Primis hosted a company-wide hackathon. It was a celebration of innovation, teamwork, and the drive to push limits. The story here is not the projects themselves but how we prepared, how we came together, and the culture that made it all possible.
Why We Are Not Talking About the Projects
We’re keeping the details of the projects under wraps, and for good reason. While hackathons are about pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas, not every idea is meant to be shared publicly. Some concepts were solid and useful, like a chatbot, but that’s not the kind of groundbreaking innovation we want our competitors to know about. On the other hand, some projects were truly innovative, but their ideas are too valuable and confidential to reveal just yet.
What we can share is equally important: the way we prepared, the cross-team collaboration, the creative energy that filled the room, and the determination that kept people coding late into the night. The real story isn’t in the specifics of the projects but in the spirit of experimentation and teamwork that made it possible. That’s what made the event unforgettable, and that’s what will carry forward into the work we do every day.
Preparation: Structure Meets Creativity
Weeks before the event, we carefully formed our teams. Instead of grouping people by department, we created diverse teams that blended developers, sales professionals, and account managers. This mix ensured each group had a balance of technical expertise, business understanding, and creative perspective, which is exactly what innovation requires.
The preparation didn’t stop there. Leading up to the hackathon, teams brainstormed and refined ideas, challenging each other to think deeper and focus on the real impact of their projects. By the time hackathon day arrived, the groundwork was laid. Everyone came in with a clear direction and a strong sense of purpose, ready to build something meaningful.
Hackathon Day: Execution at a High Level
From the production setup to the breakfasts that fueled long hours, every detail was designed to keep creativity alive. The mornings started with lighthearted, energetic stand-ups that were anything but formal. This spark of humor set a creative tone, proving that innovation doesn’t always have to begin with intensity, sometimes it starts with a smile and a shared joke.
Throughout the day, a similar balance was maintained. Breaks at the gym offered a chance to recharge, while meals became moments of connection where teams mixed and new ideas emerged. Live music, performed by our employees, transformed the event into a celebration of talent and collaboration.
The result was an atmosphere where focus and play worked hand in hand. The hackathon proved that when the environment supports both concentration and laughter, the best ideas come to life.
The Dilemma of Recognition
By the end of the hackathon, the results were stronger than anyone had imagined. What began as a handful of ideas had grown into real projects with true potential. The quality of the work raised a difficult question: how do you recognize excellence fairly when so many teams exceeded expectations?
The traditional approach of one first and one second place felt wrong. Limiting recognition would have ignored the depth of effort and creativity, while handing out too many awards could have watered down their meaning. The dilemma became even clearer when multiple projects showed the potential to become real products. Overlooking those achievements would have felt unfair. In that case, recognition was not a nice to have; it was a matter of giving credit where it was due.
In the end, we chose to break our own rules. Instead of one neat list of winners, we celebrated more widely: three second-place prizes and two third-place prizes. It wasn’t the easy choice, but it was the right one. By expanding recognition, we honored the true spirit of the hackathon, proving that innovation isn’t a zero-sum game.
Beyond the Numbers
Industry benchmarks show only about 25% of hackathon projects move beyond the initial event. While most ideas stall once the energy fades, our early results suggest a different story. We’re already tracking above that benchmark, and while exact numbers will become clear, the direction is promising.
For us, innovation isn’t measured by how many flashy demos we create in 30 hours. It’s measured by how many ideas can grow into products, tools, or solutions that meaningfully impact our partners. A hackathon project that turns into something real represents a mindset of experimentation and follow-through that is core to how we operate.
We view hackathons not as a temporary burst of creativity but as a pipeline for lasting impact. The projects are more than just quick-build tests; they are signals for where we can push our technology and vision for the industry. Ultimately, these results are a clear sign of how innovation at Primis is defined: ambitious, practical, and always focused on the growth of our partners.
What the Hackathon Proved
This hackathon was a true reflection of our company. It proved that planning and execution go hand in hand with creativity, that diverse teams deliver stronger results, and that our culture is built through shared moments of collaboration, not just policies.
When tough decisions arose, we were willing to break our own rules to do right by our people. This choice was not about awards; it was about recognizing effort and fairness, and the belief that innovation deserves to be celebrated. While the products will come in time, the real achievement is the culture of trust and collaboration that made those projects possible.
At Primis, “Push for More” is not just a slogan; it is the standard we live by. This hackathon proved it once again.