Novel Hackathon Ideas Don't Guarantee Wins, Author Argues

The author, who once believed a novel idea was enough to win a hackathon, now questions whether such competitions reward innovation fairly. They argue that pre-existing projects should not compete as original submissions unless eligibility rules require disclosure and separate categories. The piece also suggests judges should disclose their biases, since familiar, polished projects can beat riskier, unconventional ones. The author acknowledges that execution and clear communication matter, but says novelty should be judged on its stated criteria. The overall call is for competitions to define their goals and rules transparently.