Hackathons

WHY EVERY STUDENT (AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL) SHOULD JOIN

- BY HAFSA RIZVI

The concept sounds simple: gather a team, solve a real problem, and build a working prototype in 24 to 48 hours. Yet this formula has consistently produced breakthrough solutions to complex challenges across the globe. From traffic management apps that emerged from weekend coding sessions to healthcare platforms that started as university hackathon projects, these intensive events have become proving grounds for innovation that traditional classroom settings often cannot replicate.

What Exactly Is a Hackathon?

A hackathon is an intensive, collaborative event where teams work together to develop solutions from concept to working prototype within a tight timeframe. Despite the name suggesting only programming, modern hackathons welcome diverse skills designers, researchers, business analysts, and domain experts all play crucial roles.