When you attend a tech event, what do you usually expect?
Exactly one week from now, I’ll be co-organising a tech event (a hackathon), and I’m realising how much work it actually takes. I’ve been to many conferences myself to gather inspiration, but I still can’t come close to what I’ve experienced as an attendee. Maybe that’s also because we’re organising it as just a 3-person team. 😅
If you’ve been to hackathons or other tech events before, what made a positive impression on you?
I might implement some of those ideas into the program.
The current structure includes snacks, mini-quizzes, prizes, talks, hacking, and networking/party.
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For me, the best events nail two things: networking and learning. Meeting people I’d never normally cross paths with, and leaving with at least one new insight I can apply right away. Snacks and prizes are fun, but those two are what make it memorable.
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@andreitudor14 You are right, the best conferences I have ever been to, I remember just because of the modd and people I met there :)
HakkoAI
@busmark_w_nika Organizing with 3 people is ambitious! 🚀
From 20+ tech events, here's what creates lasting impact:
"Skill Speed Dating": 5-minute rotations where people share expertise and needs. Way more effective than random networking.
Live Progress Tracker: Visible leaderboard sparks conversations. "Oh, you're working on AI too?"
Energy Management: Schedule high-energy activities 2-3 hours post-lunch when people naturally dip.
Digital Takeaway Space: Shared Notion/Airtable for resources, contacts, project links. Extends value beyond event day.
Pro tip: Designate a "vibe guardian" - someone watching energy levels and adjusting accordingly.
Your Discord + icebreakers combo will work great for 70 people! What's your biggest concern right now?
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@oratis I do not understand those energy levels: I mean, how this improve the hackathon?
Cal ID
For me, the best tech events strike a balance between meaningful networking and learning. I expect to meet people outside my usual circles and go home with insights or practical tips I can actually use.
Snacks and prizes are nice touches that keep energy up, but shorter, focused talks or workshops help keep the real momentum (as it's most aligned to the reason people came there)
For your hackathon, since you have a Discord ready, some playful icebreakers or tech-themed quizzes can help break the ice and get conversations flowing.
And the biggest of all - Pizza sounds like a perfect choice to keep things casual and energy high!
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@sanskarix The another choice was kebab :D
Hi Nika, thanks for organizing! I was participating on a 3 day long hackathon in a very big tech company. The orga was great, each team got an expert assigned. The team presentations were professional and the winners honored.
I live in Berlin in Germany an go to tech events every two weeks. They are usually free or at low cost or pay what you want.
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@christoph_ender I wish to travel and visit them more. Every inspiration is useful so feel free to share more :D
Hyta
Hope it went well! honestly organizing even a small event is way more work than it looks from the attendee side 😅 I’ve attended some smaller events and what I really liked about them was that they had some kind of light structure for meeting people not just “here’s a room, now network”, and one or two memorable moments (like a quirky activity or a weirdly specific contest), also good snacks were very important.
I’m working on Seefy in the B2B event space, so I’m probably biased toward anything that makes it easier for people to connect on purpose instead of by accident , but even simple tweaks like that make hackathons feel way more welcoming.
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@ray_watcher what were the best conferences or so? I would like to attend more :D
Sounds awesome, Nika 🎉 even with a 3-person team, that’s no small feat!
From my experience at hackathons and tech events, a few things always stood out:
Energy check-ins → quick stretch / fun icebreaker every few hours keeps the room buzzing.
Mentor corners → even just 1–2 “floating experts” people can ask for quick advice.
Demo moments → short mid-event share-outs so teams feel progress, not just the final demo.
Recharge zones → comfy corner with beanbags/quiet space makes a big difference for focus.
Snacks + mini-quizzes sound 🔥 already, and the networking party is often where the best collabs are born. 🚀
What’s the vibe you’re aiming for — more competitive hackathon or more community-building?