About San Francisco
San Francisco, California is located about halfway up the state in Northern California in the Bay Area. It shares a coast with the Pacific Ocean which is home to some of the most sensational sunsets in the country. The weather varies dramatically with the wind and the seasons, but you can almost always count on a thick patch of fog to sweep through the Bay with some regularity.
Famous for its legendary Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is a hub for creativity, art, and culture. Spend a day, (or week or month), exploring all of the museums the city has to offer. From the Museum of Modern Art to the Exploratorium, to the Beat Museum, this Californian city has no shortage of exhibits to discover. These are just a few of the fun, inspiring activities your guests might enjoy when you host a San Francisco hackathon.
Whether you are planning a one day, two day, or longer hackathon event, San Francisco has everything you will need to pull it off without a hitch.
Hackathon Space Options in San Francisco
A San Francisco hackathon space needs to be large and ideally have room for multiple workstations. Other considerations are listed below.
- Venue
Finding the right venue makes all the difference when it comes to organizing a hackathon. A few things to consider when venue shopping are the size of your guestlist, the bandwidth of the internet and power sources, and accessibility. Make sure the venue is the right size and can accommodate all of the people and computers the event needs to run smoothly.
- Electrical Equipment
We’re talking chords, computers, WIFI, and tons and tons of outlets. These folks are going to be using their computers for up to 48-hours straight, so there needs to be proper equipment available and plenty of reliable outlets with which to power them all.
- Furniture
Make sure to have enough furniture to accommodate the amount of people you are bringing. That means chairs, tables, bean bag chairs, beds, cots, and more. People tend to think more creatively in creative settings, so also consider funky alternatives to chairs like couches or ottomans in fun shapes.
- Advertising
Without proper advertising, how can you expect a decent turnout? Make sure the advertising you choose reaches the folks you intend to invite. Maybe it’s simply a few emails, or maybe you make a commercial and air it on local television. Whatever your intention, make sure you have the right advertising to help you reach it.
- Event Planning
These things can be difficult to plan on your own. There are tons of moving parts, high expectations, and enough factors to intimidate anyone. That is why event planners exist and could be very beneficial to your project. Hire an event planner in San Francisco to take some of the weight off of your shoulders.
Hackathon Space Companies in the San Francisco
Once you’ve narrowed down a few selections for your San Francisco hackathon space, start looking for companies to give a hand with the details.
- Maltby Electrical Supply
When it comes to electrical equipment, Maltby Electrical Supply has just about everything you’ll need. From power cords to surge protectors and everything in between this place has the tools and equipment to help you get the job done right. Maltby Electric Supply has been providing exactly what is needed to businesses for over 50 years.
- Abbey Party Rentals
Whether it is a 20-person event or a 3,000-person get-together, you will definitely need the furniture essentials, and Abbey Party Rentals is the place to get what you need. From chairs to tables, table cloths, and silverware, whatever you need, Abbey has it just up the road. This capable team brings over 60 years in business to the table every time.
- Inspire
Sometimes it is best to hand off the planning to a professional. That is where Inspire comes into play. These folks have been putting on major events for over 20 years and their reputation keeps the clients coming back for more. They will take your vision and help you make it a reality no matter if the crowd is 15 or 10,000.
Pros and Cons of Hackathon Spaces in San Francisco
Are you ready to book the perfect San Francisco hackathon space? To make the best selection, look at the pros and cons.
Advantages
- Technology hub
As a technology hub, San Francisco is surely going to have the right (and eager) crowd for a hackathon.
- Great planning options
With a city this size, it will easily have anything you could possibly need to make your event run smoothly including event planners, venues, equipment, and more.
- Tons of people
The amount of people your advertising will reach is enormous considering this city has nearly one million residents from diverse backgrounds.
Disadvantages
- Crime rate is high
With one of the highest crime rates of any major city in America, San Fran doesn’t really offer much in the way of personal security.
- Expensive
San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities around so work with a budget as you set up the hackathon venue. Don’t plan on saving any money while you’re there, but do plan on dropping some serious cash for a sandwich.
- Unreliable weather
The weather is just too unreliable to really know how to dress or which mode of transportation to take. One day it could be cold and rainy and the next it could be foggy and sweltering.
Famous Locations in San Francisco
- Golden Gate Bridge
Considered one of the most recognizable landmarks in San Francisco, (or America for that matter), the Golden Gate Bridge stretches its two-mile long red arms from San Francisco to Marin County. Over 40-million visitors travel over this gargantuan work of art every year. You can see the entire city as you cruise over San Francisco Bay.
- Golden Gate Park
Resting just under the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is the lovely Golden State Park. This is your one-stop-adventure day for the whole family, a romantic date, or a beautiful outdoor space to go for a run. Make sure to check out the well-manicured botanical gardens, the Merry-Go-Round, and so much more.
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
If modern art is what sparks life in you, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a must-see. Get up-close-and-personal with some of the most breathtaking paintings, exhibits, and sculptures of modern art in the world. When hosting a San Francisco hackathon, a trip to MOMA might just be the inspiration your attendees need.