HackQuest, NTU Singapore, Open Campus, and KIP Protocol Launch Inaugural Web3 Dev Huddle: Educate & Buidl for Aspiring Builders

Preview

This conference is one of the first event series dedicated to developers and educators in the Web3 space. It was made possible by the support of sponsors and partners including Open Campus, KIP Protocol, Road to Dev Con at Ethereum Foundation, Wormhole, Hash Global, Telos, Arbitrum, Mantle, Vara, Morph, MegaETH, XION, AIA Chain, and SevenX Ventures.

The growing demand for Web3 technologies highlights a critical shortage of skilled developers, and there is an urgency to close this gap.

As of 2024, the global Web2 developer population is estimated at 28.7 million, according to Statista. On the other while, Electric Capital’s 2023 Crypto Developer Report shows only 26,037 active monthly contributors to open-source crypto projects and just 7,661 full-time Web3 developers.

While the total number of Web3 developers might be a lot higher, the discrepancy remains significant, with Web2 developers still outnumbering Web3 developers by a large margin. The growth of Web3 is fundamentally reliant on developers, and the existing disparity highlights the urgent need for a significant transition of talent into the Web3 ecosystem. The Web3 Dev Huddle: Educate & Buidl event series addresses the talent gap in Web3 through education, aiming to support the mass adoption of Web3 technologies and build a robust ecosystem comparable to Web2.

In the context of current discussions regarding Web3, a noticeable divide is developing between the cultures of innovation and speculation. One viewpoint sees blockchain technology as a catalyst for a new computing paradigm, while another primarily views it as a platform for speculative investment. As a result, the focus on developer education and innovation may not seem as compelling at first glance.

However, HackQuest, NTU, OpenCampus, and KIP Protocol recognize the importance of developer education and onboarding, as developers drive Web3's growth, and education brings more talent into the ecosystem. Together, the Web3 Dev Huddle: Educate & Buidl event series unveils their ventures aimed at empowering more Web3 developers in the future.

HackQuest is a one-stop, self-guided platform offering Web3 developer education, hackathon management, and startup acceleration. HackQuest is rapidly growing and has become home to more than 30,000 Web3 learners. HackQuest has onboarded developers for more than 20 top Web3 ecosystems and supported more than 120 builders in launching VC-backed startups. Being a recognized leader in blockchain education, NTU is a hub for entrepreneurs, alumni, the public, and postgraduate students alike. Recently, HackQuest and NTU co-developed the "Ideating and Building on Web3" MOOC, which was attended by over 1000 students and emphasized practical, hands-on training for aspiring Web3 founders.

Further strengthening these efforts is OpenCampus's strategic partnership with HackQuest. Together, they published OCP-10, which launched a $20 million Developer Ecosystem Fund and Node-Lease Program aimed at fostering the creation of educational decentralized applications (dApps) on the EDU Chain. As the first Layer 3 blockchain specifically designed for education, OpenCampus, backed by Animoca Brands, Sequoia Capital, and Binance, has established a thriving ecosystem with over 80 partners, 500,000 OC IDs, and more than 5,000 developers. In addition, OpenCampus EDU Semester 1 Chain Hackathon, supported by HackQuest, recently recognized 40 winners from over 700 submitted dApps, further highlighting the growing interest from builders in education-focused applications on the EDU Chain.

KIP Protocol, a Web3 base layer designed for AI, complements these efforts by providing decentralized infrastructure that addresses scalability, security, and data privacy. KIP Protocol and Open Campus have announced the launch of Open Campus U (OCU) in Q3 2024, an initiative set to revolutionize global education through decentralized AI. This partnership aims to make high-quality education more accessible, reshaping the $8 trillion education industry by offering personalized learning experiences and empowering educators to turn their knowledge into ownable capital assets.

Building on past partnerships and initiatives focused on Web3 developer education, the Web3 Dev Huddle: Education & Buidl series highlights the importance of developer education in driving ecosystem growth. The event will feature career fairs, expert panels, and resources to onboard emerging Web3 talent.

HackQuest Co-founder Harry emphasized: "This is precisely why we are collaborating with NTU, OpenCampus, KIP Protocol, and other partners and sponsors who share our vision. Together, we are curating an event tailored for both current and aspiring developers and founders. Our goal is to provide them with practical, high-quality networking opportunities that will accelerate their journey into Web3.”

The shared vision of bringing Web3 education to everyone also resonates with top voices from the crypto world in both industry and academia.

The Web3 Dev Huddle: Educate & Buidl will begin with a career fair, providing participants the opportunity to connect with more than 10 Web3 venture capital firms, startups, and projects that are actively seeking candidates for internship, part-time, and full-time positions. This event presents a chance to network with Web3 startups and VCs, explore career opportunities, and receive exclusive swags. Attendees will also enjoy lunch and refreshments while connecting with fellow participants in-person.

By uniting leading voices from the industry, prominent blockchain ecosystems, top academic institutions, and Web3 communities, the Web3 Dev Huddle stands as one of the first event series focused specifically on developers and educators within the Web3 space. This initiative sets new benchmarks for practical, hands-on education in the rapidly expanding blockchain sector. With a shared dedication to shaping the future of Web3, it seeks to empower the next generation of developers, entrepreneurs, and educators with the critical skills and knowledge essential for the mass adoption of Web3. Looking ahead, additional events inspired by the Web3 Dev Huddle are planned to further advance this mission.

Registration for the inaugural Web3 Dev Huddle is now open. The venue has limited capacity, so entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis until we reach full capacity.

About HackQuest

HackQuest is a one-stop, self-guided platform offering Web3 developer education, hackathon management, and startup acceleration. HackQuest helps over 20 leading Web3 ecosystems onboard quality developers and supports more than 120 builders in launching VC-backed startups.

For more information, please visit hackquest.io.

About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) is one of the top research-intensive public universities in the world, with 35,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in Business, Computing & Data Science, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, Medicine, Science, and Graduate colleges.

For more information, please visit www.ntu.edu.sg.

About Open Campus

Open Campus is a DAO and community-led protocol building a decentralized education ecosystem. Open Campus is building the decentralized infrastructure for education through EDU Chain, the first L3 blockchain built for education.

For more information, please visit opencampus.xyz.

About KIP Protocol

KIP Protocol is an open source Web3 framework designed to facilitate the creation, management and monetization of decentralized Knowledge Assets for AI applications, to kickstart KnowledgeFi.

For more information, visit www.kip.pro.