Hey everyone! So, I just finished participating in the Smart India Hackathon 2023, and guess what? I made it to the finals! Now, I want to share my journey and what I learned in a series of 6 articles.
Let's start with the grand finale:
1. Hackathons are not just about solving problems; they're about delivering top-notch solutions.
2. The judges are interested in your prototype, the quality of your data, how well your prototype works, its scalability, practical applications, estimated costs, and development time.
3. You don't need to get too technical but be prepared for questions from the judges.
4. The judges might assign you tasks for the next evaluation round, so be ready to tackle them.
5. Your presentation and technical skills are what set you apart from others. Work on both.
6. Take advantage of mentorship sessions if they're offered.
7. Keep your workspace clean during evaluations and maintain your confidence.
8. Even if things get tough, keep pushing forward.
9. Don't dive straight into work at the beginning. Plan, set goals, clarify roles, and then start confidently.
10. After each evaluation round, incorporate the judges' feedback into your solution.
11. Be ready for random questions about software, databases, and algorithms. Know your stuff!
12. Stay connected with tech experts, even if they're not on your team.
13. It's okay to have part of your solution ready before the hackathon starts.
14. Choose your problem statement wisely based on your team's skills.
15. Quality matters more than quantity in your solution.
Hope these insights help you in your hackathons! Stay tuned for more articles about my journey.
