Sparks for Innovation

Why Hackathons Work and How to Organize One

Maciej Ryś

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English

Columbia University Press
06 May 2025

Business innovation; Computing: general

Hackathons-participatory gatherings in which people with various backgrounds and experiences come together to address a challenge or create something new in a limited period of time-have become an important part of today's technological, social, and business landscapes. They originated in IT and have since spread into other fields including medicine, law, biology, environment, education, and civic engagement. How and why can hackathons drive innovation? How can they challenge the status quo? What role can they play in an organization's strategy? Under what conditions are hackathons most effective, and what are their limitations?

Maciej Ryś-a hackathon leader and scholar with extensive experience in the field-offers a step-by-step guide to organizing successful hackathons and understanding their dynamics. He examines the evolution of hackathons from niche programming marathons to versatile platforms fostering technological advancements, entrepreneurial ventures, and social change. Drawing on extensive research, including observations and interviews from dozens of events worldwide, this book provides data-driven insights into the hackathon ecosystem. Ryś shares practical lessons for organizers, participants, and mentors ranging from planning to inclusivity and sustaining momentum afterward, emphasizing both individual and group levels. Readers will learn how to build better hackathons that attract more participants, and they will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of innovation. For both hackathon veterans and those new to the field, Sparks for Innovation helps readers develop new skills, discover new possibilities, and achieve new breakthroughs.

By: Maciej Ryś
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9780231214681
ISBN 10: 0231214685
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 06 May 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction to the Book and the World of Hackathons 1. Innovation, Invention, and Commercialization 2. Innovation Frameworks 3. The Rise of Hackathons 4. Hackathons’ Innovative Black Box 5. Hackathons’ Shortcomings, Their Importance, and How to Address Them 6. Summary and Ten Steps to Organize a (Great) Hackathon Conclusion: There Is No Rose Without Thorns Appendix: Research Details, Methodology, and Analysis References Notes Index

Maciej Ryś is a lecturer at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, Poland. He has been involved in more than one hundred hackathons with tens of thousands of participants from all over the world. Ryś is the founder of Smogathon, a global initiative combating air pollution through technology, and HackYeah, one of the largest hackathons in the world.

Reviews for Sparks for Innovation: Why Hackathons Work and How to Organize One

Sparks for Innovation effectively combines the subject of hackathon practice with a teaching and research approach. Ryś's practical compendium presents complicated processes in an accessible and comprehensible way, examining both successes and challenges from an objective perspective. -- Tomasz Skica, head of the department of entrepreneurship, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow