The Australian Blockchain Club (ABC), CloudTech Group and JR Academy have partnered together to launch HackFest: Hack the Planet, harnessing AI and Web3 to build a sustainable future. The objective of the event is to take advantage of the interest in these disruptive technologies to incentivise young coders and developers to solve real-world problems.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore the latest tools and techniques for building decentralized applications, smart contracts and other Web3 infrastructure, as well as developing innovative AI solutions that can improve people’s lives and enhance the capabilities of Web3 platforms. The core objective of the event will be for teams to plan, build and execute over a short time frame — from concept to MVP. Hackathons are currently in vogue, but most only present the pitch part of a project. At ABC’s Web3 and AI Hackfest, the aim is to guide early-stage companies further.
The first entrant spotlight is Sincidium. Born from a competitive spark at the UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition, co-founders Oliver Cucanic and Benjamin Arya turned rivalry into a fruitful partnership. Their combined expertise led them to win this year’s competition, with a shared vision to uphold student competency in the AI era. Benjamin, an MD student focusing on the future of healthcare, and Oliver, a Ph.D. candidate delving into cancer metastasis, joined forces to safeguard academic integrity.
Sincidium is not merely a response to the challenges academic institutions face with advanced AI tools like ChatGPT, but an innovative approach to validate student understanding. Oliver shared:
“At Sincidium, we’re not just detecting AI-generated content, but ensuring that students truly grasp their subjects. It’s our commitment to academic rigor that drives us to lead in academic innovation in this fast-paced tech world.”
With the largest prize pool ever in Australia, participants will compete for a total prize pool of over $50,000 in cash prizes, crypto based incentives from sponsors and thousands of dollars of mentoring, PR support for the winning projects, office space, paid internships and developer positions, and most importantly for these young companies — potential access to venture capital.
Liam Bussell, chief marketing officer of Cloudtech, said:
“The interest in hackathons has grown significantly, and if we focus that attention on ideas that have the potential to improve the planet or disrupt inefficient existing processes, we will incentivize new solutions to previously intractable problems. We look forward to working with our teams, judges and partners to ensure the event is both exciting and meaningful. Great ideas often start as science fiction — private space travel, the internet and AI-powered health interventions. It only takes creativity and hard work to move these ideas off the page and into real life.”
The judging criteria will focus on projects that are simple, workable and functional, and aim to either invent a new technology that will improve the lives of its users or significantly improve an existing process — from more efficient parking meters to retail carbon capture funding via micropayments over the Lightning Network. Unlike the previous generation of tech disruptors, participants won’t “move fast and break things, instead, they will move fast and fix things.”
Don’t miss the chance to learn from the best, connect with fellow visionaries, and make a lasting impact on the future of Web3 and AI technologies. To register for the Web3 and AI Hackfest, visit the official website. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of Web3 and AI technology and connect with like-minded visionaries.
About Web3 and AI Hackfest
The event itself is made up of two parts. The hackathon online project submissions opened on May 15, followed by a submission deadline on Aug. 6. Judging and code review will take place on Aug. 7, 8 and 9, with finalists being announced on Aug. 10. The event will culminate in a two-day, in-person hackathon at RMIT on Aug. 18 and 19, with a final pitching session and an award ceremony.
The IRL section of the event will be hosted at RMIT’s Storey Hall, and will feature judges from some of Australia’s biggest universities and companies, including University of Queensland, RMIT, Monash University, Deloitte, Accenture, FileCoin and ReBlonde Communications, with Cointelegraph acting as the official media partner for the event.
Hackfest is set apart not only by its focus on innovative technology but also by its impressive lineup of mentors and judges, who are industry leaders and experts in the Web3 and AI fields. Throughout the event, participants will have the unique opportunity to receive guidance and insights from these experienced professionals, greatly enhancing the learning experience. These connections will serve as a powerful resource for aspiring developers and entrepreneurs, extending beyond the hackathon and into their future endeavors.
Hackathon organizers
Australian Blockchain Club ABC is a rapidly growing community of AI and Web3 coders and developers who are interested in new technologies.
JR Academy is an edu-tech company that offers hands-on, intensive bootcamp in web and mobile app development, Web3, blockchain, DevOps, data engineering, data analytics, product management and brand UI/UX design.
CloudTech Group lends its expertise to world-class professional blockchain project management, consultancy, and a diverse range of financial services.
Consensus Ventures focuses on high-potential, early-stage tech startups, targeting risk-tolerant institutional investors. The fund offers a diversified portfolio and fosters startup growth through strategic industry connections and partnerships.