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Don't Throw that Hackathon

Swift
October 25, 2013

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.

Swift

October 25, 2013
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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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  14. View Slide

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

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  16. View Slide

  17. Recruiting
    Top Talent
    #3.

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

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  19. View Slide

  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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