Planet Jeffro

Business Insider reporter Kim Bhasin interviewed Pinzler and me for an article on OPEN Forum, Amex’s news site for small businesses. Here’s my part:

Why do all these developers flock to events like Reinventing Local?

Hackathons attract all sorts of developers—both freelance and full-timers. But what’s in it for them, besides the potential the win some cash?

Jeff Novich and Andrew Pinzer won the prize for the best small business app with PoorSquare, a site that helps organize free deals using FourSquare’s API. They come from two very different backgrounds, but show up for many of the same reasons.

“I come because it’s fun.” said developer Jeff Novich, who’s working on a ton of independent projects like the web service Patient Communicator. “Plus, it gives you a reason to focus on one thing. I’m juggling a couple other startups at the same time. Here I have a deadline.”

Pinzer’s job is in strategic management for BBC Worldwide. “At some level this is really more a hobby for me. I really like the idea of showing up, starting with nothing, and ending up showing something that’s really cool,” he said. “It’s not something I’d ever be able to do at my job.”

And it’s not a complete loss if you don’t come out with a prize. “You still came to hang out, eat food and everything. It’s good to be a part of the community, and anybody can do it,” said Novich.