding competition — it's about innovation under pressure.
2. Why Should You Join a Hackathon? (3 mins)
• Skill Development – Real-time problem solving
• Leadership – Manage your team and delegate tasks
• Networking – Meet peers, mentors, industry experts
• Confidence Building – High-pressure = high growth
• Self Trust – You learn what you're capable of
Quote: “Hackathons are launchpads for future entrepreneurs.”
3. Understanding the Format (5 mins)
Example: Smart India Hackathon (SIH)
• Phase 1: Problem Statement Selection (by August)
• Phase 2: College-level Internal Hackathon
• Phase 3: National Level (36-hour Finale)
Every stage is an evaluation — not just about idea, but how well you execute and present.
4. Key Criteria for Winning (6 mins)
Break it down into 4 Key PPT Slides (very important for judges):
1. Problem & Idea
o Clear explanation of the problem
o Unique solution (USP)
o Real-world relevance
2. Technical Approach
o Tech stack, tools used
o Flow diagram
o Why this tech?
3. Feasibility & Viability
o Can it be built in 36 hours?
o Risks, cost, scalability
o Realistic implementation plan
4. Impact & Benefits
o Who benefits from your solution?
o Business model / future scope
o Social or economic impact
5. Winning Mindset (5 mins)
• Team Strength = Trust + Communication
• Plan > Code — Don’t start coding immediately. Plan properly first.
• Presentation is Key — 90% of the judging is about how clearly you present.
• Be Flexible — Adapt if your idea gets questioned. Show maturity.
Pro Tip: “Use simple words. Judges should not Google your explanation.”
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid (2 mins)
• Starting with complex code without planning
• Ignoring problem statement needs
• Overloading slides with content
• Poor time management
• Ego clashes in teams
7. Final 36 Hours Tips (3 mins)
• Use 1st Hour: Plan final roadmap
• Assign roles: Dev, PPT, Research, UI
• Keep one person dedicated for PPT + Final Presentation
• Don’t overbuild – MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is enough
8. Real Example / Story (2 mins)
Share your winning moment or a motivational real story from SIH:
"We beat IIT Delhi not because of tech — but because we explained better and stayed calm under
pressure."
9. Final Words (1 min)
• “You may not win every time, but each hackathon builds you stronger.”
• Encourage: “You are the best. Give your best and rest will follow.”
• Give them your contact or social handles for future mentoring.
10. Team Formation Strategy
• Ideal Team Size: 4–6 members
• Roles to cover:
o Idea Owner / Lead Presenter
o Front-end Developer
o Back-end / Tech Developer
o Research & Documentation
o UI/UX Designer
o PPT & Communication Handler
• Tip: Choose based on skill, not friendship.
11. How to Choose a Problem Statement
• Go for:
o Real-world relevance
o Feasible within 36 hours
o Tech you're confident with
o High impact potential
• Avoid:
o Too broad / vague problems
o Techs you haven’t practiced
12. PPT Tips (Must-Do for Judging)
• Follow the official template
• Use less text, more visuals
• Each slide should answer:
o What is the problem?
o Why your solution?
o How it works technically?
o What is the impact?
Pro Tip: Practice presenting your PPT in under 7 minutes
13. Evaluation Panel Insights
Judges look for:
• Innovation – Is it a fresh idea?
• Clarity – Do you communicate well?
• Technical Depth – Not just UI
• Scalability – Can it grow?
• Confidence – Can you defend your idea?
14. Tools That Help You Win
• Design: Figma, Canva, Adobe XD
• Communication: Slack, Google Meet
• Development: VS Code, GitHub, Postman
• Backend APIs: Firebase, Node.js, Flask
• Research & Planning: Notion, Google Docs, Trello
15. Presentation Day Tips
• Wear college/formal dress (impression matters)
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Assign speaker roles before presenting
• Handle questions confidently. If unsure, say:
“That's a great question, we will include it in our future version.”
16. Post-Hackathon Success Path
• Convert your MVP into a real startup idea
• Apply for:
o Startup India
o MSME Hackathon Funds
o Incubation centers (like NASSCOM, T-Hub)
• Build a portfolio using GitHub or LinkedIn from this
Great idea, Suriya! Sharing a few off-topic but valuable points during your hackathon session can
help students see the bigger picture, stay motivated, and connect with you personally. Here's a
curated list of smart, inspiring, and real-world relevant points you can include:
Out-of-the-Topic Points to Inspire & Guide Students
1. Why Building Projects > Learning Only Theory
• Recruiters don’t ask what you learned — they ask what you’ve built.
• Hackathons give you practical exposure + a strong resume point.
• Even a failed project teaches more than 10 theory classes.
2. Start Learning About Resume & LinkedIn Early
• Add your hackathon achievements on LinkedIn + GitHub
• Showcase:
o Awards
o 🛠 Projects
o Tech Stack
• Build a personal brand online. Companies now search you before calling you.
3. Mindset Over Skillset
• The right mindset can beat any skill.
• Growth Mindset: “I don’t know it yet, but I will learn it.”
• Failures are not the opposite of success — they are part of success.
4. AI is Replacing Repetitive Coders – Become a Problem Solver
• AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot can write code — but can’t replace your creativity and
problem-solving
• So shift your focus from “coding” to “solution thinking.”
5. Build Your Own Startup (Even While in College)
• Hackathon ideas can turn into real ventures
• Examples:
o Zolve, Dunzo, Ola – all started with small ideas
• You don’t need to wait to graduate to start your journey
6. You Don’t Need to Be from IIT/NIT to Win Big
• Passion + Planning > College Name
• Many national-level winners come from tier 2 or 3 colleges (like you!)
• I’m standing here as proof. (You can say this with a smile.)
7. Talk About Latest Trends (to grab attention)
• Web3, Blockchain, Low-Code Tools, Prompt Engineering, AI/ML
• Encourage them to pick one and learn deeply — don’t try to do everything at once.
8. Mental Health & Burnout
• Tell them: It’s okay to be confused or lost.
• Hackathons are fun, but don’t pressure yourself.
• Take care of your sleep, food, and social life too. Balance is key.
9. Learn Public Speaking & Communication
• It’s not enough to build a great solution — you must be able to sell your idea
• Practice presenting to friends or teachers
• A confident speaker will always stand out
10. Networking = Net Worth
• Your college friends today can become your co-founders, teammates, or even investors
tomorrow
• So start building meaningful connections — online and offline
