Overview

With the launch of the new Akash website, open-sourcing the network and Akash’s new operational framework of SIGs, WGs and the steering committee, the Hackathon working group believes it’s worthwhile hosting a marketing campaign around and how developers can get involved with the Akash ecosystem. We believe the best way to bring attention to what Akash is building at this juncture is hosting the first ever Akash Network hackathon.

Why Host an Akash Hackathon?

Crypto is a loud space. There are hundreds of projects trying to get developers' attention. Looking at well funded projects, such as Ethereum, Aptos, Near, Juno, ect. It becomes plain to see that hackathons are a key driver of developer growth within a given crypto project.

A hackathon will allow our marketing efforts to align on a number of important fronts.

• Bring attention to Akash and it’s technology
• Encourage contributions on Github
• Support development new ecosystem partners
• Partner and cross promote Akash across the Cosmos ecosystem

How did we get here?

In late January 2023 the community formed a Hackathon Working group where members of the Overclock Labs team, Akash Insiders and community members developed a hackathon strategy. After meeting with community members, feedback was included in the initial proposal doc and finalized for this proposal.

Projected Outcomes

Because this is the first Akash Hackathon, it's hard to forecast outcomes. However, given audience size and current tools available on Akash, the below is an estimate on what can be expected from an Akash Hackathon

• Host a month long virtual hackathon driving 500 new contributions to the Akash github
• Onboard 100 new Akash EDU students
• Onboard 10 new Akash Insiders
• Onboard 2 new ecosystem partners (ex - Cloudmos, Terraform, Praetor)
• Drive 100 new deployments on the network
• Closer alignment with Cosmos ecosystem through sponsored tracks

Timeline

Below is a timeline of activities in lead up to, during and after the proposed hackathon. Exact dates are yet to be determined until approved through community governance.

1 month (Preparation)

• Develop marketing assets
• Outreach and partnership with ecosystem players
• Develop Hackathon tracks
• Develop sponsored tracks
• Define hackathon timeline
• Define budget
• Judge & mentor selection
• Judging criteria

2 weeks (Registration)

• Prepare final details of hackathon
• Encourage signups

1 month (Execution)

• Weekly mentor sessions
• Dedicated website
• Dedicated discord channel
• Demo Day (top 3 pitches w/judges)
• Review projects and select winners

1 month (Review)

• Feedback forms
• Announce winners
• Post mortem with organizers & sponsors

Hackathon Roles (Support)

• Hackathon Lead:

• manages team, hackathon tooling, graphics, timeline, budget, swag, prize distribution, reports, ect.

• Hackathon Community Manager:

• manages hacker events and hacker support

• Hackathon Marketing Manager:

• leads hackathon promotion and partner sponsored tracks

• Additional support not included in roles will be provided by members of the Overclock Labs team
• Judges x4
• Mentors x4

Budget

• Hackathon organizing tool: 3,000 USD
• Hackathon support roles (paid monthly):

• Lead - 4000 USD in AKT (over 3.5 months)
• Event Manager - 3000 USD in AKT (over 3.5 months)
• Marketing Manager - 3000 USD in AKT

• Rewards: 100,000 AKT (split among 3 winners)
• Swag: 2,000 USD
• Paid Sponsor Tracks:

• (Paid in native token by sponsors + USD support)

Total community pool request in AKT

15,000 USD (current prices as of March 2023: .34) or 44,117 AKT 100,000 AKT (current prices as of March 2023: .34)

SubTotal: 144,117 AKT

144,117 AKT + 10% overage = 11,411 AKT

Total Request: 155,529AKT

If approved a proposal for the community pool spend will be posted on chain. This is a text proposal signaling support.

Voting:

• By voting YES, you agree to take community pool resources for hosting an Akash Hackathon.
• By voting NO, you disagree that community pool resources should be used for an Akash Hackathon.
• By voting ABSTAIN, you express no opinion on the matter.