SMRTR ProgrammingApr 23, 2026Hacker Noon

Proof of Usefulness: How Hackathons Scale Startups

SMRTR summary

HackerNoon's 'Proof of Usefulness' Hackathon challenges the typical demo-day format by judging startups on real traction, technical depth, and adoption velocity instead of flashy pitches. With a $150,000+ prize pool and publishing distribution to millions of technical readers, it offers founders a compressed path to validation, talent discovery, and early-adopter reach all at once.

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