Once you start following competition announcements, you'll come across many similar-looking event types: hackathons, ideathons, creathons, datathons and game jams. All of them involve an intense period of making things in a short time and an evaluation by a jury, but the expected output, the skills required and the way you prepare differ significantly.
In this guide we briefly introduce and compare each type of event, and explain which one may be the best place to start based on your interests and skills.
Hackathon
A hackathon is a competition where teams build a working prototype in a short time, often 24–48 hours. The output is usually a web or mobile app, an AI model or a hardware prototype. Software development skills matter, but teams also include designers and business-minded members. For details, see our What is a hackathon and how do you win one? guide.
Ideathon
An ideathon is an idea marathon. Coding usually isn't required; teams research a problem, propose an innovative solution, design a business model and pitch the idea. Research, business development and presentation skills come first, which makes it an ideal starting point for students from non-technical fields. For pitch tips, read our How to pitch at an ideathon guide.
Creathon
A creathon is a creativity marathon. The focus is on producing creative solutions such as designs, content, campaigns or experiences. Design thinking methods are widely used, and the output can be a concept, a design prototype, a campaign proposal or content made with generative AI tools. Interdisciplinary teams and strong visual storytelling are big advantages at these events. For details, see our What is a creathon and how do you prepare? guide.
Datathon
A datathon is a data-driven competition. Participants analyze a dataset, build predictive models or extract insights that carry business value. Results are judged either by an automatic metric (a leaderboard) or by a pitch to a jury. You need Python, SQL and machine learning basics. To prepare, see our How to prepare for a datathon guide.
Game Jam
A game jam is an event where you build a playable game around a given theme, usually within 48–72 hours. Programmers, game designers, artists, musicians and writers come together. Because most game jams focus more on community and learning than on prizes, they're a relaxed environment for first-timers.
Comparison table
| Type | Expected output | Key skills | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hackathon | Working prototype | Software, product, design | 24–48 hours |
| Ideathon | Idea, business model and pitch | Research, business development, presenting | 1–2 days |
| Creathon | Creative concept / design | Design, content, storytelling | 1–3 days |
| Datathon | Model or data insight | Data analysis, machine learning | 1 day – several weeks |
| Game Jam | Playable game | Game development, art, sound | 48–72 hours |
These lengths are approximate; some competitions run as an online development period lasting weeks, followed by a final event.
Which one suits you?
- If you love coding and want to build something: Hackathon.
- If you don't have a technical background but love coming up with and explaining ideas: Ideathon.
- If you work in design, communication or the arts: Creathon or game jam.
- If you're into statistics, data science or machine learning: Datathon.
- If you're not sure yet: Start with a short online event; low risk means fast learning.
How do you apply to your first competition?
- Find a suitable event: Filter the competition list by category, location and keyword. The "Last days" badge marks events whose applications close soon.
- Check the eligibility requirements: Age range, student status, team size and in-person attendance requirements vary from event to event.
- Build your team: 3–4 people with complementary skills is ideal. Events that accept individual applications usually also run team matching.
- Fill in the application form carefully: At events with limited places, the form is a first round of selection (see the tips below).
- Add it to your calendar: Note the application deadline, training/bootcamp days and the final. You can use the "Add to calendar" button on each competition's page.
What to watch out for in the application form
Below is a short summary; you'll find detailed examples for the motivation statement, idea summary and intro video in our How to write a competition application guide.
- In the motivation question, describe a concrete experience or interest related to the theme instead of generic phrases.
- If the application asks for an idea, state the problem, the target audience and the solution clearly in one sentence each.
- Make sure your GitHub, portfolio or LinkedIn links are up to date and accessible.
- In a team application, state each member's role; a balanced team stands out.
- Don't leave the application to the last day; system load and missing documents can cause last-minute problems.
Ready? Now pick your competition
See competitions open for applications in a list sorted by deadline.