“Dream! Hack! Build!” by Ann Molin, Love Dager, Mustafa Sherif, Carolina Emanuelson, and Dr. Kristofer Vernmark is an inspiring and practical guide to leveraging hackathons for fostering innovation and addressing societal challenges. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in driving impactful change through collaborative efforts.

What I loved in this book

One of the book’s strongest points is its comprehensive exploration of the hackathon tool, redefining it from a simple tech event to a powerful method for citizen-driven innovation. The authors successfully argue that hackathons can create real, lasting impact by bringing together diverse groups of people to solve complex problems.

Key Highlights:

1. Citizen-Driven Innovation: The book emphasizes the importance of engaging citizens in the innovation process. It provides practical examples, such as the Dream for Sweden campaign, which invited citizens to share their dreams and ideas for a better future. This approach ensures that the solutions developed are more inclusive and aligned with the needs of the community.
2. Diverse Participation: The authors highlight the value of diversity in hackathons. By involving people from various backgrounds, not just tech-savvy individuals, the solutions generated are more innovative and well-rounded. As stated in the book, “Science shows that diversity in teams is linked to higher levels of innovation capacity”.
3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The book aligns the hackathon methodology with the United Nations’ SDGs, demonstrating how hackathons can contribute to solving global issues like climate change and social inequality. The COP28 hackathon in Dubai, where over 1000 teams from 112 countries participated, is a prime example of this alignment.
4. Practical Guidance: “Dream! Hack! Build!” provides detailed instructions on organizing impactful hackathons. From creating the perfect challenge to managing communication and partnerships, the book covers every aspect necessary for success. The emphasis on storytelling and communication, for instance, ensures that the solutions developed are effectively conveyed and can gain broader support.
5. Real-World Examples: The inclusion of real-world case studies and examples, such as the Hack for Earth Foundation’s initiatives, adds credibility and practical insights. These examples illustrate the transformative power of hackathons when executed with a clear purpose and strategic planning.

Do I think the book could be made better?

While the book is highly informative and well-structured, there are a few areas where it could be enhanced:

1. More Technical Insights: Given that hackathons often involve technical challenges, providing more in-depth technical guidance or resources could benefit readers who are looking to implement specific technologies or platforms during their events. I’m involved with the Autism Hackathon, which involves cloud credits, locked down data sources, and more, would be nice to have ideas on that too.
2. Follow-Up Strategies: Although the book discusses the importance of post-hackathon activities, such as acceleration programs, more detailed strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability and implementation of hackathon solutions would be valuable. Readers could benefit from additional insights into funding options, partnership development, and scaling solutions beyond the initial hackathon phase. On another hackathon I’m involved with, the GAAD Accessibility hackathon, being able to make it sustain for the months between the different phases of the hackathon, could have benefits.
3. Additional Case Studies: While the book includes several excellent case studies, incorporating more examples from diverse geographical regions and industries could offer a broader perspective on the hackathon methodology’s applicability and impact across different contexts. There are significant geographical differences in like high speed internet access, or even access speed to a central data center, which might be differential aspect.

Conclusion

“Dream! Hack! Build!” is an exceptionally valuable resource for anyone looking to harness the power of hackathons for citizen-driven innovation. Its blend of theoretical insights and practical advice makes it a comprehensive guide for business leaders, community organizers, and innovators. By addressing the areas for improvement, future editions of the book could become even more indispensable for readers worldwide. Overall, this book is a testament to the transformative potential of hackathons in creating a more sustainable, equitable, and innovative future.