Every week, people all over the world get hyped for community events and online hackathons. Seriously, thousands show up. Why? Because there’s something special about joining up—even with complete strangers—to solve real problems. You get your hands dirty, work with others, and you learn a ton. It’s awesome.
And by the way, hackathons aren’t just for coding pros or people running on coffee and zero sleep. Those days are over. Now, there’s a hackathon for everyone. Total newbie, seasoned pro, doesn’t really matter. Some events don’t even care if you’ve never written a single line of code. That means, the door’s wide open for you.
AWS and Devpost? These two run the show. They roll out free hackathons, both online and in-person. You get to try out AWS tools, maybe chase an old project idea. Sure, prizes are sweet (for real, some are huge). But honestly, the best stuff is the new skills, friends, and confidence you build. Sometimes, you even come out with a new job, a business idea, or just a new side of yourself.
TL;DR / Key Takeaways
- Hackathons (most are free) run every month, for newbies and veterans.
- AWS and Devpost make it easy to find events on AI, quantum, serverless tech.
- You’ll meet people, mentors, maybe your next business partner.
- No experience needed: You’ll get intros, team-matching, and help along the way.
- Real projects mean real skills (and real chances at cash, internships, even jobs).
Why Free Hackathons Are Blowing Up
Zero-Risk, High-Reward
You remember how it felt building your first LEGO car? That’s what hackathons feel like, except with real stuff. There’s a shot at a prize, maybe a job, or just a hunger to keep going. Hackathons used to just be for coders, but now, they’re everywhere. On college campuses, in coworking spots, on Discord, or even in coffee shop basements. Seriously, some indie cafes actually host these after hours.
COVID-19 changed everything. Virtual stuff became normal. In 2021, Devpost ran over 2,400 remote or mixed hackathons. That means, you don’t need to be in a fancy city. Heck, don’t even get out of your pajamas if you don’t want. This hybrid thing is here to stay, and it’s honestly great.
Participation Sky High
Here’s something wild: You don’t have to be a code pro to join. Get this—43% of first-timers have never coded before stepping in. Teams need more than just techies. They need ideas, designers, storytellers, marketers, problem-solvers. The mix is what makes projects better.
Expert Quote: "Hackathons are less about coding power, more about teamwork. The best teams aren’t just the best coders." — Kasey Champion, AWS Educator
Stats back this up. People sign up just for the ride, and end up making projects even stronger. Zero experience? Don’t sweat it. You’ll be fine.
Find Events and Hackathons
Digital Options
So you’re pumped. Where to find your first hackathon?
First, check Devpost. It’s basically Eventbrite for hackathons. Tons of filters—by skills, topic (AI, quantum, fintech), or format (remote, local, hybrid). Most are free, and many options shout out students or beginners.
And Discord isn’t just for gaming anymore. Almost every hackathon has a Discord (or Slack) channel. You can find teammates, ask so-called dumb questions (honestly, everyone asks), share memes, and grab help from mentors. In most AWS hackathons, you’ll find engineers and staff there all day to help you through issues with cloud stuff or code.
Wanna grow your hackathon project into something bigger? Try AMC Cloud. It helps your project go beyond just a cool demo. You can use it to scale up and maybe even show it to a boss or some clients.
Local Meetups and University Circles
Online rocks, but sometimes it’s just better with pizza and whiteboards and friends in the same room.
Libraries, coworking spaces, and startups all love hosting these. Check Eventbrite, school event boards, or Meetup.com for local events. AWS User Groups have regular meetups in nearly every big city. Jump in on a themed sprint or just watch until you’re ready.
First-Hand Example: Jamal, a sophomore at UH-Downtown, found an AWS hackathon on Devpost. He’d never used AWS, didn’t know anybody, but he signed up anyway. His group built a chatbot that linked Houston food banks with families in need. Two weeks later? He landed a paid Amazon AI internship. Yes, his family thought it was just luck, but really, he gave it his all.
Real-World Stats
- 60% of hackathons are now fully online or mixed, says Devpost’s 2023 report.
- Over half share workshop and onboarding videos, so you can catch up whenever.
- In 2022, over 100,000 people joined AWS hackathons worldwide.
Demystifying Hackathons
The Structure
Let’s squash the myth: It’s not just non-stop coding and energy drinks. Hackathons follow a plan that helps everyone, especially beginners, keep up. Here’s the usual flow:
- Kicking Off: Theme drop! Like “AI for Good” or "Quantum for Daily Life." You’ll hear the rules, prizes, and schedule.
- Team Formation: No team? No big deal. Mixers, bots, or speed-friending help you find your crew. Want to go solo? That’s fine, but teams often get more done (and have more fun).
- Intro Workshops: Not sure about AWS or Python or whatever tech? There’s usually a quick class. You’ll get slides, cheat sheets, live Q&A, the basics.
- The Sprint: Go time! Brainstorm, code, draw, debug, snack, repeat. Some hackathons are two hours, some are all weekend. It feels like a summer camp with tech.
- Demos & Judging: Time’s up, you demo for 2-5 minutes, answer questions, and submit your stuff online. Judges can be local tech folks or special guests from big sponsors.
- Prizes & Beyond: Prizes range from gift cards to big cash. But the real win? Stories, friends, plus a cool new thing for your resume.
No One Knows Everything
Here’s the truth: Most teams are figuring it out as they go. Never touched AWS? Never built an AI thing? That’s normal. Especially with AWS and Devpost, you’ll find lessons, intro videos, and mentors for newbies. You don’t have to know it all—Friday night “ask anything” sessions are made for beginners. No one will bite.
Expert Quote: “Hacking in public is the fastest way to learn—one weekend beats a whole month of lessons.” — Trung Phan, Host, Not Boring Podcast
If you’re scared you’ll mess up? Good! That means you’re learning. Remember: It’s about the ideas, teamwork, and having fun—not having perfect code.
2024 Hackathon Themes
AI Agents
AI agent hackathons are super hot right now. Think AI chatbots, tools that automate boring jobs, or bots that make decisions. AWS tools like Bedrock and Sagemaker are big crowd-pleasers. Even beginners can try them out easily.
You don’t need a ticket to Silicon Valley. Devpost runs weekly AI agent hackathons, open to the globe. Team-matching is built in, and prize pools reach $20,000 sometimes. Makes that side hustle dream look doable, huh?
Quantum and Serverless
Ever thought about playing with quantum code but not a math whiz? Quantum hackathons make it easy, with free AWS credits and simple guides. You don’t need to know quantum theory—just show up.
Serverless is another big deal. You can build real APIs or tools, skip setting up servers, and let the cloud handle the heavy lifting. That’s why newbies love it. It’s fast, simple, and perfect for projects in money, climate, media, and more.
Real-World Example: In fall 2023, the AWS Community Builder hackathon brought 4,000 devs across three continents. They built everything from climate dashboards to NFT markets, all on AWS Lambda and SageMaker. Lots of snacks, lots of coding, and a demo shown to the world. Proof: Your resume doesn’t have to be loaded, just jump in.
More 2024 Themes
- Sustainability tech (smart recycling, carbon tracking)
- Edtech fixes (make learning better for everyone)
- Health, money, and government challenges
- AI to help with accessibility and inclusion
What Sets These Hackathons Apart
Unique Perks
Here’s why AWS and Devpost events are actually worth it:
- Almost all are free to join—no hidden fees.
- Real swag. AWS and others mail out shirts, stickers, and mini "hacker kits." Hack in pajamas, rock your hoodie.
- You can bring friends, work with strangers, or jump in solo.
- Companies show up to watch demos. Amazon, Capital One, IBM, startups—you name it.
- Loads of mentors: AWS pros, Devpost mods, students, volunteer experts.
Proof-of-Work Portfolio
The top reward? Every hackathon project is a real, time-stamped work sample for your portfolio. It crushes a boring resume bullet. Recruiters dig it. Actually, people who show hackathon demos land interviews 70% faster, studies say. Some companies even hire on the spot. No joke.
Expert Quote: “Hackathons are like networking on steroids—you build, you pitch, you connect. Recruiters see your skills in action.” — Shiran Yaroslavsky, CEO, Cassiopeia
Quickfire Recap
- Beginner hackathons run every week online and in cities. Check now.
- You’ll learn and build more in one session than a month of tutorials.
- Biggest 2024 themes: AI, serverless, quantum.
- Teams work best with many skills: design, storytelling, code, hustle.
- Prizes, jobs, friends, and new skills—seriously.
How to Join Your First Hackathon
Ready? Here’s your checklist:
- Head to Devpost. Look for hackathons by “beginner,” place, topic, or tools (think AWS, AI).
- Join the event Discord or Slack. Even if you’re shy, you’ll find teammates, mentors, workshops, help—everything.
- You don’t need a perfect idea—just get to kickoff. The best plans sometimes show up at the last minute.
- Scope out AWS-sponsored workshops. Lots give starter kits, easy code, and mentors to help you begin.
- Make a free AWS account and use any credits the event gives you.
- Just build, share what you learned, forget about winning. The journey’s the win.
Just showing up is half the game. Most people find a fun journey, meet great folks, and leave with skills you’d never find in a class. Ask around—lots of techies and founders got their start at one random hackathon weekend.
Time for your story? For more tips, stories, and ideas, visit the Devpost blog or AWS’s calendar. Want to see real-world projects? Hit up our Case Studies for inspiration.
