Estonian-founded Garage48 hackathon is an event where computer programmers and others in the field of software development – like graphic designers, interface designers and project managers – collaborate intensively on software projects within 48 hours over the weekend. The aim of the event is to set up working firms by the end of the weekend. But how does it work so fast?
What is it about?
Three-time participant and one-time winner of the event with a service called Storymarks, Andrus Purde is confident that, despite the fact that his three startup attempts no longer exist today, the experiences gathered at the event are irreplaceable.
“The idea is simple – in a single weekend you need to realise your idea in its minimum viable form, ie, build a working prototype. For this, the event gathers potential teammates that have common interest in an idea. This is why there can be unbelievable results from this single weekend,” Purde explains.
Step 1 – dry practice
The first step takes place even before the teams gather for the event on Friday night. It can be days or months earlier, since experience shows that proper preparation can provide a clear advantage in the race. Purde states, “My simple suggestion is to think about three main things: what is the essence of the idea, where should the money come from and who are the customers.”
Step 2 – sharing your idea with others
The second part arrives when a stopwatch set to 90 seconds starts its countdown. The initial pitch determines your partners for the rest of the event, and maybe even for life.
“Life has taught us that in the startup world as a general rule it’s not the idea that counts but the team. So you need to work hard to address the right people. How you do that is part of your own secret sauce.”
It’s true that the projects at Garage48 mostly fall in two categories: useful and entertaining. The first are being pitched in order to grow roots, the rest are destined to die after the three days.
Step 3 – the birth of the team
Once the wheat is separated from the chaff, the teams fall into place. “As in real life, good ideas draw others like flies to a light bulb,” Purde explains. One of the biggest benefits of the weekend is the number of social connections you make and the people that you wouldn’t have run into otherwise.”
The level of the participants is usually uncertain prior to getting to know them a bit more. “The event includes people who are only just making their first steps in IT and others who have already an impressive track record (such as one of Skype’s founders, Ahti Heinla, or the founder and creator of Edicy and Fraktal, Tõnu Runnel).”
Step 4 – to each his own
By the end of the first evening, the roles in the team should be set. Also, typically the evening is spent agreeing on the name and formulating the idea. “However, for some of the teams the idea is so clear that they can start with prototyping right away,” Purde states.
Developers, designers, marketers and project managers all have their say – everyone is considered equal in contributing to the final product. “The development of the idea is very democratic – dictator-type persons that don’t want to hear other points of view simply don’t come to the Garage.”
Step 5 – getting through the intermediate sprints
The most crucial part of the work starts on Saturday morning. To not get blindsided, you need to present the organisers with intermediate results throughout the day. It’s not rare for a few of the ideas to run out of steam halfway through and not make it to the Sunday presentation.
“Quitting is an exceptional case, though – with this rapid sprint format you cannot talk about ebbs, since no huge bets are involved and it’s a pretty laidback atmosphere. You can still get your pulse through the roof. For example, once I almost managed to erase the database of the whole team project,” Purde recalls one of his most anxious moments.
Step 6 – a little push to get you through
Every event includes one or two inspiring talks. Also, the mentors that have been invited provide you with constant advice to make sure you’re going in the right direction. Purde encourages people to take communicating with mentors seriously. “It’s quite likely for mentors to be keeping an eye out for people with remarkable projects and teams to work together in the future.”
Step 7 – words count
When the morning of the third day is spent on prototypes, the afternoon is mostly practice time for the evening pitching event. Nobody wants to flush all their hard work down the toilet by saying something wrong, so the presentations are meticulously polished.
Step 8 – go for the kill (or get killed)
Emotionally, the hardest thing is to watch other teams go on the stage on Sunday evening. “Inevitably, you start to compare yourself with others. I’ve seen teams that deserved a better demo, but also teams with a weak product but an excellent presentation,” Purde recalls. He doesn’t believe, though, that someone’s dreams will be shattered just because of a bad pitch.
Step 9 – back to real life
Once the results are in, some of the teams will continue tinkering on their project even after it’s past the deadline. “I have had my own experience of trying to finish an idea after the event and get it running for the next six months. Unfortunately, not all ideas are meant to fly,” Purde concludes.
Step 10 – new heights
He also brings an example from the Garage48 event in Pärnu half a year ago where GoWorkaBit earned its wings. “The event was the perfect platform for them to meet the necessary people, build the first prototype, listen to expert feedback and spread their message,” says Purde.
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Cover photo: #estonianmafia “wall of fame” at the former Garage48 Hub in Tallinn (photo by Silver Tambur). The article was first published by e-Estonia blog.
