Don't Throw that Hackathon

These are my slides and a paraphrased summary of my talk from the API Strategy & Practice Conference in San Francisco.

Transcript

1. Don’t
   Throw THAT Hackathon
   by @SwiftAlphaOne
   

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2. Note: Not Ryan Gosling.
   @SwiftAlphaOne
   

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3. What is a
   Hackathon?
   

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5. 0
   30
   60
   90
   Q4/2011 Q1/2012 Q2/2012 Q3/2012 Q4/2012 Q1/2013 Q2/2013 Q3/2013
   Hackathons are on the Rise
   

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6. Why are companies
   going to Hackathons?
   

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7. 3Reasons
   Companies go
   to hackathons.
   main
   

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8. Product
   Feedback
   #1.
   

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9. Optimize our product’s developer experience
   by directly interacting with customers
   as they integrate and use it.
   

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11. Mindshare &
    perception
    #2.
    

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12. Mindshare &
    perception
    #2.
    (a.k.a. Marketing)
    

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13. Acquire developer mindshare and trust
    by associating our brand with
    awesome stuff.
    

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15. Change the way developers perceive us
    by associating our brand with
    awesome stuff.
    

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17. Recruiting
    Top Talent
    #3.
    

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18. Actively identifying, approaching, and
    investing in top hacker talent.
    

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20. “Lots of really innovative
    companies are doing
    this ‘hackathon’ thing.”
    We should too!
    

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21. Seriously though,
    

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22. Don’t
    Throw THAT Hackathon
    

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23. That sounds
    Counter-intuitive.
    

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24. “What are you hoping to
    accomplish by throwing a hackathon?”
    if you can’t answer this question,
    don’t throw that hackathon.
    

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25. build A (startup | app)
    #1. using my products
    

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26. Hacks are not startups.
    Hacks are not long term commitments.
    Hacks are just hacks.
    

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27. Better Solution: Month-long App Contest
    

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28. spawn innovation
    #2.around my industry
    

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29. Real innovation doesn’t usually
    happen over a weekend.
    

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30. Better Solution: Innovation Grant / Fund
    

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31. Meet & support
    #3.My community
    

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32. Hackathons & conferences
    really don’t mix well.
    

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33. Better Solution: Throw a conference / Meetup.
    

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34. When should I throw
    my own Hackathon?
    

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35. There Aren’t any
    #1. events nearby
    

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36. x
    x
    x
    Protip: No NYC, Boston, or SF.
    

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37. You’re Targeting
    #2. specific folks
    

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38. You’re Launching
    #3. Something new
    

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39. Thanks
    I’m @SwiftAlphaOne on Twitter.
    

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