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Happy Hump Day!
Hackathons – what are they, why do they exist, and why should you think about joining Toast’s next hackathon, starting on May 2nd?
Hackathons come in many formats such as 48-hour overnight, student-centric marathons of caffeine-fueled genius, team-building office events, or online sprints sponsored by companies. But they all share a few key ingredients: building things WAY faster than they should be built, teamwork, goofiness, and of course – prizes.
Last November, Toast ran a hackathon for our members, a one-week sprint where participants received over 15 hours of training to help them ideate, learn, and ultimately build a full prototype by the end of the week. No overnighters, and we designed it to accommodate real life (day jobs, kids at home, job hunting, and everything in between). The results were incredible, so we knew we had to do it again.
Why bother putting yourself through one of these (mildly chaotic) experiences? There are tons of benefits, but these are our top three:
1) Networking & community
At most hackathons, teams are 2–4 people. You can join with a pre-made team or attend team-building events to find collaborators with similar ideas. This year, participants will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas on Day 1 and build teams around shared interests. Working closely with a team all week builds deep bonds plus, the whole hackathon crew will be cheering each other on, sharing advice, and staying connected well beyond the event.
It’s not just about your team either. You’ll meet workshop hosts, organizers, and judges — people who could help you in your future career. Ask thoughtful questions in workshops, slay your presentation, and leave lasting impressions on folks who are already rooting for you.
2) Skill-building & proof
Toast’s hackathon (The Toast Dash) includes 15+ hours of free training. You’ll get sessions on product management, API development, UX design, and more. This year, many workshops will also tie in our sustainability theme – this kind of learning is invaluable.
Beyond the structured workshops, a hackathon is your chance to teach yourself something new, then prove it by building something. In less than 7 days, you’ll walk away with a side project you can show off on LinkedIn, your resume, or your portfolio. The short sprint helps you actually finish something no matter how busy life is.
3) Fun (…& prizes, obviously)
Hackathons are fun. Yes, they’re a lot of work, but they’re also filled with weird inside jokes, memes in pitch decks, and the thrill of going from 0 to launch in a week. It’s chaotic in the best way. And yes, there are prizes – secure the bag.
Whether you’re looking to grow your skills, expand your network, or just have a damn good time building something from scratch, The Toast Dash is for you. No coding or previous AI experience required, just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to dive in.
Applications are open to Annual Toast Members and will close April 25th!
Whether you're a first-time founder, a developer, or just passionate about climate and community — you're in the right place.
The Toast Dash 2.0 is a sustainability-focused hackathon for women in tech open to Toast members looking to gain practical skills and launch a product in one week, regardless of experience or technical background.
Start Date: Friday, May 2nd
Presentation Date: Friday, May 9th
Location: Virtual + In-Person
Team Size: 2-4 - join as an individual or as a team
Who Can Join: Open to all non-legacy Toast members
Applications Open: April 14th-25th
How to Join: The Toast Dash is open to all non-legacy Toast members. Become a Toast Member to join!
Cheers,
Team Toast 🥂