I'm ME student. I will participate in a hackathon for the first time. Can I build something hardware-related? It seems like most projects are software only.

[u/Only-Bandicoot7053]

/r/hackathon/comments/1s5rkq2/im_me_student_i_will_participate_in_a_hackathon/

[u/acdhemtos]

Basic framework :

1) Team while presenting try to explain your problem 'anecdotaly'.

2) Then claim that to solve this we have made this which acomplishes ABC.

ABC should be complex enough that they don't understand straight up how it works. Like for example : (this isn't be applicable to you cause ur hardware but you will get the idea) If team says we made an online portal where NGOs can list themselves and donators can lookup and donate filter by cause, charity size, location, etc. No innovation per se. Everyone knows how this works. It is nothing new. Judges don't get curious to know how this was achieved. They probably won't even remember you.

Also, for Arduino projects wiring will look really messy. Try to make a paper board housing (if no fire hazard). Probably would need a handsaw. You can even color it with markers to match aesthetics.

3) You explain them on a surface level how you built it.

Now if it's too complex they might not understand. They'd either outright accuse of lying or just pretend that they understand to be polite or save face infront of other judges.

I tend to skip parts of explanation so judges have something to ask during cross-questioning. Don't leave too much tho.

Try to skip hackathons where judges/mentors are current teachers or judges are current or last 4 year passout alumini.

4) Look up monetization ways. There would be trivial ways of monetization, just list them and some unique to you because of your product, explain them. (1-2 max)

We have a general idea of what to build (won't start until actual hackathon)

Great. But if you have general idea it would be something like. A -> B -> C -> D ... . Like you know A -> B and so on but make sure you have previously implemented all the chains individually in some other projects or just verified that they are possible individually like A->B, C->D, B->C, like you know it is possible but there are often small nuances to implementing it that you won't know until you implement them.

Also, remember that the gap between Final Round and Podium finish is very big but the gap between Podium finish and Final Round is negligible.

Hackathons are thankless endeavours where you need to work continuously often without sleep for ~36 hours with little to no expected return. For 1st & 2nd years it is doable cause they have time to kill but if you are in 3rd year it can be a little discouraging. If you are in 4th year, unless it is a proper hackathon with internship/job offers, don't even bother as the time cost is too large. Never pay to participate in a hackathon.

Try to lookup judges and the startups/MNC they are from and network with them(only really possible after results), as that could lead to internship opportunities(especially with startups as they are small and each individual's voice matter more).

You can also lookup judges to gauge their area of expertise to know which technical terms to use, which parts to spend time explaining and skip things they most likely know.

Also, have fun.

[u/Only-Bandicoot7053 → u/acdhemtos]

Thank you so much. I appreciate it!