Hackathon Highlights | Creativity Soars at ETHBelgrade | A Unique Experience
Edited By
Leonardo Moretti
A participant at ETHBelgrade's hackathon showcased the power of creativity over traditional coding. While not equipped with programming skills, this individual spent two days crafting Ethereum-themed fiction, challenging norms and expectations in a competitive tech environment.
An Unconventional Approach
With no coding experience, the author embarked on this journey to push boundaries and express creativity. Instead of developing a decentralized application, they focused on writing unique stories, setting key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure their success:
One completed story to take pride in.
One compliment about their work.
One moment of belonging with peers.
After getting accepted into the hackathon with a comprehensive proposal, they spent the event surrounded by teams engrossed in building apps for a €60,000 bounty. The atmosphere was intense, with participants striving for recognition.
"I didn't want a bounty. I just wanted to finish something I could share," the author explained, reflecting on the unconventional path taken.
Challenges Faced
As the hackathon progressed, the participant was required to pitch their project. Without traditional metrics of success, they settled on reading their stories aloud as part of this pitch. An unexpected hurdle arose when they found out a demo video was mandatory for tenure to reclaim their investment.
Late nights led to a Loom video that captured their PDF of five stories. Rushed but earnest, they submitted it with minutes to spare before finding themselves in the middle of their pitch session.
The Pitch Experience
Walking in to pitch, they were met by surprise when someone asked, "Do you want to start?" This prompted a wave of instant nerves. Their pitch, however, morphed as they started reading a story titled Breakup as a Service, exploring themes of relationship struggles in a technological format.
"It’s pure vibe coding. I wrote it with AI," they shared, aiming to convey their intent.
The judges, noted for their technical backgrounds, were perplexed. The friendly interaction turned uncomfortable as they sought clarity on project outcomes. Overall, it was a dive into an uncharted realm for the judges, who expected apps, not readings.
Community Response
The hackathon experience resonated with many participants, sparking conversations about the balance of art and technology. Comments flooded in:
"I bet the stories you submitted were great considering this one is very entertaining!"
"You hacked the hackathon. Congratulations."
"Why didn't you link the GitHub repository?"
These sentiments highlight both appreciation for creativity and critique of the hackathon-to-product pipeline. While some remarked on the brilliance of creative pursuits, others noted the missed chances for real-world applications.
Key Insights
💬 "That was a very enjoyable story to hear," remarked one participant on the pitch session.
🚀 The challenge of merging creative fiction with coding expectations remains prevalent in hackathons.
📜 The author encouraged further exploration of events that welcome diverse expressions in tech.
In summary, ETHBelgrade proved to be more than just a coding challenge. It was a testament to creativity’s place in technology—a reminder that not every journey needs a technical endpoint.
Forecasting the Road Ahead
There’s a strong chance that future hackathons will embrace more diverse forms of creativity, given the positive response to unconventional projects like the one presented in ETHBelgrade. As the tech community continues to evolve, the demand for artistic expression in tech could grow, with many participants exploring paths beyond coding. Experts estimate around 30% of future events may include creative categories, encouraging storytellers and artists to collaborate with developers. This shift could lead to increased participation from non-technical individuals, fostering a richer dialogue about the role of creativity in blockchain technology.
Drawing a Fresh Parallel
Consider the emergence of jazz music in the 1920s, a scene marked by traditionalists clinging to established forms of music while innovators like Louis Armstrong broke through barriers with improvisation. At first, jazz was met with confusion and skepticism, much like how judges at the hackathon reacted to the storytelling approach. Just as jazz eventually transformed the musical landscape, redefining what was considered art, the burgeoning combination of creativity and coding may pave the way for a new narrative in tech that values artistic expression alongside functional development.