Introducing The First Web5 Hackathon in Africa

Introduction

DevCareer is proud to announce the launch of a Web 5 hackathon in partnership with TBD, a developer platform focused on making the decentralized financial world accessible for everyone.

The organization is focused on bringing Web5 to Africa and hosting the first-ever Web5 hackathon on the continent.

Web5 envisions a decentralized and user-empowered internet. This paradigm shift empowers individuals to reclaim control over their personal data and manage access preferences with autonomy.

Web5 is dedicated to forging an internet resilient to the influence and control of Big Tech entities. It aims to safeguard personal data and restore the sovereignty of digital identities to individuals.

It will have a tremendous impact on the future of the internet in the coming years as it lets developers focus on creating delightful user experiences while returning ownership of data and identity to individuals.

The Rise of Web 5

The world has come a long way since Web1 was unveiled to the world; it has grown exponentially in the following aspects:

1. Web 1.0 offered read-only pages.
2. Web 2.0 enabled social networking and user-generated content.
3. Web 3.0 brings semantic integration and data interoperability.
4. Web 4.0 connects the Internet of Things with advanced virtual reality.
5. Web 5.0 aims for an emotional, human-like interface.

Unveiling the Web 5 Hackathon

The DevCareer Web5 Hackathon is an avenue for participants to explore Web5 technology and decentralized technologies and use this to bring innovations to real-world problems. This hackathon will be a hands-on experience that invites the likes of developers, designers, technical writers, and tech enthusiasts across Africa to exhibit their skills.

This program will provide opportunities to network with like-minded individuals and compete for a prize pool of $30,000.

The hackathon is set to run virtually for 4 weeks, from November 20th to December 15th, 2023, and will be divided into the following phases:

1. Learning Phase: During this phase, participants will engage in an essential webinar led by TBD’s team. The goal is to provide participants with the knowledge necessary for successful participation in the upcoming hackathon and to share resources on building with Web5 technology.
2. Writing Phase: This phase gives participants an opportunity to document and articulate their solutions. Sharing knowledge and resources gained during the learning phase through public posts and articles.
3. Building Phase: This phase is the ‘Hackathon’ or competition phase, which involves participants working in teams to develop solutions for identified challenges using Web5 and decentralized technologies.

Webinar

The organization is hosting an inclusive webinar for everyone interested in learning about Web5 and decentralized technologies.

Whether you’re an experienced developer or just stepping into the tech space, this session offers valuable insights into the significance of Web5 technologies in tackling real-life challenges.

The invited guest, Rizel Scarlett will share tips and discuss the hackathon’s goals, scope, and judging criteria. This webinar is open to all and is a mandatory session for all applicants to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the technology to be used in the hackathon.

Date: November, 20th 2023

Time: 5 pm WAT

Venue: Twitch

Reserve your spot for the webinar here.

Prizes

There is a prize pool of $30,000 for the top teams: first, second, and third place runner-ups, and prize gifts for all presenting teams.

There are also lots of cool prizes to be won at different stages of the hackathon including at the workshop.

Other participants and innovative presentations stand a chance to win cool gift items and scholarship opportunities.

How to Participate

Eligibility Criteria

1. Participation is open to everyone
2. Participants must be part of a team
3. Teams should not exceed four members.
4. Teams must include at least one female member.

Hackathon Requirements

1. Participants are open to working collaboratively in teams.
2. Each team member must possess a specific skill set related to design or engineering.
3. ​​Participants will be required to invest time during the Hackathon period for 4 weeks, from November 20th to December 15th.
4. Participants are required to register for the hackathon before the deadline on November 20th; applications close after the workshop.
5. Participants will have to provide their personal information, such as name, email address, and phone number, and provide details of each member of their team during the registration process.
6. Each team must have a unique name and a team leader.
7. Participants must use Web5.js to develop their web-based applications. More information on Web5 can be found here.
8. Participants must have access to a laptop with a microphone and camera, as well as reliable internet/Wi-Fi during the project demo.
9. Participants are required to create innovative solutions that address real-world problems based on the area of focus selected during the application.
10. Participants must present their projects to hackathon judges within the given time frame.

How to Register

Participants can register for the Hackathon on the DevCareer website using this link.

Participants can also join the Slack community (#web5_hackathon channel) to network and collaborate with like-minded individuals. It’s the perfect space for questions and team formation in case you are looking for team members when you register.

Tips for Success

1. Participants should utilize our Slack channel to ask questions.
2. You should work well with your team and utilize their knowledge toward the success of your innovation.
3. Be active with your learning mindset and eagerness for success.

Partners’ Messages

Sultan Akintunde, founder of DevCareer Africa had the following to say about the hackathon:

The team is thrilled and eager to witness the incredible solutions that will be birthed at the end of the hackathons, considering this is its first introduction on the continent.

We are proud to host and bring the opportunities in Web5 closer to African talent through a platform that fosters innovation and collaboration. We believe that this event will inspire creativity and new ideas that will shape the future of the web.

DevCareer

DevCareer is an ed-tech non-profit organization that is focused on empowering the next generation of tech experts and innovators across Africa. The organization is focused on supporting untapped and underrepresented tech talent who have an interest in venturing into the field of technology, providing access to resources needed to get started on their learning journey, and building careers for themselves.

The organization’s mission is to create tech careers for African youths and drive innovation, creative solutions, and inclusivity across the continent.

TBD

TBD is an organization focused on creating a decentralized future that returns ownership and control over your finances, data, and identity. Guided by this vision, TBD is building an open-source developer platform and infrastructure that enables everyone to access and participate in the global economy.

The organization’s mission is to advance economic empowerment around the globe through the power of decentralized solutions, open-source, and collaboratively.

Conclusion

Our goal is to inspire participants to build innovative solutions using Web5 technologies and reward innovative work with cash prizes.

We encourage you to apply for and participate in the DevCareer Web5 Hackathon, which begins on November 17th, 2023, and ends on November 20th, 2023.

You can find more information on the DevCareer website.

Come one, come all, for the success of Web5 across the globe.