2024 Akash Hackathons Proposal

Overview

Hosting hackathons for the Akash Network has become increasingly imperative, driven by the network's growing prominence. This proposal introduces the idea of hosting 3 Akash Network hackathons throughout 2024.

Why host Akash Hackathons in 2024?

• Innovation and Ideation: By bringing together diverse teams of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs, these events stimulate the creation of novel solutions and applications that leverage the unique features of the Akash Network.

• Ecosystem Growth: Encouraging developers to build on the Akash Network expands the range of applications available, attracting more users and stakeholders to the network.

• Developer Engagement: Offering hands-on experiences with the Akash platform encourages developers to explore its capabilities, experiment, and contribute to the community.

• Community Building: By facilitating collaboration and networking among participants, an Akash hackathon can strengthen the bonds within our community, creating a supportive environment for ongoing development and collaboration.

• Akash Education: Hackathons act as educational platforms, providing participants with the opportunity to learn more about the Akash Network. This increased awareness contributes to a more informed and skilled developer community.

Hosting hackathons for the Akash Network in 2024 can be an essential tool for driving innovation, expanding the ecosystem, engaging developers, solving real-world challenges, building a strong community, and accelerating the overall development of the Akash Network. These events serve as a catalyst for progress, positioning the Akash Network as a leading force in the rapidly evolving landscape of DePin.

2024 Hackathon Timeline

• January hackathon (Jan - March)
• May Hackathon (May - July)
• September Hackathon (Sept - Nov.)

Projected Outcomes

• 15 new Insiders to the Insider program
• 600 Registrations per hackathon
• 75 projects
• 3+ new open source tools
• 6 Sponsored Tracks (partnerships)
• 12 recorded workshops (video content)

Individual Hackathon Timelines

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 during preparation phase)

  • Prepare final details of hackathon
  • Encourage signups

• 1.5 months (Execution)

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

• 2 weeks (Review)

  • Feedback forms
  • Announce winners
  • Post mortem with organizers & sponsors
  • Judges notes given to participants

Hackathon Roles (Support)

• Hackathon Community Manager: Manages hacker events and hacker support
• Hackathon Marketing Manager: Leads hackathon judges confirmation and partner sponsored tracks
• Event Manager: Manages workshops hosted throughout the duration of the hackathon
• Additional support not included in roles will be provided by members of the Overclock Labs team
• Judges x4
• Workshop Mentors x4

2024 Hackathon Budget

Each hackathon will have increasing prize pools.

• Early 2024 Hackathon - 50k USD in AKT
• Mid 2024 Hackathon - 75 USD in AKT
• Late 2024 Hackathon - 100k USD in AKT

Dorahacks will cover the majority of prize pools, and the Akash community fund will cover up to the needed amount. Below are estimated amounts needed for each hackathon for prizes.

• Early 2024 Hackathon - 10k USD in AKT
• Mid 2024 Hackathon - 30k USD in AKT
• Late 2024 Hackathon - 60k USD in AKT

Rewards

• Dorahacks Prize allotment $150,000 (+/-) USD
• Akash Community Fund Prize allotment $100k USD

Hackathon support roles

• $27,000

Swag

• $4,500

Paid Sponsor Tracks

• Sponsor to cover costs

Individual Hackathon Budget

Hackathon support roles

• Community Manager - $3,000
• Event Manager - $3,000
• Marketing Manager - $3,000
• Total: $9,000

Rewards

• Dorahacks Prize allotment $50,000
• Akash Community Fund Prize allotment $50,000
• Swag $1,500 USD
• Paid Sponsor Tracks - Sponsor to cover costs
• Total community pool request in AKT for 2024: $131,500 USD paid in AKT. 30 day MA price ($2.632) was used as this is a one time request.

Note: Unused prize winnings will go back into the community pool

Voting:

By voting YES to this proposal, you agree:

• Approval for the full funding amount and
• Authorize the community pool to disburse AKT ($131,500) for 2024 hackathons to a publicly visible wallet.

By voting NO, you disagree that community pool resources should be used for hackathon funding.

By voting ABSTAIN, you express no opinion on the matter.

AKT Wallet Address: akash1kzc6r8dd4g6wsjt0ajd0hc52c243hpd2tk8tr0