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The best kind of hackathon project is to demonstrate a new technology. Facebook wouldn’t win a Hackathon, most social networks wouldn't, because technologically, they aren't that interesting. I am glad that you didn't spend much time business/revenue model or market research. I got it wrong the first time I joined a hackathon

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Absolute True. I once joined a weekend Hackathon. I built a web app, released it live with a clear business/usage proposition.

I didn't even make it to the first round but the ones that got selected and won don't make any usable sense at all. They won and the 'business/app' dies at that Hackathon. There were no practical application at all.

Wow that was a bit extreme heh. But I think that role of technology vs role of business model is what makes a hackathon different from, say, startup weekend. And again, as the author pointed out, we don't need to get the first price to enjoy the 'high' and fun of a hackathon. Onward!

It all depends what your end goals are. A new technology paired with a new market is doubly risky.

New technology applied to an existing market or a new product aimed at an existing market is a lot safer of a bet if you're trying to build a business.

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