A Guide to Organizing a Hackathon for Friends
Joy isn’t something we wait around for these days–it’s something we create! And the joy we cultivate is even sweeter when we make it happen with people we love. Imagine setting aside a weekend with your closest friends, not just to hang out, but to intentionally build something—memories, ideas, dreams, or even that passion project you’ve been putting off.
Enter the Friend Hackathon. I imagine a weekend where joy and laughter meet productivity, where support fuels creativity, and where we stop saying “someday” and start making it happen now. Whether you’re launching a dream, goal-digging or simply carving out space for what lights you up, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and cultivate joy—on purpose. I’m ready! Need help organizing a hackathon?
Company hackathons were originally designed to bring software developers, designers, innovators, and other tech experts together to solve tech-specific problems related to new products, software development, etc. When I first heard the term, I immediately thought about organizing a hackathon for friends–a weekend dedicated to collaboration, creativity, and maybe a little chaos with a group of the most supportive people in my life. I’m lucky to have some incredible friends, and a weekend with them isn’t just joyful—it’s an opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally.
Definition: Friend Hackathon—a fun way to spend a weekend at a suitable venue tackling goals, launching ideas, and learning new skills together. Think of it as a mastermind retreat meets a slumber party, with a sprinkle of caffeine (or wine), lots of laughter, and the occasional personal crisis.
This post will guide you through everything you need from the first step of hosting the ultimate Friend Hackathon, from choosing a theme to organizing the schedule—and, of course, making sure everyone leaves feeling accomplished, inspired, and slightly sleep-deprived in the best way possible.
Step 1: Organizing a Hackathon: Choose the Theme of Your Hackathon
A good hackathon needs a clear theme—something fun, slightly ridiculous, but ultimately useful. It would be nice for everyone to leave the hackathon better off than they came! Either more joyful, more equipped to crush a goal, ready to make a major decision, etc. Here are some ideas:
- Business Glow-Up Blitz – Everyone picks one aspect of their business, side hustle, or personal brand to revamp. Websites, social media bios, and headshots get the full makeover treatment.
- Passion Project – A weekend for diving into something you love—whether that’s writing a short story, painting, designing, or brainstorming a dream travel itinerary. Challenge: Everyone must create something just for fun, no pressure or perfectionism allowed!
- Dream Job or Bust – Friends help each other update résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and pitch their dream job or business idea. Bonus points if someone acts as an over-the-top interview or life coach.
- Content Creation Olympics– A weekend dedicated to batch-creating blog posts, social media posts, or podcast episodes. Challenge: Each person must create content outside their comfort zone—possibly a dramatic IG reel, a trending TikTok video, or a YouTube short filmed in one take. Bonus points for the most unexpected viral potential on digital platforms.
- The Passive Income Power Weekend – Everyone brainstorms, creates, or launches a digital product—an e-book, online course, or printables—designed to generate passive income.
- Get Your Life Together Bootcamp – A self-care-meets-productivity sprint where everyone tackles personal projects—meal planning, budgeting, decluttering, or even setting up a Notion board/planner.
- The Imposter Syndrome Exorcism – A weekend dedicated to finally putting ideas into action, whether it’s launching a project, making a scary business move, or saying “Yes” to something big.
- Monetize by Monday–A focused event where each person works on a great way to make money from something they already know or love—a digital product, an online course, an Etsy shop, or an affiliate marketing plan. Everyone must outline (or even launch) a product or service by Monday.
- The Ultimate Joy Hackathon–A weekend dedicated to finding, creating, and documenting joy—whether that’s making something with your hands, writing letters to future selves, or curating the perfect playlist. Challenge: Everyone creates and shares a “Joy Map”—a visual or written list of the little things that spark joy in their life.
Step 2: Organizing a Hackathon: Gather Your Hackathon Squad
What’s the perfect number of participants? It depends. Who are the potential participants? Invite friends who bring the best mix of fun, accountability, and random genius moments. You’ll want a group with creative thinking and different strengths—some who are great at strategy, others who bring creative energy, and at least one person who thrives in chaos. Which of your friends has the innovative ideas? And who has the creative ideas? Which friends will be event organizers? For an extra twist, you can invite industry experts to join a session—maybe a local entrepreneur, designer, or social media whiz who can drop in and teach a quick masterclass solving a specific problem.
Bonus: Make a group chat in advance where everyone shares their problem statements and goals. Use the chat to hype each other up for a successful event.
Step 3: Organizing a Hackathon: Set the Rules (But Keep It Fun!)
Here’s where things get slightly structured (but not like corporate-team-building-retreat structured). A few simple ground rules keep things productive without sucking the joy out of the weekend:
- No Overthinking Allowed – Done is better than perfect. No spiraling into self-doubt.
- Encourage Wild Ideas – The weirder the better. Need a business name? Try something that sounds like a 90’s band. Launching a podcast? Give it a cringey name before settling on the real one.
- Accountability Check-Ins – Quick, fun progress updates throughout the weekend so no one goes rogue scrolling Pinterest for “office inspo” instead of working.
- Mandatory Dance Breaks – Because no one can solve problems without a little movement.
- “Pitch or It Didn’t Happen” – At the end of the weekend, everyone has to share something—even if it’s a half-baked idea, a Canva logo, or a video blooper reel.
Step 4: Organizing a Hackathon: The Hackathon Schedule (A Rough Guide)
You can go all-out and schedule everything down to the minute, or you can keep it chill and flexible. But for the sake of actually getting things done, here’s a loose 48-hour timeline:
Friday Night: Present Challenges
- Arrivals & Setting Up the Vibe (comfy clothes, candles, snackies and beverages of choice)
- Introductions & Goal Setting (each person declares what they’re working on)
- “The Lightning Round” – It’s a good idea to set a time limit of 5 minutes so that all team members can share new ideas and receive rapid-fire feedback.
- Assigning “Accountability Buddies” who will check in on each other. The main goal of the entire event is for the hackathon participants to set clear objectives and determine the essential steps necessary to make things happen.
Saturday: Collaborative Work – Boost Innovation
- 9 AM – Breakfast & Intentions – Everyone shares what they’re working on today.
- 10 AM – Work Sprint #1 – Heads down, grinding.
- 12 PM – Accountability Check-In & Snack Break
- 1 PM – Expert Workshop (If Applicable) – This could be a friend or top talent leading a branding session or an external guest sharing a new business solution
- 3 PM – Work Sprint #2 – Finishing touches.
- 6 PM – “Tell Me I’m Amazing” Hour – Hype each other up, and give feedback. You are a part of a winning team! 😉
- 8 PM – Fun Night Activity – Movie, game night, or something silly like “Canva Party” (everyone makes a 3-minute presentation on a completely random topic).
Sunday: Wrapping It Up & Celebrating Wins
- 9 AM – Breakfast & The “What Did We Learn?” Roundtable
- 10 AM – Final Work Sprint – Last-minute tweaks, filming content, finishing designs.
- 12 PM – “Look What We Did!” Showcase – Everyone presents their progress.
- 1 PM – Closing Celebration & Awards – Think: “Most Dramatic Pivot,” “Best Use of Snacks as Motivation,” “Most Unhinged Brainstorm Moment.”
- 2 PM – Hackathon Ends – Everyone leaves feeling productive, energized, and slightly delirious.
Step 5: Organizing a Hackathon: The Follow-Up Plan
The magic of organizing a hackathon isn’t just in the weekend itself—it’s in the momentum that carries forward. It’s about the continuation of ongoing projects and holding friends accountable. Here’s how to make sure no one goes back to pre-hackathon paralysis:
- Schedule a 2-Week Check-In – A quick group call or message thread where everyone updates each other on their progress.
- Share the Results – If someone launched a new brand, digital product, or social media project, have the group share and hype it up.
- Create an Ongoing Collaboration – It’s good practice to make this a quarterly thing or create a mini “accountability club” to keep the energy going.
Final Thoughts: Why Every Friend Group Needs a Hackathon Weekend
A Friend Hackathon isn’t just about productivity—it’s about collective creativity, hype, and turning “someday” into “right now.” A Friend Hackathon is about more than just getting things done—it’s about intentionally creating joy and surrounding yourself with the kind of friends who pour into you, challenge you, and remind you of what’s possible.
Joy isn’t something we just wait for—it’s something we create. And a huge part of that comes from connection—from the people who see our potential, speak life into our dreams, and give us the little push (or big shove) we need to step into who we’re meant to be. It’s about stepping out of overthinking mode, supporting each other, and actually having fun while making progress.
When we gather with purpose, when we support and uplift each other, we’re not just building projects—we’re building the life we truly want. So, gather your friends, pick a theme, and host a weekend that’s equal parts ridiculous, ambitious, and joy-filled. Who knows? You might just walk away with your next big idea, a killer website, or at the very least—some unforgettable inside jokes.
Final reminder; Make joy a habit, not a hope. Let’s create, connect, and grow—together.
Now tell me: What would YOUR ideal Friend Hackathon theme be? Drop it in the comments!
