Traditionally, a hackathon is intensive, software-driven, and requires prototyping and presentations to try to solve both known and unknown problems. TechCrunch’s Hackathon will bring all that and more, starting with diversity. The blockchain-focused hackathon, with blockchain’s versatile applications and penetration into a seemingly endless number of industries, will bring people with different knowledge base and backgrounds, from game developers to supply chain software developers, from medical software developers to voting application developers.
This year, the Hong Kong Hackathon will precede the main TechCrunch 2018 Shenzhen Hackathon.
Each team has 24 hours to design and develop a proof of concept, and judging and awards come from the most innovative companies in the world.
The Hong Kong Hackathon is comprised of two challenges by our partners Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and QIQ.
The Challenges
Task 1: How to design a blockchain-based decentralized identity system for financial services? by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs
Identity systems, like usernames and user data, are a key element of most commercial services. Examples of identity systems include social media accounts, credit scoring accounts, public services accounts, and digital wallet accounts. Currently, almost all online identity systems are managed by centralized parties. Your accounts and data are controlled by third parties and stored on their servers. The disadvantage of this approach is its lack of protection to users on the unauthorized use of their data, its lack of data portability for users to transfer data to other platforms, and its susceptibility to malicious hacking. Your task will be to create decentralized identity systems that improve user experience in financial services.
About Wanxiang Blockchain Labs
Funded by China Wanxiang Holdings, Wanxiang Blockchain Labs is a non-profit research institution focusing on blockchain technology. Wanxiang Blockchain Labs provides support for the research, entrepreneurship, developments and applications in the industry. It will also provide reference information for regulatory bodies. Overall, Wanxiang Blockchain Labs dedicates itself to the promotion and application of the blockchain industry, and to the exploration of how the technology will be contributing to the development of the economy and the society. As the first research organization in China and determined to devote itself to promoting the development of blockchain technology globally, Wanxiang Blockchain Labs has been hosting global blockchain summits in China, which have become one of the most influential industrial events in Asia. Through these efforts, participants from various industries have shown great interest in blockchain technology and the known the potential of what it could bring to the world.
Task 2: Details coming soon
The Hong Kong Hackathon is organized in collaboration with Cyberport
About Hong Kong Cyberport
Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 1,000 technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With the vision to become a main force in developing the digital tech industry as a key economic driver of Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing youth, startups, and entrepreneurs to grow in the digital industry by connecting them to strategic partners and investors, driving collaboration with local and international business partners to create new opportunities, and accelerating digital adoption amongst corporates and SMEs. Cyberport focuses on building key clusters of digital tech, namely FinTech, Big Data/AI, e-commerce and IoT/Wearables, to foster the development of Hong Kong into a “Smart City”. With a committed team of professionals providing all rounded value added services to support the digital community and an array of state-of-the-art tech facilities, Cyberport is the flagship for Hong Kong’s digital tech industry.
Shenzhen Hackathon
The TechCrunch Shenzhen Hackathon will encompass three challenges designed by our partners ArcBlock, TomatoWallet, Dapp.com, CryptoKitties, and Animoca.
The Challenges
Task 1: Blockchain Applications by ArcBlock
Your task will be to build decentralized applications using the ArcBlock Open Chain Access Protocol (OCAP) platform. For example, you can deploy contracts in Ethereum and use the OCAP platform to access and execute the contract under certain conditions; you can build an e-greeting card system where users can send their wishes to friends that are globally viewable and will never disappear; you can use the OCAP platform to distribute your own Ethereum token and introduce it as a user incentive system in your app, e.g. a todo app, that under certain conditions the app will allocate tokens for users as a gift.
About ArcBlock
ArcBlock is a platform service that provides a comprehensive solution to problems with today’s blockchains by combining blockchain technology with cloud computing.ArcBlock’s introduction of the OCAP allows users to use the similar interface to access data from different chains, so that they can “learn once, build everywhere”. Right now, ArcBlock OCAP platform has in-depth support for Bitcoin and Ethereum, with a wide variety SDK in different platforms (Javascript, Android, iOS, Nodejs, Python, etc.) to enable developers to access data from the blockchain easily.
Task 2: Consumption Scenarios of Blockchain Digital Currency by TomatoWallet
Your task will be to refer to the application platform framework of TomatoWallet, such as the dual-core concept, the solution to the transaction rate problem of payment and high fees for small transfers to make innovative Bitcoin consumer scenario applications with open source Bitcoin wallets. For example, you can leverage the platform nature of the wallet to develop more achievable sub-product modules, including purchase, payment, consumption, financial management, and other directions.
About TomatoWallet
Founded by former Product Manager of Sogou, TomatoWallet is a decentralized wallet in which the user has complete control of the private key, and which shields high-risk transactions, provides password backup and anti-screenshot features. TomatoWallet is a multi-currency, multi-conversion wallet, with Version 2.5 already supporting BTC/ETH/EOS.
Task 3: Blockchain game by Dapp.com & CryptoKitties & Animoca
Your task will be to develop an Ethereum based decentralized application (dapp) utilizing the CryptoKitties API.
About Dapp.com
Dapp.com has created an entire ecosystem to encourage dapp development, awareness, and usage. Its mission is to demystify decentralized technology, helping, and inspiring developers and users to embrace this exciting new space with confidence. Dapp.com helps developers gain the tools and knowledge they need to bring their innovative decentralized tech ideas to market. Dapp.com also lists dapps so that they can be showcased to and reviewed by users around the world.
About CryptoKitties
CryptoKitties is one of the world’s first blockchain games. CryptoKitties are digital, collectible cats built on the Ethereum blockchain. They can be bought and sold using ether, and bred to create new cats with exciting traits and varying levels of cuteness. While CryptoKitties isn’t a digital currency, it does offer the same security: each CryptoKitty is one-of-a-kind and 100% owned by you. It cannot be replicated, taken away, or destroyed.
About Animoca
Animoca (Outblaze Ventures) is a cross-platform app publisher of entertainment products for smartphones and tablets. Thanks to its ability to publish and promote products in multiple languages, Animoca is expanding operations and market share around the world. The company has published several popular titles including the smash hit Pretty Pet Salon and other games in the hugely popular Pretty Pet series.
Who can participate
Everyone interested in technology is welcome to join. You can come to share your ideas, broaden your horizons, and test your skills. We want to learn from you, even if there’s no mature product or clear business model. We want imagination and unconstrained innovation!
Principles
Ownership and intellectual property rights
The Ownership and the Intellectual Property Rights of the products produced during the hackathon competition belong to their producers completely, and can be used at their own will.
All participants should sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement for APIs at the hackathon in TechCrunch Shenzhen 2018.
Participants
Both individual participants and teams are accepted. Each team can have up to 5 members.
Presentation
You will run your product and present it to the public. If you do not finish your presentation, don’t worry! Just try your best.
Awards
The jury for the hackathon consists of experts and delegates from our sponsors. At the end of the hackathon, we will award top participants with the grand prize and other special awards, including the Most Innovative Product, the Most Valuable Product, and the Most Completed Product awards.
Registration qualifications
We suggest that participants have 3-5 members on a team. However, if you think you own sufficient capacity to be both a front-end engineer and a developer, individual participants are also acceptable. Registration information should includethe division of work, name list, and an introduction of your project.
We believe it would be helpful that you already have a mature idea before coming to the hackathon, however you are not allowed to bring a semi-finished or finished product to the competition. Furthermore, if you have a strong interest in participating but find it difficult to bring partners with you, you can leave a note with your registration information and tell us the role you could play in a team. You could then form a team onsite. We will assess all registration information and finalize a list of participants.
Schedule
Registration:
Hong Kong: NOW until 8th Nov
Shenzhen: NOW until 16th Nov
Sign-up Page:
Competition:
Hong Kong: 10th Nov – 11th Nov
Shenzhen: 17th Nov – 8th Nov
Teams that pass the qualification assessment can move on to the finals. Five teams will be awarded according to the results of the final evaluation.
Other benefits
- Everyone receives a two-day TechCrunch 2018 International City Event – Shenzhen ticket if their project is submitted successfully
- Everyone receives a TechCrunch 2018 International City Event – Shenzhen Hackathon Certificate of Honor
- Everyone receives a sponsor souvenir t-shirt
Other Awards
Hong Kong
- Winner: Cash prize of HKD $30,000
- 1st Runner-up: Prizes worth up to HKD $15,000
- 2nd Runner-up: Prizes worth up to HKD $5,000
Shenzhen
- Nvidia RTX 2080
- MacBook
- iPhone XS MAX
- HHKB Keyboard
- Bitcoin