For the second year in a row, we are coming back from the SXSW Hackathon empty handed. It was a crowded field, but we came with big guns. In just 24 hours, we built a really cool app.
It involved native iOS development integrating contacts and calendars, SMS messaging powered by Twilio, integration of the Rdio library, a web app that mirrored the native app so people could try it out before downloading, and we even enabled gesture controls using Kinect (Microsoft Kinect) technology.
Our Hackathon team included 14 professional developers and designers at the top of our game. Nobody is mad. Everyone feels like what we accomplished was incredible, and despite the grind of a 24 hour work sprint, we had fun. I agree with my heart, but my head says the scorecard matters. At the end of the day, success in the eyes of others gives us the capital and resources to keep this group together. Keeping this group together, and adding more like-minded creators, is all that matters to me. So I’m going to file this experience under “use for motivation” and move on.
Will there be more people who don’t appreciate what we do? Every day. But we will keep producing and, as our products begin to take root in this world, we will change people’s days, and eventually their lives.
Thanks for the lesson SXSW Hackathon – I doubt I’ll see you again, but I’m pretty sure you will see us again.
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