Alum Eric Lan on Building Viking Hacks Hackathon: What If You Weren’t Afraid to Fail?

What would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail?

The following article was written by Eric Lan, lead director of Viking Hacks 2025. Connect with Eric here.

“I did it!”: Problem Solving & Building

Hi! I’m Eric. I’m a senior at Irvington High School, and my journey into tech and entrepreneurship has been anything but straightforward. I started coding in middle school—not because I wanted to, but because my friend convinced me to make a game with him. I remember spending hours debugging a simple movement script for a Roblox game, and when it finally worked, I ran downstairs yelling, “I did it!” My parents had no idea what I was talking about, but that moment of pure joy got me hooked on problem-solving.

Fast forward a few years, and I realized I wasn’t just interested in coding—I was drawn to building things that brought people together. Whether it was organizing Viking Hacks, starting initiatives at school, or working on PupKitchen (a startup I launched through LaunchX), I found that my real passion was creating opportunities for others to grow.

The idea for Viking Hacks came from the excitement of hackathons—but also from the intimidation that many students feel when joining them. I wanted to create a hackathon where students felt supported, encouraged, and inspired, regardless of their experience level.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail? The Beginning of Viking Hacks

Viking Hacks was born out of a simple but pressing question: What if students had a space where they weren’t afraid to fail? A lot of students—especially those new to coding—hesitate to participate in hackathons because they’re worried their ideas aren’t “good enough” or they don’t have enough experience. I wanted to change that. Viking Hacks is all about removing barriers and giving students the confidence to build, learn, and create—no matter their background.

The idea came to life when a few of my friends and I were talking about how there weren’t enough tech events in our area that welcomed beginners while also providing challenges for experienced coders. That night, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The next day, I sketched out a rough plan for a hackathon, pitched it to a couple of people, and within a few weeks, we had a team working to make Viking Hacks a reality.

Facing Rejection: Again and Again (and Again)

One of the biggest challenges was sponsorship. There’s nothing fun about sending cold emails to companies and getting no response. I remember one day I sent over 20 sponsorship emails and received exactly one reply—a polite “We’re not interested.” It was discouraging, but I kept refining my pitch, tweaking my approach, and reaching out to more organizations. Now, we’re securing incredible sponsors like LaunchX, allowing Viking Hacks to provide completely free registration, meals, swag, and even a $1,500 scholarship award for a standout project!

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from organizing Viking Hacks is that people want to help—you just have to ask. Whether it was reaching out to potential sponsors, recruiting mentors, or getting support from my school, I found that if you’re passionate and clear about your vision, others will rally behind it.

More Than Code

I hope Viking Hacks inspires participants to think beyond just coding. A lot of hackathons focus on writing the best algorithms or making the sleekest apps, but I want students to walk away thinking: How can I take this idea and turn it into something real? Whether it’s a social good project, a startup idea, or a tool that helps their community, I want Viking Hacks to spark something that lasts beyond the event.

We’re also prioritizing community and mentorship. Our event features mentors who are just a few years older than the participants, showing them that they don’t have to wait until they’re older to build something impactful.

“Wait, I Can Actually Do This”

I’m really looking forward to seeing the “aha” moments—that moment when someone who thought they “weren’t good enough” suddenly gets an idea, starts coding, and realizes, “Wait, I can actually do this.” That’s what makes all the late nights and planning stress worth it.

Ideas Into Reality: Lessons Learned at LaunchX

I attended the 2024 LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program, and it completely shifted my perspective. I came in expecting a typical business course, but instead, I found myself immersed in a world where ideas turned into reality in just weeks. It was intense, challenging, and one of the best experiences of my life.

1. Learn by doing. There’s no perfect moment to start—just take the leap and adjust as you go.
2. Your team matters more than your idea. The best product in the world won’t succeed without a strong, committed team.
3. Rejection is part of the process. Whether it’s pitching to investors or getting turned down by mentors, every “no” brings you closer to a “yes.”

LaunchX gave me the confidence to think bigger. Before the program, I thought small—side projects, school clubs, and personal goals. Afterward, I realized I could build something that impacted an entire community. Viking Hacks is proof of that.

Take The First Step of Uncertainty

Start before you feel ready. If you wait until you have all the answers, you’ll never start. Every successful project I’ve worked on began with uncertainty, but taking that first step is what makes all the difference.

This experience has reinforced my love for entrepreneurship and community-building. In the future, I hope to continue bridging gaps between technology, business, and education, helping others launch their own ideas just like LaunchX helped me.

Find Viking Hacks through their website or Instagram. Make sure to stop by the event if you are in Fremont, California on February 15th!

Connect with Eric on Instagram or LinkedIn.