KnownwellLogoKnownwellLogo
Watch the Knownwell Demoeast

Applied AI: The AI Hackathon Playbook

Knownwell
watch-on-youtube-final
aaple-podcast
listen-on-spotify

AI Knowhow Episode 78 Overview

  • Strategically align AI hackathons with your business roadmap to produce real-world, scalable innovations.

  • Drive cross-functional collaboration by involving diverse roles—from engineering to marketing—in your AI initiatives.

  • Convert hackathon prototypes into practical solutions by establishing clear integration pathways into existing products and processes.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just reshaping industries—it’s redefining the speed and scale at which organizations must innovate. One powerful, collaborative strategy emerging as a cornerstone for success is the AI hackathon.

In the final installment of AI Knowhow’s Applied AI series, Mohan Rao welcomes Jeff Gallimore, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Excella, for our expert interview segment with practical tips on how to get the most out of AI hackathons.

Beyond the Buzz: Making AI Hackathons Matter

Jeff and Mohan discuss how Excella leverages hackathons as more than just creative exercises—they’re strategic events designed to drive measurable outcomes. “Innovation is great,” Jeff says, “But we really get jazzed about the practical application of that innovation.”

He highlights three critical lessons from Excella’s recent hackathons that others may want to emulate in modeling their own AI hackathons:

  1. Intentionality: Clearly define your goals—whether that’s solving specific business challenges, exploring market opportunities, or fostering familiarity with new technology.
  2. Motivation and Recognition: Create genuine excitement and engagement through internal promotion, executive sponsorship, meaningful prizes, and broad recognition for participants.
  3. Enabling Constraints: Offer structured environments where teams can rapidly innovate within clearly defined parameters, leading to more productive outcomes.

By engaging clients directly as hackathon judges, Excella increased team motivation and strengthened client relationships. This approach also facilitated practical solutions that transitioned from prototype to production.

Strategic Alignment: Keys to a Successful AI Hackathon

David DeWolf and Mohan Rao, seasoned veterans of numerous hackathons themselves, talk with Courtney and double down on the notion that the most successful AI hackathons will align closely with an organization’s strategic objectives. They put forth several essential elements to making any hackathon effort a success, including relevance to the business, a balanced focus between innovation and practicality, and an integration path that outlines how the outcomes from the hackathon will integrate into their existing products or processes.

“Don’t just play to play—drive at clear business objectives and make your hackathon outcomes matter,” David says.

Lessons from the Market: Why Innovation Must Meet Reality

Pete Buer, CEO of NordLight, closes the episode by talking with Courtney about the broader insights that can be drawn from the rise and fall (and revival by hackers?!) of Humane’s AI pin. Their takeaway: innovative products must align closely with real customer needs to succeed commercially. For hackathons, this translates to grounding innovative ideas in practical realities.

Watch the episode

Watch the full episode below, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Listen to the episode

You can tune in to the full episode via the Spotify embed below, and you can find AI Knowhow on Apple Podcasts and anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Show notes

You may also like