Hackathon demo video: practice a hackathon demo so the explanation fits the time limit

Rehearse, then record

A demo video is a recording of a rehearsed talk. Teams that record straight away spend hours on retakes because the explanation is still being worked out on camera. Settle the words and the click path, then record when you can do it in two or three takes.

Write a timed sequence

Read the limit in the rules (two or three minutes is common) and split it. For a three-minute video, roughly:

1. Problem, 20 seconds. Who has it and why it matters, in one or two sentences.
2. Working demo, 90 seconds. The single path through the product that solves that problem. Show it working, not the settings page.
3. Result, 20 seconds. What the user ends up with, with a number if you have one.
4. Limitations, 15 seconds. What does not work yet. Judges notice either way; saying it shows you know.
5. Next step, 15 seconds. What you would build next and why.

At about 130 words per minute, three minutes is roughly 390 words, but a demo needs silence while things load, so write less. The talk length calculator will check the script.

Practise the switch between talking and showing

The hand-off from slides to the live product, and back, is where demos lose time. Script the exact click path. Load test data in advance. Close other apps and turn off notifications. Rehearse the switch until it takes seconds, and decide in rehearsal what you will say while something loads.

Record with a recorder

Record the screen and your voice with the screen or camera recorder you normally use, then trim the start and end. Keep a backup recording of the demo path in case the live product fails during a live judging slot.

Check the rules and practise questions

Read the organisers' submission rules for length, format, where to upload, and whether live demos or pre-recorded videos are judged. If there is live judging, list the questions you expect (how it works, what is real versus mocked, what you would need to continue) and practise answering each in about thirty seconds.

Rehearse your demo script with Aitho

Use Aitho to rehearse; the organisers' rules apply on the day. Aitho is built for rehearsing and presenting a slide talk, not for recording or editing video, so record the final video with a separate tool.

1. Import your demo slides as PDF or PowerPoint, and add the script for each slide. Put a slide where the live demo happens, so the script reminds you what to say while you click through the product.
2. Rehearse out loud. The script follows your voice and each slide advances when you reach its words, so you can run the explanation end to end with a timer and hear where you run long.
3. Practise judge questions privately. Attach your README or project notes to the talk, type a likely question, and a suggested answer from your own material appears on your screen. The free plan includes three answers to try.

For more on demo-day timing and question practice, see the pitch practice guide. Steps with video: rehearse out loud. Free to start: the free plan includes the voice-following script, your own PDF or PowerPoint (or the sample talk), any browser plus the iPhone and Android apps, spoken slide commands, and three private answers to try. Free needs no card. Current plans are on the pricing page.

Questions

How long should a hackathon demo video be?

As long as the organisers allow, minus a margin. Two to three minutes is common; check the submission rules and write the script below the limit.

What should a hackathon project demo video include?

The problem, a working demo of the main path, the result, honest limitations and the next step, each with a time budget.

Should I rehearse before recording a demo video?

Yes. Rehearse the explanation and the click path until they fit the time, then record. It saves retakes.

Can Aitho record my hackathon demo video?

No. Aitho is for rehearsing and presenting a slide talk. Record the video with a screen or camera recorder.