Online hackathons have become a popular way for organisations and companies to promote innovation, crowdsource solutions to challenges, and identify talented individuals. They can be organised around specific themes, technologies, or problems and are often open to participants from around the world. This guide will provide an overview of online hackathons, including the key components of a typical event and the different types of hackathons that exist. Additionally, we’ll explore the different judging criteria that are used to evaluate submissions and determine the winners of the event.

What is an Online Hackathon?

An online hackathon is a time-bound event where individuals or teams come together to create innovative solutions to a specific problem or challenge. Participants work together to develop ideas, create prototypes or minimum viable products, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

Online hackathons are typically organised around a specific theme or technology and are open to participants of all skill levels. They may be free to participate in or require a registration fee, and they often provide prizes or opportunities for participants to further develop their ideas.

Components of an Online Hackathon

Hackathon events typically have several key components, including:

1. Challenge Statement: The organisers provide a problem statement, theme or challenge for participants to address.
2. Teams: Participants are often formed into teams, with each team working together to develop a solution to the challenge.
3. Mentors: Many hackathons provide mentors who can offer guidance and support to participants throughout the event.
4. Judging Criteria: Participants are evaluated by a panel of judges using a set of predefined criteria.
5. Prizes: Prizes are usually awarded to the top teams at the end of the event.

Types of Online Hackathons

There are many different types of hackathons, each with its own unique focus and goals. Some common types of hackathons include:

1. Innovation Hackathons: These events focus on promoting creativity and innovation, and participants are typically given a wide range of freedom to develop their ideas.
2. Social Hackathons: These events focus on addressing social or humanitarian challenges and are often organised by non-profit organisations or government agencies.
3. Industry-Specific Hackathons: These events are tailored to specific industries, such as healthcare or finance, and focus on developing solutions to challenges within that industry.
4. Technical Hackathons: These events focus on specific technologies or programming languages, such as artificial intelligence or blockchain, and often require participants to have a high level of technical expertise.

Hackathon Judging Criteria

Hackathon organisers typically provide a set of judging criteria that are used to evaluate submissions and determine the winners of the event. These criteria may include:

1. Originality: Does the solution address the challenge in a unique and original way?
2. Feasibility: Is the solution practical and able to be implemented?
3. Impact: Does the solution have the potential to make a significant impact?
4. Presentation: How effectively was the solution communicated to the judges?
5. Technical Execution: How well was the solution executed from a technical perspective?

Online hackathons have become an effective tool for organisations and companies to promote innovation and identify talented individuals. They are time-bound events that gather people with different backgrounds and ideas to work on solutions to specific problem statements and challenges . The hackathon judging criteria are crucial to select the best and most impactful solutions and projects developed during the event.

Purpose of Online Hackathons

The primary purpose of online hackathons is to bring together individuals or teams with diverse backgrounds and skills to develop solutions to a specific problem or challenge. Hackathons provide a platform for participants to collaborate, share ideas, and learn new skills. They also offer the opportunity for participants to showcase their talents and potentially connect with potential employers or investors.

For organisers, online hackathons serve as a way to identify and engage with talented individuals or teams who can bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to their organisation or company. They also provide a platform for organisations to crowdsource solutions to challenges and build a community of engaged individuals around a specific theme or technology.

Benefits of Online Hackathons for Participants

Online hackathons offer many benefits for participants, including:

1. The opportunity to collaborate and network with other individuals or teams
2. A platform to showcase talents and ideas
3. The chance to learn new skills and technologies
4. The potential to win prizes or further develop an idea
5. The potential to connect with potential employers or investors

For organisers, online hackathons offer several benefits, including:

1. The ability to identify and engage with talented individuals or teams who can bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the organisation.
2. A way to crowdsource solutions to challenges and gain insight into new technologies or business models.
3. An opportunity to build a community of engaged individuals around a specific theme or technology.
4. The potential to generate buzz and interest in the organisation or company.

Online hackathons have become a popular and effective tool for organisations and companies to promote innovation, and provide a platform for participants to showcase their talents and skills. With the advancement of technology, it has become easy for everyone to participate in these hackathons from anywhere in the world. Judging criteria of hackathons can vary depending on the event, challenge, and the intended outcome. But they play a crucial role in identifying the most impactful and innovative solutions and projects.

Organising an online hackathon is a challenging but rewarding experience. It requires careful planning, coordination, and execution to create a successful event. Clear problem statement, well-designed virtual platform, dedicated team for support, efficient communication and clear evaluation criteria are some of the key factors that contribute to the success of an online hackathon. They not only provide a platform for innovation and talent identification but also enable people from different backgrounds and locations to come together, work together, and achieve a common goal.

Mercer | Mettl is an online assessment and recruitment platform that provides a wide range of services, including online hackathons. The company offers a comprehensive solution for organisations looking to organise and execute virtual hackathons. Their platform includes everything from challenge creation and management to participant registration and scoring.