🚀Lessons Beyond Code: My First Hackathon Experience at Cassini📡

Success often comes to those who dare to believe in their ideas, even when others don’t immediately see their value. This belief was reinforced as I reflected on my participation in the Cassini Hackathon, an event focused on leveraging EU space technologies for innovative solutions in defense, security, and other critical fields. Although we didn’t win, the experience reaffirmed the importance of believing in our vision and provided invaluable lessons for growth.

🌍 Unexpected Priorities
One unexpected realization was how much weight was placed on the presentation and storytelling aspect of the project. As this was our first hackathon experience, we initially believed the focus would primarily be on development, technology, and technical solutions—code quality, the chosen tech stack, and its implementation. However, we were surprised to learn that the jury selected the winner based on the PowerPoint presentation, without reviewing the proof-of-concept or MVP. This wasn’t a criticism but rather a valuable insight for us as beginners: understanding the organizer’s priorities and aligning our efforts accordingly is key to success.

👩‍💻 The Value of a Strong Team
When I learned that I couldn’t participate alone, I reached out to my former classmates, Antonio Maggi and Jill Wets, and they didn’t hesitate to join. This reinforced how important it is to have people you can rely on. My team wasn’t just skilled but also supportive and dependable—qualities I deeply value and appreciate.

🌌 Technical Growth
The process of researching and selecting the right tech stack was one of the most valuable parts of the hackathon. Comparing approaches, weighing the pros and cons, and finding solutions for technical and design challenges—it was a deep dive into problem-solving that sharpened my hard skills.

🔄 Flexibility and Adaptability
Throughout the hackathon, we had to change our technical stack and refine our concept multiple times. Whether it was rethinking our tech stack or refining our concept based on feedback, this experience taught us the importance of being flexible, quick to adapt, and united in decision-making as a team.

📡 Connections and Support
I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to connect with inspiring professionals. Special thanks to Pauline Lachérade-Simoulin and our mentor Philippe Serafin for their guidance and encouragement throughout the event.

✨ Stay tuned!
In my next post, I’ll share more about Mercury, our project for the Cassini Hackathon.