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Ask HN: Attending a hackathon weekend as a non-tech?

Would you attend a weekend hackathon or startup event etc as a non-technical person? What minimum level of skills and experience would avoid you being laughed out of the venue?

saiko-chriskun 14y ago
"laughed" out of the venue? what? that doesn't even make sense. have you ever been to a hackathon? I've definitely had non-techie friends have a great time attending events with me.
- sparknlaunch12 14y ago
  Laughed out = not taken seriously because won't be coding, don't own a serious laptop, haven't worked in the tech industry as a developer/marketer/product developer. For people with a non startup background, who have never attended a hackathon, should they attend to learn new things, add a different perspective to a team, network? What is the general experience like?
  - jlt 14y ago
    You would find it very rewarding and insightful! We're genuinely quite friendly people, us hackers - we should make you feel welcome :) Have a beer or two with some of the guys and walk around to see what people are working on - most people will be more than happy to show you their hack!
    - sparknlaunch12 14y ago
      That sounds positive. For team events, what contributions would coders want from non coders? For example, a startup weekend planning, project management, testing, design, marketing, pitching? I assume you don't just sit around looking over peoples shoulders for two days?
venturebros 14y ago
Sorry to hijack but I have always wondered this question myself I am a developer just a newbie one. I've always wanted to attend a startup weekend I know enough to be dangerous and I do work as a freelance front end dev but I am certainly no CS major ninja programmer. Would I look like a fool if I attended a startup weekend?
- Mz 14y ago
  "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -- Steve Jobs
jtchang 14y ago
Yes. If you want to go then go. I've been to startup weekend and can say there is a good mix of people of all levels and backgrounds. When it comes to teams join one for the idea or for the people. That's about it.

Would you attend a weekend hackathon or startup event etc as a non-technical person? What minimum level of skills and experience would avoid you being laughed out of the venue?

saiko-chriskun 14y ago

"laughed" out of the venue? what? that doesn't even make sense. have you ever been to a hackathon? I've definitely had non-techie friends have a great time attending events with me.

sparknlaunch12 14y ago
Laughed out = not taken seriously because won't be coding, don't own a serious laptop, haven't worked in the tech industry as a developer/marketer/product developer. For people with a non startup background, who have never attended a hackathon, should they attend to learn new things, add a different perspective to a team, network? What is the general experience like?
- jlt 14y ago
  You would find it very rewarding and insightful! We're genuinely quite friendly people, us hackers - we should make you feel welcome :) Have a beer or two with some of the guys and walk around to see what people are working on - most people will be more than happy to show you their hack!
  - sparknlaunch12 14y ago
    That sounds positive. For team events, what contributions would coders want from non coders? For example, a startup weekend planning, project management, testing, design, marketing, pitching? I assume you don't just sit around looking over peoples shoulders for two days?

venturebros 14y ago

Sorry to hijack but I have always wondered this question myself I am a developer just a newbie one. I've always wanted to attend a startup weekend I know enough to be dangerous and I do work as a freelance front end dev but I am certainly no CS major ninja programmer. Would I look like a fool if I attended a startup weekend?

Mz 14y ago
"Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -- Steve Jobs

jtchang 14y ago

Yes. If you want to go then go. I've been to startup weekend and can say there is a good mix of people of all levels and backgrounds. When it comes to teams join one for the idea or for the people. That's about it.