Known for his work on building infrastructure for large language models (LLMs) in production environments, Igor has also created HackathonParty – a hackathon platform born from his desire to understand how people learn, collaborate, and build real products under time pressure.

We sat down with Igor to dive deeper into why hackathons remain a powerful force in the tech industry – and how he’s helping make them more inclusive, impactful, and future-ready.

Levelling the field

Hackathons have become a vital part of how the tech industry grows and evolves. As Igor Luchenkov points out, beyond helping individual companies, they bring real benefits to the entire ecosystem. Here are just a few of the points he mentioned.

1. Hackathons surface new talent: they give space to developers, designers, product thinkers (even total newcomers) to experiment, team up, and show what they are capable of. It is not about your CV or title, it is about what you can build in the moment. And that is where future leaders start to emerge
2. They accelerate innovation: hackathons let people move fast: testing wild ideas, building quick prototypes, and figuring out what works in real time. Some of the most impactful tools in tech got their start this way – not from long meetings or pitch decks, but from a weekend sprint with the right people in the room. What makes hackathons powerful is that they do not just benefit one company; they energise the whole ecosystem, breaking down silos and pushing boundaries that would never move otherwise
3. They democratise access to tech: with the right support in place, hackathons give people a shot, even those without years of experience or a formal background in tech. You learn by doing, you build alongside others, and you walk away not just with new skills, but with the feeling that you belong in the industry

“Hackathons also shape culture,” says Luchenkov. “They create communities of builders who carry a mindset of action, creativity, and resilience far beyond the event itself. The habits formed ripple into startups, open-source projects, and even big tech teams. Hackathons are catalysts for a culture that values learning by doing, sharing over gatekeeping, and solving problems in unexpected ways.”

Making hackathons more inclusive

Historically, hackathons have favoured experienced developers – people who can navigate ambiguity and code fast. But Luchenkov wants to open the door to everyone. He believes the format has far more to offer, and to far more people.

“Hackathons should not be exclusive to seasoned engineers,” he explains. “There are so many specialists – from designers and product managers to writers and policy thinkers – who thrive in collaborative problem-solving. They just need a more accessible way in.”

According to Luchenkov, the key is structured support. With clearer workflows, team guidance, and smart AI mentorship, anyone can contribute meaningfully – regardless of how technical their background is. 

“When you look at the tech sector specifically, the industry is booming,” he continues. “New niches emerge every year, and with them come thousands of companies ready to invest. As long as companies need to hire and market their solutions,” says Luchenkov, “Hackathons will remain a reliable tool in the tech toolkit, bringing in more talent that previously had no way in.”

Hackathons as accelerators for personal growth

Hackathons are more than just competitions – they are fast tracks for levelling up. “If you’re new to tech, it’s the closest thing to real-world experience,” says Luchenkov. “You learn how to collaborate, solve problems under pressure, and build something tangible in a short time. It’s intense, but incredibly rewarding.”

They are also powerful career builders. “You walk away with a finished project for your portfolio. And if you perform well, there’s a real chance of landing a job – some participants get offers directly out of the event.”

More experienced professionals benefit too. “Hackathons let you break out of your usual role. You get to apply years of knowledge in new ways, lead a team, and grow in directions you normally wouldn’t inside a company,” Luchenkov explains. “It’s a reminder of how capable you really are – no politics, no red tape. Just your skills, your ideas, and a deadline.”

Whether you're starting out or looking to stretch beyond your role, hackathons offer a space to grow, connect, and win.

Fixing the broken parts of the hackathon experience

Despite their popularity, most hackathons still have a high barrier to success. “By entry, I do not mean just signing up – I mean actually finishing the hackathon,” says Luchenkov. “For many participants, especially those new to tech, it is hard to know how to get from point A to point B when there is no guidance along the way.”

This lack of structure often leads to frustration, dropouts, and missed opportunities. Companies, too, struggle to extract real value, unsure how to support more people toward success or turn promising participants into strong hires. Organisers are also under stress. Running a hackathon means juggling countless tasks: event setup, promotion, sponsor coordination, challenge design, data processing, and more. 

HackathonParty tackles both problems head-on. “We built the platform to remove that friction,” Luchenkov explains. “Whether you are an organiser or an attendee, our tools help you get the most out of the experience.”

“However, we know that participants do their best work when they feel supported, which is exactly why we built the world’s first real-time hackathon team facilitation workspace. It gives teams everything they need to succeed: tools to find like-minded teammates, break down the problem, develop an idea, build it, write a strong submission, and pitch it like pros.”

This frustration led to the creation of HackathonParty: an all-in-one hackathon platform designed not only to help companies run events more easily, but to give participants the support they need to succeed – in real time.

The platform offers real-time support, smart prompts, and step-by-step guidance that helps participants stay on track and even land job offers. “We have had people tell us the experience was eye-opening,” he adds. “Some got hired. Some built their confidence. But all of them finished something meaningful.”

By making the hackathon experience clearer, smoother, and more inclusive, at HackathonParty, we hope to make these events a true launchpad for ideas and careers.

The future of hackathons

Before founding HackathonParty, Luchenkov helped organise dozens of hackathons. Over time, he began noticing the same patterns: organisers were investing heavily in marketing and logistics, only to face disappointing outcomes – low submission quality, high dropout rates, and participants left feeling lost.

The core issue, he says, is that hackathons are still not inclusive enough. “Most attendees are not senior,” Luchenkov explains. “And yet, the format expects them to perform at a high level without much guidance. They are told to ‘just build something’ with no real roadmap. We fixed that.”

Luchenkov believes the future of hackathons will be broader, smarter, and far more inclusive. The format is evolving to welcome people from different industries, disciplines, and experience levels. With better infrastructure and thoughtful design, hackathons can become a standard way for people to learn, build, and get hired – not just in tech, but across any field that values creative problem-solving.

And with hiring still a top priority for companies, the demand is only growing. “Hackathons are multiplying every year. If you are not running one yet, now is the time. They expand your marketing reach, bring in new talent, and show your brand at its best.”

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