[akhilcacharya]

I haven't been to many, but I'll throw in my 2c regardless.

- Venue. The space available can make a _massive_ difference in how people collaborate and get creative.

- Prizes. Most people need external motivation as well as internal motivation.

- Time/Convenience - I'd put it on a weekend. Most people (students, working adults alike) can't afford to use credit hours on a hackathon, regardless of what the prize is.

- Sponsors. The greater and more "prestigious" the sponsors are, the more likely teams are to network and get assistance in valuable ways. Mentorship is the most valuable part of the MLH hackathons I have attended.