Five days, one idea, one team – and at the end, a functioning SEO tool. Our first hackathon at mindtwo was not an ordinary project, but an intensive creative marathon full of challenges, valuable insights, and strong team spirit.

Typical for hackathons is that a functioning prototype emerges within a clearly defined timeframe – not perfect, but tangible and usable. What's particularly exciting is that different disciplines work hand in hand and pool their knowledge to achieve a common goal.

How did we manage to develop a functioning SEO tool in just five days that will save us a full person-day of work in the future? Read the full story in our hackathon report.

Hackathon on Monday Morning: Into the Adventure with Coffee

Monday morning, 9 o'clock sharp. The entire team gathers with fresh coffee in hand, curious and full of energy. At the same time, there's a certain uncertainty in the air: "What is my task?", "Where should I start?" This exact mix of energy, curiosity, and open minds made the moment so special: the official start of our very first hackathon at mindtwo.

A hackathon thrives not only on ideas but also on atmosphere. Our first team meeting was therefore more than just an organizational exchange. In this moment, the spark ignited: initial uncertainty quickly turned into enthusiasm. The meeting was thus essential for the further progress of our project!

The Project Goal: An SEO Tool That Actually Saves Work

Now it got concrete: The goal of our project was agreed upon – now it's time for implementation. Our online marketing team was at the center, essentially in the role of a client. The team put it plainly: SEO analyses cost us an enormous amount of time in daily work!

Data must be laboriously combined from various tools and developments over longer periods are difficult to grasp. Our mission for the week was thus clear. We want to create an SEO analysis tool that addresses exactly this and ultimately not only takes work off our hands internally but perhaps even offers potential for our own product.

AI first: our strategic approach for more efficiency

A central element of our hackathon was the principle "AI first". By this we don't just mean the use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool, but a strategic approach: For each task, we first check whether AI can help solve it faster, more precisely, or more efficiently.

This approach encourages us to rethink processes and set priorities differently. Instead of just looking at implementation, we specifically focus on optimization and automation. It's therefore not just a guiding principle for this project, but part of a long-term vision: to continuously improve our way of working and make use of efficiency-enhancing technological developments. "AI first" thus created the framework in which we could develop our idea.

More Complex Than Expected: Our First Hackathon Challenges

Already in the first discussions, it became clear that the task was more multifaceted than it initially seemed. Who should actually be the end customer of the tool? Exclusively our internal online marketing department or also external users? And which functions were indispensable? Topics like data protection, the possibility of downloading as PDF, or the question of the right data sources quickly came up.

The download function in particular proved to be a potential hurdle. Technically, it's complex, but for many external customers, it's a must. Because we discussed a lot early on and gained insights, we could sharpen priorities and develop a common understanding of the project scope. At the end of the first day, it was clear that the key to success lay primarily in the backend.

Without a solid technical foundation, neither frontend nor design could continue working meaningfully. Accordingly, we initially focused on data structure and core logic. Then we addressed the visual implementation. Especially when it came to the question of relevant data sources, we asked ourselves early on which data could later be further processed or analyzed by AI. A consideration that was decisive for our backend architecture.

Design Meets Technology: First Prototype Sketches Emerge

On Tuesday morning, there was a sense of departure, as the first tangible results were to emerge. In this phase, the requirements were thus translated into concrete implementation steps. Our design team dared to present a first dashboard draft, which they consciously presented as "work in progress". A visual framework that generated enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the backend fought its way through the technical foundation and showed first implementations, such as the ability to select projects in the dropdown menu.

While the technical foundation was being created, design and frontend intensively dealt with the question of how we can later present and make the data usable. The interaction was crucial: The online marketing team defined what information they need in daily work, and the design translated this into first visual concepts. The frontend, in turn, paid attention to how these ideas can be transferred into a functioning interface.

The result of these considerations was a first dashboard draft that defined concrete KPIs. At the same time, it made visible which data needs to be collected and how we can meaningfully visualize it. We also thought about how AI can later not only provide data but actively support users. Possibly through automated recommendations or hints about SEO potential directly in the interface.

Day 4: API Problems, Creative Solutions, and a Name

Thursday began with a brief review: After three intensive days, there was already a first dashboard, but important functions were still missing. Particularly technical difficulties with a third-party API demanded quick solutions. In parallel, the design team refined details – spacing, headings, and a clear structure were meant to improve user-friendliness.

A special highlight was finding a name, which we jokingly referred to as "baptizing our baby". After all, the tool was our joint project that would soon see the light of day. Many suggestions ended up on the list, some we discussed hotly, others we quickly discarded.

In the team, the desire for more time became noticeable in places during this phase. The pressure was palpable, and the goal seemed more ambitious than ever. However, our project manager reminded us of the basic idea of the hackathon: It's not about slowly approaching a goal, but achieving as much as possible in a short time. "We don't want to run a half marathon, but a full marathon – just in record time."

Final Sprint in the Hackathon: Our SEO Tool Is Ready

The last day began with a mixture of tension and excitement. The backend had really stepped on the gas the day before, so they could present new results in the morning, even though not everything was finished yet. The styling of the dashboard and individual widgets were particularly in focus. The import/export function is to be a central component of the next development phase, which is currently being further developed. It will make the tool even more versatile in the future and open up further application possibilities.

Then it was time for the final sprint and the individual teams prepared for the presentation. Here, the online marketing team was needed again: "What points make our tool unique, how do we communicate this to the outside – and how much explanation does it need?" In the afternoon, the time had come: The team presented the prototype – not yet perfect, but functional and proof of what is possible in just five days!

Our SEO Tool in Detail: From Idea to Solution

The challenge we tackled with our hackathon project was clearly defined: SEO analyses cost an enormous amount of time in daily work and tie up valuable resources. Data must be manually exported from various tools, prepared in Excel spreadsheets, and compared over weeks or months. This process is not only error-prone but also inefficient. And this is exactly where our tool comes in!

Our goal was to automate these recurring tasks and fundamentally simplify the analysis process. The result is a prototype that already impressively implements this vision:

  • Automated Keyword Crawl: Instead of manually compiling data, our tool automatically searches relevant URLs for keywords and structures them directly for further analysis.
  • Historical Comparison Data at the Push of a Button: Changes in rankings or visibility can be immediately recognized because the tool automatically retrieves historical data and prepares it visually.
  • Keyword Potential Analysis: Based on the collected data, the tool identifies new opportunities and suggests potentially valuable keywords that have remained unused so far.
  • Change Tracking and Alerts: All changes to a website can be tracked and their impact on visibility directly evaluated.

Particularly valuable: Tasks that used to take an entire working day can now be completed within minutes. But at least as valuable as the result itself are the insights we gathered along the way.

Our Greatest Learnings from Five Days of Hackathon

Of course, not everything went smoothly right away. The time pressure was high and some coordination was bumpy. But these experiences are valuable – because they show us where we can do even better at the next hackathon.

The week showed us what is possible when all disciplines focus on bringing their strengths. The online marketing team as the client, design for user-friendliness, backend for the technical foundation, and frontend for the interface to the user.

Five intensive days not only gave us a functioning tool but also broadened our perspective. The time pressure challenged us and it was precisely through this that an extraordinary team spirit emerged. Through close collaboration in teams from different areas, we gained valuable insights into their ways of working and approaches to thinking. The impressive result of the functioning prototype emerged not despite, but precisely because of our different strengths.

Conclusion

And then there it was – our prototype. Within just five days, we created a functioning SEO tool from an idea that noticeably simplifies our daily work and significantly accelerates processes.

For online marketing, the result means enormous relief. Tasks that previously took an entire working day can now be completed in minutes. But the real success lies not only in the tool itself but also in what it symbolizes: our ability to develop innovative solutions in the shortest time that go far beyond our own requirements.

The hackathon showed us how much potential lies in interdisciplinary collaboration. We can create digital solutions with united forces that not only offer added value internally but are also highly relevant for our customers. Do you also have an idea for a digital tool or want to automate internal processes? Our web development team supports you in turning concepts into functioning applications – quickly, targeted, and future-proof!