The GalaChain Hackathon 2024 teams are currently heads down, with only 24 hours total to bring to life their best GalaChain visions. With an impressive panel of guest judges from all sorts of unique web3 perspectives, hundreds of participating teams (both remote and in person), and over $1 million in total prize value up for grabs, this event has the whole web3 world abuzz with excitement.
Hackathons have long been celebrated as fertile ground for innovation, collaboration, and the rapid development of groundbreaking technologies. These intensive events are often compressed into short, adrenaline-fueled sessions, and our GDC 2024 event (co-sponsored by AWS and Alienware) is no exception.
Hackathons bring together the brightest developer minds to solve complex challenges or breathe life into novel ideas. You might be surprised at how many notable products and technologies began as hackathon projects, going on to transform industries and shape our interaction with the digital world. Here’s a look at some of the most remarkable innovations that started from the a hackathon:
GroupMe
GroupMe, a mobile group messaging app, was conceived at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon in 2010. It allows users to create private chat rooms with friends, significantly simplifying group communication. The idea, spurred by the need for better group communication tools at festivals, quickly gained traction. Within a year of its inception, GroupMe was acquired by Skype for about $80 million, showcasing the potential of hackathons to generate viable, high-value products.
Firebase
Firebase, now a pivotal component of Google’s development platform, started as a hackathon project called Envolve. Initially, it provided developers with an API to integrate chat functionality into their own websites. However, the founders recognized the broader potential of their technology for providing real-time backend services, which ultimately led to the creation of Firebase. Today, Firebase offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing databases, analytics, messaging and more.
Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift is a pioneering virtual reality headset that has become synonymous with immersive gaming and experiences. Development of this headset was significantly propelled forward by hackathons. Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, developed early prototypes that gained attention and development momentum through community hackathons. These events showcased the potential of VR technology, leading to a successful Kickstarter campaign and eventually, a $2 billion acquisition by Facebook.
Easy Taxi
Launched at the Startup Weekend Rio in 2011, Easy Taxi is a prime example of a hackathon project that addressed a real-world problem—hailing taxis in busy urban centers. The app connects passengers with drivers, making taxi services more accessible and convenient. Easy Taxi grew rapidly, becoming a global brand operating in multiple countries and exemplifying the potential for hackathon projects to scale into significant business ventures.
Docracy
Docracy, an open-source platform for sharing legal documents, was first conceived at a hackathon hosted by General Assembly. It addresses the need for accessible, reliable legal documents, allowing users to find, sign, and secretly share agreements. Docracy democratizes access to legal resources, illustrating how hackathons can foster solutions to widespread challenges beyond the tech industry.
Building a Decentralized Future
By providing a space for creativity, rapid prototyping, and collaboration, hackathons have contributed to the launch of products and technologies that impact millions of lives worldwide. Given the right environment and resources, a simple idea can evolve into a revolutionary product, driving progress across various sectors.
We’re thrilled for the opportunity to host this GDC Hackathon, co-sponsored by Amazon Web Services and Alienware. We hope that for its participants, the experience is even more highly valued than the incredible array of prizes.
GalaChain‘s integration of TypeScript for smart contract development via the GalaChain SDK represents a monumental leap towards democratizing web3 tech, making it much easier to work with for mainstream developers. This move is a testament to Gala’s commitment to fostering an environment of inclusivity and empowerment within the burgeoning web3 landscape.
“GalaChain allows you to write smart contracts in TypeScript, a programming language that is much more familiar to the modern developer. TypeScript is descended from JavaScript, which is practically mandatory for modern web application development and continues to be the most used programming language for eleven years running. Compared to something like Solidity (for Ethereum smart contracts) or Rust (for Solana smart contracts), there are MANY more developers that know and are comfortable with TypeScript. StackOverflow’s 2023 Developer Survey shows this very clearly. JavaScript is the most commonly used language with 63% of respondents using it; TypeScript is in 5th place with 38%. Rust is at 13% and Solidity at 1.3%.”
-Adam Price, GalaChain CTO
Traditionally, the complexity of blockchain development has created barriers to entry for many developers accustomed to more widely-used languages. GalaChain’s adoption of TypeScript invites a broader community of developers to participate in the web3 revolution.
TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, brings the benefits of strong typing and object-oriented programming, making it an ideal choice for developing complex, large-scale applications. By leveraging TypeScript, GalaChain not only appeals to a vast pool of existing developers but also streamlines the transition from traditional web development to blockchain-based development. This approach aligns perfectly with Gala’s mission to onboard a billion users to web3, recognizing that empowering developers is equally important to empowering application users.
The significance of this development cannot be overstated. It opens the door for countless innovations in the Gala ecosystem, enabling developers to easily create decentralized applications (dApps), games, and digital assets on GalaChain. Furthermore, by reducing the learning curve and embracing a language familiar to millions, GalaChain is poised to catalyze a surge of creativity and participation in the web3 space.
In essence, GalaChain’s embrace of TypeScript is a game-changer, offering a bridge for web2 developers to enter the web3 world seamlessly. This initiative promises to enrich the Gala ecosystem with a diverse array of applications and experiences, driving forward the vision of a decentralized future where technology empowers and connects us all in unprecedented ways.
The time has come to unveil the next panel judge at the 24-hour GALAthon Hackathon on March 20th. Today, we are pleased to spotlight Paul Hsu, the Founder and CEO of Decasonic. Decasonic is a pioneering venture and digital assets fund dedicated to building innovative products on the blockchain.
With an extensive background in driving growth and fostering groundbreaking projects in the blockchain space, Hsu’s expertise and leadership have positioned Decasonic as a crucial player in cultivating the next wave of transformative blockchain technologies and startups.
Paul Hsu: A Catalyst for Blockchain Excellence
Paul Hsu’s journey at the helm of Decasonic has been defined by repeatedly identifying, supporting and nurturing startups that harness the capabilities of web3 tech to challenge traditional industries and create scalable models for the future.
His strategic vision has not only propelled Decasonic to success but has also contributed significantly to the broader web3 by supporting projects that push the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology.
A Judge with a Vision for Disruptive Innovation
In his role as a judge for the GalaChain Hackathon, Hsu brings a keen eye for projects that demonstrate a clear disruptive potential, combining innovative blockchain applications with proven, viable business models.
His experience guiding startups through every step from concept to market means he has an amazing sense for projects that are not only technically sound but also market-ready, with a clear path to adoption and growth.
What Paul Hsu Might Look for in a Winning Entry
Given his background, Paul Hsu is likely to prioritize hackathon projects that:
Embody Disruptive Innovation: Projects that leverage GalaChain to challenge and redefine existing stagnant business models or industry standards, showing the potential growth to be had from embracing web3 tech.
Demonstrate Technical and Business Acumen: Entries that exhibit a strong understanding of blockchain technology coupled with a viable business strategy that features clear use cases, target markets and monetization models.
Focus on User Adoption: Projects that prioritize a seamless user experience and demonstrate clear, intuitive strategies for user adoption and engagement – critical factors for the success of any blockchain innovation.
Sustainability and Long-term Vision: Initiatives that not only address current market needs but also show potential for sustained growth and adaptability to future technological developments.
Fostering Innovation with Paul Hsu
Paul Hsu’s inclusion as a judge in the GalaChain Hackathon brings his unique experience in identifying and helping grow outstanding projects over the years. His insight into the intersection of technology and business and his proven track record will hopefully guide participants towards creating solutions that are not only innovative but also primed for adoption and growth.
As you prepare your plans for the hackathon, let Paul Hsu’s achievements and vision inspire you to aim for solutions that are disruptive, market-ready and capable of contributing significantly to the blockchain ecosystem. His experience in identifying projects that achieve the results of the past in new and innovative ways will give the judge’s panel far more insight into the potential of projects. What can you build to disrupt narrow-minded views of business?
With the recent release of the GalaChain SDK, we couldn’t resist bringing the developers of the community together for a caffeine-fueled, remote hackathon to test it out. Take a rest now, hackers–You deserve it, and we salute you.
GalaChain Hackathon II: The Results
4 teams went head to head for the grand prize in this 48-hour Discord hosted event.
The Legendary grand prize token (only bragging rights)
Each team performed very well under pressure, making the most of the multitude of resources available in the GalaChain SDK, but one team shined brighter than the rest according to our distinguished Hackathon judges. The grand prize winner was our very own Last Expedition team!
The hacker team behind the extraction FPS you know and love exceeded our expectations in this Hackathon, creating a fully functional end-to-end product. They leveraged the SDK to deliver an application complete with chaincode, even with no prior experience with the GalaChain SDK!
Well done, Last Expedition team. It’s a good sign of things to come when a team of our internal game developers can take home this victory in the face of such tough competition from the other teams!
Every participant gets the Epic participation prize!
Runner-up Highlights
The Dex Team made excellent use of the SDK, incorporating chaincode and e2e testing. Their initial UI showed great promise, but unfortunately within the 48 hour time limit, a lack of complete delivery and integration landed them firmly in second place.
The GEXP Team went outside the box, opting to use the Explorer API rather than the GalaChain SDK, disqualifying them from the win in spite of a valiant effort on their part.
Until Next Time
We had a blast hosting this event, and our community is always awesome to work with. It was a great learning experience for everyone involved; in the future, we’ll lay out more clearly defined rules and goals. We may even experiment with additional criteria like GUI development.
Thanks to everyone who participated in GalaChain Hackathon II! Your success and dedication is paving the way for all sorts of future GalaChain developments and expansions.
Stay tuned for more GalaChain updates and keep pushing the boundaries of blockchain innovation!
