Public Speaking for Developers

Developers often build impressive products at hackathons only to watch them fall flat in a three-minute pitch. This event, run by the Tokyo hackathon community MeltingHack, focuses on the skill that decides whether technical work actually reaches its audience: public speaking. The headline talk comes from Kaustubh Hiware, a Senior Software Engineer at Mercari who has spent years on stage through speeches, debates, standup comedy, and academic conferences, sharing practical techniques aimed specifically at engineers. The format goes beyond listening. After the talks, attendees break into small groups to practice their own one-minute pitches and exchange feedback, with the option to take the stage for a minute if they choose. The session is built for engineers, designers, PMs, and students who want to present in English but lack confidence, and no technical prerequisites or prior speaking experience are required. The stated goals are to raise the average pitch quality at future hackathons, lower the psychological barrier to presenting in English, and help community members write a CFP and step onto domestic and international conference stages. The evening closes with networking and drinks.