Enter hackathons and competitions to gain built-in deadlines, motivation, and PR opportunities
Developer-focused competitions like RevenueCat's hackathon provide multiple advantages: forced deadlines that drive shipping, built-in motivation through competition structure, potential prize money to fund growth, and PR value from winning or placing. The competition framework forces simultaneous focus on both product development and growth metrics, preventing founders from over-building without distribution.
When to use
When launching mobile apps, SaaS tools, or developer products where relevant competitions exist. Particularly valuable for founders who struggle with self-imposed deadlines or need external validation milestones.
Don't do this
Entering competitions just for prize money without caring about the product category, or using competitions as an excuse to build something disconnected from your core business goals. Don't let competition rules distort your product vision.
2 Founders Who Did This
Launched Payout during RevenueCat hackathon (2-month competition, 55,000 entrants). The structure provided deadlines and forced simultaneous focus on product and growth.
Used month-long hackathon as forcing function with built-in deadline, waited 2-3 weeks for mental clarity then built in 4-5 hours