Exciting news! The recent Hello Future Hackathon was such a resounding success that Hedera’s leadership team is gearing up for another one! Introducing the Hello Future Hackathon 2.0, set to take place from November to December. Registration opens on October 14, 2024, so be sure to mark your calendars! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to innovate and connect!
Meet Ed Marquez: Championing Developer Engagement for the Hedera Hello Future Hackathon 2.0
We first welcomed Ed Marquez who leads developer relations at Hashgraph for the Hedera Network. His role involves coordinating efforts to attract, engage, and retain developers, which includes organizing hackathons.
Firstly, Ed shared his excitement about the upcoming Hello Future Hackathon 2.0 scheduled for the following month. He emphasized the commitment to continuously provide developers and builders with opportunities to gain experience on the network while fostering connections with like-minded innovators.
As a result, the Hello Future Hackathon 2.0 will run from November to December with registration opening up on Oct 14, 2024. Mark your calendars!
Hedera Hello Future Hackathon 1.0
Second, the initial Hello Future Hackathon unfolded over an exciting month, providing participants the chance to dive into the Hedera ecosystem, enhance their portfolios, and create innovative solutions. Furthermore, it offered a substantial prize pool of over $350,000, motivating developers to showcase their skills.
During this event they recognized winners across various fields, including artificial intelligence, real-world asset tokenization, DeFi, and others that encouraged creativity among both novice and seasoned builders. The diversity of these tracks welcomed those experienced in software development and blockchain and inspired newcomers eager to learn.
The judging process proved to be equally remarkable, as it took an entire month to review the wealth of outstanding submissions, and after thorough deliberation, the winners finally emerged! You can read more about the hackathon below.
Hedera Hello Future Hackathon 2.0
Ed acknowledged the incredible work accomplished by the hackathon winners, highlighting the potential that lay at the intersection of blockchain, artificial intelligence, real-world assets, and decentralized finance.
With a keen eye on the upcoming hackathon scheduled for November 11, Ed noted that the event would expand its focus to include tracks dedicated to green finance and sustainable finance, among other new areas. This expansion aimed to provide developers with ample opportunities to explore innovative solutions that could drive blockchain adoption at the infrastructure level.
Furthermore, Ed stressed the importance of simplifying complex technologies for users, envisioning a future where blockchain operates seamlessly in the background of everyday life. He echoed a sentiment shared by Leemon in a previous discussion, underscoring the ultimate goal of mass adoption — where the technology is widely used, yet largely unnoticed.
Ed encouraged everyone to stay engaged with the Hedera community by visiting hedera.com/hackathon, following updates on Hedera’s social media, and joining their Discord channel. With palpable enthusiasm, Ed concluded by expressing his eagerness to witness the creative solutions that would emerge from the upcoming Hello Future Hackathon 2.0.
Unveiling Hidden Gems from the Hello Future Hackathon
With Ed Marquez’s introduction of the upcoming Hello Future Hackathon 2.0, the spotlight shifts to the incredible projects born from the last event. Join us as Genfinity showcases some remarkable innovations that you might have missed, highlighting the creative spirit of the participants.
Acoer on Hedera: Pioneering Ethical AI Solutions in Healthcare
Ashley MacWhirter, Lead Software Engineer, Acoer, discussed Acoer’s long-standing collaboration with Hedera excitedly, noting, “We have been working with Hedera since the very beginning, focusing on making health data transparent and auditable — features that are perfectly suited for Hedera’s distributed ledger technology.”
In the hackathon, Acoer embarked on an experimental use case, developing Health Guard AI, a predictive model aimed at enhancing health outcomes. Initially, the team focused on asthma predictions, diving into the complexities of AI’s capabilities in health predictions. “Understanding that health data is both sensitive and complex, we prioritized integrating ethical and factual AI into our products,” she explained. “Moreover, we ensured that every prediction made was auditable and transparent, tracking all processes from the very start.”
Additionally, the experimental nature of their project aimed to scale beyond asthma predictions, with plans to expand the model to accommodate larger and more complex datasets. Acoer began exploring partnerships with organizations like the Cancer Foundation to apply their predictive model to cancer-related data, while also engaging with Oregon Procurement to enhance their efforts.
Exploring Ethical AI in Healthcare
Sharing insights into the innovative projects her team undertook during the hackathon, Ashley noted that this event represented a unique opportunity, particularly in developing predictive models. Acoer works with various applications of AI, including regulatory AI and chat companions for different datasets. This convergence of blockchain and AI is pivotal, allowing for verifiable solutions in healthcare.
Acoer’s Lead Engineer also discussed the critical importance of ethics in AI, especially in the healthcare sector, where inaccuracies, or “hallucinations,” could have serious consequences. As data continuously evolved, it was essential for models to be updated and trained with current information. Moreover, ensuring that these models were traceable and auditable extended beyond mere user interactions; it delved deeply into their training and setup processes.
As an established player in the space, Acoer had worked extensively with Hedera’s various tools, including the Hedera Consensus Service (HCS). During the hackathon, they utilized HCS for their innovative projects, particularly through their HashLog data stamping product. This integration provided a reliable audit trail for user interactions, enabling the team to maintain transparency in their training datasets and model configurations. Ashley found the experience of working with Hedera’s tooling to be straightforward and scalable, enhancing their ability to build robust solutions.
Furthermore, she highlighted Acoer’s involvement in the DeRec Alliance, an open-source protocol aimed at improving cross-chain communication in the ecosystem. This initiative excited her, as it addressed the common issues users faced, such as retrieving lost passwords or data. Being part of a project that could simplify these challenges represented a significant step forward for Acoer and the broader blockchain community.
AI Quizzing With Rachit Khurana
Rachit Khurana, Full Stack Developer, introduced his innovative project, Bit Papers, an AI-powered quizzing platform designed to make quiz creation effortless. He explained that users could host quizzes tailored to specific themes, such as Web3, simply by entering the desired topic. The AI then generated relevant questions, complete with answer options, creating a comprehensive quiz. Once prepared, participants could scan a QR code to join, with all data related to leaderboards and scoring securely recorded on the Hedera Hashgraph. This integration ensures the platform’s reliability and tamper-proof nature.
Rachit outlined two main focus areas for Bit Papers: education and corporate engagement. In the educational sector, teachers could utilize the platform to foster interactive learning, helping students grasp complex subjects more effectively. Conversely, in corporate settings, such as meetups, the platform aimed to engage participants and reward them based on their knowledge.
Reflecting on their journey, Rachit acknowledged that he and his team were relatively new to the Web3 space. Although they had some experience with other blockchain platforms, they encountered significant challenges when transitioning from an Ethereum-based background. However, once they became familiar with Hedera’s architecture, the process became considerably smoother. He highlighted the platform’s impressive transaction speeds and low gas fees, which further enhanced their development experience.
As his segment of the interview wrapped up, Rachit shared his excitement about the future of blockchain development. He noted the emergence of numerous cross-platform tools and SDKs that promised to simplify the development process. Indeed, he expressed enthusiasm for the rapidly evolving cross-chain ecosystem, anticipating a wealth of opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
Navigating Challenges: Jeremy from VerifAI Discusses the Intersection of Healthcare and Blockchain
Moving along in our interview, we welcomed Jeremy from VerifAI who shared his insights on working within a highly regulated healthcare environment, expressing enthusiasm for Acoer’s work on predictive models for asthma. He noted the complexities and challenges that such projects entailed, particularly in the realm of interconnecting various language models (LLMs) from different providers. “Tracking interactions among agents, especially in healthcare, posed significant difficulties,” he remarked. Furthermore, he imagined a future where agents from different companies would negotiate with one another, raising critical questions about verification and trust. “Storing such interactions on a single company’s SQL Server simply wouldn’t suffice; a robust trust layer would be essential.”
As a result, VerifAI began as a straightforward integration for Microsoft’s Autogen framework, designed to track agent activity on the Hedera Consensus Service. However, the project quickly evolved into a comprehensive platform that allowed users to observe and verify events, linking them directly to a Hashgraph Explorer for transaction transparency. Jeremy began exploring additional libraries and integrations, envisioning a programming toolkit for developers alongside a dashboard to monitor agent activities and ensure the reliability of their logs.
Jeremy’s Journey with Hedera
Reflecting on his experiences, he mentioned that he had previously built on Hedera, including front-end wallet integrations and NFTs, and found the process smooth. During this project, he was impressed by the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the Hedera Consensus Service. However, he pointed out a notable gap: the absence of a native Python SDK. While the community had created a wrapper around Java, it proved to be somewhat slow. Nevertheless, he devised workarounds using a JavaScript server, allowing him to navigate this obstacle.
Moreover, Jeremy expressed excitement about the ongoing developments in the blockchain space, particularly in healthcare and finance. He saw immense potential for Hedera’s reliable and affordable protocol to address significant industry challenges. Despite the lingering skepticism following incidents like FTX, he believed that as the technology matured and demonstrated clear advantages, adoption would surge. “When those floodgates open, and the industry recognizes the capabilities of distributed ledger technology, it will be a transformative moment,” he concluded, anticipating a wave of innovation on the horizon.
Simplifying Web3: Aditya’s Vision for a Conversational Interface at Osmium Labs
Aditya with Osmium Labs joined the show to discuss his innovative project, a conversational interface that simplified interactions with Web3. He described the platform, aptly named Chat, as a tool that made navigating the complexities of Web3 as easy as having a chat. “For new users who might be hesitant to dive deep into Web3, they could simply ask questions,” he explained. “The model even enabled them to execute transactions on their behalf, allowing them to learn while doing.” This feature proved equally beneficial for corporate users who often preferred to avoid the steep learning curve associated with new technologies.
Furthermore, Aditya highlighted two significant aspects of their platform. First, he introduced the Hedera Chat SDK, which developers could integrate into their own applications, allowing them to define user actions. Additionally, he emphasized the end-to-end pipeline they provided, encompassing use-case-specific fine-tuned models and continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) for prompts. “Models can be sensitive to changes in prompts, so this flexibility is crucial,” he noted before shifting to a demo of the platform.
As he began the demonstration, Aditya explained a common user interaction. When prompted with the question, “What can I do with tokens?”, the model provided a list of actions, including creating, minting, and transferring tokens. “For users unfamiliar with the jargon, the model simplified the process,” he remarked. When he requested to create a token for a learning session named “Learn Token,” the model guided him through the necessary steps, confirming details and automatically fetching keys. “It streamlined the entire process,” he added, clearly pleased with the user experience.
Transitioning to the minting process, Aditya illustrated how the platform allowed users to mint NFTs effortlessly. “By simply uploading a file, users could mint their NFTs in real-time,” he explained. This capability demonstrated the platform’s flexibility, enabling any application to adopt similar functionality while also providing users with a rich learning experience.
Hedera and Aditya’s Journey
Reflecting on his previous experiences with Hedera, Aditya recalled that this wasn’t his first project in the ecosystem. “Having participated in earlier hackathons, I found the SDK easy to use. With just five lines of code, I could access the data I needed,” he recalled. Over the past few years, he noted significant improvements in stability and speed within the Hedera ecosystem. “The core functionalities remained consistent, which made it easy for me to jump back in and start building,” he said.
Looking ahead, Aditya expressed excitement about the future of large language models (LLMs) and the automation potential of agents. “Agents are transforming what was once impossible, streamlining tasks that typically required more time or effort,” he observed. He also emphasized the importance of fine-tuning models for specific use cases, suggesting that this adaptability could lead to greater accuracy and efficiency. “I’m eager to explore more in this space,” he concluded, highlighting his belief that agents represent the next wave of innovation following LLMs and multimodal models.
Hewego: Charting Decentralized Lending in the Blockchain Space
Chloe Nguyen from Hewego shared her excitement about her team’s recent victory, proudly representing Vietnam as they celebrated their win in the Hedera competition. Her project, Hewego, is a blockchain-based lending platform designed to tokenize assets and create a decentralized lending system. She expressed deep gratitude to Hedera and the organizers for the incredible opportunity.
The mission of Hewego was clear: to provide a transparent and decentralized lending environment. The platform allowed borrowers and lenders to trade tokens on the Hedera Network, ensuring greater transparency, security, and easier access to financial markets. This product aims to create a decentralized financial ecosystem and seeks to enhance economic inclusion, making loans more accessible to individuals who might otherwise struggle to find them.
Throughout the development process, Chloe and her team learned the importance of optimizing smart contracts for performance and security. They gained valuable insights into user needs, especially regarding the user interface and experience. Looking to the future, they envisioned expanding the range of tokenized assets beyond loans, targeting real estate, commodities, and other financial instruments.
Moreover, recognizing the ongoing concerns within the Hedera ecosystem, Chloe’s team developed solutions to adjust interest rates effectively. This innovation allowed borrowers and lenders to set fees they could truly afford, promoting greater flexibility and accessibility. Their ultimate goal was to create a user-friendly platform that addressed diverse financial needs.
In conclusion, Chloe and her team also aimed to provide educational resources to help users understand blockchain technology and the benefits of asset tokenization. As they looked ahead, they were eager to expand the platform’s capabilities, planning to introduce multi-currency support and automated portfolio management through the Hedera Network.
XenHash: Revolutionizing Microtransactions in Indonesia Through Blockchain Innovation
Kelvin Shen, a dynamic founder and Web3 developer, introduced himself as a representative of XenHash. With a background in launching startups like Travic, he had delved deep into decentralized technologies, including blockchain and distributed ledger systems. His latest endeavor showcased in the Hello Future Hackathon focused on bridging digital assets with daily microtransactions on the Hedera network.
This dApp served as a Web3 app that allowed users to convert their cryptocurrency into a stablecoin pegged to the Indonesian Rupiah. This seamless integration made payments effortless through the widely adopted QR payment system in Indonesia, enabling users to scan and transact without hurdles. Significantly, the project aimed to empower users to make payments directly without relying on traditional exchanges, tapping into the burgeoning crypto space in Indonesia.
Furthermore, recognizing Indonesia’s exponential growth in cryptocurrency adoption, Kelvin observed that many users wanted an easier way to transact. Instead of converting their crypto through cumbersome peer-to-peer methods, the platform offered a streamlined solution that allowed direct payments to merchants. The confidence in their project stemmed from Indonesia’s well-established QR payment infrastructure, already utilized by both small and large businesses.
Leveraging Hedera for Microtransactions and Real-World Asset Tokenization
As Kelvin reflected on his experiences building within the Hedera ecosystem, he described the excitement and rapid learning that came with exploring distributed ledger technology. The comprehensive open-source documentation provided by Hedera simplified the onboarding process for developers. This, combined with the speed, low costs, and stability of the network, made building on Hedera an attractive option.
Additionally, he emphasized the potential for microtransactions in Indonesia, where small to mid-sized businesses dominated the economy. The familiarity of users with QR payment systems made adopting the technology a natural transition. With the growing demand for microtransactions, he expressed confidence that their platform would resonate with the local market.
Furthermore, Kelvin highlighted Hedera’s unique positioning as a trusted ecosystem backed by enterprises, which he believed would play a crucial role in bridging real-world assets to decentralized systems. The potential for real-world asset tokenization excited him, as it promised to tap into a market far larger than the current Web3 landscape.
Dive Deeper into the Winners’ Stories!
Curious to learn more about all the winners and their innovative projects? Tune in to our livestream on X.com for in-depth discussions and insights into each remarkable solution from the Hello Future Hackathon!
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