The recent Web3 Hackathon Colombia, held on December 2nd and 3rd at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, stood as a pivotal arena for the convergence of technology and innovation in Latin America. CeLatam’s representation in this event not only underscored the commitment and talent of the participants but also the organization’s mission to drive technological solutions that generate a positive impact in the region, encouraging reflection, creation, and sharing of experiences within the web3 ecosystem in Latin America.
The first day commenced with a warm welcome to the participants, providing them with the Hackathon Swag, inclusive of CeLatam’s contributions as the Main Sponsor. Keynote speeches by experts such as Cristóbal Pereira from CeLatam, Thiago Monteiro from Metapool, Juan David Reyes, Angela Ocando, Esteban Villegas, and David Carvajal provided a comprehensive view from the judges’ and sponsors’ perspectives, offering valuable advice and insights for project development in a Hackathon. Each of these speakers contributed a unique and enriching perspective, spanning from strategic visions to practical tips, significantly enhancing the event and providing participants with a solid foundation for their projects.
Following a revitalizing lunch, the Hacking hours began, a period where mentors and hackers actively engaged in project conception and creation. This was a pivotal moment, witnessing how initial ideas were shaped and refined with constant mentor feedback, enabling projects to solidify with greater focus and purpose. During the night, some participants opted to rest, while others remained active working on their projects. This variation in time management strategies reflected the commitment and determination of the teams.
The second day was crucial for CeLatam’s participation. With reduced development time, many teams focused on the Celo platform, deploying solutions from financial inclusion to environmental sustainability. It’s worth noting that out of the total 13 projects presented, an impressive 77%, namely 10 projects, were successfully deployed on the Celo Blockchain. This focused approach resulted in a positive and enthusiastic response from the community, demonstrating the versatility and potential that the Celo platform offers for diverse applications.
The event’s climax arrived with the award ceremony, bringing together participants, mentors, and judges in a vibrant atmosphere while announcing and celebrating the winning teams of the Hackathon’s main prize. Each team had the opportunity to present its project, highlighting the effort and dedication invested during the event. Hours after the official closure of the ceremony, sponsors conducted a rigorous selection process to recognize projects that best utilized their products, thus announcing the winners of each of their awards in the following days. CeLatam’s bounty winners were DAgro, GreenGate, and Kiwi, who stood out for their innovative solutions and received a prize of 333 cUSD each, totaling 1k cUSD distributed.
Winning Projects:
The DAgro project represents a revolution in agriculture, merging technology and sustainability to transform the agricultural market. This DApp seeks to directly connect farmers with consumers, ensuring transparency and eliminating exploitation in this sector.
Key Features:
- Blockchain Traceability: Offers the possibility to track the complete journey of food, from its origin to its final destination.
- Direct Interaction: Enables consumers to connect with farmers, learn about their sustainable practices, and contribute ideas.
- Agricultural Efficiency: Optimizes agricultural processes for more efficient and profitable production.
Benefits:
For Farmers: DAgro increases farmers’ visibility, highlights the quality and sustainability of their products, and provides them access to new markets. Additionally, it supports them in obtaining certifications and financing.
For Buyers: Provides peace of mind by knowing the origin and quality of food products, along with the opportunity to interact directly with producers.
This project invites you to join a technological and sustainable adventure, where each product tells its story, and each purchase makes a difference in the agricultural sector.
The GreenGate project arose from a profound understanding of current environmental challenges and a passion for ecological preservation. By merging Blockchain technology and NFTs, it aimed to provide access to natural parks while contributing to their conservation.
Technological Exploration:
During the development of GreenGate, in-depth research was conducted on the ERC721a standard to generate NFTs as access passes to natural parks. A comprehensive analysis of fund management was carried out, and mechanisms were implemented to ensure transparency in financial transactions.
Creation Process:
The created DApp allows users to acquire NFTs as entries to natural parks through a smart contract. Ensuring that a portion of each sale is allocated to conservation projects and community development.
Overcome Challenges:
The project faced challenges such as ensuring transparency in fund flow. An infrastructure was implemented that records each transaction on the Celo Blockchain, allowing real-time audits. Furthermore, a sustainable economic model was designed to support environmental projects and the operation of natural parks.
Impact and Future:
GreenGate represents a commitment to sustainability and innovation. It is a bridge between technology and the environment, with the potential to create lasting and positive change on the planet.
The Kiwi project is a decentralized financial protocol focused on inclusion and social responsibility. Its main objective is to democratize access to credit by offering discrimination-free loans to individuals from various socio-economic strata.
Project Highlights:
- Social Incentives and NFTs: Kiwi stands out for its structure based on social responsibility. Contributors not only gain profitability but also NFTs as recognition. These NFTs allow the sponsorship of ‘wards’, granting them access to low-interest loans, fostering a virtuous cycle of support and financial growth.
- Focus on Financial Inclusion: The project aims to reach a wide audience by facilitating access to credit for traditionally excluded individuals and organizations. It offers a socially responsible investment framework for funders.
- Blockchain Technology and Decentralization: Kiwi operates on the Celo network, ensuring transparency and security in transactions. It emphasizes its commitment to a non-discriminatory and accessible financial approach for everyone.
- Future Vision: Kiwi is committed to being a leader in the lending world, promoting a community of mutual support and financial inclusion. They are focused on continuously expanding and improving the protocol to meet the needs of a diverse and growing user base.
Kiwi aspires to be a benchmark in the field of inclusive financial services, making a significant difference in people’s lives through Blockchain technology and social responsibility.
These outstanding projects are eloquent testimonies of the power and versatility of web3 technology in solving contemporary challenges. From revolutionizing agriculture to environmental preservation and financial inclusion, each winning initiative represents a blank canvas where creativity, technology, and commitment merged to create meaningful solutions, showcasing the transformative potential that events like this can bring to various sectors.
The results obtained during the Hackathon highlight the dedication, creativity, and commitment of each participating team. CeLatam is proud to have supported this event, driving the promotion of innovation in the vibrant Web3 ecosystem. We are excited to continue contributing and growing alongside this dynamic community, jointly propelling a future where technology and innovation positively transform our region and beyond.