# The web3 hackathon experience

By [eugenPtr](https://paragraph.com/@eugenptr) · 2022-10-04

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![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/80fe79282de19b3c86b55ff2e2c713600b03b70d094a8e4faea69048ccf9ab11.png)

Throughout my university years, attending hackathons was one of the most fun things a Computer Science student could do. In the UK there used to be a student-run hackathon almost every weekend. At the University of Manchester, a bunch of folks from the Hacker Society would gather at the end of the week, jump on a coach to some part of the country and spend the weekend on a coffee and pizza diet, playing with technology, attending workshops, sleeping on bean bags, and making friends. At the end of the event, people would present their projects in front of the sponsors, possibly win a cool gadget and have something to add to their CV. The sponsors were usually companies looking for new talent to recruit for their internship or graduate programs. 

Now let’s talk about hackathons in web3, and, more specifically, those in the Ethereum ecosystem. Sooo, what’s different? Sponsors and judges are some of the most successful protocols and popular faces in the industry. The real prize is having their attention, receiving feedback and validating your idea. Furthermore, making it among the finalists means the opportunity to present the project in front of all the participants, sponsors, speakers and of those who are watching the livestream from home. That’s a lot of exposure right there. Add to this the IRL connections you create with those people and doors start opening for your team.

On my first web3 hackathon (ETHAmsterdam ‘22), I found myself surrounded by folks who had been researching for weeks, identified real problems in the ecosystem, and came to prototype their idea, looking to validate it. The shit was real and the goal - to keep working on it. Seeing this opened up a new world in my head. I went there looking to gain more hands-on experience in blockchain development to increase the chances of landing a job in web3. But I discovered a much more exciting alternative. Instead, I could start a project in a hackathon, win some prizes to get some attention, apply for grants and strive to build a great product. Like this, the learning opportunities are way better and I’d be able to pay my bills while working on something fun and innovative.

In ETHAmsterdam I met some of my current teammates and learned what is the standard a project should rise to in order to win some prizes. What brought us together was the passion for DAOs and decentralized governance. We kept building, found the right people to join our pack, and five months later our team swiped 3 prizes at ETHOnline. Now we have some funds to cover dev costs in the next few months and we think we are going in the right direction. We’ll keep building for the future of decentralized gov, improve our product and apply for some grants along the way. We like to dream big. Sky is the limit.

![Here's our team after the project presentation @ ETHAmsterdam](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0ee9e71d18939b9c0662a275102af2a9940d93df724f505a6f4215d3cb8d98e4.jpg)

Here's our team after the project presentation @ ETHAmsterdam

To end with, you need to know that these hackathons are not only for devs. They are for anyone looking to connect with awesome people, build cool projects and learn along the way. Whether you’re specialized in design, bizdev, marketing, or product management, there will be a team in need of your skills. This, in my opinion, is the easiest and most fun way to make it into web3.

**PS:** I want to give a shout out to ETHGlobal here. They organize most of these events, all of which create so much value in the Ethereum community, by bringing together enthusiasts, builders, thinkers, speakers, sponsors, and investors. Check out their [website](https://ethglobal.com/events) for upcoming events 

And of course, a big shout out to all the people attending these events, for their energy, friendliness, and good vibes.

                                         You can also find me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/EugenPtr)

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*Originally published on [eugenPtr](https://paragraph.com/@eugenptr/the-web3-hackathon-experience)*