Theme: AI-Assisted Enterprise Coding (and hackathons...) 

Highlights from the conversation:

• Your job just changed completely: Developers are becoming "mini-architects" instead of code writers. AI writes the code now, but you need to focus on security, scalability, and system design to make it production-ready.
• Put everything in Git for smarter AI: Keep all docs and code in one place so AI agents can understand your full project. Shai uses specialized agents for code reviews and testing that know the entire codebase context.
• Platform engineering makes you unstoppable: Learning the full stack from Kubernetes to databases eliminates dependencies. You can deploy and fix anything without waiting for other teams to help you.
• The gap isn't technical anymore, it's imagination: APIs and tools are ready - the question is how creative you can get with what problems to solve. From natural language database queries to AI troubleshooting your infrastructure.

Enjoy!

Highlights from the conversation:

Context is everything - developers who are good at giving AI detailed, specific information become huge fans of AI coding. Those who give vague prompts end up thinking AI sucks. Context management is a skill you can learn and it makes all the difference.

AI agents talking to other AI agents - we're moving from humans using AI to AI agents working together. One agent books your flight while another handles your hotel. This will completely change how companies handle support and knowledge management.

Microsoft's winning combo - GitHub Copilot for coding + Microsoft Research (like Perplexity) for starting new projects + Teams Copilot for meeting notes. Using the research tool with Copilot together is especially powerful when kicking off new work.

Learn two things, not just one - being super specialized in one area is risky now. Build skills in two domains (like tech + business, or frontend + AI) so you can adapt when AI changes your job.

Copilot is everywhere at Microsoft - it works in Excel, Teams, Azure, VS Code - basically everything. People use it for finding old files, prepping for customer meetings, and getting meeting summaries without needing an assistant.

Enjoy!

In this episode, we talked about AI-assisted enterprise coding. Context management is one of the most critical keys to success when working with AI (LLMs) - and in this episode, Kieran shared his experiences and best practices.

We dove into his favorite tools and why Kieran loves them. Here are some of the tech we talked about:
https://www.warp.dev/
https://www.trynia.ai/
https://zed.dev/
https://www.diabrowser.com/

We also discussed why hackathons are unparalleled when it comes to exploring new game-changing technologies!

Enjoy! 

Highlights from the conversation:

The 80/20 rule for AI coding - spend 80% of time planning and providing context to the LLM, only 20% implementing. The cost of fixing bad code later far outweighs upfront planning.

Repository-level markdown files are game-changers - create template files with business context, system assumptions, and coding guidelines that LLMs can reference for every prompt in that codebase.

Question-answer sessions before coding - have 15-20 critical questions with the AI to understand the problem fully before writing any code. Often you're not 100% clear on what you want to build.

LLMs excel at writing tests - they're incredibly good at test generation for existing code, making this a low-risk, high-value starting point for AI adoption.

Enjoy!

Rian shares his experience and insights - some highlights from the conversation:

• 🏆 90% of his professional development came from hackathons - not from school, but from 20 hackathons in one year traveling across the US
• 🎯 His "responsible vibe coding" approach - generates lots of code with Cursor but reads everything and asks for comments to understand how it works
• 🛠️ His AI workflow stack - Claude for architecture planning, Cursor for coding, Warp for command line tasks, and ChatGPT for... therapy sessions
• ⚡ Why AI + hackathons = perfect match - you can now actually build and ship real B2B SaaS products overnight instead of just prototypes
• 📈 His winning strategy - starts with ideation and customer focus, not technology. Adapts presentations based on whether judges are technical or business-focused

Enjoy!

JD shares his experience and insights - some highlights from the conversation:

• 🛠️ Why he always returns to Cursor - loves their auto model feature that picks the right model for each task, keeping costs down while maintaining quality
• 🔒 His golden rule: human in the loop always - never ships code where MCP writes directly to database or GitHub without his final approval
• ⚡ Context engineering is everything - limits tools to 40 max, clears context frequently, and tasks out specific problems instead of zero-shot prompting
• 🌐 MCP servers are undervalued - most people just wrap APIs, but resources, prompts, and bidirectional sampling are the real game-changers
• 📊 Speed metrics are misleading - can't measure velocity the same way because you're working completely differently - focus on creativity and ability to pivot instead

Enjoy!

Topic: AI-Assisted Enterprise Coding

Ventsislav shares his experience and insights - some highlights from the conversation:

• 🤯 He writes 100% AI code now - only does analysis, architecture and orchestration while AI handles all the typing
• ⚡ Got 4000x performance improvement in 12 iterations - turned an 8-hour data analysis into 4 minutes with the same dataset
• 💸 Burns 50 million tokens in a single day - doesn't care about token limits because the ROI on complex problems is massive
• 📚 Spends more time reading documentation than code - because AI writes so much code so fast that humans can't keep up reviewing it all
• 🎭 Hid his AI usage in the beginning - just like "many developers" who weren't admitting they were using AI tools at work

Enjoy!

Topic: AI-Assisted Enterprise Coding. Viktor shares his experiences - that I first found surprising... but when I thought about it... absolutely obvious:

💸 He spends $1000/month on AI tools but saves $10,000 - gets the equivalent of 3 extra developers working for him

🎯 Why he ditched "cheap" AI subscriptions - they limit context to save tokens, giving him worse code quality

🚀 His company has zero spending limits - and it actually costs them less than hiring expense approvers

⚡ How AI transformed his daily work - coding became a "chore" so he can focus on design and architecture

🔥 Why he's more excited about coding than ever: "I cannot explain how much more fun it is now"

In this episode we talked about AI Agentic Coding and Enterprise Development, here are some of the talking points:

• From hackathon reject to world-leading AI coding startup - Cline started as "Cloud Dev" for an Anthropic hackathon just 10 days after Claude 3.5 Sonnet launched, Saoud actually lost but posted it on Reddit, open-sourced it, and things exploded from there.
• Transparency and control over your code - Unlike other AI coding tools, Cline lets you bring your own API key, see exactly what's happening under the hood, and control where your data goes without any subscription lock-in.
• Smart exploration beats brute-force context stuffing - Instead of cramming entire codebases into limited context windows, Cline intelligently explores projects like a new developer would, finding only the relevant pieces it needs.
• Workflow orchestration, not tool wars - Cline complements rather than competes with tools like Cursor, with most developers using them together for different parts of their development process.
• From implementation to strategy - The biggest shift is that development now splits between understanding requirements (still critical) versus writing code (now automated), letting engineers focus on architecture and vision.

Enjoy!

In this episode we talked about AI Assisted Enterprise Coding, here are some of the talking points: 

• Essential developer knowledge required - While AI coding tools are powerful, you still need basic programming skills to choose the right frameworks, implement security measures, and understand backend requirements. The tools support you but can't create everything from scratch.
• Key tools and testing approach - Alfredo uses Augment Code (VS Code plugin with full codebase context) and Cline for different purposes, spending ~100 hours testing each new tool on cloned codebases before allowing production use. His evaluation criteria: number of prompts needed and error frequency.
• Enterprise security considerations - For enterprise environments, proper user management, data protection, authentication systems, and multiple security layers are critical. AI tools can help implement best practices, but developers must understand these requirements to avoid creating vulnerable platforms.
• Practical workflow integration - AI tools excel at speeding up repetitive coding tasks, creating prototypes quickly for testing ideas, and implementing research papers into working code. The approach is using AI for rapid prototyping, then refining with experienced developers for production-ready enterprise solutions.

In this episode we discussed:

• Understanding what customers actually need - Before building anything, you need to know what real problems you're solving for people.
• AI is changing how we write code fast - Big companies like Microsoft and Google already use AI tools to write 25% of their code. AI isn't just writing code anymore - it's also checking quality and creating tests.
• Using AI at big companies is different - Large organizations have strict rules about security and compliance that make adopting AI tools more complex than at smaller companies. The decisions they make also have to work for many years.
• Oracle builds AI into everything - Instead of just adding AI features on top, Oracle weaves AI throughout their entire software.
• As AI gets better at basic coding, developers need to focus more on big-picture design and how different systems work together.

Enjoy!

Startups offering AI-Assisted Coding tools are the fastest-growing companies ever….We are now taking a deep dive in the podcast to explore how this technology can be used for enterprise environments with large codebases and high requirements for security, compliance, and confidentiality. 

In this episode we talked about:

• Enterprise AI testing requires new approaches - Moving from deterministic to probabilistic testing using vector similarity while preventing functional regressions that could crash critical business systems.
• RAG enables secure AI adoption without training models - Keep customer data secure and stay current with latest AI capabilities by feeding documentation through RAG pipelines instead of model training.
• Strong architecture becomes critical with AI coding tools - AI boosts productivity for documentation and routine tasks, but enterprise applications still need experienced architects to prevent maintenance nightmares.
• Oracle uses Cline and other modern AI coding tools - Practical implementation of repository-based development tools combined with guardrail services to catch security vulnerabilities and competitor code.
• Hackathons evolve toward product-focused collaboration - Product managers can now build AI agents directly while engineers focus more on business problems than technical implementation details.

Enjoy! 

In this episode, Monika shares insights from her research on hackathon participation benefits. Her findings reveal several inspiring takeaways. What participants experience they develop most in is collaboration, problem-solving, and learning new technologies.

Resources provided by Monika:

Here is the link to my thesis: Hackathons as a tool for learning in the framework of UNESCO learning cities

Here are the associated articles that cited my thesis (on Google Scholar): lionaite hackathons - Google Scholar

The Journal of Innovation & Knowledge where my thesis was cited: Academic performance indicators for the hackathon learning approach – The case of the blockchain hackathon - ScienceDirect

Here is the link to the Youtube Recording where I was speaking on a panel at the World Summit AI 2025 about Intelligent Learning: How AI is Redefining Education: https://youtu.be/5iIASo4UhLo?si=qVetJvQk54gRQums

My key take away from this panel: Post | Feed | LinkedIn

A link to my Impact Talk with Startup Grind - where I elaborate more about collaboration in general: https://youtu.be/GiX1G2mw_70?si=GsdoXa7IAwzzDH6y

Mamta Nagaraja is a STEM leader who previously served as NASA's Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research. She managed science programs for the International Space Station, Moon missions, and commercial space projects, with special focus on space biomedicine. Mamta also led NASA's science communication efforts, helping share space discoveries with the public. 

In this episode we talked about:

• Mamta Nagaraja's 24-year NASA career as a scientist bridging human spaceflight and robotic exploration
• Her role supporting the NASA Space Apps Challenge as judge, spokesperson and advocate
• The global impact of the Space Apps hackathon, which attracted 93,000 participants working on over 10,000 projects
• How space exploration inspires innovation and problem-solving across international boundaries

I also had the chance to ask all my inner 10-year old question like: Do you think there is other life forms out there? How big is the universe? Is there multi universes? 

Enjoy!!

In this episode we talked about their cutting-edge research in astronomy, their innovative approach to visualizing Earth, comets and potentially hazardous asteroids, the heart-stopping moment when their code broke just one hour before the final presentation, and the shocking revelation that they'd won among 10,000 global submissions - known as the "NO WAY"-moment... In the middle of our podcast, an alarm goes off - there's a gas leak in the building - and my interview guests have to run to safety while the interview continues. We've probably never had this much drama in the podcast before!

In this podcast we talked about his journey from starting tech just three years ago, why in-person hackathons create better networking opportunities than online events, the competitive hackathon scene in tech hubs like Mumbai and Bangalore, and his proven strategies for winning hackathons including reading problem statements carefully and building features beyond the requirements.

Slayde also shares valuable life skills gained from hackathons: hands-on coding experience, teamwork, and performing under pressure.

Resources from Slayde:

Here is where I find hackathons that are in mumbai

https://devfolio.co/discover

And these are some of the other places

https://unstop.com/

https://hack2skill.com/

In this episode I interview three of the members of the winning team: The Leader of the Project, Gabriel Chayb, Project Management and UI/UX: Ana Miziara and AI DEV: Gustavo Teixeira.

We talked about how this team from Brazil became the first in South America to win NASA's top technology award. They explained their clever solution for detecting moonquakes and marsquakes, which reached 97% accuracy by turning seismic data into images. The team shared the ups and downs of their intense 48-hour hackathon experience, including nearly missing the deadline when their system crashed with just hours to go. We discussed how their victory has inspired young people in their hometown and their upcoming trip to NASA where they'll meet with space scientists. Their story shows that with good planning, teamwork, and bold thinking, even the most complex problems can be solved.

In this episode we talked about her fascinating journey from fire dancing performer to global hackathon expert. Monika shares how her diverse background in photography, gaming, and international leadership shaped her unique approach to designing impactful hackathons. We explore how she launched her company in Australia just one month before the pandemic and turned it into a global digital transformation powerhouse. Monika reveals the key differences between sustainability-focused and prize-money hackathons, and explains her innovative method of involving actual users and stakeholders throughout the development process. Learn how proper hackathon design can help organizations recruit talent, solve complex problems, and create solutions with real-world impact. 

In this episode we talked about how Bhavya discovered programming after being publicly insulted by his math teacher, which became a pivotal moment in choosing his tech path. We explored his hackathon experiences, including his first police hackathon in Jaipur with five-star accommodations, and the challenges of team dynamics where he often ended up doing most of the work despite initial enthusiasm from teammates. Bhavya emphasized how important it is to find like-minded collaborators with matching dedication levels, and how participating in hackathons has helped him test his limits and develop leadership skills at just 19 years old.

In this episode we talked about:

• Vladimir's journey from growing up in Moscow to moving to Tallinn and working at Twilio
• How Twilio's annual internal hackathons are structured and what Vladimir has learned from participating in two of them
• The value of hackathons for rapidly prototyping ideas that can turn into real product features
• Common blockers that slow down software development velocity and how to address them
• Vladimir's perspective on the rise of AI-assisted development tools and how he prefers to leverage AI in his work

In this episode, we discuss the amazing learning experience that hackathons provide: how quickly you can test your idea, the benefits of fast prototyping, and execution speed.

We also touch on a very special kind of hackathon: "Legal Hackathons."

Additionally, we delve into Diwakar's experience as a mentor at lablab.ai and why he finds it so rewarding. He offers his best tips for business-driven developers eager to launch an AI startup, including how to achieve product-market fit, attract attention, decide when it's time for funding, and manage the dual focus on product development and customer acquisition. How do you bridge that common chasm? 

In this episode, we talked about:

Historical Insights into Hacking: Carl talked about the roots of the term "hack" from the book "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution" discussing its origins at MIT in the 1950s, where it symbolized an innovative solution or improvement and carried a prestigious title among tech enthusiasts

The Essence of Hackathons: We delved into what makes hackathons uniquely impactful, emphasizing their ability to bring together diverse perspectives and foster an environment where participants can explore the possibilities of technology

The 2019 Last Mile Hackathon: Carl shared his experiences helping organize this significant event. It was a two-day international hackathon that posed clear, real-world challenges sponsored by various organizations like Postnord, IKEA, MQ, and the City of Helsingborg. These sponsors provided not only funding but also crucial resources such as datasets and insights into real-world problems, enriching the hackathon experience for all participants.

This episode is a must-listen for all business-driven AI builders! I had the great honor to interview Pawel Czech, the co-founder of New Native and lablab.ai. We discussed the origins of his ventures, the rapid growth they’ve achieved, and his inspiring vision. We delved into the dynamics and connections between AI hackathons and accelerator programs. Pawel is really driven by a vision to empower as many individuals as possible to use AI to create innovative companies, and it’s truly inspiring to hear him speak about these efforts. 

In this episode, we talked about New Native and their initiatives like lablab.ai hackathons and the accelerator program, Lablab Next. We focused on the important topics of marketing and community building, specifically how to attract thousands of participants from around the world to these hackathons. We dove into various strategies and tools used:

• Newsletter: A vital tool for reaching out to potential participants.
• Content Creation: We discussed the large team involved in writing and producing tutorials and learning materials. 
• The Discord Channel: The main point of contact for participants, with dedicated channels for each hackathon.
• Matchmaking/Team Formation: A website that helps participants form teams effectively.
• Mentoring: The role of mentors in guiding participants through the hackathon process.
• Event Formats: The mix of online, hybrid, and onsite events to engage a global community.
• Social Media Marketing: An analysis of which platforms work best for promoting hackathons, including LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and others. We highlighted Twitch for its effectiveness in live streaming events.
• Certification: The importance of providing certificates to participants as a form of recognition and achievement.
• Feedback: The value of gathering feedback from participants and providing API feedback to tech partners.

In this episode, we discuss her journey in the world of hackathons and strategies for winning them. We delve into specific events such as the Google Cloud AI Hackathon, Open Source Hackathon, and Harvard's 2024 CS50 Puzzle Day. We also explore how to plan and execute each phase of a hackathon, from the idea phase and prototyping to presentations, and what to consider at each stage.

Furthermore, we discuss various approaches to structuring the mentorship layer in a hackathon, and why one method stands out as the absolute best.

Resources: 
iCodeGuru: https://icode.guru/

Hack2Skill: https://vision.hack2skill.com/

Paul Graham AI Bot: https://lablab.ai/event/strawberry-reasoning-with-o1/guardians-of-the-galaxy/paul-graham-founder-mode-ai-app?review=true

Payal is a passionate full-stack developer and a distinguished Women Techmakers Ambassador, committed to empowering women in the tech industry. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice and a Google WTM Ambassador, she actively guides the next generation of developers through impactful events and engaging content creation. Recently, Payal was a finalist at the Google Gen AI Exchange Hackathon '24, showcasing her expertise and innovation in AI.

In this episode, Payal discusses her experience reaching the finals in the Google Gen AI Exchange Hackathon '24. We explore the learning journey that comes with participating in hackathons—how each event is unique and teaches different skills. She shares insights on problem-solving, planning projects within tight deadlines, reaching out for help, presenting demos effectively, and keeping solutions simple. Payal also talks about the value of the connections made during these events, the importance of learning and growing, and how to handle rejections and feedback constructively.

Abdul Qadeer started his tech journey in Karachi by fixing a neighbor’s computer, which sparked his interest and led to a gold medal in his academic career. He is driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact. As a Machine Learning Engineer Abdul takes on challenges like a recent customer segmentation project, finding joy in solving real-world problems. He has also solved over 200 LeetCode problems!

In this episode, Abdul talks about winning his first hackathon at lablab.ai, where he competed against 3,000 participants and 300 teams. He shares the valuable lessons learned from participating in hackathons, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and rapid prototyping, and he speaks about the lasting friendships he has made.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Hack for Earth's mission to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through global hackathons, and how these events are structured to foster citizen-driven solutions.
• The comprehensive mentorship program at Hack for Earth, which enhances the hackathon experience by providing structured guidance through workshops and effective communication.
• The innovative approaches to team formation and communication across different time zones, ensuring all participants can effectively collaborate and contribute.
• Mustafa's insights on managing global hackathons, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and creating a collaborative environment that accommodates diverse participant needs.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Abdeali's role in helping non-tech founders build and scale startups at Siya Tech Ventures., focusing on MVP development and product strategy.
• The dual business models at Siya Tech Ventures: time and material, and equity-based studio partnerships, tailored to assist startups from ideation through scaling.
• Hackathons as a platform for innovation and recruitment, coupled with his mentorship at lablab.ai, emphasizing AI's transformative role in product development.
• The critical importance of customer obsession and rapid feedback loops in achieving product-market fit and driving successful innovations.

Ampas is a tech mentor at Lablab.ai, an organization known for global AI online hackathons and a startup accelerator program. 
Hackathons have played a crucial role in his professional development, and in this episode he shares insights that can inspire others in the field. 

We discussed Ampas role in facilitating AI-focused hackathons and the accelerator program, lablab Next. He emphasized the importance of hackathons in professional development and shared insights on team formation and technical mentoring. lablab.ai hosts frequent hackathons, encouraging innovation in AI technologies with thematic challenges. Ampas highlighted the accelerator's focus on AI startups, offering mentorship and support to transform ideas into viable businesses. He also shared his personal journey and contributions to the community, including a Discord app for team collaboration.

Resources:
https://www.content-hive.net/
https://lablab.ai/
https://lablab.ai/next

Nikita's interest in technology was sparked by a curiosity about how things work, influenced by his father's background in computer science and a love for science fiction. Despite financial challenges, he pursued a career in tech, ultimately becoming a software development engineer at Mastercard.

In this episode we discussed various aspects of hackathons and their significance in fostering innovation and community engagement. Koselev shared his experiences with Mastercard's internal hackathons, emphasizing their role in inspiring creativity and potential product development. He also highlighted the importance of diversity in hackathon teams. Our conversation touched on the impact of AI in development, stressing the need for human skills and active listening to enhance development velocity. Koselev advised new developers to focus on community involvement and personal growth

Jori Karvonen mentors startups in incubator and accelerator programs across Europe, focusing on business strategy, product development, and securing funding. His passion for supporting startups stems from his own experiences as a founder and the support he received from local entrepreneurs and the Finnish government.

In this episode we talked a lot about lablab.ai. The organization is active in AI hackathons and accelerator programs, providing a platform for international mentors and participants to collaborate. The organization focuses on AI-driven solutions, offering a global network of experts to support startups in scaling and accessing investors.

Ewa's interest in tech was sparked by a coding camp before high school, leading her to pursue data science and computer science. Her journey emphasizes the transformative impact of early exposure to technology. Now, she is making the most of her gap year by diving into hackathons.

In this episode, we discuss her experiences and learnings from participating in multiple online hackathons. She highlights the importance of communication and collaboration in virtual settings and shares insights on using AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to enhance productivity. Edun emphasizes the diverse skills gained from hackathons, such as coding, teamwork, and problem-solving, and encourages others to participate for learning and networking opportunities. Her project, HackBody, aims to streamline hackathon workflows, although it is still in development.

These are the links:
HackBuddy: https://hack-buddy-silk.vercel.app/hacktracker
VSNE: https://vsne-career-mentor-bot.vercel.app/
SustainaQuiz: https://sustaina-quiz.vercel.app/

In this episode, Luca shares his experiences organizing internal hackathons at GitHub, emphasizing their importance in promoting collaboration and creativity, and exploring their potential to inspire future product innovations.

We also discuss strategies for increasing software development velocity, highlighting the significance of quality developer tools and effective management of technical debt. Additionally, we delve into what it's like to be a developer in the era of AI. Luca advocates for a pragmatic approach to technology adoption, advising, "Don't try to stay ahead of everything. Time will show which tools are great. Instead, try to learn the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, LLMs, etc."

Victor Moreno has a diverse background, not just in software engineering but also in management, leadership, education, sales, recruiting, and finance. He's really passionate about helping other engineers maximize their professional impact and earnings. 

In this episode, we discussed the role of hackathons in driving innovation and addressing real-world challenges, highlighting a specific event focused on improving internet access in Cuba. We also talked about the importance of simplicity in coding, advocating for straightforward solutions over complex ones to enhance maintainability and software development velocity. We explored the pitfalls of excessive process and bureaucracy and their impact on project speed. Additionally, we delved into the transformative potential of AI in coding, encouraging its broader adoption to improve productivity.

Finally, Victor offered advice to new developers on building foundational skills to effectively leverage AI and navigate the evolving tech landscape.

Tiago is a tech enthusiast, a disguised nerd, an internet kid, and a home automation hobbyist. With 17 years of experience in web technologies, a solid foundation in computer science, and nine years of working with Ruby, he's currently exploring the complex field of digital identity. As a tech lead, he's dedicated to inspiring positive changes in the tech landscape.

In this episode, we explore the exciting world of hackathons and uncover strategies for boosting software development velocity. Discover how hackathons: Spark innovation and drive positive change, encourage collaboration and creative problem-solvin and Pprovide a platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies like AI. Plus, learn practical tips for: Minimizing context switching and improving focus, streamlining development processes, cultivating a culture of confidence and growth, and developing an open AI mindset driven by curiosity and having fun with all the new technologies.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on hackathons and  software development velocity.

Omer Farooq is a Senior Software Engineer at Deel, specializing in web development, Android applications, and full-stack development. He has significantly influenced architectural, design, and coding practices, focusing on cost efficiency, quality, and performance. Omer's expertise extends to leading software development cycles, managing cloud transitions, and system automation, with a strong emphasis on AI, ML, and cloud technologies. His efforts are centered on the practical implementation of technological advances in software engineering.

In this episode, we dive into the benefits of hackathons. Omer believes that hackathons are a powerful way to unlock potential and promote growth, saying, "In a hackathon, you explore your mind to your maximum potential." He highlights how these events bring together diverse individuals from various industries, fostering personal and technical development.

We then examine how Deel strategically employs hackathons and sprints within their development process. Deel organizes hackathons when they face challenges in their product roadmap that lack established solutions. The company selects individuals globally who are best suited to creatively tackle these problems, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.

In contrast, Deel’s sprints are defined by their structure and clarity. Before any work begins, every developer must ensure they completely understand their tasks. If there’s any uncertainty, developers are expected to proactively reach out to the product owner and ask questions until everything is crystal clear. This practice of encouraging questions, I reflect, is a prime example of psychological safety in action.

Reflecting on our discussion, it occurs to me that Deel might have discovered a best practice for how tech companies should balance the creative freedom of hackathons with the structured focus of sprints. This approach not only nurtures innovation but also ensures precise execution, contributing to a workplace culture that supports both exploration and detailed understanding. This balance, in my view, could serve as a model for the industry, demonstrating how to effectively blend creativity with operational efficiency.

This episode delves into the evolving realms of AI and cybersecurity. San gives us an introduction to these vital areas, emphasizing their importance. We also explore the concept of Humanitarian Hackathons and discuss the benefits of organizing an AI Cybersecurity Hackathon for the developer community.

Chris leads the Client Engineering team at IBM, renowned for forming a global team that partners closely with clients to develop cutting-edge tech solutions. He's a master at sparking new business ideas and guiding teams towards success. Off the clock, Chris loves to immerse himself in nature, watching wildlife or casting a line far out at sea.

In this episode, we discussed:

• How IBM Builds Teams: We delved into how IBM assembles teams to support clients with complex challenges. These teams typically include designers, architects, business technology leaders, AI engineers, and platform engineers, often delivering a basic working product within 30 days.
• AI in Action: Chris shared insights from over 5000 AI projects, highlighting that most clients use AI to boost employee productivity, generate code, and enhance customer support. We also explored AI's growing role in manufacturing.
• Hackathons at IBM: Our chat revealed insights into IBM’s tailored hackathons, whether for a single client or multiple clients. Chris highlighted how these events focus on real business challenges that capture the attention of top executives. Together, IBM and clients form teams, really showing their partnership. We also covered IBM’s massive internal hackathon, which involved 170,000 employees—that’s 70% of their workforce! This event not only deepens employees' understanding of their products but also drives home the ability to sell them effectively, and generates a long list of potential improvements identified by AI.

Here are some links Chris provided:

• TechZone
• IBM Client Engineering
• Watsonx – IBM AI Platform
• Client and Partner Stories

Kevin is a Java Champion, keynote speaker, cloud-native developer, open source contributor, and author!

In this episode, we discussed two hackathons organized by Red Hat. The first was an AI Hackathon at the University of Brussels, long before AI became a hype. It featured an interesting concept with gamification where teams trained their AI for a shooting game. After two days of building and training the model, the third day was all about combat! We also talked about how hackathons can increase the adoption of your platform. These hackathons, called Deep Dive Sessions, focus on helping customers execute better on specific and important use cases with the help of your technology.

Additionally, we discussed what typically slows down development velocity. According to Kevin, the major issues include 1) configuration—setting up the local environment and getting everything to work correctly, 2) automation, and 3) finding necessary documentation, figuring out responsibilities, and creating tickets.

Here are the links to some of the projects we discussed in the podcast: 

quarkus.io - Java framework that puts developer experience as a top concern

backstage.io - an open source developer portal building tool to centralize developer resources and automate the creation of new projects

developers.redhat.com/rhdh - the Red Hat implementation of the backstage project 

developers.redhat.com/products/red-hat-openshift-ai - Openshift AI, the platform we used for the hackathon with the Brussels University (ULB)

instructlab.ai - the tool to fine tune models using plain yaml text files allowing you to contribute knowledge and skills back to AI models such as the IBM Granite models.

podman-desktop.io - UI interface for working not only with containers but also to run AI models on your local machine very easily

Deel, established in 2019, quickly became the fastest-growing B2B software company in the world. As an all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams, Deel simplifies managing a workforce, covering everything from onboarding and compliance to global payroll, HRIS, and immigration support. Today, Deel boasts 4,000 team members across over 100 countries and serves more than 35,000 clients in 120 countries.

Kirill began his career at Deel as a Backend Engineer, advanced to Senior Software Engineer, and in August 2024, he became the Technical Lead.

In this episode, we delve into what typically slows down software development projects and how to address these challenges. Kirill shares his insights through engaging storytelling. We discuss the importance of finding meaning in work and maintaining motivation. We also explore several key strategies: incremental and iterative development for building software in manageable stages, techniques for limiting work in process to enhance productivity, and applying the theory of constraints to focus on the balance between efficiency and effectiveness.

Additionally, we examine what skills are crucial for software engineers in the era of AI. According to Kirill, mastering prompt engineering is key.

Below are links to resources that Kirill mentioned during the show:

Pomodoro technique for time management
Wardley mapping (related to efficiency vs effectiveness)

David is building the future of search at GitHub. Before joining GitHub, he worked at AWS as the Senior Developer Advocate for OpenSearch, where he taught developers how to build search experiences on the open-source datastore. With a background spanning network automation, software engineering, DevOps, and data engineering, he loves helping new engineers find their passion.

In this episode, we discussed three very interesting topics! First, the Open Source Hackathon Program that David helped put together with other enthusiasts at AWS. Second, the "Ship to Learn" principle—a philosophy and a system that increases development velocity at GitHub. And finally, how to write better code faster with AI, where David recommends everyone check out Open Web UI.

Daniel is a full-stack intern at SAP and a member of the Hackathon Team at SJSU Computer Science Club.

In this episode, we explore how a hackathon profoundly impacted Daniel's life. The energy and camaraderie at these events inspired him to attend countless hackathons. We discuss the vibrant hackathon culture in the Bay Area, focusing on Berkeley's annual large-scale event, which draws over 1,000 participants. Daniel also shares insights from organizing his first hackathon. If you're looking to do the same at your university, we cover some major challenges and strategies to overcome them.

Lastly, we dive into how to accelerate coding with AI. Daniel highlights common pitfalls, emphasizing the importance of knowing when AI tools can be helpful. While AI can expedite writing boilerplate code, it requires caution for more complex issues. Blindly copying and pasting code may seem fast but can lead to later complications. Understanding the core problem is crucial to maintaining productivity.

Link: https://hackberkeley.org/#sponsors

Shane helps customers use cloud technology to meet their goals for reducing carbon emissions. Shane works with AWS customers, partners, and internal teams to develop and implement solutions that improve sustainability. He has over ten years of experience in various roles including operations, maintenance, engineering, education, and management.

In this episode, we discuss why hackathons are the best way to learn how to build a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) quickly. We also talk about different times when it's beneficial to organize a hackathon. Shane points out one particular situation that stands out: using hackathons to prove to clients or decision-makers that something is possible. He emphasizes, "Show them it's possible," highlighting that a live demo can be more convincing than even the best PowerPoint presentation. We also explore what usually slows down the speed of development. Shane believes that understanding the customer is crucial, and sometimes it’s tough to figure out what the customer really wants to achieve.

Additionally, we provide links to the AWS Sustainability Solutions library. These resources are great for setting up Sustainability Hackathons: AWS Solutions includes links to open-source repositories like Sustainability Data Fabric (GitHub link) and Sustainability Insights Framework (GitHub link).

Kamesh is a veteran tech innovator with 20 years in the trenches. As an author and developer advocate, he's on a mission to demystify data and cloud technologies. His passion? Empowering developers to push boundaries and create the impossible. With a track record of crafting enterprise solutions across diverse industries, he brings battle-tested insights to the dev community. 

In this episode, we explored a crucial element of hackathons: judging. Kamesh Sampath has developed a comprehensive framework for evaluating hackathon demos and presentations. His approach includes several key components: understanding the problem being addressed, researching existing solutions to see what has already been tried, and scrutinizing the proposed solution’s architecture to ensure it meets the essential requirements. Additionally, his framework involves examining the technology stack used, the methods for deploying the solution, and the authenticity of the code. Kamesh also focuses heavily on the team’s thought process, the rationale behind their proposed solution, and their ability to handle questions during their presentations. 

Additionally, we discussed what typically slows down development velocity. According to Kamesh, mastering the right tools, automating what you can, minimizing distractions, iterating from an MVP, and maintaining composure are key to increasing development speed. When it comes to writing better code faster with AI, the most crucial skill is knowing how to ask the right questions in the right way.

Useful Links

For more insights on what Snowflake is doing with DevOps for data to increase development velocity, check out these resources:

Video on Snowflake and DevOps
Snowflake’s Approach to Data Velocity

Related blog posts:

Announcing General Availability for Snowflake REST & Python Control Plane APIs
Snowflake CLI Now Generally Available

For those interested in trying Snowflake:

Sign up for a free trial with $400 credit

To get started:

Snowflake Quickstarts

Akshata co-authored "MuleSoft for Salesforce Developers," published by Packt Publication. As a global speaker, she has presented at major tech events including Dreamforce, Devoxx, APIDays, and DevOpsDays. Her current focus areas include conference speaking, leading tech meetup groups in London, Manchester, and Mumbai, evangelizing MuleSoft, promoting women in technology, and developing AI projects.

In this episode, we discussed Salesforce hackathons that promote AI adoption. We explored how hackathons could help governments use AI to optimize critical processes. Akshata also shared her experience using AI tools to enhance text content, blog posts, and videos.

Useful links from the episode:

• Connect with Akshata: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshatasawant02/
• Register for Mule + AI Workshop: https://meetups.mulesoft.com/events/details/mulesoft-mulesoft-community-special-events-presents-mulesoft-mega-meetup/cohost-manchester
• Learn about Intelligent Document Processing: https://www.mulesoft.com/platform/intelligent-document-processing
• Get her book "MuleSoft for Salesforce Developers": https://tinyurl.com/26rnddzj
• AI Tools mentioned: 
  • Writer.AI: https://writer.com/
  • Adobe Podcast Enhance
• MuleSoft Resources: 
  • Main website: https://www.mulesoft.com/
  • Free 30-day Anypoint Platform trial: https://anypoint.mulesoft.com/login/signup
  • MuleSoft Community: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mulesoftcommunity/posts/?feedView=all

Grzegorz Szczepanik is a Senior Software Engineer at IBM. In his early career, he co-founded a small ISP company with friends before joining a game development company, where he spent seven enriching years. Since 2013, he has been with IBM, where his passion for innovation has led to authoring over 40 granted patents. Grzegorz describes himself more as a generalist than a specialist, with a keen interest in history and society beyond the IT world.

In this episode, we discuss "Innovation Hackathons," a special kind of hackathon developed by IBM in Poland. These events are not focused on coding but rather encourage participants to step back and brainstorm solutions to persistent problems that haven’t been addressed in day-to-day projects.

We also delve into Grzegorz’s top tips for increasing software development velocity: do something productive every day, keep meetings brief (about 15 minutes), and jot down a single sentence at the end of each day summarizing what you have accomplished. Additionally, he shares valuable advice on how to expedite mundane yet essential projects.

Charlie helped develop the Connected Car platform, connecting cars directly with Salesforce technology. He also led the creation of healthcare solutions during the pandemic, including systems for Remote Patient Care and Vaccine Management. He has been instrumental in promoting the Internet of Things within Salesforce for over eight years, securing more than 20 patents in the process.

In this episode, we explored how a remarkable 2-month hackathon, initiated by Marc Benioff, led to a groundbreaking connected-car product showcased at major events. The hackathon's success highlights the importance of focusing on proving business value rather than just building flashy demos, or in Charlie’s words, “spaghetti on the wall hackathons vs. valuable hackathons.”

We also discussed strategies for increasing software development velocity. Key tips include using existing platforms to avoid reinventing the wheel, leveraging AI code assistants to write better code faster, and securing strong executive sponsorship to rally support and resources.

Interestingly, the discussion revealed how taking good care of the development team during intense periods, such as providing meals and creating a supportive environment, can significantly boost productivity and morale. By combining the energy of hackathons, the capabilities of AI tools, a focus on business impact, and a commitment to developer wellbeing, software teams can dramatically increase velocity.

Links from Charlie: 

The codebuilder:

https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/sfvscode-extensions/guide/vscode-overview.html

And here's the Jetson Nano Robot in action: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/charlieisaacs_agentforce-activity-7253663862049116160-PgvX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Priyank Mehta is a Software Engineer at AWS, where he ensures the payment systems used by many AWS customers are reliable and capable of handling numerous transactions. He is passionate about supporting startups in the US and India, advising non-tech founders on product development. Additionally, he mentors Indian students in the US, guiding them through graduate programs and connecting them with internship and full-time opportunities.

In this episode, we talked about something truly astonishing. Priyank decided to organize a hackathon at his university. With a can-do spirit, he began planning the event, secured funding, and spread the word. Astonishingly, 12,000 people showed up! TWELVE THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS. The following year, they reached 50,000!! And that's not all; we also had time to talk about development velocity, and Priyank shared his philosophy on making decisions faster, the importance of breaking things down into smaller, manageable parts, and the power of AI.

Chintan Shah is a Tech Lead at Salesforce, where he simplifies how data is handled by improving ETL processes—that's the technology used to gather and prepare data for analysis. An experienced software developer, he has helped build major platforms at companies like SanDisk and Microsoft, impacting millions of users. Chintan is also a mentor and the creator of the tech newsletter CS Talks, sharing insights and guidance with up-and-coming software engineers.

In this episode, we discussed some of his hackathon experiences, from his university days to his time at Microsoft, and some major learnings, especially how to structure a hackathon to make the most of the available time. We also delved into how to increase software development velocity in day-to-day projects, emphasizing the importance of clarity (asking questions until you truly understand the scope and having a good brief) and team collaboration. Additionally, you will hear Chintan’s top tips for writing better code faster with AI, such as mastering prompt engineering, the necessity of having in-depth domain knowledge, how to utilize AI co-pilots, and why attending hackathons is beneficial for learning more about AI.

Here are the links Chintan mentioned:

CS Talks Newsletter - https://cstalks.substack.com/?r=3tce3j&utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web

Hackathon Article - https://open.substack.com/pub/cstalks/p/hackathons-fueling-innovation-for-tech?r=3tce3j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Topmate Offerings - https://topmate.io/cstalks

1:1 Mentorship Offering- https://topmate.io/cstalks/506814

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Social Media Presence:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cs_talks_

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahchintan1/

X - https://x.com/schintan22

Jose Plans is a former Engineering Director at Citrix, where he spearheaded the transition to cloud-based solutions, achieving exceptional system reliability and enhanced security. At Citrix, he managed a large team of 50, focusing on streamlining operations and boosting system performance. Currently, he is on a career break, deepening his skills in big data, AI, and system architecture, while also spending time with his family.

In this episode, we discussed what makes hackathons great and worth investing in. They need to have a clear purpose and a business objective that is interesting to explore, while simultaneously providing insights into technological advancements. We also talked about different lengths of hackathons and what Jose believes is the optimal duration. Our conversation covered how to increase development velocity in day-to-day projects. From Jose’s rich experience, some things stand out: It’s good to know the models of software production, but in reality, it’s important to adapt to circumstances rather than strictly following the rules. Additionally, clarity in expectations and deadlines is crucial. He also revealed his approach to organizing sprints, what has worked best for him, and what has significantly increased his development velocity! Regarding how to write better code faster with AI, we discussed how AI can provide a head start in projects but also what to be careful about... 

Recommended link: https://ollama.com/x/llama3.2-vision

Varun Shrivastava is a seasoned Full Stack Developer at AWS, specializing in the development of scalable enterprise software for the finance and retail sectors. His passion for continuous learning and development is matched only by his belief in the transformative power of collaboration. Working alongside like-minded tech enthusiasts to advance the frontiers of technology thrills him, making him an ideal guest for a podcast themed "World Class Hackathons."

In our discussion, Varun shared insights from his experience creating an AI-powered personal shopper during a hackathon. We also explored strategies for accelerating coding efficiency with AI. If Varun were to create an online course, it would feature these innovative workshops: 1) Prompting Engineering: Learn to master prompt design and its significant impact on Large Language Models (LLM), potentially enhancing effectiveness by a factor of 100. 2) Understanding various AI tools such as Amazon Q and Claude. 3) Developing your own code assistant using established AI platforms, focusing on best practices.

Arhaan Saksena is a technology leader specializing in cloud solutions and customer success. As Head of Customer Engineering for Google Cloud, he focuses on acquiring new enterprise customers and maximizing their value through innovative solutions. With over 15 years of pre-sales experience, Arhaan excels at building trusted relationships and understanding client needs. He translates those needs into effective technical solutions, leveraging his expertise in cloud-native technologies, SaaS, and data/AI applications.

During his 7+ years at Google, he has consistently delivered impactful results in various customer-facing engineering and leadership roles. Arhaan is passionate about helping businesses harness the power of the cloud to drive growth and solve complex challenges.

His strong academic foundation includes a Master of Science in Information Systems from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. He further honed his business skills through the Stanford LEAD Online Business Program.

In this episode, we talked about how Google runs both hackathons with customers and open hackathons for the entire development community. We also discussed how to increase software development velocity: use the power of AI to write better code faster and optimize your infrastructure with a code assistant. The goal is always to minimize time spent on boilerplate code and instead focus on business logic and user-centric features.

My guest today spent nearly two decades at Salesforce, most recently as Vice President of Solution Engineering for Germany and Austria. He played a key role in growing Salesforce's presence in these countries from the very early days. Now, he's excited to share his expertise with startups and established companies as an advisor. Bend has been involved in something very interesting: external hackathons where companies looking for a specific software solution asked various competitors to engage in a hackathon in order for them to assess which solution would be a better fit, faster to implement, more adaptable, etc.

In this episode, we talked about how to use hackathons to help potential clients evaluate software systems. Bernd shared how Salesforce won 80% of the deals when they used this method, which they refined over time. This type of activity was targeted towards large customers where the order value was very high. Salesforce would say to the customer, "To truly understand the difference between our system and the competitors, and to experience what it's like to work with us, let us run a hackathon where you get to try setting up the system and perform the most important use cases." Potential customers often found this to be a great idea.

Salesforce divided the customer team, which often consisted of technicians, salespeople, and managers, into smaller groups where they were given different challenges. Salesforce was skilled at building a culture with the potential customer, not coming in as teachers, but more as people who helped them along when they got stuck. They became good friends. They handed out swag like mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies, and they set up a Salesforce coffee truck outside the office. At the end of the hackathon, they had internal champions present Salesforce to the decision-makers in the management team.

It's fascinating. Organizing such hackathons with customers is beneficial for everyone involved: good for the customer because they make better choices, good for Salesforce as they learned more about the customer, and good for product development because there's nothing better than spending time "on the floor" with customers and seeing how things really work. 

The question in my head after the interview was: Shouldn't large enterprise systems - especially if your target audience is developers - always be sold like this?

Bassem is a Senior Software Engineer at GitHub. He has led major projects in the Netherlands, USA, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and his native Lebanon. He was a founding member of SE Factory, Lebanon's top coding bootcamp that's been featured in The Guardian, TechCrunch, and Forbes. Additionally, he is a very active content creator, sharing his technical and career insights through his own podcast and social media. He also does a lot of public speaking!

In this episode, we talked about Bassem's experiences when he built software systems for optimizing container handling and unloading from ships. To understand how to build the system, he really needed to observe the port, how the containers were unloaded, ride along with truck drivers, etc. This provided a valuable insight into how important it is to understand what the customers are trying to achieve.

We discussed the SE Coding Bootcamp, where Bassem was a founding partner. In 12 weeks, developers really learned everything about tech fundamentals, how to build an MVP, and how to excel at soft skills like communication. The result was that many got jobs at the world's best tech companies after completing the bootcamp. It was like a 12-week-long hackathon with interspersed lessons.

We also talked about the hackathon culture at Github and the desired outcomes of why they do hackathons: increase collaboration, explore new tech, come up with ideas for improvements on existing products, improve presentation and communication skills, and explore new territories that you are not used to.

A new concept also came up, "Docathons" - 1-day events with the goal of improving essential parts of Github's documentation.

Finally, we concluded by discussing how to increase software developer velocity in day-to-day projects - where everything comes back to the most important question you can ask yourself no matter what you're doing: have we really understood what the customer is trying to achieve?

Link to Bassem's blog: https://blog.bassemdy.com/

Zohaib Hassan Shaikh is the Head of Engineering at Krave Mart, a leading startup revolutionizing the grocery delivery industry in Pakistan. With a background in scalable systems and a passion for using cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems, Zohaib has spearheaded multiple projects involving AI, ML, and data analytics.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Zohaib is deeply passionate about social work and is the founder of Meal Donate, an initiative focused on raising awareness about preventing food wastage and providing free groceries to underprivileged communities. He loves participating in hackathons, particularly those that focus on driving positive change in underserved regions. Zohaib enjoys mentoring, contributing to hackathons, and working on social impact-driven technological initiatives in emerging markets.

In this episode, Zohaib shared valuable insights into the significant impact hackathons had on starting his own company. He revealed that he regularly takes his team to participate in external hackathons, with the primary objectives of fostering team building, mastering the art of rapid feature development, and staying up-to-date with game-changing technologies. After each hackathon, the team meticulously evaluates the pros and cons of the newly discovered tech, enabling them to continuously improve their underlying tech stack. Zohaib enthusiastically remarked, "When the entire team returns from a hackathon, it works wonders for their morale and collaboration. They start coding with the same enthusiasm they exhibited during the event!" 

Our conversation also delved into strategies for enhancing software development efficiency in day-to-day work. Zohaib emphasized the importance of automation, intelligent prioritization of critical features, and consistent code reviews to ensure the long-term sustainability and maintainability of the codebase.

Kristofer is a well-known researcher at Linköping University and co-author of the groundbreaking book "Dream! Hack! Build!". He is also the creator of the Build for Earth program. In collaboration with the Hack for Earth foundation, Kristofer has worked with diverse and innovative teams from around the globe, united in their mission to develop solutions for a more sustainable planet.

With over 17 years of experience as a psychologist, manager, consultant, author, and researcher in the field of digital mental health, Dr. Vernmark has been a pioneer in making internet-based treatments accessible within the Swedish primary care system. His exceptional contributions were recently recognized with the prestigious 2022 eMHIC award for Leadership Excellence in eMental Health Implementation.

In this episode, we delve into the process of transforming hackathon projects into reality. Discover how 8 teams, selected from a pool of 1,000 participants in Hack for Earth's global hackathons, are granted the opportunity to join the 6-month BUILD accelerator program. The transition from a hackathon to establishing a company is a significant leap, and we explore the components of the Build program and the crucial emphasis on fostering psychological safety within the teams. While we merely scratch the surface in this episode (we could easily spend another 4 hours discussing this topic), we provide valuable insights into the distinguishing characteristics of successful start-ups and innovation projects.

Photon, a global leader in AI and digital solutions, helps clients accelerate AI adoption and embrace DigitalHyper-expansion® to make tomorrow happen today. Working with 40% of the Fortune 100, Photon enables them to remain agile and future-ready in an era of converging digital and AI boundaries. Powering billions of touchpoints daily, Photon combines AI management, digital innovation, product design thinking, and engineering excellence to drive lasting transformation for F500 clients.

As the Director of Software Engineering at Photon, Abhinav drives innovations in AI and cloud security, transitioning architectures to microservices, and aligning technical initiatives with strategic business goals.

In this episode, we delved into the hackathons at Photon and Abhinav's previous employer, Pandora. We discussed the numerous reasons to participate in a hackathon, such as learning about technology, experiencing roles different from your usual ones, collaborating with others, and driving ideas you believe in. A hackathon could be the perfect platform to demonstrate the validity of your idea to the world. We also explored the various "avenues" within a hackathon, like the "in it to win it" and the "learning" avenues. We examined the elements necessary for a successful hackathon, including a robust platform for finding teammates, presenting ideas, and forming teams; essential resources like test data, APIs, and licenses; and the crucial role of both internal and external mentors. Abhinav shared his best practices for increasing development velocity in day-to-day projects and recounted how a single hour of weekly coaching from an experienced mentor transformed his entire team.

Jesse joined Palo Alto Networks in 2008 as a Software Engineer in the Platform team. Since then, he has held various leadership roles managing PAN-OS and Cloud Delivery Security Services Engineering and Product teams. He is currently the NetSec CTO, focusing on forward-looking technologies including new security offerings, AI security, and the use of AI in products. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, he was a Software Engineer doing platform development at Cisco Systems.

In this episode, we talk about the hackathons at Palo Alto Networks, how they are set up, and the desired outcomes. We talked about the judging criteria that involve: How innovative is the product? Could it be a real product? How well was the work done during the hackathon? Is it a cross-functional project? How well was the project presented? We also discussed how to increase software development velocity. According to Jesse, the number one challenge is reducing latency: getting everybody in the same room from the different teams that the project depends on. We discussed the importance of cross-team commitment and the use of “war rooms” to facilitate collaboration and reduce latency.

Satej is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Atlassian with over 20 years of experience optimizing performance across various tech stacks. His journey has taken him through some of the largest banks and security companies. Currently, he is working on enhancing the performance of Jira Cloud, used by 83% of Fortune 500 companies. Remarkably, Jira even played a key role in NASA's Ensemble project, helping to send the Curiosity rover to Mars.

In this episode, we will explore his tech journey and talk about the innovative hackathon culture at Atlassian, including the quarterly held hackathons called ShipIT and how they foster collaboration among developers across the globe. We discuss the difference between Innovation Sprints and hackathons and explore how to increase the number of projects that turn into real products and tools - what could be done to improve the impact of hackathons even further? We also discuss Satej's ideas around development velocity, what typically slows it down, and what can be done about it: it's about giving developers the best tools, continuously improving code quality, increasing developer joy, and more....

Eric is an experienced Software Engineer who has developed web apps for software and broadcast companies, such as Amazon and the BBC. At Amazon, he worked on AWS Jam, a platform for teaching engineers how to use Amazon Web Services in a gamified, hackathon-style environment.

In this episode, we talked about AWS Jam and the Unhackathon concept (Erik was one of the founders), which is centered around learning new skills and technical ambition. We also discussed Erik's participation in several hackathons, including HackMIT, McHacks, and the NYC Open Records Virtual UX Hackathon, which he won in 2017. Additionally, we explored how there could be even more projects initiated in hackathons that could become reality. And of course, we delved into our new discussion point in this podcast: how to increase development velocity.

Bob Sira Sira is part of the Cloud + AI team, focusing on the Windows Containers Operating System. 

In this episode we dive into the fascinating worlds of hackathons and competitive programming, exploring their similarities and distinct differences.

In this episode Bob shares insights on how experience from coding competitions can provide invaluable skills for job interviews at tech giants like Google, AWS, and Microsoft, where quick problem-solving abilities are often a requirement. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at Microsoft's annual internal hackathon – why it's organized, how it's structured, and Bob's experiences as a mentor during the event.

Zack Akil is a senior machine learning engineer & developer advocate at Google specializing in practical AI. He spends most of his time building experimental Machine Learning applications - often inspired by his many random hobbies - that help and inspire other developers to build with ML in unique and better ways.

In this episode, we discussed how and why Google conducts internal hackathons and what they aim to achieve. We explored why it's particularly beneficial to organize hackathons when groundbreaking new technologies emerge. There are many advantages to quickly setting up hackathons to explore potential uses for these technologies. Building an organization around new technology takes time, so a hackathon is an ideal format to see what happens when you invite everyone to participate and contribute their ideas and development efforts.

Zack has also virtually won every hackathon he has participated in—truly remarkable! In this podcast, he reveals his very concrete winning strategies.

We also discussed development velocity in general and what can be done to increase it.

We talked about Ran's incredible journey with Epsagon, his involvement in hackathons with major companies like Cisco, and in open hackathons across Israel focusing on cybersecurity. He also shares his invaluable insights and the three "must-know" tips for accelerating development velocity.

Ran's own pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vC4mEgUTKe7BJNzdHBvPo 

Jacky is an award-winning technologist and entrepreneur with a diverse background in AI, VR, and mobile development. As one of the top 100 developers in Southeast Asia, Jacky’s journey started with a deep interest in technology during childhood, which led him to his current role at Smart G Tech, where he leads innovative projects in cancer research AI, CRM solutions, and mental health apps. Jacky is also known for his active participation in hackathons, where his creative solutions have garnered attention. He has completed notable projects such as AgendaGenie, an AI-powered meeting management system, SkinV, a health-focused app, and various other AI systems that reflect his passion for solving real-world problems through technology.

In this episode, we discussed the Slingshot Singapore Competition, Global Entrepreneur Cup, Kaggle Competition, and Y Combinator Hackathons. We explored how hackathons like these can serve as a catalyst for startups, providing a platform where you can meet potential teammates and investors, as well as receive valuable feedback on your ideas.

Slingshot Singapore. Slingshot is a global startup competition hosted by Enterprise Singapore. It aims to discover and support innovative startups by connecting them with investors, mentors, and industry partners. The competition focuses on various sectors, promoting entrepreneurship and technological advancement in Singapore.

The Global Entrepreneur Cup is an international competition that brings together aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. It offers a platform for startups to showcase their ideas, gain exposure, and compete for investment opportunities. Participants benefit from mentorship and networking with industry leaders.

Kaggle Competition is a popular platform for data science and machine learning competitions. It hosts a variety of challenges where participants can work with real-world data sets, collaborate with others, and showcase their skills. Competitions range from beginner-friendly to advanced levels, making it an excellent resource for learning and improvement.

Y Combinator is a renowned startup accelerator that provides funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage startups. Through its seed funding and intensive programs, Y Combinator helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses. The organization runs regular funding cycles and has a strong alumni network.

Sethu develops and maintains high-performance, scalable systems that serve tens of millions of end users.

In this episode, we dive into his experiences with hackathons at universities and big companies like JP Morgan. Seth has an impressive track record of winning hackathons and takes us through three specific events. He also shares his winning strategies, giving us all his secrets to success in this exciting episode!

Some online recordings with Sethu: 

Online hackathon - https://devpost.com/software/something-ukx6q7

Tech Talk IRL - https://youtu.be/4oLIPfB_9RY?t=3132

Bright Horizons is known worldwide for its high-quality education and childcare services.

Tengiz is a veteran tech leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation at both startups and large companies. He's skilled in software development, technology leadership, and has a strong background in entrepreneurship. Tengiz has also written a book called “Effective Software Development for the Enterprise.” When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and practicing meditation.

In this episode, we cover several exciting topics. First, we dive into Tengiz's initial hackathon experience in Ukraine. Next, we explore how Dell organizes their hackathons, which often lead to new features in production and new patents. We also discuss how venture capital firms can leverage hackathons among their portfolio companies to accelerate product launches. This process involves understanding what customers want, organizing a hackathon to flesh out ideas, selecting the best concepts, and securing customer investments in these initiatives. Towards the end of our conversation, we also touch on the benefits of meditation.

Suman has spoken at over 100 global events and meetups across multiple countries and has directed the AWS Developer Community expansion in India. He has also served as a judge at numerous hackathons.

In this podcast, we discuss the differences between open-ended hackathons and client-based hackathons. We delve into the elevator pitch at the end of the hackathon, discussing how to structure it. We also talk extensively about evaluating presentations, the challenges involved, and how judging teams sometimes change their minds after discussions. Additionally, we touch on large AI communities, with over 400,000 members, organizing hackathons open to anyone eager to learn more about AI.

Ricardo assists developers in exploring innovative methods to construct software. He develops code and workshops that showcase how generative AI coding assistants, like Amazon Q Developer, can help developers work more efficiently, experiment with new ideas, and maintain focus. He also disseminates his work and insights through his blog, GitHub, and speaking engagements worldwide.

In this episode, we explored how Ricardo assembled one of the first hackathon playbooks at AWS and its development over time. How do you incorporate the AWS principle of WORKING BACKWARDS into your hackathon planning? What are the potential desired outcomes of a hackathon? How can you enhance the likelihood that the innovations not only address real-world issues but also progress to production? How do you engage stakeholders from client companies who are eager to see the demos at the conclusion of the hackathon? How do you ensure that developers, who put in significant effort, are acknowledged and valued?

RingCentral is a three-billion-dollar company offering cloud-based solutions for businesses, including video conferencing, voice calls, SMS, and other communication services.

In this episode, we discuss how Sushant's victory at a hackathon became the starting point for his startup, which was later acquired by RingCentral. We also explore how hackathons are evolving into a key format for launching new businesses. Much like the 'Idol' contest was a new way to generate superstars, could hackathons, where potential customers and venture capitalists participate, be the next big thing for producing successful startups? I was so inspired after our conversation I could barely fall a sleep that night! 

At Google, he is currently building a Gen AI platform that enhances observability across all Google products. Previously, he served as the Tech Lead for Search Experiments, helping to transform search in the era of Gen AI. Additionally, he initiated a Health AI project exploring AI's capacity to diagnose complex medical cases. He has authored a paper on this topic, published on the Google Blog and submitted to Nature.

In this episode we discussed his fascinating journey to Google NYC, his early hackathon experiences which had a significant positive impact on his career, and the vibrant hackathon culture he has witnessed at both Microsoft and Google. We also delve into some of the innovative products that have emerged from these companies' internal hackathons.

Andrei-Alexandru is a seasoned AI engineer and PhD student. He leads the AI team at StockRx, where he oversees projects in document processing, demand forecasting, and data analytics. His research has been presented internationally and has also led to practical AI solutions in areas like defect detection and sales analytics.

In this episode, we talk a lot about the personal benefits of participating in many hackathons when you are young and what it takes to win. By participating in numerous hackathons, you'll encounter a wide range of scenarios that mirror workplace challenges. This exposure gives you a wealth of reference experiences, so even though you may be new to the workforce, you'll already have a familiarity with similar situations. We also talked about what makes a good team? How do you ensure all participants work together with great spirit?

Matheus boasts over 20 years of experience in the industry, ranging from developer to CTO and everything in between. He remains as enthusiastic as ever about the possibilities and the role that technology plays in bridging our present with our future.

In this episode, we talked about how participating in top-tier hackathons not only broadens your understanding of game-changing technology but also deepens your self-awareness. According to Matheus, there's no better path to self-knowledge and personal growth than through hackathons. Participating in these events can also ignite new motivation and aspirations within yourself.

Alex is a software architect, a hackathon enthusiast, public speaker, traveler, and musician.

He has 20+ years of industry experience, including web development, software engineering, community building, management, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we talk about what characterizes high-class hackathons and aspects of judging, mentoring, and tech support.

Junction is the powerhouse behind world-class hackathons hosted throughout the year across the globe. Junction started in 2015 in Finland and grew to be one of the largest hackathon organizers in Europe. They host events with over a thousand participants and teams coming from all over the world to visit Finland at the darkest period of the year—November. They have also expanded their hackathons globally.

In this episode, you’ll hear their CEO, Iida, share how it all started and where they are heading with their "Impossible Is Nothing, We Can Do It" spirit.

Henrik has over 30 years of experience in software engineering, founded several startups in Sweden, and moved to the USA after his project Tora was acquired by Quest Software in 2004.

He has worked extensively with database tools, mobile, and backend development, and is currently a Principal Software Engineer at Amazon Web Services focusing on scalable cloud services.

In this episode, we talked about hackathons before the name "hackathon" was invented. The so-called “Demo Scene” with “Demo Days” was huge in the Nordics and gathered thousands of developers. The events were very self-organized; people slept in their sleeping bags, brought their own lamps, and music equipment to the parties…

Manan is a former engineer who now excels as a Product Manager at AWS. A significant passion of his is developing AI products that optimize user-friendly experiences. He's currently leading a team at AWS, developing a system that tailors how the AWS website, emails, and SMS communicate with its users. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing on the Hudson River in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.

In this episode, we talked about his journey, including hackathons at Deloitte, the hackathon culture at AWS, the similarities between innovation sprints and hackathons, and how hackathons have affected his leadership style and thoughts on building MVPs (Minimum Viable Products). We also discussed how participating in hackathons could improve your growth mindset, to make it easier to go from "thinking of doing it" to actually doing it. Additionally, we talked about his experiences judging hackathons!

A dynamic force in the tech world, Sumon has built B2B and B2C products from inception, pioneering engineering roadmaps and sustainable processes that have propelled organizations into new realms of success. His expertise spans global cross-functional alliances, and his passion for AI is matched only by his dedication to building future-proof systems that push the boundaries of what's possible in technology.

With a career spanning over 30 years across utilities, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, consulting, and academia, Beverly has led numerous teams and established herself as a data science & AI thought leader, executive professor, national speaker, podcast host, and a trailblazing advocate for data science for good. 

She also serves as Board Chair for TAG Data Science & AI, Board Member for Georgia Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Analytics program, Past President of the Analytics Society at INFORMS, and podcast host for TAG Data Talk.

Beverly has developed or helped with hackathons at Georgia Institute of Technology University of South Carolina QTM Emory Spelman College Morehouse College Clark Atlanta University (and helped w/ Purdue University The University of Texas at Arlington Arizona State University and others); several proprietary engagements for prior clients, and organizations including Technology Association of Georgia.

Lavanya is passionate about diversity and equity initiatives and represents PAN in conferences like Afrotech. She is part of the Women in Technology, Australia Chapter spreading awareness for women returning to work, and co-chair of the Women in Product Community leadership council in PAN.

He has made a significant impact by teaching in over 200 colleges across 38 cities worldwide, reaching more than 100,000 students with his courses and workshops.

He has trained professionals at major companies like Rakuten and Deloitte and shared his insights on platforms like TEDx. 

Through his courses on topics such as machine learning and full-stack development, he equips students to meet the changing demands of the tech industry.

Ann Molin is a leading figure in hackathons and an advocate for sustainable innovation. With over 18 years of experience, she has inspired audiences globally, including at prestigious platforms like the United Nations General Assembly and TEDx.

⭐️ Ann has made substantial contributions to sustainable development, earning the Sustainable Climate Investment Award at the House of Lords during the Global Sustainability Summit 2024. She also heads the Hack for Earth Foundation, initiating projects that significantly impact the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

⭐️ Recently, Ann published “Dream! Hack! Build!”, a book that provides business leaders with strategies to use hackathons for organizational innovation.

⭐️ The creation of the "Dream! Hack! Build!" method is among her most significant achievements. This groundbreaking approach has distinguished her in the global hackathon community, showcasing her unique vision for tackling worldwide challenges through citizen-driven initiatives.

The podcast will be available on all popular podcast platforms. We look forward to sharing these inspiring stories with you. Join us on this exciting journey into the world of hackathons!