Hackathon
Hackathons Explained
What is a Hackathon?
A hackathon is an event, typically lasting a short period of time, where people come together to collaborate in order to quickly solve a problem or identify new opportunities.
The Origin of Hackathons: How Intensive Collaboration Became a Catalyst for Innovation
The concept of a “hackathon” was born in 1999, thanks to pioneering developers at OpenBSD and Sun Microsystems. OpenBSD, an organization dedicated to security-focused software, coined the term during a multi-day event where developers came together to “hack” on code, working intensively to improve and secure their software. Around the same time, Sun Microsystems introduced the term at the JavaOne conference, hosting a hackathon that invited developers to collaboratively build new applications in Java.
The term itself combines “hack”—referring to creative coding or problem-solving—with “marathon,” representing the event’s prolonged, focused effort. This fusion perfectly captures the essence of hackathons: high-energy, collaborative sessions where programmers and innovators work intensely over a short period to solve problems or create prototypes. Since then, the hackathon model has gained global popularity, inspiring industries beyond tech to harness the power of rapid ideation, teamwork, and concentrated innovation to tackle challenges and drive forward new ideas.
Today, hackathons have become synonymous with a catalyst for fast-paced innovation across sectors, promoting dynamic collaboration and problem-solving in structured, high-impact environments.
Mastering Corporate Hackathons: Strategies for Impactful Innovation Events
Corporate hackathons are a powerful way to unite employees, external participants, or a mix of both to address real-world challenges, spark creativity, and drive meaningful innovation. These events provide an opportunity to harness diverse perspectives, enabling your organization to develop cutting-edge technologies, solve specific problems, and explore new business opportunities in a collaborative environment.
With Ezassi’s Innovation Management platform, you gain access to the tools and resources needed to plan, organize, and execute hackathons seamlessly. From setting up challenges to gathering and evaluating ideas, our platform streamlines the entire process to ensure your event is a success. Features like automated idea collection, real-time collaboration tools, and customizable evaluation criteria make it easier to focus on what matters most—producing impactful results.
Hackathons not only deliver innovative solutions but also foster employee engagement, strengthen teamwork, and build a culture of creativity. Whether you’re hosting a one-time event or establishing a recurring series, Ezassi helps you maximize the impact of your innovation events by providing a scalable, user-friendly solution that aligns with your strategic goals.
Let your hackathons become a launchpad for transformative ideas and business growth, powered by Ezassi’s proven expertise in innovation management.
How Ideation and Hackathon Software Achieve the Same Goal: Fueling Fast-Paced, Collaborative Innovation
In the innovation landscape, ideation tools and hackathon software often serve a similar purpose: they are both designed to drive intensive, collaborative idea generation within a structured, time-bound setting. Hackathons, by nature, bring people together to focus on creative problem-solving and rapid prototyping, usually under tight deadlines. By drawing a comparison to hackathon software, ideation platforms can highlight their ability to foster an active, dynamic environment that goes beyond just collecting ideas. Instead of acting as a passive suggestion box, these platforms encourage rapid idea submission, evaluation, and iteration—mirroring the urgency and focus of a hackathon.
This alignment with hackathon-style functionality is also a way to demonstrate the platform’s potential to inspire high engagement and cross-functional collaboration. Many companies turn to hackathons to break down silos and bring teams together, and an ideation tool that replicates this atmosphere can deliver the same benefits. For organizations aiming to build a fast-paced innovation culture, ideation platforms that simulate hackathon energy and productivity offer a valuable advantage, even in virtual or distributed work environments.
By positioning ideation tools in this way, companies showcase their potential to not only streamline the collection of ideas but also to transform how teams collaborate, innovate, and move ideas forward with the intensity and excitement typically associated with hackathons.
Hackathons: Ignite Creativity, Solve Challenges, and Drive Innovation
A hackathon is an event, typically lasting a short period of time, where teams come together to tackle real-world problems, develop groundbreaking ideas, and spark collaboration. With the right tools, your hackathon can become a catalyst for transformative solutions and business growth.
Ezassi Innovation Management Software and Services
has the power and versatility to support corporate Innovation Day and Hackathons effectively.
Dynamic Engagement Hackathons with Ezassi Innovation
Whether you’re looking to host a one-time event or scale your efforts with a recurring series, Ezassi offers an all-in-one platform to streamline hackathons across your organization. With features designed to promote collaboration, spark innovation, and solve complex challenges, our platform allows you to:
> Promote Innovation and Creativity
Encourage out-of-the-box thinking and rapid ideation across your team.
> Foster New Product Development
Inspire your participants to develop the next big idea for your business.
> Build Teamwork and Collaboration
Strengthen team bonds by encouraging cross-functional collaboration on real-world problems.
> Solve Specific Challenges
Focus the hackathon on addressing key business challenges, driving targeted results.
> Find and Cultivate Intrapreneurship
Identify and nurture top talent within your organization or from outside participants.
>Enhance Networking Opportunities
Create a space for participants to connect and build productive relationships.
Ezassi offers Flexible Hackathon Solutions for Any Need
No matter where you are in your innovation journey or how much experience you have with hosting hackathons, Ezassi offers a range of tailored solutions designed to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re planning your first event, running a series of hackathons, or looking to refine and optimize your current process, our platform is built to adapt to your specific requirements.
From short timelines that demand rapid deployment to long-term strategies for recurring innovation events, Ezassi provides the flexibility and tools to ensure every hackathon is a success. Our platform supports organizations at all experience levels—whether you’re new to hackathons and need end-to-end guidance, or an experienced host looking for advanced features to streamline and scale your efforts.
With Ezassi, you can create a dynamic, engaging experience for participants, enabling you to achieve your innovation goals, foster collaboration, and deliver measurable outcomes. No challenge is too big or small—Ezassi empowers you to execute hackathons that drive real impact.
> Event Types
Employees only | Outside participants | Employees AND external collaborators
> Hackathon Formats
One-time event | Recurring series of events | Multiple unrelated innovation events | Standardized platform to consolidate all hackathon activities
> Launch Timelines
Now! | This Quarter | 6 months | Next 12 months
> Hackathon Experience Levels
New to hackathons | A few hackathons conducted | Expert organizer
> Department Sponsors
Whether you’re from Engineering, R&D, Operations, Product Design, or any other department, Ezassi can support your hackathon goals.
Tools and Support Tailored to Your Organization
> Current Tools
Starting from scratch? We have you covered with a full solution.
Already using tools like spreadsheets or websites? We’ll help you level up.
Looking to upgrade your current hackathon software? Ezassi is your source.
> Assistance Required
Minimal help? We’ll guide your setup.
Need best practices? We’ll coach you through the process.
Require full partnership? We’re ready to mobilize your event from start to finish.
Ready to Innovate? Connect with a Hackathon Solution Consultant
At Ezassi, we partner with you every step of the way to ensure your hackathon is not only successful but a key driver of innovation for your organization. Connect with one of our Consultants today to explore how we can help you execute a high-impact event.
- Ezassi Innovation Management Software – Our ideation and collaboration platform supports organizing, running, and tracking hackathons.
- Crowdsourcing Innovation – Use the Ezassi platform to harness ideas and solutions from internal or external crowds.
- Idea Incubation – Hackathons foster new ideas that can be nurtured through our software’s workflow.
- Collaboration Tools for Hackathons – Prepare your event for continuous success knowing the importance of seamless team collaboration during hackathons.
- Employee Engagement in Hackathons – Hackathons can boost internal participation in innovation.
- Innovation Pipeline Tracking – Hackathon-generated ideas can be fed into the Ezassi innovation pipeline for further development and project management.
- Real-time Idea Evaluation – Innovation software supports live feedback, rating and reviews, and vigorous evaluation of hackathon ideas.
- Gamification in Hackathons – Leaderboard, idea ranking, accrued participation points and other gamified elements encourage participation and competitiveness. Points can even be used to “shop” in the store for fun and valuable winners’ prizes.
- Hackathon Analytics and Reporting – Track and analyze outcomes from hackathons. Meet and exceed the KPIs of successful Innovation programs.
- Crowdsourcing Innovation – Our software has the capability to manage large-scale open innovation initiatives, including hackathons.