A hackathon is a time-bound event (usually 24–72 hours) where individuals or teams collaborate intensively on a tech problem, product idea, or innovation challenge. For IT companies, hackathons have become more than just tech competitions — they are now recruitment grounds, product incubators, and branding tools.
In recent years, leading firms like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, and IBM India have started using hackathons to:
Unlike traditional job interviews or ideation meetings, hackathons deliver fast, creative, and practical results — all within a few days.
There are two main types of hackathons IT companies organize:
Held for employees across departments to:
Example: Wipro’s CodeStorm allowed internal teams to improve internal tools, resulting in ideas later adopted in actual projects.
These are open to students, freelancers, or job seekers. The benefits include:
Example: TCS CodeVita and Infosys HackWithInfy — used for spotting top student coders who are directly offered roles post-event.
Participants typically use:
Companies provide access to live servers, real-world datasets, and mentors to simulate production environments.
Have you ever participated in a corporate or student hackathon?
Do you think hackathons are more effective than interviews for hiring tech talent?
Drop your insights below — let’s brainstorm together
Why IT Firms Love Hackathons
In recent years, leading firms like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, and IBM India have started using hackathons to:
- Test real-world problem-solving skills
- Discover niche talent (AI, cybersecurity, IoT)
- Prototype solutions quickly
- Encourage internal innovation
- Promote their brand in tech communities
Unlike traditional job interviews or ideation meetings, hackathons deliver fast, creative, and practical results — all within a few days.
Internal vs. External Hackathons
There are two main types of hackathons IT companies organize:
1. Internal Hackathons
Held for employees across departments to:
- Solve existing pain points
- Build new tools, dashboards, or features
- Encourage interdepartmental collaboration
- Reward innovation with cash or promotion
Example: Wipro’s CodeStorm allowed internal teams to improve internal tools, resulting in ideas later adopted in actual projects.
2. External Hackathons
These are open to students, freelancers, or job seekers. The benefits include:
- Finding fresh perspectives
- Attracting potential hires
- Building campus engagement
- Creating buzz on social media
Example: TCS CodeVita and Infosys HackWithInfy — used for spotting top student coders who are directly offered roles post-event.
Tools Used During Hackathons
Participants typically use:
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Version control (GitHub, GitLab)
- APIs for fast prototyping
- Design tools (Figma, Canva)
- Tech stacks like MERN, Flutter, Python/Django
Companies provide access to live servers, real-world datasets, and mentors to simulate production environments.
Rewards and Recognition
- Job offers or internships
- Cash prizes up to ₹5 lakhs
- Certificates, merchandise, or international exposure
- Chance to get funded if the prototype is product-ready
- Public recognition within the company or media
Success Stories
- A winning team from IBM India’s BlueHack built a voice-based bot for customer care, later integrated into the company’s internal chatbot framework.
- Freshworks hired 15 developers in one year through a hackathon series named “FreshHack”.
Join the Discussion!
Have you ever participated in a corporate or student hackathon?
Do you think hackathons are more effective than interviews for hiring tech talent?
Drop your insights below — let’s brainstorm together
