Chapter 1: Define Your Objective
The single most important decision you'll make
Before you pick a venue, chase sponsors, or design a logo — stop and answer one question: Why are you running this event?
This isn't a philosophical exercise. Your objective is the compass that shapes every decision downstream. It determines who you invite, how you structure the day, what you measure as success, and even what you call the thing. Get this right and planning becomes 10x easier. Skip it and you'll spend months making decisions in the dark.
Start with one primary objective
Most events that feel unfocused tried to do too many things at once. Pick one primary objective from the list below. You can have secondary goals, but one needs to be the North Star.
Innovation & problem-solving — You have a real-world challenge (climate, healthcare, fintech, a specific business problem) and you want fresh minds attacking it from new angles. Success looks like: novel approaches that didn't exist before the event.
Product development & prototyping — You want working prototypes built around a specific technology, API, or platform. Often used by companies launching developer tools or APIs. Success looks like: functional demos that could become real products.
Talent recruitment — You want to identify skilled people for your team or organisation. The event is essentially a hands-on interview. Success looks like: candidates you want to hire or work with again.
Community building — You want to strengthen a community, bring people together, create connections that outlast the weekend. Success looks like: people who stay in touch and show up next time.
Training & skill development — You want participants to learn new skills, tools, or approaches. The event is more workshop than competition. Success looks like: participants who leave knowing something they didn't before.
Developer relations / API adoption — You want developers to build on your platform and see what's possible. Success looks like: integrations, projects using your tech, and developers who become advocates.
Turn your objective into SMART goals
Once you've picked your primary objective, make it concrete. Vague goals lead to vague events. Use the SMART framework — not because it's fancy, but because it forces you to think clearly:
Specific — "Run a healthcare hackathon" is better than "do something with innovation"
Measurable — "Get 15 working prototypes submitted" gives you something to count
Achievable — Be honest about what's realistic for your budget, audience, and timeline
Relevant — Does this event actually serve the people you're building it for?
Time-bound — When does it happen, and when do you need results by?
Here's what this looks like in practice:
Vague: "We want to run a hackathon to build community."
SMART: "We'll host a 48-hour on-site hackathon in Stockholm in September for 80 early-career developers, with the goal of forming at least 15 project teams and having 70% of participants join our community Slack within one week of the event."
See the difference? The second version practically writes your planning checklist for you.
How your objective shapes everything else
This is why Chapter 1 matters so much. Watch how one decision ripples through the entire event:
If your objective is talent recruitment:
You'll want a competitive format with clear winners
Your judging criteria should weight technical skill heavily
You'll invite recruiters and hiring managers as judges
You'll collect CVs/portfolios during registration
Your follow-up plan includes interview scheduling
If your objective is community building:
Competition matters less than collaboration
You might skip traditional judging entirely
You'll invest heavily in team formation and newcomer support
Your follow-up plan focuses on keeping people connected
You might not even call it a "hackathon" — a "build day" or "jam" might feel more welcoming
If your objective is developer relations / API adoption:
You'll structure challenges around your API or platform
You'll provide extensive documentation, sample code, and support
Your prizes might be platform credits or continued access
You'll measure success by integrations built, not just attendance
Your sponsors might be your own company
A word about naming
Not everyone feels welcome under the word "hackathon." For many people, "hacking" sounds intimidating or exclusive. If your objective is community building, training, or bringing in newcomers, consider a different name:
Build day — friendly, action-oriented
Jam — creative, low-pressure
Sprint — focused, professional
Summit — inclusive, gathering-style
Challenge — clear, goal-oriented
BuilderBase supports your event regardless of the label. Call it whatever brings the right people through the door.
The "Build With, Not For" principle
If your event has a theme — say, sustainability or healthcare — you need people from that community at the table. Not just technologists solving problems on behalf of others, but stakeholders and subject matter experts working alongside builders.
Projects that serve a community without input from that community tend to "solve" problems that don't actually exist. The best hackathons pair domain experts with doers. Keep this in mind as you define your objective and your audience.
Quick exercise before you move on
Grab a piece of paper (or open a note on your phone) and answer these three questions:
In one sentence, why are you running this event?
How will you know it was a success? (Name 2-3 specific, measurable outcomes)
Who is this event really for? (Be specific — not "developers" but "early-career frontend developers in the Nordics")
If you can answer all three clearly, you're ready for Chapter 2. If you're struggling, that's fine — sit with it. This is the hardest and most important work you'll do. Everything else is logistics.
Key takeaways:
Pick ONE primary objective — trying to do everything leads to a mediocre event
Turn your objective into SMART goals so you can actually measure success
Your objective shapes format, judging, audience, follow-up — everything
Consider whether "hackathon" is even the right name for what you're building
If your event has a theme, involve the community you're serving