I (almost) won another Hackathon

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Our Idea

This past weekend, I attended Hack Together, a Hackathon in Lisbon. There, together with my team, I built Scratch Map: a collaborative map tool that lets users easily add notes to a shared canvas and plan events or activities with friends. The app is designed to be lightweight and easy to set up; users simply open the link and get a generated link or QR code to share with others. Once shared, everyone can add, edit, and view notes in real-time, creating a dynamic and interactive map experience.

Media 1

Add notes to a shared map

Media 2

QR code to share map with friends

Media 3

Add multiple places to the map at once

We designed Scratch Map to be like a “Snapchat for maps,” allowing people to create collaborative maps that are almost disposable, making it easy to brainstorm plans, map out locations, or just share ideas in a fun, visual way. The app keeps all devices connected in sync, so as users add notes, they instantly appear on everyone's screen.

For a 24-hour hackathon, I'm really happy with what we achieved. The core functionality is there (you can try it out already here), and I'm considering refining it and releasing it on Product Hunt. Here's a glimpse of some features I'd love to add:

  • Ability to attach images or videos to map markers
  • Message threads within each note for extended conversations
  • Session-based chat for real-time discussions
  • Various other quality-of-life improvements to make it even more user-friendly

How it was

Last time I attended a Hackathon, I went together with three other people that I already knew. This time, I went solo, without a team (it was a bit scary). I made sure I arrived early so I could connect with a few other solo participants, and luckily it worked. I had a blast meeting and working with these people. Here's a photo of us on the second day of the event:

My team during Hack Together.

Turns out, we really worked well together: we ended up receiving second place at the event. It's always really nice when stuff like this just works out. I'm already looking for my next hackathon.