Running an organization often means concentrating on daily operations, managing resources, and reducing risks. But where do the breakthrough ideas come from, the ones that can reshape strategy or open new markets?

Deep domain expertise is valuable, but it can also make it harder to spot new possibilities. A business analyst (BA) hackathon helps overcome that challenge by combining structure, teamwork, and research to move ideas from concept to proof.

Traditionally, hackathons were seen as events for developers. Today, they go beyond coding. Companies use them to inspire creativity, uncover opportunities, and explore business challenges in new ways.

BEYOND CODING: WHAT A BA HACKATHON REALLY IS

When you think “hackathon,” you might imagine laptops, cables, and coders racing against the clock. Traditionally, that picture is accurate — hackathons were built for developers to solve problems using specific languages, APIs, or frameworks.

A BA hackathon shifts the focus. Instead of building code, teams of analysts investigate market opportunities, explore customer needs, and design solutions grounded in data and research. It’s about channeling the same energy of rapid creation into the world of business analysis.

At SoftServe, our BA hackathons create a structured process for idea development. Analysts look at markets, competitors, and trends to turn early concepts into actionable recommendations.

INSIDE THE BA HACKATHON PROCESS

So how does it work?

Gather insights — Several teams of analysts meet with customers, SMEs, and stakeholders to define goals and expected outcomes. These might include exploring new revenue streams, evaluating acquisitions, or reviewing financial health.
Choose a focus — Each team selects an area to investigate and dives into analysis. At SoftServe, we’ve built our own research framework to guide this stage.
Go beyond Google — Real insights come from conversations, not just online search. Analysts conduct interviews with project managers, product owners, business leaders, account managers, SMEs, and architects.
Analyze and shape ideas — Teams transform findings into structured insights: competitor benchmarking, product positioning, or identifying untapped market niches.

This collaboration between BAs and stakeholders creates momentum and synergy, helping teams move from raw information to practical innovation.

WHAT YOU CAN GAIN FROM A BA HACKATHON

The outcomes of a BA hackathon are as diverse as the challenges organizations face. They can include:

Clearer product positioning in the market
Competitor feature analysis
Identification of new industry trends
Discovery of profitable niches

Most importantly, these sessions provide a fresh perspective, a chance to see your business differently, spark innovation, and uncover new paths to growth.

READY TO EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES?

A BA hackathon is more than a brainstorming session. It's a structured way to turn analysis into innovation.

Contact SoftServe’s BA Office and discover what a BA hackathon can reveal for your organization.

Yuliya’s recent stories

A Business Analyst Hackathon: Explore and Unlock New Thinking