Ideas, customers, prizes: It's all at the QuickBooks Connect Hackathon

Edited: Oct. 30, 2015

Our $100k Hackathon is kicking off in just a few days, on Sunday, Nov. 1, in San Jose. Were ready … are you?

Still working on an app idea?

This years theme focuses on creating solutions to real small business pain points, with a track dedicated to the unique needs of non-profits. Check out Tristans blog post that highlights some really specific problem areas that you could tackle, straight out of the mouths of some key accountants. And then come to tomorrow’s Friday Hangout to get more feedback, ask last minute questions, and get your last chance to win your own “sleeping quarters”** at the hackathon!

Have you validated and tested your idea?

This year’s hackathon has a big emphasis on the need to get customer feedback to validate that youre building something that they really need, not just what you think they need. Talking to customers is critical to making your app successful! QuickBooks Connect is a unique opportunity to network with thousands of accountants and potential customers. And were bringing some of them direct to the hackathon to help facilitate that:

• Sunday morning, Nov. 1: The hack kicks off with a Small Business / Non Profit panel to explore in depth some unique challenges they face, to help spark your ideas:
  • Lindsey Grossman, panel moderator – Group Manager, Business Development and Partnerships, Intuit Developer group, driving strategic product partnerships for Intuit’s QuickBooks Online ecosystem.
  • Asad Ramzanali – Manager for the Financial Solutions Lab at Center for Financial Services Innovation (CSFI), a nonprofit focused on improving the finanacial health of Americans.
  • Robert Tabz – Founder and owner of Jougert, a specialty food store.
  • London Delicath – Owner/operator of School of Rock, a performance-based rock music school for kids.
  • Naomi Kinsman – Founder and Executive Director of Society of Young Inklings, a non-profit organization that empowers young writers to discover their unique voices.
  • Connie Ellis – A trained professional accountant who advises small businesses in Northern California how to establish and manage their businesses, and former small business owner.
• Sunday at dinner and Monday at lunch: Weve invited some accountants to join you to give you direct feedback on your app ideas.
• And last but far from least, Scott Cook, founder of Intuit, will join us on Monday morning to look at your apps and give you feedback and advice, as well as coach you on how to identify the “customer benefit” in what you do. Start prepping your questions for Scott now!

Even more prizes!

The track prizes are pretty compelling on their own, but weve added a few to make it even more exciting. All three track winners and the grand prize winner will get an opportunity to go to the book signing with Brian Grazer on Tuesday.

Although we can only award 4 main prizes, well be on the look out for some special teams that might warrant some extra recognition (like Arduino kits, makey-makeys, Raspberry Pis, etc.):

• Best all-student team (all must have student ID)
• Best contribution to Open Source
• “for accountants, by accountants”
• Best collaboration (team includes devs, accts, small biz owner, etc)

And weve got some pretty awesome raffle prizes lined up to give away throughout the hack, all the way from unicorn slippers to sleeping bags to GoPro cameras.

Are You Ready?

Excited? Ready? We are! Dont forget that you get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning as the clocks “fall back” from daylight savings time. No excuses to not arrive on time to hear directly from our small business & nonprofit panel about what they want you to build for them.

Cant come to the hack? Follow this blog and well keep you up to date on whats happening, and well share the key learnings so the entire Intuit Developer community can benefit.

Got questions or comments? Share them in our developer forums.

**Heres the fine print:

Offer expires at 11am PDT on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. Attend 1 of 4 Intuit Developer Friday Hangouts (Oct. 9, 16, 23, or 30) and be entered to win “sleeping quarters” (tent, sleeping bag, and accessories, $400 value) at the QuickBooks Connect Hackathon in San Jose on Nov. 1-2, 2015. Offer expressly excludes arrangement and costs of travel to and from San Jose, CA, including costs for flights or ground transportation to or from airport, hotel, or conference-related activities, and any other fees or costs not expressly stated above as included,which is the individual responsibility of each person redeeming this offer. Offer does not apply retroactively to any hangouts attended prior to Oct. 9, 2015. Limit: 1 offer per household. Only 1 “sleeping quarters” will be awarded under this offer. Winner must be present at Hackathon on Nov. 1-2, 2015 to win. Offer may not be assigned, exchanged, sold, transferred, combined with any other discount, or redeemed for cash or other goods and services. Subject to availability and U.S. export controls law and laws where the recipient resides. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Offer may be terminated or modified in Intuits discretion and terms, prices, features, services, and support subject to change with or without notice. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.