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How to Prepare for the Top Hackathons in 2025
- Sam Booth Jacobsen
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Your step-by-step guide to building confidence, skills, and connections that last
Hackathons used to be niche gatherings for coders. Today? They’re high-energy launchpads for creators, thinkers, and dreamers across every skill set—from tech to design to storytelling and social impact. Whether you're new to the scene or planning to level up in 2025, one thing is clear: the right preparation makes all the difference.
This post isn’t just about gear or code—it’s about mindset, skill-building, and showing up ready to thrive. Let’s turn your curiosity into confidence.
📌 Want even more creative digital activities? Visit The Changing Booth to explore more online opportunities!
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🌟 Why Hackathons Are Worth It in 2025
Hackathons are no longer just tech competitions—they're collaborative, cross-functional events where problem-solvers from all over the world meet to create something meaningful, fast.
Here’s what makes them so powerful:
🌍 Global Collaboration: Work with people across time zones, cultures, and industries.
🔥 Real-World Problem Solving: Tackle sustainability, mental health, education, AI ethics, and more.
💼 Career Growth: Meet recruiters, build a portfolio, and develop team-based soft skills.
🧩 Skill Stacking: Combine creative thinking, tech, business, and storytelling.
🤝 Community & Belonging: Find your people, even if you're just getting started.
Whether in-person or virtual, hackathons are one of the most transformative digital experiences out there.
✅ Step 1: Choose the Right Hackathon for You
You don’t need to be a developer to join a hackathon. There are opportunities for:
✨ Designers & UX thinkers
✨ Storytellers & marketers
✨ Social impact leaders
✨ Beginner coders
✨ Community builders
✨ Business strategists
Where to find great hackathons in 2025:
Devpost – Global virtual and in-person hackathons.
MLH (Major League Hacking) – Student-friendly and beginner-focused.
Hackathons.com – Broad listings by category and region.
💡 Pro tip: Start small. Look for beginner or “no-code” friendly events. Don’t wait for the “perfect” one—just pick something exciting and go for it.
🧠 Step 2: Brush Up on Key Skills (Even If You're Not a Coder)
You don’t need to master every tool or language. Just focus on one or two areas you want to strengthen before the event.
🔧 If you’re new to coding:
🖥️ Practice on freeCodeCamp or Replit
👩💻 Try building small front-end projects with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
⚙️ Explore APIs—many hackathons give you access to powerful tools and datasets
🎨 If you're a designer or storyteller:
🧪 Learn basic UX principles on Coursera
✏️ Play with Figma or Canva to prototype
🗣️ Practice pitching—record yourself giving a 1-minute story of a product
🧮 If you’re into data or AI:
📊 Brush up on Python and pandas
🤖 Try experimenting with simple models on HuggingFace or OpenAI APIs
🧠 Analyze past winning projects for patterns and presentation styles
You’ll learn the rest on the fly. Hackathons are about creativity under constraints, not perfect code.
🧰 Step 3: Set Up Your Digital Toolkit Before the Event
Showing up organized helps you focus on what matters—building, collaborating, and solving problems. Here’s what to have ready:
🛠️ Technical Toolkit:
💻 GitHub account (with a test repo already created)
🧠 Trello or Notion board for tracking ideas
🛠️ VSCode or any lightweight IDE you're comfortable with
🎨 Figma for mockups
🎤 Zoom or Discord set up and tested (especially for virtual events)
📁 Organizational Prep:
✍️ Draft a quick intro blurb about yourself
💼 Upload your LinkedIn or resume to share
🖼️ Build a simple landing page or Notion profile for your work
If the event has a team-matching platform, join early and message people ahead of time. It’ll give you a head start.
💬 Step 4: Build a Team That Feels Energizing
The best hackathon experiences come from great teams. That doesn’t mean everyone is a genius—it means you all show up with curiosity, respect, and drive.
🤝 What to look for in teammates:
😊 Good communicators (especially in virtual teams)
🎯 Shared goals (are you in it to win, learn, or network?)
⏱️ Similar availability (you’ll likely work across time zones)
You can also go solo or start with one buddy. Small, focused teams can win too!
📝 Step 5: Clarify the Challenge (Before You Start Building)
You might feel the urge to jump straight into code or design. But pausing to ask “What problem are we solving?” is what sets strong teams apart.
Key questions to ask as a team:
❓ Who is this for?
❓ What pain point does it solve?
❓ Why is it unique or better than alternatives?
❓ What’s the smallest version we can build in 24-48 hours?
Sketch out your user journey and set realistic deliverables. Simplicity wins over complexity—especially when time is short.
⚙️ Step 6: Focus on Execution, Not Perfection
The beauty of hackathons is how quickly you go from “we have an idea” to “we built this.” But the clock moves fast.
Tips for momentum:
⏱️ Use Pomodoro-style blocks to stay focused
🧩 Divide tasks clearly—no one should feel lost
🎯 Prioritize your MVP (minimum viable product)
📣 Keep communicating—short check-ins save time later
Don’t get stuck debugging for hours. Done is better than perfect.
🎤 Step 7: Polish Your Pitch Like a Pro
Many teams build amazing projects but freeze at the final presentation. Don’t skip this part—storytelling matters.
How to deliver a winning pitch:
📽️ Keep it under 2 minutes
🎯 Highlight the problem, your solution, and why it matters
📱 Include a live demo or prototype walkthrough
👏 End with what you learned or what’s next
Practice once or twice as a team, and record a version if allowed. Judges want to see your thought process, not just your product.
💡 What Happens After the Hackathon?
Regardless of whether you win, what you do next matters most.
🌱 Post-hackathon growth checklist:
✉️ Reach out to mentors, judges, and fellow teams
🧠 Reflect on what you learned—document it!
🛠️ Consider continuing your project (or using it in a portfolio)
🧑💼 Add it to your resume, GitHub, or personal site
🌍 Join other communities like Indie Hackers, Dev.to, or design forums
Every hackathon adds momentum to your creative and professional journey. Don’t let that energy go to waste.
🧭 Mindset Matters: Show Up With Purpose and Courage
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to show up, stay curious, and keep moving forward.
Here’s what to remind yourself before your next hackathon:
💬 “I don’t need to have all the answers. I just need to be willing to explore.”
💬 “Collaboration beats competition.”
💬 “Done is better than perfect.”
💬 “Every project teaches me something new.”
Hackathons are containers for growth—personal, creative, and professional. Even if you're intimidated, you have something valuable to offer.
🎯 Your 2025 Hackathon Starter Pack
Before you go, here’s your one-stop checklist to get ready:
✅ Choose your event (Devpost, MLH, local or virtual hackathons)
✅ Identify your role (developer, designer, idea generator, etc.)
✅ Brush up on 1-2 tools or skills
✅ Prepare your digital toolkit
✅ Find a team or go solo with intention
✅ Clarify the challenge before building
✅ Keep your MVP simple and functional
✅ Practice your pitch
✅ Follow up with new contacts
✅ Reflect and grow—repeat!
🚀 Final Pep Talk: You Belong Here
Hackathons aren’t just about tech—they’re about possibility. They’re proof that when passionate people come together, anything is possible. Whether you’re aiming to change the world, build a portfolio, or meet collaborators—you’re in the right place.
👣 Take that first step. Find an event that excites you, block off the weekend, and say yes.
📌 Explore more opportunities like this at The Changing Booth—we’ve curated online activities that support your goals, passions, and future.
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