Here are just a few of the many benefits of competing in a hackathon:
1. Win Big You can win some great prizes from cash prizes to computing hardware, VR headsets, and even Teslas sometimes. The diversity of prizes provided by sponsors is unlimited.
2. Network and Grow Community It's one of the best ways to meet other developers, designers, and tech business developers, and make lasting relationships. These relationships are valuable for your next project or job opportunity.
3. Talent Scouting By Sponsors The sponsors often use the hackathons for sourcing talent for their corporations, and will often push you ahead of the line for job opportunities, if they see your work at a hackathon.
4. Follow On Funding Additional funding through grants or investments by the sponsors is often available to hackathon participants, especially in the #web3 space to continue developing the project presented.
5. Free Travel + Room and Board Numerous hackathons with large sponsors will reimburse hackers for the cost of travel + room and board. So you can compete and explore new places for free for these particular hackathons.
6. Swag There is so much free, awesome swag at hackathons from beanies, shirts, gift cards, snuggies, drones, etc everything under the sun - just for showing up.
7. Free Food If you're a foodie, you"ll love a hackathon. Every in-person hackathon has free food available, often highlighting unique, local eateries.
8. Build Your Portfolio Hackathons are a great way to build your portfolio and create example work to show future clients, employers, etc in a fun environment.
9. Fun and Games In addition to the hackathon-sponsored challenges, there are usually other games throughout the contests esp for in-person events, such as capturing the flag or making forts from available materials that have prizes separate from the challenges.
10. Free Training Every hackathon usually offers free training on relevant programming and design skills through seminars or labs that will you to build your skillset for free.
11. Free Developer Tools Sponsors usually provide free subscriptions to their developer tools so you can use them during the hackathon and afterward in your dev journey.
12. Build Confidence One of the best benefits of participating in hackathons is the improvement in self-confidence. Pushing to create a project, in a limited time will give you the courage to take on new challenges as a developer and in your personal life.
Come on, try out a hackathon sometime! I know you want to! 😀
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