Inside a hackathon: Tips and insights for success

Whether you are a tech savant gearing up for your next hackathon—or a coding newcomer wondering, ‘What even is a hackathon?’—this video is perfect for you. 

In short, a hackathon is a sort of 'codefest' where people collaborate to build software projects. They typically take the form of coding competitions, where organizers encourage tech enthusiasts to invent software solutions to real world challenges in cybersecurity, financial technology and other areas. 

So, what does it take to stand out in a hackathon? How do you stay focused, work as a team and produce something truly innovative? 

Students competing at Shellhacks, Florida’s largest hackathon, have answers. They took a breather from coding to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed in a big-time hackathon. Check out what they had to say in the video above. 

Shellhacks 2024 was an official Major League Hacking event that saw 1,400 hackers compete for various prizes over a 36-hour period. The annual hackathon is organized by INIT FIU, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping underserved communities to launch successful careers in technology, and regularly takes place at FIU. Among the hackers this year were more than 700 FIU College of Engineering and Computing students.