SMART INDIA HACKATHON'23 Finale Preparation Guide | Last moment tips by SIH Winner'22

Summary

This video provides essential tips for giving a successful final presentation at SI. It emphasizes the importance of a polished frontend prototype with a working demo to impress judges. The presenter advises focusing on the core feature, ensuring that additional features enhance it, without overshadowing the main functionality. Key points include preparing for three rounds of evaluation, avoiding overwhelming the audience with too much information at once, and being ready with technical knowledge and justifications for any challenges. Lastly, the presenter stresses the need for a live demo and thorough preparation to answer technical questions confidently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on a visually appealing and flawless front-end/UI for your prototype.
• 😀 The main feature of your product should be fully functional, with 75% of your effort dedicated to it.
• 😀 Novel features are important but should not overshadow the core functionality of your prototype.
• 😀 Don’t present everything at once. Use the evaluation rounds to gather feedback and improve your product.
• 😀 Show live demos whenever possible instead of relying solely on slides or screenshots.
• 😀 Be prepared for technical questions about the product, its technology, and features.
• 😀 One person should lead the presentation to maintain a consistent flow and clarity.
• 😀 Listen to your mentors and incorporate their suggestions where possible to improve your product.
• 😀 If some features aren’t ready, demonstrate them through a back-end demo instead of showing incomplete work.
• 😀 Prepare justifications for any missing or unimplemented features, ensuring your reasoning is clear and logical.
• 😀 Ensure the presentation is organized and smooth, avoiding confusion by not having multiple people present at different times.

Q & A

What is the main focus when preparing the prototype for the final presentation?

The main focus should be on creating an impressive and fully functional front-end (UI) for the prototype. Even if the back-end isn't fully functional, ensure you can present a working demo that highlights the key features of your product.

How should you prioritize features in your prototype?

Your main feature should be fully developed and functional (about 75% of your focus). The remaining 25% can be additional novel features, but these should not overshadow the core feature.

Why should you not show everything in the first evaluation round?

Showing everything in the first round leaves no room for feedback and improvements. It’s better to gradually reveal your progress, taking input from mentors to refine your prototype.

What should you do if a feature suggested by a mentor cannot be added?

If a mentor suggests a feature that cannot be added, be ready to provide a clear justification for why it isn’t possible, and ensure that the reasoning is well-supported.

Why is a live demo important during the presentation?

A live demo is crucial because it allows you to directly showcase your product’s functionality and makes a stronger impact compared to static PowerPoint slides.

What should you be prepared for regarding technical questions during the presentation?

You should be prepared to answer technical questions related to your product and the technologies you're using. This includes explaining why certain tools, like AI models, were chosen, their benefits, and potential alternatives.

How should the team approach the presentation in terms of who speaks?

Only one team member should be presenting the product to ensure professionalism and clarity. Avoid having multiple team members presenting at the same time.

What is the risk of adding too many novel features to your prototype?

Adding too many novel features can distract from the main product, making it unclear which feature is the core offering. This could also result in incomplete or non-functional features that may not work as expected.

What is the ideal balance between the main feature and additional features in your product?

The main feature should be fully functional and take up around 75% of your focus, while the additional features (25%) should complement the core functionality without overshadowing it.

How should you prepare for the multiple rounds of evaluation?

In the multiple rounds of evaluation, don’t present everything at once. Use each round to showcase progress and take feedback. This allows you to refine your product and demonstrate how you’ve incorporated suggestions.