Hackathons are taking over the world these days. On college campuses, in corporate headquarters, and even in museums, there seems to be a hackathon almost every week. In fact, if you live in San Francisco or New York City, it’s actually possible to attend a hackathon every week.
If you’ve watched The Social Network, then you’ve seen a micro version of a hackathon.
Yes, sometimes there is beer involved. No, hackathons aren’t for breaking into Harvard’s computer system (or really any computer system).
Yes, hackathons provide all sorts of snacks and swag -- even beer.
So what exactly is a hackathon? It’s a term that has been used in the innovation space before but has only gained mainstream traction in recent years. And now, it seems that everyone from Facebook to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and even high schools want to get in on the hackathon trend.
Hackathon | ˈhakəˌTHän/ | noun: forget what you know about hacking
The words “hack,” “hacked,” and “hacking” elicit a great deal of fear in many people. When most people hear that something was hacked, their instinct is to worry about the security of their personal data and information.
This instinct can be right some of the time. But not all hacks are the same, and most aren’t even close to being computer crimes.
Hackathons are meant to be fun, creative spaces in which people can ideate and develop projects in the span of a weekend. The “hacks” that are developed are usually created from scratch and look to address or solve some sort of problem through technology.
These competitions are often geared toward computer programmers and hardware engineers, who are usually arranged in teams of four. Teams are expected to develop, test, and present their projects within the 24-36 hours allotted for "hacking," and some of the hacks developed at these events can even serve as prototypes for later products. GroupMe, the mobile messaging app that was eventually acquired by Skype, actually started as a hack at TechCrunch’s Disrupt NY hackathon.
So a hackathon is not a large group of engineers trying to steal your credit card information. They are just a group of people trying to create new ideas – maybe even the next Facebook, airbnb, or Uber.
Programming gone mainstream
While hackathons have been happening for a while, the recent surge in the number of hackathons has a bit to do with the startup boom in Silicon Valley. And the hackathons themselves are trying to be innovative and engaging beyond just providing copious amounts of Red Bull and pizza.
Consider PennApps and MHacks, two of the largest and most prominent student-led hackathons in the United States. PennApps, held at the University of Pennsylvania, is the original college hackathon. At their Fall 2015 hackathon, they hosted over 2,000 hackers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (where the Flyers and 76ers play).
At MHacks III, run by students at the University of Michigan, over 1,200 hackers get to work on their projects at "the Big House," which includes playing football on field of the world’s second largest stadium.
Hackathon organizers push the limits even when it comes to host venues.
Hackathons aren’t just popular among college kids. CEOs and world leaders are increasingly seeing the added value of hosting hackathons. Companies like Microsoft, NBC, and Bloomberg often sponsor prizes at hackathons, and those like Facebook, Netflix, and Google hold internal hackathons. In fact, the Facebook “Like” button was developed at a company hackathon.
What the hack?
Hackathons are popular because they provide crucial learning opportunities for participants. Because hackathons are not limited to people who have software or hardware development knowledge -- first-timers are encouraged -- it is possible for someone to learn and create something in the span of a weekend. Hackathons also host educational or informative talks and workshops from industry leaders where hackers can learn new technologies.
The general idea behind a hackathon is collaborative and fast-paced innovation in an environment without the typical structure of ideation and creation. This basic concept is slowly making its way into the social innovation space, with groups like HP, Spotify, and the World Bank hosting social-good hackathons.
While not all social issues can only be addressed by technology innovations, the innovative nature of hackathons are a format being increasingly adopted by the public, social, and civic sectors.
Global citizens: the next hacker community
Hackathons in the social space present an opportunity for collaboration across a wide range of sectors and expertise. Next month, organizers at the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit will host a social innovation hackathon that aims to bring together activists and global citizens to tackle issues relating to the current refugee crisis.
Hack4Humanity at WHS presents a unique opportunity for participants from a variety of backgrounds to engage with and develop solutions to real-world problems in the presence of key members of the development sector. The solutions developed at the WHS Hackathon could have far-reaching implications for future actions and aid regarding refugees in particular. Ultimately, the WHS Hackathon is a chance to reshape the how we deliver aid during humanitarian crises through innovation and multidisciplinary inclusion.
Hackathons bring together a diverse group of people to collaborate on solutions to various problems.
This is the goal of every hackathon: to hack the status quo.
Global citizens are programmers, designers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, activists, thinkers, and doers. Together you have power to create real and lasting impact for millions of people. Take the first step and apply to Hack4Humanity HERE.