Hackathon Organizer Guide
  • Introduction
  • overview
    • What is a Hackathon?
    • What is MLH?
    • MLH Hackcon
    • MLH Community Values
    • Event Types
      • Digital Events
        • Digital Mini Events
          • Marble Races
          • Pokemon Showdown
          • Wiki Races
          • Hacker Hangouts
        • Streamyard
  • General Information
    • Hackathon Timeline
    • Finding the Date and Purpose
    • Build Your Leadership Team
    • Locking Down a Venue
    • Hackathon Budgeting
      • Legal Considerations
    • Getting Sponsorship
      • Introduction to Fundraising
      • Understanding Your Sponsors
        • Evaluating In-kind Sponsorships
      • Potential Sponsor Perks
      • Sponsorship Prospectus
      • The 5-Step MLH Sponsorship Process
      • Cheat Sheet: Emailing Your Sponsors
    • Hackathon Website
      • Making an Accessible Design
      • Placeholder Website
      • Main Website
    • Marketing Your Event
      • Promoting Your Event
        • Marketing Email Template
      • Marketing Goals & Timelines
    • Managing Registrations
      • Registrations
      • Free Registration Tool - OrganizerHQ (OHQ)
      • Sending Reminders
        • Email Templates
      • Check-in Process
    • Event Logistics
      • Hackathon Communication Platform
      • Project Challenges
      • Ordering Swag and Prizes
      • Set Up Your Event
      • Working with Food Vendors
      • Hosting Hackers with Dietary Restrictions
      • Distributing Meals
      • Transportation/Travel Plans
      • Hardware
      • Prepare Your Emergency Plan
    • Judging and Submissions
      • Rules for Your Hackathon
      • Judging Plan
      • Cheating Check
      • Judges Communication and Recruiting
      • Hackathon Submission Portal
        • Using Devpost
        • Using Devfolio
    • Hackathon Scheduling
      • Detailed Run of Show
      • Run-Through with the Team
      • MLH Tips and Templates
    • Mentorship
    • Day of Logistics and Hacker Experience
      • Help Desk Recommendations
      • Fun Mini Events
      • Workshops
      • Opening Ceremony
      • Closing Ceremony
    • After the Event
  • Organizer Resources
    • Template Links
    • Getting Support from Others
    • Leadership Resources
    • Marketing Resources
    • Registrations Resources
      • GDPR in Europe
    • Host Exciting Mini-Events
      • Cup Stacking
      • MLH Mini Events
        • WereWolf
        • Slideshow Karaoke
        • !Light
        • MS Paint Bob Ross
    • Keeping Records
    • Software for Hackathons
  • Contributors
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  • 4 to 9 Months Before
  • 4 months before
  • ​​Apply to become an MLH Member Event!​
  • 3 months before
  • 2 months before
  • 1 month before
  • 1 week before
  • Game Day!
  • ​​After the Event

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  1. General Information

Hackathon Timeline

A typical timeline while planning a hackathon is listed below. Different articles will be sorted accordingly here for a better reference.

4 to 9 Months Before

  • ​Finding the Date & Purpose​

  • Building your Leadership Team

  • Locking Down a Venue

4 months before

  • ​Setup a Placeholder Website​

  • ​Understanding Sponsorship​

  • ​Make your Hackathon Budget​

  • ​Putting Together a Sponsorship Prospectus​

  • ​Start Sponsor Outreach​

​​Apply to become an MLH Member Event!​

3 months before

  • ​Start your Hackathon Outreach

  • ​Make your main website live!​

  • ​Collecting Registrations for the Hackathon​

  • ​Start thinking about the experience of your hackathon​

  • ​Start planning our your hackathon logistics​

2 months before

  • ​Draft up your Judging Plans​

  • ​Draft up your Mentorship Plans​

  • ​Start booking your judges​/mentors

  • ​Start working with your vendors​

  • ​Start Brainstorming Mini Event​

  • ​Plan Engaging Workshops

  • Hackathon Software

1 month before

  • ​Create a detailed Run of Show​

  • ​Get the Final Headcount​

  • ​Finalize your Food Requirements

  • ​Organize Transportation

1 week before

  • ​Sending Reminders to the Participants​

  • ​Set up your Event​

  • ​Prepare your Emergency Plan

  • ​Do a schedule run-through with the team​

  • ​Judges & Mentor Followup​

Game Day!

  • ​Check in Process​

  • ​Distributing Meals

  • ​Running Judging​

  • ​Doing Mentorship​

  • ​Running Workshops​

  • ​Opening & Closing Ceremonies​

​​After the Event

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Last updated 8 months ago

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