The AI Hackathon Playbook

Want to unlock AI's potential in your organization? Skip the brainstorms and go all in with an AI Hackathon!

In this final installment of the Applied AI series, CMO Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product and Technology Officer Mohan Rao to break down why AI hackathons might be your best tool for driving adoption, sparking collaboration, and building lasting impact. Whether you're a tech startup or a professional services firm, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Special guest Jeff Gallimore, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Excella, shares best practices from their GenAI-focused hackathons—including how engaging clients as judges and building cross-functional teams helped move ideas from prototype to production. From enabling constraints to cultural buy-in, Jeff explains how hackathons can be more than just a creative break—they can be a launchpad for real outcomes.

Courtney, David, and Mohan reflect on their own hackathon experiences and offer strategic advice on making hackathons successful—from aligning with your roadmap to ensuring outputs are built to scale. Plus, how non-engineers can thrive in AI innovation thanks to tools like Canva and prompt engineering.

All that PLUS Pete Buer breaks down the rise and fall (and jailbreak) of the Humane AI Pin. The big lesson? Innovation only sticks if it meets the market where it is.

Whether you're running your first hackathon or looking to level up your next one, this episode is packed with practical tips, real stories, and a bit of good-natured competition.

Want to see what Knownwell's platform can do with your data? Visit www.knownwell.com to get started.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gu2jq1Ol_Z0

Show notes

• Connect with Jeff Gallimore on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Excella
• Connect with David DeWolf on LinkedIn
• Connect with Courtney Baker on LinkedIn
• Connect with Mohan Rao on LinkedIn
• Connect with Pete Buer on LinkedIn
• Watch a guided Knownwell demo
• Follow Knownwell on LinkedIn