The Hackathon Canvas is a visual and strategic tool for hackathon organizers. It's used as a dashboard during the organization process to start, design, prepare, communicate and debrief easily. ##################################################################### DOWNLOAD : http://hackathoncanvas.co ##################################################################### The 7 blocks help you to cover the main topics to organize your hackathon and avoid typical pitfalls. Each block contains the right questions and real examples to guide you. This is a guideline on How to use the Hackathon Canvas.

1. How to Organize a Great Hackathon
with the Hackathon Canvas
Michel Duchateau
Innovation Coach
Startup Weekend Facilitator
Hackathon Animator
www.hackathoncanvas.co

2. 2
Definition of a Hackathon
A typical hackathon is a two-day workshop where attendees form teams to build
solutions together.
In a mindset of positive competition, teams go as far as possible to design, prototype
and deliver concrete results in a time-boxed marathon. At the end of the event, teams
present their results to others or a panel of judges.
This definition includes non-IT events, innovation-related and business oriented
events, and differs from the original definition of the term “hackathon”.
More on Wikipedia

3. 3
Organizing a Hackathon Is Not Simple
A lot of people are facing difficulties and obstacles when organizing their own
hackathons. This is what I learned after organizing and animating 50 hackathons.
Whatever the type, goal, and size of the event, typical pitfalls could have been
avoided with a better preparation.
Here are the top 10 most common pitfalls.

4. Top 10 Pitfalls 4
When organizing a hackathon
Reasons Examples
1 No clear purpose. ‘Let’s plan a hackathon because it’s hype.’
2 No preparation about what happens after the event. ‘Thank you for your demo. Goodbye!’
3 No communication strategy.
‘Just set up a registration page and wait for
attendees to come.’
4 No clue regarding participants’ profiles. ‘We target everyone.’
5 Poor results (slide decks instead of prototypes). ‘Attendees will present something cool.’
6 Bad estimation of the resources needed. ‘Preparation is a 2 hours meeting.’
7 Confusing objectives for organizers and attendees. Attendees will validate business models for us!
8 Partners are involved but not committed.
‘Venue’s guys changed their minds the week
before the event.’
9 No clear event goal. ‘We want everyone to create stuff.’
10 Egocentric. No empathy for attendees.
A public hackathon where attendees work for a
for-profit company for free.

5. 5
The Hackathon Canvas
Your visual tool to organize a hackathon easily
A visual and strategic tool
The 7 blocks help you to cover the main
topics to organize your hackathon and
avoid typical pitfalls.
Each block contains the right questions
and real examples to guide you.
It’s free and open for everyone. http://hackathoncanvas.co

6. When to Use the Hackathon Canvas 6
Organizing a hackathon like a project
Design
Elaborate the vision,
strategy and goals
Prepare
Involve partners,
suppliers, stakeholders
Communicate
Recruit and prepare
attendees
Start
Set up your organizing
team
Run
Execute the hackathon,
capture feedbacks
Debrief
Review results and collect
lessons learned
The Hackathon Canvas can be used as a dashboard during the organization
process to start, design, prepare, communicate and debrief easily.

7. 7
How to Use the Hackathon Canvas
Using this visual tool as a dashboard
Print it and use it with sticky notes.
In 30 minutes, you structure the concept
of your hackathon, define your action
plan and prepare a fantastic event.
Challenge your event with your team,
maximize the experience for attendees
and create value for stakeholders.

8. 8
Key Resources Key Results
Key Partners AttendeesAttendees’ Value Propositions
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

9. 9Hackathon Goals

10. Hackathon Goals 10
v What are the objectives of our hackathon?
v What is the context?
v What is the purpose?
Examples for organizers
- Source an incubation program
- Contribute to the ecosystem
- Create new startups
- Boost visibility and credibility
- Solve problems in a field
Examples for attendees
- Improve collaboration
- Have fun
- Create real stuffs
- Learn tools, methods, best practices
- Kick off innovative projects
Questions

11. 11Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

12. Hackathon Type 12
v What are the characteristics of our hackathon? What is the theme?
v Is it a public, private, or semi-private event?
v Is it a business or technical oriented event? Is it a for-profit or non-profit event?
v What is the expected duration?
v How many participants are expected (10, 50, 100)?
Examples
- A private for-profit event gathering 50 participants to develop solid business cases during 2 days
- A public non-profit event gathering 100 participants to develop business and technical innovative
solutions in the FinTech industry during 54 hours
- An event where organizers are volunteers and results are open-source
Questions

13. 13
Key Results
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

14. Key Results 14
v What are the results expected from participants?
v What kind of deliverable is required from participants at the end of our hackathon?
v What are success criteria for the jury?
v What is the quality level expected from participants?
Examples
- Prototype, Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
- Brief presentation of team results
- Validated business model or business case
- Implementation plan or go-to-market strategy
- Bootstrapped projects
Questions

15. 15
Key Results
Attendees
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

16. Attendees 16
v Who are the participants?
v Which skills and expertise are needed to provide results?
v Do the attendees have to pay to attend the event?
v Are the attendees invited or paid to come?
Examples
- Collaborators of the same organization
- End-users, business partners
- Entrepreneurs, designers, developers
- Experts from a specific industry
Questions

17. 17
Key Results
AttendeesAttendeesAttendees’ Value Propositions
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type
Pre-hackathon Post-hackathonDuring hackathon

18. Attendees’ Value Proposition 18
Pre-hackathon
v How to recruit the best participants, coaches, experts and jury?
v How to prepare participants (knowledge, skills, experience)?
v How to prepare the working environment?
Examples
- Organize information sessions for potential attendees
- Organize workshops about tools and best practices
- Set up a process to select the best attendees and projects
- Prepare tools, data sets, contact lists and authorizations
Questions for pre-hackathon

19. Attendees’ Value Proposition 19
During hackathon
v How to maximize participants’ experience?
v How to support and energize participants?
v How to monitor their working environment?
Examples
- Organize relevant coaching sessions
- Deliver valuable prizes for winners
- Organize ad hoc workshops to support participants
- Develop networking opportunities
Questions for during hackathon

20. Attendees’ Value Proposition 20
post-hackathon
v What are the next steps for projects and participants?
v Who owns each project?
v What is planned next with the organizers?
Examples
- Prepare incentives to continue
- Organize a Demo Day
- Support projects within an incubation program
- Communicate on success stories
Questions for post-hackathon

21. 21
Key Results
Key Partners AttendeesAttendees’ Value Propositions
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

22. Key Partners 22
v Who are the sponsors?
v Who are the stakeholders?
v Who are the suppliers?
v Who are the partners?
Examples
- Sponsors : public organizations, customers
- Suppliers : venue, catering, facilitator, experts
- Partners : businesses, communities, press, media
Questions

23. 23
Key Resources Key Results
Key Partners AttendeesAttendees’ Value Propositions
Hackathon Goals Hackathon Type

24. Key Resources 24
v What are the most important key resources in our hackathon?
v Who do we need to involve in our hackathon?
v What are the roles needed to organize our hackathon?
Examples
- Financial resources to cover costs from venue and catering
- Time resources from organizers, coaches, experts and jury
- Experience in animation from a hackathon facilitator
- Time resources to recruit and prepare participants
Questions

25. 25

26. 26
The Hackathon Canvas
Your visual tool to organize a hackathon easily
It’s free and open for everyone.
This canvas is under Creative Common license. Any organizing team
can use it for any kind of event like company, private or public events.
http://hackathonCanvas.co

27. Contact 27
michel@hackathoncanvas.co
+32 491 50 70 90
@miduchateau
mduchateau
www.hackathoncanvas.co
Michel Duchateau