We were recently joined on our podcast by Leemon Baird and Ed Marquez from Hedera. The leadership shared exciting news about the conclusion of the Hello Future Hackathon and the Hedera ecosystem.
The Hello Future Hackathon, which ran from July 22 to August 20, attracted hackers worldwide to develop projects on the Hedera platform. The event aimed to foster creativity, expand professional networks, and build impressive portfolios while exploring blockchain technologies.
Discover how the top winners of the Hello Future Hackathon 2024 are set to revolutionize the world with their innovative projects, tackling real-world challenges and empowering underserved communities. As excitement builds for future opportunities, find out how Hedera is paving the way for a more inclusive and impactful tech landscape!
Spotlight on the Top Winners of the Hello Future Hackathon 2024
Overall Winners:
- 1st Place: Team Savera
Savera is a platform designed to empower underserved communities through saving. They received a prize of $45,000 and $5,000 in Google Credits. - 2nd Place: Team Nomid
This peer-to-peer payment solution enables instant and low-cost transactions without intermediaries, earning the team $25,000 and $3,000 in Google Credits. - 3rd Place: Team Credore
Credore focuses on revolutionizing trade documentation with secure digital solutions. They won $15,000 and $2,000 in Google Credits.
The hackathon emphasized the potential of Hedera’s technology in addressing real-world challenges and showcased innovative solutions across various sectors. The event concluded with a virtual celebration on September 30, highlighting insights from the winners and announcing future hackathon opportunities.
Ed Marquez, Developer Advocate for Hedera
The Hello Future Hackathon and Anticipating New Opportunities Ahead
Ed Marquez, Developer Relations for Hedera, enthusiastically reflected on the recent Hello Future Hackathon. He noted the vibrant atmosphere filled with talented hackers and, as the event drew to a close, described it as an incredible journey. Over a month, participants had the opportunity to develop their portfolios, expand their professional networks, and immerse themselves in building on the Hedera network.
Throughout the hackathon, there were numerous chances to connect with fellow developers and mentors who guided participants through various tracks. Ed explained that the hackathon featured five distinct tracks to encourage creativity and explore technologies, such as AI and real-world asset tokenization within decentralized finance (DeFi). He emphasized how teams showcased their creativity, from starting with basic concepts to tackling more advanced blockchain solutions.
Additionally, Ed highlighted the impressive prize pool of over $350,000, which significantly motivated participants. Due to the high volume and quality of submissions, the judging process was equally rigorous and lasted a month. Judges from across the Hedera ecosystem, including members of the Hedera Governing Council and notable figures like Leemon and Charles, were involved, granting the winning projects valuable exposure within the community.
In addition, Ed hinted at potential future opportunities for the participating teams to engage with the Hedera ecosystem. He teased that another hackathon, likely in November, could be on the horizon, offering participants continuity in their development efforts.
Ed Marquez on Empowering Innovation and Future Opportunities in the Hedera Ecosystem
Ed remarked on these projects’ unique positions when discussing the motivations for joining the Hedera community. They built use cases and gained insight into the innovations emerging in Web3. He recounted how judges, like Rob from Payments Plus, eagerly connected with various projects, demonstrating the open-mindedness and enthusiasm of those involved in the council.
Ed outlined two paths for participants looking to further their projects. He encouraged direct engagement with Hashgraph’s developer relations and advocacy teams for those with the necessary technical expertise and resources. For others seeking financial or strategic support, winning the hackathon established a solid foundation to connect with ecosystem development funds, including the HBAR Foundation and the Hashgraph Association.
As he looked forward to the next hackathon, Marquez reiterated the importance of creating an environment where developers could craft exceptional user experiences. He aligned with Lehman’s vision of a world where blockchain technology seamlessly integrates into everyday life unnoticed by users. Ed praised the creativity demonstrated by participants in abstracting complex technological details, allowing users to focus on the benefits rather than the intricacies of the underlying systems.
Finally, he expressed his commitment to fostering a diverse community, eager to attract both existing and new talent from the Web2 and Web3 spaces. With a focus on nurturing innovation and collaboration, Ed looked ahead to another exciting hackathon, promising more details soon and encouraging all participants to remain engaged with the vibrant Hedera ecosystem.
Dr. Leemon Baird: Celebrating Innovation and Future Directions in the Hedera Ecosystem
The Impact of the Hello Future Hackathon’s Winning Projects
In an exciting segment, Dr. Leemon Baird joined us and expressed his amazement at the incredible innovation displayed during the recent hackathon. He noted a remarkable level of creativity, particularly in the three winning projects, which he said showcased exceptional quality.
Firstly, he marveled at Savera’s impact, which aimed to provide banking services to underserved populations. He highlighted that 40% of attendees were unbanked. “Their ability to empower people to save was extraordinary,” he remarked, adding that the project’s launch in Q1 was something to look forward to.
Additionally, he found Nomid’s approach fascinating, as it offered self-custody solutions in a way that remained user-friendly and invisible to the average person. “This makes cryptocurrency less intimidating for those unfamiliar with it,” he explained. Meanwhile, the professionalism of the project’s presentation left him speechless, and he praised the team for their innovative design.
Turning to Credore, Dr. Baird acknowledged their efforts to tackle beyond technological challenges and into regulatory challenges as well. He emphasized the significance of their solution to eliminate delays caused by outdated paperwork processes, calling such methods “19th century.” “Their ability to enhance efficiency while remaining compliant is fascinating,” Leemon noted the importance of integrating smart contracts into their system.
Moreover, he believes these three projects merely scratched the surface of the innovation that emerged from the hackathon. “Participants weren’t just creating impressive technologies; they were developing frameworks for others to innovate easily,” he said, pointing to a “flywheel of innovation” gaining momentum within the Hedera ecosystem.
Bridging Communities: The Future of Hedera
Dr. Baird highlighted the inclusivity of the community, stating that anyone could participate. He introduced Hiero, a new organization under the Linux Foundation’s Decentralized Trust, which aimed to manage open-source software development for Hedera. “This initiative would not only encourage contributions but also foster governance and leadership within the community,” he explained. Notably, Leemon sees the potential for Hiero to host its own hackathons, further promoting open-source collaboration.
He also made a compelling point about the need to bridge the gap between the Web3 community and the more traditional Web2 audience. Many potential users remained skeptical about blockchain and cryptocurrencies, often viewing them as risky ventures. “Hedera’s affiliation with the Linux Foundation offers a trusted entry point for these individuals,” he asserted. By establishing credibility, the Hedera community could invite millions who have remained outside the blockchain realm to explore its possibilities.
Beyond the Hello Future Hackathon: Hedera’s Impact and Innovation in 2025
As he reflected on ongoing developments, Dr. Baird remained optimistic about future announcements and partnerships. He recognized the growing momentum within Hedera and anticipated significant integrations across various sectors. “What impressed me most about this hackathon was the tangible impact of the projects,” he noted. Unlike previous events where entries felt more like novelties or games, participants focused on real-world applications that could affect meaningful change this time.
Looking ahead, Dr. Baird expressed his confidence that 2025 would bring even more groundbreaking advancements, with Hedera leading the way in reaching a broader audience and transforming how technology is perceived and utilized in everyday life.
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