Prepare for the GenQ Hackathon: How to build a Winning Team

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Your idea can be brilliant. But without the right team, it won’t go far.

At the GenQ Hackathon, one of the biggest factors that sets top teams apart isn’t just how smart they are, it’s how well they collaborate. And here’s the good news: you don’t need to show up with a pre-formed team. You just need to understand how to choose your teammates wisely and why diversity of skills and perspectives is key to your success. As we gear up for the GenQ Global Hackathon Series 2025, we asked Thomas Landis, Chief Product Officer at QAI Ventures, what advice he would give to participants looking to build high-performing teams.

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Haven't signed up yet? Let's get going!

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🇨🇦 Calgary | Oct 4–6 | Energy
🇨🇭 Geneva | Oct 17–19 | Life Sciences
🇸🇬 Singapore | Oct 24–26 | Finance

📝 Apply now at: https://genq.tech

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Let’s get started: The Matchmaking

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The team formation process starts even before you arrive on-site. Once registrations close, all participants will be invited to a shared communication and onboarding platform. Think of it as your virtual lobby, a space to introduce yourself, browse profiles, discover challenges, and begin conversations with potential teammates.

“We onboard all sign-ups to a dedicated comms platform where they can already meet online,” explains Thomas. “Some teams form early, but many others come together on-site. We make space for both.”

Then comes the in-person kickoff on Friday evening of our hackathon weekend: the Team Matchmaking Session. Here, you’ll hear the official challenge briefings, mingle with other participants, and publicly pitch your idea  - or your skills - to form or join a team.

No team? No problem.

“Many great teams form on-site,” says Thomas. “We invite everyone on stage: full teams share who they are and what skill sets they still need. Solo participants can pitch themselves: What they bring and which challenge they’re excited about.”

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What makes a great team?

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According to Thomas, it’s not just about finding friends or even the most technical minds, it’s about building a well-rounded crew.

“In the end, you’ve got just three minutes to pitch to a jury,” he says. “And that jury includes business leaders, tech experts, and investors. You’ve got to win them all over.”

So what kind of roles do you need?

• A Tech Lead who can architect and explain the technical solution
• A Business Brain who makes the case for why this solution matters and how it solves a real-world problem.
• A Storyteller who connects the dots,     crafts the narrative, and brings the idea to life in front of the jury.

Those are just the basics. There is more.

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The Five Friends of Innovation

To go from good to great, Thomas recommends thinking in terms of team dynamics, not just functions. Drawing on his own work and innovation playbooks like IDEO’s Ten Faces of Innovation, he breaks it down like this:

“It’s not about job titles. It’s about character and chemistry. These are the five people you want in your team, even if one person wears more than one hat.”

1. The Leader – Visionary, energetic, and ready to     rally the team behind the mission.
2. The Director – Keeps things on track, calls the shots     when needed, and motivates the group.
3. The People Person – Brings humor, empathy, and cohesion —     the person that makes collaboration feel like fun.
4. The Hurdler – Relentless in finding a way forward.     When a solution hits a wall, they find a way around it.
5. The Storyteller – Visualizes and communicates ideas in a     way that resonates with the audience.

“You don’t need five people,” Thomas notes. “Some team members bring more than one of these traits. But you’ll feel it when you’re missing one.”

QuantumAI +Industry = Real Impact

The GenQ Hackathon is about solving real-world problems. Each of the three hubs is centered on a real-world industry vertical with challenges sourced directly from partners in Energy, Life Sciences, andFinance.

That’s why Thomas emphasizes that non-technical backgrounds are not just welcome, they’re essential.

“Some of the best contributors are subject-matter experts: from banking, pharma, or energy,” he says. “They bring real-world insight that the tech folks might miss.”

Whether you’re a UI/UX designer, a product strategist, a climate researcher, or a clinical data analyst: Your perspective matters. These backgrounds help translate QuantumAI potential into practical, scalable solutions.

“We don’t just need coders,” Thomas says. “We need people who can win over a business jury. Sometimes that means telling the story in a way they understand – visually, emotionally, strategically.”

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Your turn: Let's sign up and get your team together

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At GenQ, you don’t just show up to win a prize. You show up to learn, connect, and build something that could outlive the weekend.

“Winning teams don’t just have the best tech,” saysThomas. “They have the best energy, the best collaboration, and the bestchemistry.”

So, what will your team look like? It starts with your application and your openness to collaborate with people who don’t think like you.

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Hackathon Dates

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🇨🇦 Calgary | Oct 4–6 | Energy
🇨🇭 Geneva | Oct 17–19 | Life Sciences
🇸🇬 Singapore | Oct 24–26 | Finance

📝 Apply now at: https://genq.tech And start building your winning team.

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