Block.one has always been a pioneer for blockchain based web3 start ups. Mostly known for the development of the EOSIO protocol and crypto exchange platform, Bullish, Block.one has also supported numerous endeavors geared towards change. We’re taking a moment to recap what happened at the EOS Global Hackathon series, but we’re also looking forward to what’s next. Checking in with some of the past winners and competitors about how their projects #BuiltOnEOSIO are going, where they are, and what they plan to do next.
The Recap
In 2018, Block.one hosted the EOS Global Hackathon series, which brought together people from all over the world – 1,724 people to be exact. It is all about creating blockchain applications that drive positive change and ultimately solve topical issues.
Starting in Hong Kong, we traveled through Sydney to London. The Africa Virtual event was held in Cape Town, followed by a trip to San Francisco, and a grand finale in Cape Town. A judging panel well-versed in what makes a great project, product, or pitch, along with mentors available at all hours to help bring ideas to fruition, led to much collaboration and inspiration. Block.one’s open source software, EOSIO, served as inspiration for 280 projects.
As a result, we’ve launched a new home for EOSIO hackathons – hackathon.eos.io – along with resources and information for anyone around the world looking to host, partner with or attend an EOSIO powered hackathon. As time goes on, we hope to foster community-driven EOSIO hackathons that bring together like-minded people and highlight the passion, creativity, and skill of a collective that has made and continues to make a mass contribution to the evolution of EOSIO.
“Boy Band of Blockchain” Hackathon Winners GeneOS Gear Up For Beta Launch
Albert Chen, Co-Founder and CEO of GeneOS
Since the Grand Finale in Cape Town, Benjamin Tse, Jens Elstner, Albert Chen and Jay Bowles have been advancing their project towards beta in Q1 2020, followed by a pilot program shortly thereafter.
A slow but steady progression has been typical for Co-Founder and CEO Albert and the team, “We had to keep iterating our product as we dug deeper into the genomic and medical space.”
Their project (which was also given the Best Social Impact Prize in London) arose from a need for more people to sequence their genomes privately so mankind – particularly the scientific community – can better understand the information contained in DNA.
“Our main focus has been customer development – testing our initial assumptions with genetic researchers, designing and validating our prototype based on their needs and understanding the AI world.”
While their vision is grand, it is one the team is breaking down into smaller, more manageable steps, and they are working actively to accomplish each one.
Smartpress generate $50,000 in revenue for smart contract based apps
Lachlan Greenbank, CEO & Founder of Smartpress
Since winning the Sydney Hackathon, Smartpress has not only continued to develop their web app that allows anyone to integrate apps with EOSIO smart contracts, they have also been achieving significant and impressive milestones as well. A version of their service platform launched in September, generating revenue of just under $50,000.
Lachlan Greenbank, the founder, says the company has made progress after a year of technical difficulties, which they were able to overcome with the mentorship they received in Sydney. Mentorship provided us with a condensed incubator program that gave Smartpress a push, and we’ve been building on their advice ever since.”
As the blockchain landscape continues to evolve, we have also been finding our own identity and strategies to position ourselves as a competitive and innovative alternative. With a revised user experience focus, they hope to grow their market of smart contract-powered apps in 2020.
Chestnut prepare for 2020 launch, following white paper publication
Daniel Liebeskind, Co-Founder of Chestnut
Chestnut, second place winners and winners of Best User Experience at the London edition of the EOS Global Hackathon, are working to improve the user experience of blockchain applications through an easy to use account with useful safety features.
The team plans to launch Chestnut after publishing a technical white paper recently. Moreover, they’ve already built out their smart contract system which has been independently audited.
The team has not been the only one to make progress. Decrypted, a consulting firm they launched after their success in London, boasts a portfolio of EOSIO-based clients, such as Telos.
For blockchain applications to be adopted by the masses, there needs to be an infrastructure that makes user onboarding easy and safe, says Daniel Liebeskind, Co-Founder “Chestnut is a crucial part of that infrastructure, now more than ever.”
NouGit continue to bulid decentralized platform after winning $100,000 in SF hackathon
Rob Behnke, Co-Founder of NouGit
NouGit has continued building its decentralized and incentivized git repository platform since winning the first prize of US$100,000 at the San Francisco Hackathon. Provides core features that allow users to register, add and shape project repositories, fund job postings, and pay coders who meet the job requirements.
What is NouGit’s ultimate goal? To build a system that allows many partners to build applications on top of the core system it provides. The current team consists of past hackathon participants, Rob Behnke (CEO) and Fred Madrid (CPO), along with newcomers Mo Ayyash (Google alumni) and full stack developer Thomas Powers (EOS Bet).
NouGit is focusing on solving some of the most critical issues in open source today with multiple goals in 2020, including a launch and seed raise. “We’re empowering developers to lead abandoned repos, enable crowdfunding features, issues and projects,” says Behnke.
Originally published at https://eos.io.
Author
Chris Munch is a professional cryptocurrency and blockchain writer with a background in software businesses, and has been involved in marketing within the cryptocurrency space. With a passion for innovation, Chris brings a unique and insightful perspective to the world of crypto and blockchain. Chris has a deep understanding of the economic, psychological, marketing and financial forces that drive the crypto market, and has made a number of accurate calls of major shifts in market trends. He is constantly researching and studying the latest trends and technologies, ensuring that he is always up-to-date on the latest developments in the industry. Chris’ writing is characterized by his ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner, making it accessible to a wide audience of readers.
