Weavy and Noodl’s latest hackathon, Make Remote Work Work, has just conclude and Team Växjö Vikings have emerged victorious from a crowded field of developers. Hailing from Southern Sweden, this team immediately grabbed the attention of our organizers with their slogan “powered by Bönan and Mustaschen," which for our non-Swedish speakers translates to “powered by the bean and the mustache.”
Long before there was any inclination that this team would take the top prize, Weavy’s Community team and Noodl sat down with them for a brief interview.
Joanna Gladh, Weavy: Vikings, could you share a bit about your background in the tech world?
Växjö Vikings: Absolutely! We're a Växjö office from Capgemini, championing the low-code movement in southern Sweden. Being a part of the MRWW23 hackathon is exciting for us because we aim to elevate the prominence of low-code here.
With 18 years as a web developer and eight years in the low-code platform, we believe Noodl is the next significant step for us and are keen to see what the Weavy template can offer.
Joanna: Your team's hackathon slogan, "powered by the bean and the mustache," is quite intriguing. Could you shed some light on its origin?
Vikings: That's a nod to our favorite local coffee barista. Their coffee is the energy that powers our day. It's conveniently located near our office, and yes, it's our fuel.
Joanna: Have you all collaborated on projects before?
Vikings: We did participate in one hackathon previously, which didn't go as planned. But it was a learning experience. Now, having been together for almost a year, we're more cohesive as a team.
Joanna, Weavy & Konstantin Aistre, Noodl: Given the theme of this hackathon, how does your approach to "making remote work" actually work?
Vikings: The current situation forced us to think outside the box. We've been exploring gamification as it adds a fun element to learning and other exercises. Our brainstorming sessions have been productive, and we're keen on leveraging Noodle and Weavy for our prototype. Depending on our success, we might even continue to build upon our project post-hackathon.
Konstantin: Let's talk about low-code. Do you see the advantages of low-code tools over traditional coding environments?
Vikings: Speed is the most significant advantage. With low-code platforms, you jump straight into turning ideas into reality. It's empowering from both a developer and business perspective. It allows rapid prototyping, which facilitates quicker discussions and iterations.
Joanna: Before we conclude, any advice for newcomers in the tech industry or those considering participating in hackathons?
Vikings: Embrace low-code. The tech world needs more developers, and low-code is a gateway for many. For those considering hackathons, just dive in. Even if things don't go as planned, the experience and learnings are invaluable.
Click here to read more about the Vikings' project, and all the other winners.
