The Next Top Blockchain Startup Competition
June 1st - July 10th, 2024
- Hackathon
- Start-up Competition
- Accelerator Program
- $100,000+
Select winning teams get a chance to present at the virtual pitch day and win up to $100,000+ grants from Coinweb and accelerated by GDA Capital
About the competition
The Next Top Blockchain Startup is a virtual hackathon, competition and accelerator program helping spotlight the next wave of blockchain entrepreneurs.
This is the opportunity to build, pitch and test out your idea in-front of industry leading protocols, organizations and investors. Do it solo or make a team. Compete in different prize categories, or tracks, to win crypto bounties and access to opportunities that go beyond the hackathon.
Check out How it Works for more info!
Tracks and Themes
Participants will focus on all key areas of blockchain technology such as DeFi, NFTs, scalability solutions, and social impact.
The competition is organized into tracks to align projects with industry needs and provide targeted mentorship.
Interoperability
DePIN
Modular L1
Gaming
Social Impact
AI
Privacy
Meme
DeFi
GambleFi
Ethereum L1
RWA
Metaverse
NFT
Schedule and Deliverables
The Next Top Blockchain Startup Competition is aimed at discovering and nurturing emerging talents in the blockchain technology sphere.
It is open to a global audience of entrepreneurs, developers, and innovators. The competition is structured to foster innovation through mentorship, education, and competition, bridging the gap between innovative concepts and market-ready blockchain solutions.
The competition unfolds in three dynamic phases:
Phase 1: Announcement & Sign-up (May)
Kicking off in April, we officially open the doors for participants to step into the spotlight. This phase is all about spreading the word and inviting ambitious blockchain startups to throw their hats into the ring.
Entrepreneurs and teams are encouraged to sign up, submit their project outlines, and prepare to build their revolutionary blockchain solutions.
Registration details, submission guidelines, and competition criteria will be available on Devpost.
Phase 2: Competition Begins (June)
The real journey begins on May 1st, when the competition officially gets underway.
Participants will navigate through a series of challenges designed to test the viability, innovation, and potential impact of their projects.
This phase is about demonstrating creativity, strategic acumen, and the capability to disrupt the blockchain ecosystem.
Judges comprising industry leaders, innovators, and venture capitalists will evaluate submissions, providing valuable feedback and selecting finalists for the next exciting phase.
Phase 3: Live Pitches (July)
Mark your calendars for June 14th, the climax of the competition, where the selected finalists will have the chance to pitch their projects live to a panel of esteemed judges and a global audience.
This event is a platform for participants to articulate their vision, showcase their progress, and prove why their project deserves to win.
The live pitches will be streamed across multiple channels, ensuring participants receive maximum visibility among potential investors, partners, and the broader blockchain community.
Educational Webinars
To maximize the benefit for participants, all webinars are scheduled within the first weeks of the hackathon, ensuring that participants are well-equipped from the outset.
The event starts with an open call for participants, followed by a one-month incubation period.
Participants are expected to hit weekly milestones, including developing prototypes and gathering user feedback.
This ensures continuous progress and allows for meaningful mentorship.
Final Pitch and Timeline to Market
The competition culminates in a final pitch event with selected teams presenting to a panel of judges.
The timeline anticipates promotional activities beginning by April 1, with the competition starting on May 1, setting the stage for a comprehensive development and presentation phase.
Tracks & Webinars Alignment
Unifying Blockchain Worlds: Mastering Interoperability
Gain insights into the importance of interoperability and explore solutions with Coinweb experts.
Securing the Chain: Next-Gen Cybersecurity Solutions
Learn about the evolution of blockchain security through decentralized/DePin methods with Naoris.
Foundation of the Future: Exploring Modular L1 Innovations
Discover the significance of Modular Layer 1 technologies in enhancing blockchain scalability and efficiency.
Game On: Blockchain's Revolution in Gaming
Explore how blockchain technology is transforming the gaming industry.
Making a Difference: Blockchain for Social Good
Investigate how blockchain projects can drive meaningful social and environmental change.
Smart Tech Meets Ledger: Al's Role in Blockchain Evolution
Dive into how Al integration is propelling blockchain technology forward.
Meme Culture and Blockchain
Explore the intersection of meme culture and blockchain technology and its impact on community engagement and project virality.
Weekly Deliverables
The event starts with an open call for participants, followed by a one-month incubation period.
Participants are expected to hit weekly milestones, including developing prototypes and gathering user feedback.
This ensures continuous progress and allows for meaningful mentorship.
Week 1
May marks the beginning of the competition. During the first week, participating members are expected to form into teams, register and select a track.
The main focus of this phase is ensuring that all teams have access to the necessary information including registration details, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria available on Devpost, facilitating a smooth start to their competition journey.
Week 2
Entering the second week, teams will initiate the development process of their projects, concentrating on their primary technology.
Participants start to bring their digital assets projects to life, emphasizing creativity and the application of strategic insights to disrupt the blockchain ecosystem.
This period is also marked by active participation in webinars, which are designed to align with the projects’ focus areas.
A main focus of this stage is the execution of an extensive market analysis. Teams are required to research and analyze the specific market segment they aim for, to identifying both the target audience and the market opportunities.
Week 3
Teams move forward to develop their first prototype.
This week`s priority is to enhance the project’s viability, innovation, and potential impact, leveraging the insights provided to strengthen their digital asset solutions.
Week 4
The 4th week is dedicated to finalizing the chosen track, with teams polishing their prototypes, compiling comprehensive documentation of their work and preparing for the final pitch.
Teams are tasked with making a demo video that offers a comprehensive overview of their projects.
This event is pivotal, as it not only determines the competition’s winners but also provides participants with extensive visibility within the digital asset community and potential investors.
Prizes
The competition hosts multiple prize categories, or as we like to call them, tracks.
Each track will have different submission requirements and prizes to be won.
You can opt-in to multiple tracks! Don’t forget this.
$100,000+
in prizes
Unveiling a prize pool of $100,000
The event starts with an open call for participants, followed by a one-month incubation period.
Participants are expected to hit weekly milestones, including developing prototypes and gathering user feedback.
This ensures continuous progress and allows for meaningful mentorship.
Kicking off with Interoperability Innovator with Coinweb
This track aims to bridge the gaps between diverse blockchain ecosystems, enhancing seamless interactions and connections.
Gain insights into the importance of interoperability and explore-solutions with Coinweb experts.
Entrants can anticipate not only significant financial rewards but also strategic meetings and advisories that could catapult their projects into the limelight, emphasizing the pivotal role of interoperability in the blockchain landscape.
Decentralized Cybersecurity Champion with Naoris
This category rewards those pushing the envelope in securing and maintaining the integrity of data across blockchains.
This track underscores the importance of decentralized solutions in safeguarding data, offering cash rewards, and exclusive sessions to accelerate project development.
Modular Layer 1 Master
Focuses on the innovations in creating scalable, efficient blockchain infrastructure. Recognizing efforts in modular L1 technology, this challenge provides financial incentives, specialized hardware rewards, and opportunities for in-depth project development sessions, highlighting the critical need for scalability and efficiency in blockchain technologies.
Bitcoin Innovator
The Gaming
Further specialized tracks such as Interoperability Enhancements, Security Innovations, and Infrastructure Developments, among others, are each equipped with a unique set of rewards tailored to the specific domain. These rewards range from financial incentives, mentorship sessions, to exclusive development opportunities, all designed to propel innovative projects to new heights.
Ultimately, the competition’s prize structure is meticulously crafted to encompass a broad spectrum of blockchain technologies and applications. By offering such varied and significant rewards, it not only encourages entrepreneurs and developers to bring forward their most innovative ideas but also sets the stage for the next wave of blockchain innovation, significantly contributing to the expansion and diversification of the global blockchain ecosystem.
Joined by leaders in blockchain
Host Partners
Academic Partner
Community
Judges & Speakers
Michael Gord
CEO / GDA Capital
Joaquim Miro
Partner / GDA Capital
Erick Pinos
Ecosystem Lead / Nibiru Chain
David Carvalho
CEO / Naoris
Antonio Gomes
Capital Market Architect / GDA Capital
Toby Gilbert
CEO / Coinweb
Week 1
May marks the beginning of the competition. During the first week, participating members are expected to form into teams, register and select a track.
The main focus of this phase is ensuring that all teams have access to the necessary information including registration details, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria available on Devpost, facilitating a smooth start to their competition journey.
Week 2
Entering the second week, teams will initiate the development process of their projects, concentrating on their primary technology.
Participants start to bring their digital assets projects to life, emphasizing creativity and the application of strategic insights to disrupt the blockchain ecosystem.
This period is also marked by active participation in webinars, which are designed to align with the projects’ focus areas.
A main focus of this stage is the execution of an extensive market analysis. Teams are required to research and analyze the specific market segment they aim for, to identifying both the target audience and the market opportunities.
Week 3
the projects based on the webinar
The focus will be on refining the project to add depth and value, using the new knowledge from the previous webinars.
The third week is dedicated to refining the projects based on initial feedback received from the judging panel, composed of industry experts and venture capitalists. This feedback is integral to the iterative development process, prompting participants to revisit and adjust their strategies and project execution. The objective is to enhance the project’s viability, innovation, and potential impact, leveraging the insights provided to strengthen their blockchain solutions.
Week 4
The 4th week is dedicated to finalizing the chosen track, with teams polishing their prototypes and preparing for their presentation.
Teams are tasked with making a demo video that offers a comprehensive overview of their projects.