When I signed up for the World's Largest Hackathon, I expected late nights, last-minute bugs, and a rollercoaster of caffeine-fueled coding sessions. What I didn’t expect was how human the experience would be.
🧠 Building Solo, But Never Alone
Although I built my project entirely solo, I never felt like I was working in a vacuum. The global energy during the hackathon was contagious. Whether it was reading through other builders’ updates or catching the AMA replays, there was always something to keep me motivated.
Even in moments of silence, I felt connected.
🍦 IRL Connections & Cookies
I had the chance to attend a local satellite event in Lagos—a gaming room turned hacker den for the weekend. The LED lights were glowing, keyboards clicking, and the vibe? Somewhere between “startup garage” and “LAN party.”
We passed around cookies and ice cream, exchanged stories, and celebrated small wins like fixing stubborn bugs or finally nailing down an AI prompt. It was low-key, but that shared atmosphere of creation made it unforgettable.
🙌 People Who Made the Journey Matter
- Bolt Team – for making app development feel like alchemy. The way I could scaffold a backend and logic with simple prompts changed everything.
- Eric Simons & Greg Isenberg’s AMA – raw, honest, and incredibly grounding. A reminder that every big build started as a rough sketch.
- Discord Community – while I didn’t reach out for help directly, just seeing the energy, memes, builds, and support from fellow builders gave me the push I needed.
🧭 More Than Just a Build
Yes, I shipped something I’m proud of. But the real win wasn’t the product—it was the experience. The community, the chance encounters, and the late-night moments when I remembered why I love to build in the first place.
If you’re thinking about joining the next hackathon: do it. Even solo, you won’t be alone. The code may be yours, but the momentum is shared.
Huge thanks to everyone who made this journey unforgettable. Catch you in the next build. 🚀
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