Oh rly? I disagree. You must have never competed in a hackathon. Sometimes the output PoC is not what is valuable. It's the experiences you have executing towards a goal in a limited period of time with your teammates. You never lose that! And it is incredibly valuable. In any case, valuable things do come out of it, like Cash App. Here's the story that ChatGPT shared with me. @jack is this right? Cash App, developed by Square, Inc., now known as Block, Inc., was indeed conceptualized during an internal hackathon. Here's a brief overview of how it happened: Square, Inc., founded by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, is known for its financial services and digital payment products. The company has always encouraged innovation and creativity among its employees. The idea for Cash App was born out of one of Square's hackathons, which are events where developers, designers, and other team members collaborate intensively on software projects for a short period, often 24 to 48 hours. During one of these hackathons, a team at Square focused on creating a simpler, more accessible way for individuals to send and receive money using just their smartphones. The goal was to eliminate the need for traditional banking services or physical transactions for money transfer. The team's project was driven by the vision of making money transfer as easy as sending an email or text message. The result of their efforts was a prototype that laid the foundation for what would eventually become Cash App. Recognizing the potential impact of this innovation on the financial services industry, Square decided to pursue the project beyond the hackathon. After further development and refinement, Square Cash was launched to the public. Cash App has since evolved significantly, adding features such as a debit card (the Cash Card), direct deposit, investing, and the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin. The simplicity and convenience that were at the heart of its hackathon inception have remained central to its value proposition. The story behind Cash App's origin highlights the importance of fostering a culture of innovation within companies. Hackathons can serve as powerful catalysts for breakthrough ideas, providing a platform for employees to experiment and explore new possibilities without the constraints of their regular work responsibilities.