With the kickoff of the Mantle APAC Hackathon, we hosted an engaging AMA session featuring Jess Zeng, APAC Senior BD at Mantle. The discussion delved into the hackathon's official tracks, including Gaming & Meme, DeFi, and Infra & AI, as well as Mantle’s innovative focus areas like native asset utilization and blockchain scalability. Jess shared insights on the unique capabilities of Mantle’s ecosystem, standout projects from previous events, and key judging criteria for submissions.
The conversation also highlighted the $30,000 prize pool, additional grant opportunities, and long-term support for participants through Mantle’s $200 million EcoFund. Together, the session outlined Mantle’s commitment to empowering developers, fostering innovation, and advancing the Web3 ecosystem.
(Click here for the full AMA playback)
●Three Distinct Tracks for Innovation: The Mantle APAC Hackathon offers tracks in Gaming & Meme, DeFi, and Infra & AI, aligning with Mantle’s broader goals of fostering blockchain scalability and driving technological innovation.
●Unique Ecosystem Capabilities: Mantle stands out as a Layer 2 chain with high-yield native assets like mETH, cmETH, and FBTC, alongside partnerships like Agora USD. These unique features provide developers with a robust foundation for creating impactful projects.
●Emphasis on Real-World Use Cases: Mantle encourages builders to tackle real-world challenges through innovative projects, such as AI-driven consumer applications, credit-based DeFi solutions, and community-oriented tools like meme launchpads and prediction markets.
●Support for Builders Beyond the Hackathon: With a $30,000 prize pool, additional project grants, and a $200 million EcoFund, Mantle provides builders with long-term funding, mentorship, and opportunities for ecosystem growth.
●Inspiration from Past Success Stories: Projects like Funny Money’s innovative meme launchpad and sound-based payment solutions showcase Mantle’s commitment to supporting creative and practical blockchain solutions.
●Commitment to Developer Success: Mantle prioritizes accessibility and developer onboarding, offering resources, incentives, and community-building initiatives to empower developers and scale impactful projects.
(Source: Medium)
Overview of Mantle APAC Hackathon Tracks
Cameron:
Welcome to the Mantle APAC Hackathon AMA. We're honored to have Jess, the APAC Senior BD at Mantle, here with us to share everything you need to know about the hackathon. Jess will also provide insider tips to crush this APAC hackathon. In this session, you'll learn about the projects Mantle is looking for, the challenges to tackle, and the judging criteria.
Let’s dive right into the questions. First, Jess, what are the official tracks and focus areas for this hackathon?
Jess:
For Mantle’s APAC hackathon, we have three primary tracks aligned with our broader goals:
1.Gaming & Meme: Focusing on innovative gaming solutions.
2.DeFi: Building on Mantle’s robust DeFi infrastructure and ecosystem.
3.Infra & AI: Encouraging new infrastructure and AI-related innovations on-chain.
Hackathon Timeline and Key Milestones
Cameron:
What’s the timeline for this hackathon, and what are some of the key milestones?
Jess:
The hackathon started on November 15th, and here are the key milestones:
●Midway Checkpoint: The first week of December, where teams provide progress updates, receive feedback from mentors, and collaborate with peers.
●Submission Deadline: December 23rd, one day before Christmas Eve, when all final projects must be submitted.
●Demo Day and Judging: After the submission deadline, a demo day will be held for judges to evaluate projects, with winners announced shortly after.
Trends in Blockchain Development
Cameron:
For everyone here, the hackathon has already started, so if you haven’t registered, head to the website and start hacking! Now, what trends in blockchain development does Mantle see as the most promising?
Jess:
At Mantle, we see two strong trends:
1.DeFi and Consumer Protocols: Leveraging native assets like mETH, cmETH, and FBTC to create innovative DeFi solutions. For example, combining DeFi with payment systems, such as lending protocols with credit card functionality, is an exciting area to explore.
2.AI and Consumer-Focused Projects: Integrating AI with consumer-facing applications to create unique, user-driven innovations.
(Source: Mantle)
Specific Challenges for Participants
Cameron:
Let’s dive deeper. What are some specific challenges or problem statements Mantle encourages participants to tackle?
Jess:
Here’s what we’re looking for in each track:
●Gaming: Build simple yet engaging Telegram games, like Ketison, which is highly successful on Mantle and Ton.
●DeFi: Combine DeFi with PayFi to create credit systems or prediction markets, such as Polymarket, leveraging Mantle’s high-speed transactions and low gas fees.
●Infra and AI: Develop consumer-focused products that integrate AI with blockchain technology, emphasizing community engagement and interactivity.
(Source: Mantle)
Unique Features of Mantle’s Network
Cameron:
What unique features or capabilities of Mantle’s network can participants leverage in their projects?
Jess:
Mantle offers unique high-yield native products, including:
●Native assets like METH, CMETH, and FBTC.
●Partnerships with Agora USD for a rev-share-compliant USD stablecoin.
Projects can use these assets for innovative use cases, whether in user acquisition or asset management.
Examples of Standout Projects
Cameron:
Do you have examples of standout projects from previous Mantle hackathons?
Jess:
Yes! Here are two examples:
1.Funny Money: A meme launchpad using a Tinder-style swiping user experience for meme coin purchases, making it fun and engaging.
2.P2P Sound Transactions: A project using sound-based technology for P2P payments, eliminating wallet addresses or account numbers for seamless transactions.
Judging Criteria for Submissions
Cameron:
What criteria will judges use to evaluate projects?
Jess:
Judges will evaluate projects based on these criteria:
1.Innovation: Unique ideas contributing to Mantle’s ecosystem.
2.Ecosystem Contribution: Seamless integration with Mantle’s native assets.
3.User Experience: Projects delivering impactful and user-friendly solutions.
4.Technical Implementation: Robust and scalable technical designs.
5.Team Background: The team’s capability to execute the project.
Prizes and Additional Perks
Cameron:
Let’s talk about prizes. What can participants win?
Jess:
We have a $30,000 prize pool for the top-performing projects. In addition:
●Up to 20,000 MNT in grants for continued development.
●Access to Mantle’s $200 million EcoFund for exceptional projects, which provides mentorship and funding opportunities.
(Source: Mantle)
Opportunities After the Hackathon
Cameron:
What opportunities are there for participants to continue building on Mantle after the hackathon?
Jess:
Mantle’s eco-fund supports project growth and connects teams with investors and partners to scale their projects. This ensures long-term support for innovative ideas.
Thanks everyone. Don’t forget to follow Mantle’s official accounts for the latest updates.
