Build What Matters

A Different Kind of Hackathon

The CATS Hackathon operates under a simple yet powerful slogan: “Build What Matters.” This principle represents a fundamental shift from traditional hackathon structures.

Traditional vs. Regenerative Approach

❌ Traditional Hackathons

Conventional hackathons typically follow this pattern:

Predefined tracks (FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, etc.)
Pre-written problem statements created by organizers
Top-down themes determined before teams arrive
Solutions seeking problems - teams pick from given challenges
48-72 hour sprint - rapid building with limited discovery
Demo-driven - focus on impressive presentations over real impact

The limitation: Teams build solutions to problems they may not fully understand, for communities they haven’t engaged with.

✅ “Build What Matters” Approach

The CATS Hackathon follows a regenerative model:

Community-driven discovery - teams identify real problems
Action-learning journey - systematic research and validation
10-week timeline - adequate time for genuine understanding
Evidence-based - voice notes, interviews, observations required
Four quadrants - structured methodology ensuring depth
Problems seeking solutions - authentic needs drive development

The outcome: Teams build solutions to problems they’ve witnessed firsthand, validated by the people who experience them daily.

The Regenerative Principle

What Does “Regenerative” Mean?

A regenerative approach goes beyond sustainability or “doing less harm.” It actively seeks to:

Restore community capacity and resilience
Empower local voices and agency
Build systems that strengthen over time
Create positive feedback loops between innovation and community needs

Applied to Hackathons

In the CATS Hackathon context, regenerative means:

Listening First - Before building anything, deeply understand the community
Evidence-Based - Decisions driven by research, not assumptions
Community Validation - Solutions validated by those who will use them
Sustainable Impact - Building for long-term benefit, not just demo day
Learning Journey - The process of discovery is as valuable as the final product

The Action-Learning Journey

Why Four Quadrants?

The action-learning methodology ensures teams:

Don’t skip essential discovery work
Validate assumptions before building
Consider multiple solutions before committing
Document their journey for transparency and learning

The Four Quadrants

Ground Truth - What’s actually happening in the community?
Formulate Insight - What patterns emerge from the data?
Formulate Hypothesis - What problem should we solve?
Define Opportunity - What solutions are feasible?

Only after completing these quadrants do teams commit to building.

What This Means for Teams

Your Responsibility

As a CATS Hackathon participant, you’re not just a builder—you’re a community researcher, problem validator, and solution designer.

This means:

✅ Going into your community with genuine curiosity
✅ Recording voices and stories (with permission)
✅ Identifying patterns across multiple perspectives
✅ Validating problems before proposing solutions
✅ Considering multiple approaches before selecting one
✅ Building what your community actually needs

Not just:

❌ Picking a “cool tech idea” you want to build
❌ Assuming you know the problem without research
❌ Building for the judges or sponsors
❌ Copying solutions from other regions without validation

The Higher Standard

“Build What Matters” sets a higher bar than traditional hackathons:

More research required - You must prove the problem exists
More documentation needed - Your journey must be transparent
More community engagement - Evidence from real people is mandatory
More critical thinking - Why this problem? Why this solution?

How You’ll Be Evaluated

Judges won’t just ask: “Does your tech work?”

They’ll ask:

Evidence of Discovery: Did you go into your community? (Voice notes required)
Depth of Understanding: Do you understand the root causes?
Validation: Did real people confirm this problem matters to them?
Solution Fit: Does your solution address the validated problem?
Impact Potential: How many people will benefit, and how significantly?
Regenerative Thinking: Does this strengthen community capacity?

Learn about evaluation criteria →

Examples of “Building What Matters”

❌ Not “Build What Matters”

“We’re building a blockchain voting app because blockchain is cool and voting fraud is a problem everywhere.”

Why not? No local research, no evidence, generic assumption.

✅ “Build What Matters”

“We interviewed 15 students at University of Lagos who told us they can’t participate in student government elections because voting happens during class hours. We have voice recordings of 3 student union reps confirming 70% student participation drop. We’re building a mobile voting solution with blockchain verification that allows async voting over 48 hours, validated by 5 lecturers who support extending voting windows.”

Why yes? Specific community, real evidence, validated problem, targeted solution.

The Challenge

Building what matters is harder than building what’s impressive.

It requires:

Humility - Listening more than talking
Patience - Research takes time
Courage - Challenging your own assumptions
Discipline - Following the methodology even when tempted to skip ahead
Empathy - Centering community needs over personal preferences

But it’s also more meaningful, more impactful, and more likely to actually help people.

Your Journey Starts Now

Every team in the CATS Hackathon has committed to building what matters.

Next Steps:

Review the action-learning methodology
Plan your community research (Ground Truth guide)
Prepare voice recording tools and interview questions
Schedule time in your community (not just on your laptop)
Embrace the discomfort of not knowing what you’ll build yet

Remember: The best solutions often come from problems you didn’t know existed before you started researching.

Questions to Reflect On

Before you begin, ask yourself:

Am I ready to build something that matters to others, not just to me?
Am I willing to change my idea if research points elsewhere?
Can I listen to community voices even when they challenge my assumptions?
Am I committed to evidence-based decision-making?

If you answered yes, you’re ready for the CATS Hackathon.

“The best way to predict the future is to listen to those living it.” - Adapted for CATS Hackathon

Back to Hackathon Overview | View Action-Learning Methodology