We just wrapped Phase 1 (Seed Round) of the Guidewire DEVTrails University Hackathon 2026. Wanted to write a quick one about the experience.
The Idea
We picked a problem we genuinely cared about — built a product around it, scoped it fast, and started shipping. The seed round is less about perfection and more about proving you can execute on an idea under pressure. That's what we focused on.
The Experience
Honestly one of the better hackathon experiences I've had. Not because everything went smoothly — it didn't — but because the team dynamic was right from day one. Everyone was locked in, nobody was waiting to be told what to do, and we made decisions fast.
The hardest part wasn't writing code. It was scoping — figuring out what to cut, what to keep, and what to defer. That's a skill you only sharpen by doing.
What We Took Away
- Scope brutally. A focused MVP beats an ambitious mess every time.
- Team energy is everything in a sprint. You can feel when it's right.
- Ship first, polish later. Done beats perfect in a hackathon.
Phase 1 ✅ — now we look ahead to Phase 2, the scale round. That's where it gets real.
Shoutout to the team for making it worth it. 🙌
Guidewire DEVTrails University Hackathon 2026
#DevTrails #Hackathon #BuildInPublic
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