A hackathon is often perceived as an intense moment of creativity and collaboration. But when addressing decision-makers from mid-sized companies or large groups, the issue goes far beyond the simple unfolding of the event.
The challenge is not “how to carry out the animation”, but how to choose the approach that guarantees strong engagement, the production of relevant ideas and above all a concrete impact on the transformation of the company. In other words :
👉 Facilitating a hackathon is not limited to organizing a day of ideation.
👉 This is a strategic choice that must be integrated into a broader approach of collective intelligence and participatory innovation.
Check out the guide in free reading or download it for free in PDF 👇
How to choose the right approach to facilitate your hackathon?
Animation isn't a one-size-fits-all format. It needs to be tailored to your ambitions and context. Here are the four main directions possible.
1- Oriented animation results to generate concrete solutions
This approach is suitable for companies that expect the following from the hackathon:
- functional prototypes,
- quick solutions to test
- a tangible deliverable.
It requires a framed animation with:
- technical mentors,
- guided workshops,
- short sprints,
- strict evaluation criteria.
👉 Ideal for innovation, R&D departments, or internal projects requiring rapid execution.
2- Oriented animation collaboration : to break down silos and create a collective dynamic
Here, the main objective is not the deliverable but the co-construction.
The facilitator must facilitate:
- the exchanges,
- the diversity of profiles,
- mutual understanding,
- and collective creativity.
👉 Ideal for cultural transformations, team mergers, cross-functional projects.
3- Oriented animation broad ideation : to gather as many proposals as possible
The hackathon is therefore a visible step in a longer process:
- gathering ideas beforehand,
- selection by vote or jury
- working groups formed around the best ideas
- prototyping during the event.
👉 Ideal for massively engaging the entire organization and identifying numerous and varied leads.
4- Animation integrated into a continuous innovation process
This is the “advanced maturity” version.
The hackathon is no longer an “event”, but:
- a step in a process of gathering ideas,
- a time to accelerate projects already identified,
- a tool to nurture an innovation portfolio.
👉 Ideal for companies that want to structure a solid innovation pipeline.
[Read also – From hackathon to large-scale participatory innovation]
How can a dedicated platform be your best ally for running a hackathon?
A decision-maker wondering about the best way to run a hackathon naturally seeks to know:
- ✔ How to broadly mobilize employees?
- ✔ How to structure ideation before, during and after?
- ✔ How can we ensure that ideas are not lost?
- ✔ How to build capital sustainably?
And that's precisely where a dedicated platform makes all the difference. Thanks to:
- A space for ideation to collect, enrich and sort ideas beforehand.
- Animation features to organize groups, share resources, and facilitate communication.
- Selection and evaluation tools transparent and customizable.
- A post-hackathon pipeline which allows for the incubation, monitoring, prioritization and communication of projects.
- A hybrid capability : in-person, remote or hybrid.
- A dynamic of engagement through gamification, notifications and interactive content.
Key takeaway – hosting a hackathon is a strategic choice
- Success depends not only on the event, but on the entire system surrounding it.
- The animation must be aligned with your business objectives and internal culture.
- Formats vary: collaborative, results-oriented, innovation pipeline…
- A platform is not a “bonus”: it secures impact, structures engagement and transforms ideas into results.
Conclusion – Hosting a hackathon is a strategic choice
By choosing the facilitation approach best suited to your context — collaboration-oriented, results-driven, expanded ideation-oriented, or continuous innovation-oriented — You secure the impact of the event and you create the conditions for sustainable innovation.
With the right facilitation and setup, your hackathon becomes a transformation accelerator, not just an isolated highlight.
👉 Next steps
- Get inspired by these 4 examples of corporate hackathons that structure ideation.
- Book a personalized demo to discover how to run a hackathon tailored to your specific needs.
FAQ – Hosting a hackathon
Because the impact of a hackathon depends less on the day itself than on its overall design: objectives, participants, tools, post-event follow-up, integration into a continuous innovation approach.
Appropriate facilitation guarantees a high level of engagement, relevant ideas and a concrete impact.
The article distinguishes four of them:
1- Results-oriented approach – to quickly produce prototypes or concrete solutions.
2- Collaboration-oriented approach – strengthen cooperation, break down silos, create a collective dynamic.
3- Expanded ideation-oriented approach – to gather as many ideas as possible, to mobilize the company broadly.
4- An integrated approach within a continuous innovation process – to make the hackathon a step in a structured innovation pipeline.
The choice depends on:
• of the main objective (prototyping vs mobilization vs cultural transformation),
• the organization's level of innovation maturity,
• time and resources available,
• the desired level of involvement from management and the various departments.
The right approach is the one that serves the strategy, not the other way around.
To maximize engagement:
• mobilize early and clarify the issues,
• to facilitate diverse teams,
• to offer a clear but stimulating framework,
• use tools that facilitate collaboration, sharing and communication,
• to value contributions before, during and after the event.
Depending on the approach:
• an ideation campaign to gather initial ideas,
• resources for participants (brief, data, constraints),
• mentors, experts, juries,
• a clear facilitation methodology and structure,
• an internal communication system.
Because it allows you to:
• centralize the collection of ideas,
• to facilitate collaboration between participants,
• organize teams, resources and workshops
• simplify the evaluation and selection process,
• to ensure follow-up, incubation and post-event communication,
• managing hybrid formats (in-person, remote, mixed).
A platform ensures that the effort put in is not lost after the event.
Ophélie André – Communications & Marketing Manager – Beeshake
Passionate about digital communication and marketing, Ophélie has worked in a variety of environments, honing her expertise in content strategy, digital marketing, and collaborative engagement. She enjoys devoting her energy and creativity to projects that bring people together, create meaning, and enhance the strength of the collective.