From first idea to final results in 30 days. Everything you need to run a hackathon that teams actually love.
Lock down fundamentals before going public
Realistic cost estimates and interactive budget calculator
Help participants find teammates and build balanced teams
Create fair, transparent judging that everyone trusts
Announcement templates and promotion strategies
Infrastructure, tools, and testing checklist
Watch the magic happen - run a smooth, successful event
Follow-up, retrospectives, and planning your next hackathon
Most organizers announce too early, plan too late, and scramble through the final week. This timeline flips that script entirely. Follow these 5 phases to run a hackathon that launches actual products, not spreadsheet chaos.
Days 30-22 • Before anyone knows
Lock down fundamentals while it's still a secret. No stress, just strategy.
Days 21-15 • Time to Tell the World
Announce with confidence. Watch excitement build as teams start forming.
Days 14-8 • Everything comes together
Daily communication keeps energy high. Everything gets tested and validated.
Days 7-1 • Lock everything down
Last details fall into place. Your rehearsal catches issues before they matter.
Hackathon Day • Watch the magic happen
Mentor teams, build community, celebrate innovation. No spreadsheet panic.
You love hackathons and innovation but want to focus on the creative parts (themes, mentorship, community building) not logistics management.
You volunteered thinking it'd be fun, but logistics are taking over. You want this to be manageable and actually enjoyable.
Launch in 30 minutes instead of 30 hours of setup
Avoid common pitfalls that lead to 2 AM crisis management
Create transparent judging criteria everyone believes in
Drive participation with proven communication strategies
Focus on mentorship and innovation, not logistics
Build real-time results dashboards that work under pressure
HackHQ replaces the 7+ tools and spreadsheets with one platform that actually works. Launch your hackathon in 30 minutes with built-in registration, submissions, and transparent live results.