Europe may whine but the US calls a million shots at Dreamforce Hackathon
- Summary:
- How can Europe hope to compete against the might of the US marketing machine? It can't. Here's one contrasting example.
As a mid-Atlantic Euro-can (I just invented that description) I have a lot of sympathy with the European view about digital entrepreneurship as outlined by Stuart Lauchlan. However, whining about the parlous state of the pantomime horse aka the Eurozone, won't get anyone very far. And especially not when the competition from the US is so eye catching.
I mean Salesforce offering a jaw dropping $1 million in prize money for the winner of its hackathon during Dreamforce. The drop is steep from winner to second place but then the prizes through to fifth place are not so shabby.
I remember last year's Dreamforce dev zone. Some of the sessions were so tightly packed that the fire marshalls threatened to shut the place down. I came away from the developer thang incredibly impressed with the energy and enthusiasm. I can only imagine that with this year concentrating upon mobile development, the sessions will be even more packed.
The entry rules are pretty straightforward (PDF) but be aware that Salesforce takes a pretty broad view of the rights it is assigning to itself. So for example:
HOW WILL MY ENTRY POTENTIALLY BE USED?
Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any rights to own or use your Entry.
By submitting your Entry, you:
• Are granting us an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test, and otherwise analyze your Entry and all its content in connection with this Hackathon; and (ii) feature your Entry and all its content in connection with the marketing, sale, or promotion of this Hackathon and of Salesforce.com (including but not limited to internal and external presentations, tradeshows, and screen shots of the Hackathon Entry process in press releases) in all media (now known or later developed);
There's plenty more but you get the idea. In essence, if Salesforce judges think you've built a winner, then they can do pretty much anything they like with the code and by the way, you get to be part of their PR/marketing. That's not unusual and a $1 million must be very tempting for some developers, even if that means effectively forgoing the opportunity to generate revenue from the AppExchange.
Now contrast that with the European version aka SAP's DemoJam. No prize money but you do receive everlasting glory. Having said that, I do know that the 2012 winners (who also won this year) successfully commercialized their demo. It's a pity that more people do not realize that. But I guess the odds are stacked against you when you're up against a marketing machine like Salesforce.
Disclosure: Salesforce and SAP are both premier partners.