Latest news with #hackathon
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Vibe Coding Helps Entrepreneurs Launch A Product In A Weekend
How Vibe Coding Helps Entrepreneurs Launch A Product In A Weekend Vibe coding is quickly making waves in the entrepreneurial world and for good reason. With the promise of launching a business in a weekend, it's a new method for anyone tired of slow planning cycles and perfectionism. Vibe coding focuses on quickly identifying a high-pain, high-demand problem and building a minimum viable product using software such as Lovable to support it. This method is particularly effective for solo founders or small teams aiming to move from concept to market-ready in 48–72 hours. I saw this in action at a recent hackathon I attended and witnessed endless energy and rapid execution of ideas. Entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds were building out their concepts and ideas in just 12 hours. No fluff, no overthinking, just focused momentum. This movement is gaining traction because it's challenging the idea that success requires slow, perfect planning. Vibe coding welcomes imperfection, iteration, and real-world feedback. You can launch your first product version now and improve it as you receive feedback from your users. Turning a Weekend Hack Into a Business One standout moment at this hackathon was a presentation by Kazi Hossain, founder of Thred AI, who broke down exactly how to turn a weekend hack into a real business. His simple method made one thing clear: you don't need a massive team or endless time to launch. You just need the right focus, the right mindset, and a willingness to start. Here are the three steps laid out by Kazi: Before you start your build, pause, and ask: Who actually needs this? It's not about how cool your idea is and how much you like it, it's about whether it solves a real pain point for someone. Are people struggling with this issue right now? Would they be willing to pay for a solution like yours? This step is all about market validation. It doesn't matter how brilliant the tech is if nobody wants it. You don't need to solve all the problems or build the full product vision at the start. Narrow your focus to one small, specific problem that feels urgent and painful for a niche group. Think of it as a painkiller, not a vitamin. Something your ideal customer needs right now. This sharp focus makes your solution easier to market, test, and sell. The biggest mistake after a fast-paced build weekend is stopping cold. Kazi emphasized the importance of scheduling time the following week to keep moving. Launch a simple landing page. Post your progress on social media. Reach out to five real people and get them to test your idea. The goal isn't perfection, it's taking action. You learn more from five imperfect users than from sitting on a polished concept that never ships. Starting something new always comes with fear, whether it's fear of failure, of being judged, or of not having it all figured out. But if you wait until you feel "ready," you'll be waiting forever. Trust yourself enough to take the first imperfect step. You don't need a 50-page business plan or a perfect pitch deck. What you need is action, clarity, and enough momentum to get your product into the world. The bottom line is that vibe coding is rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship. Building a product is no longer about perfection; it's about purpose, momentum, and getting real solutions into the hands of real people. With the right mindset and a few smart moves, you can turn a weekend idea into a thriving business. If you've been holding back, consider this your nudge: start now, start small, and let action lead the way.
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Coding girls stave off sleep for ‘hackathon'
Ottawa Watch Dozens of girls from across Canada converged on Ottawa for the city's first-ever 'hackathon' to put their coding skills to the test. CTV's Camille Wilson explains.
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Innovation hackathon launches to advance digital transformation
MUSCAT - Al Dhahirah Governorate has launched one of its most ambitious digital initiatives to date, 'Al Dhahirah Tech Innovation Hackathon,' a three-day event aimed at empowering youth to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Organised by the Office of the Governor and held under the auspices of Musallam bin Ahmed Al Maashani, Wali of Dhank, the event is being hosted at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences and has drawn over 200 participants from across Oman. Designed as a cornerstone of the governorate's vision to build a dynamic and inclusive digital society, the hackathon brings together university students, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts to work collaboratively on technological solutions addressing service, environmental, and developmental issues. The initiative highlights Al Dhahirah's strategic focus on fostering innovation, strengthening digital capabilities, and engaging youth in shaping the future of their communities. Speaking to the Observer, Salem bin Ali al Mahrouqi, Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs in Al Dhahirah Governorate and Chairman of the Hackathon's Supervisory Committee, described the event as a key platform to advance the governorate's digital transformation agenda. 'This hackathon reflects our commitment to creating a culture of innovation,' he said. 'It supports youth creativity, encourages entrepreneurial thinking, and leads to scalable, incubatable solutions tailored to the needs of the local community.' Al Mahrouqi added that digital transformation in Al Dhahirah has become a tangible reality, driven by a series of targeted initiatives that integrate technology across various aspects of life. 'This event brings together creative minds to chart a brighter, tech-enabled future for the governorate,' he noted. The opening ceremony featured a video presentation highlighting Al Dhahirah's performance in the Digital Transformation Excellence Assessment, overseen by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The governorate recorded notable progress, underscoring its dedication to innovation-driven governance. The presentation also covered key statistics, including participant demographics, accepted challenges, and evaluation benchmarks. A panel discussion followed, featuring Eng. Othman al Mandhari, CEO of Innotech, who shared global best practices in modern construction automation. He emphasised the importance of adopting advanced technologies such as 3D printing in building smart, sustainable cities. Additional speakers included Khalisa Al Jahwari, who addressed the role of digital transformation in emerging economies, and Badr Al Rahbi of Doorly, who discussed technology's impact on Oman's real estate market. Throughout the hackathon, participants worked in teams to develop tech-driven solutions to challenges in areas such as smart government services, agriculture and water, education, community health, and logistics. The programme also featured technical workshops, mentorship sessions, and expert consultations to guide participants in refining their ideas into actionable prototypes. A judging panel will evaluate the solutions and award prizes to the top three teams, with a focus on innovation, feasibility, and impact. Beyond the competition, the initiative is expected to produce actionable recommendations and establish working groups to scale promising projects within the governorate.
Times of Oman
01-07-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Tech Innovation Hackathon 2025 begins
Ibri: The activities of Al Dhahira Tech Innovation Hackathon 2025 commenced on Tuesday at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Ibri, with the participation of 200 individuals selected from 500 applicants, divided into 40 teams. The event was held under the patronage of Sheikh Muslim Ahmed Al Maashani, Wali of Dank. In a statement, Mohammed Ahmed Al Hadidi, CEO of Nahj Digital, stated that the hackathon—organised by the Al Dhahira Governor's Office and implemented by Nahj Digital—serves as a practical tool to translate national plans into tangible initiatives. It is a strategic platform aimed at fostering innovation and leveraging technology to serve society by empowering Omani youth and encouraging them to develop innovative technical solutions to address evolving societal challenges, ensuring resilience and sustainability in facing future obstacles, he pointed out. He added that participants will compete in presenting practical solutions to national challenges across key themes, including smart government services, agriculture and water, community health, digital education, and transport and logistics. Al Hadidi emphasised that this strong engagement reflects the enthusiasm and determination of Omani youth to actively contribute to the national digital transformation journey. He noted that Nahj Digital is keen on transforming such events into practical implementation tools to support government institutions' digital transformation plans by promoting open innovation and stimulating the development of sustainable technical solutions. This approach, he explained, enhances the readiness of national talent and fosters a culture of digital entrepreneurship. The first day featured an overview of the challenge themes, the official launch of the hackathon, and interactive sessions, including constructive dialogues and enriching workshops. On the second day, participants will continue working on developing creative technical solutions in a supportive and guided environment, followed by the presentation and submission of projects to the judging committee. Al Dhahira Tech Innovation Hackathon 2025 will conclude on Thursday with two visual presentations highlighting the event's outcomes and project results, along with the signing of several agreements to support startups and enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Al Dhahira Governorate. It is worth noting that the participating teams will undergo three preliminary stages, starting with registration, followed by administrative and technical evaluation, culminating in the selection of three qualifying teams for the final round. -ONA
Arab News
29-06-2025
- Arab News
Contest boosts Qur'an apps with tech innovation
RIYADH: Ayathon, a Qur'an-focused app development hackathon organized by the Programmers Association, recently concluded in Riyadh. Abdulaziz Al-Oraij, chairman of the association, described Ayathon as an initiative to use modern technology to serve the Holy Qur'an and improve the digital experience for users worldwide. He added that Ayathon brings together programmers, designers, researchers and Islamic scholars to develop digital tools supporting memorization, recitation and reflection on the Qur'an. 'It aims to empower Qur'anic communities with interactive tools,' Al-Oraij said. Mohammed Al-Wadee, chairman of the hackathon's committee, said the event seeks to improve Qur'anic apps and develop technology that aligns with Islamic values. He added that the event promotes integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality and user experience design into sustainable projects. Maha Al-Atwi, chair of the technical committee, said Ayathon combines technical creativity and intellectual depth to motivate participants, and enhance results through interdisciplinary collaboration. She added that using technologies like AI and data analytics helps create digital solutions meeting diverse user needs and offering a quality Qur'anic experience for the digital generation. The judging panel includes international experts in technology and Islamic studies, ensuring projects are evaluated on innovation, quality and meaningful content, Al-Atwi said.
