INITIATE: The Initia Hackathon (Season 1)

Build the app. We’ll handle the chain.

Most developers don’t wake up dreaming of running a blockchain. They wake up dreaming of building something people actually use.

Initia exists for that exact reason.

Initia is the easiest way to launch a profitable application. Developers get full value capture and best in class UX. Ship a profitable app in days, not months. The Initia Stack gives you 100ms block times, instant bridging and deposits, social logins, and more, so you focus on your app. Every transaction your users make? That's revenue you keep, not value you leak.

This hackathon isn’t about “launching another chain.”

It’s about launching apps with real revenue and real ownership while the chain runs quietly in the background like invisible infrastructure magic.

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What This Hackathon Is About

Most builders want to focus on product, UX, and distribution, not infrastructure or chain operations. Initia gives you the tooling and support to launch and run an appchain without needing deep blockchain infra expertise.

Why build on Initia?

• More revenue and value capture No gas tax paid to someone else, no sequencer cut, no unnecessary value leakage.
• Distribution across ecosystems Onboard users from anywhere, without forcing them to bridge, swap, or move across chains themselves.
• Own your stack and economics Customize your setup, control your fee model, and evolve your chain as your app grows.

And yes, the bar to entry is lower than ever

With the right tools, you can even use AI to help deploy your chain and turn your app into a high-potential, revenue-generating business.

Step-by-Step Guide: https://docs.initia.xyz/hackathon/hackathon-landing#build-an-appchain-with-your-ai-agent

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What Builders Get

During the Hackathon

• Access to Initia documentation and starter templates
• Direct mentorship from Initia team members and ecosystem builders
• Infrastructure / Anvil credits for deployment and scaling on testnet
• Guidance on go-to-market, product positioning, and launch strategy

Mid-Hackathon

Prove your idea early. Win big. Keep building.

• Halfway through the hackathon, we host a dedicated MVP Demo Day where teams showcase their product (should we live on testnet with smart contracts, backend, and basic frontend), where the 2–3 strongest teams win Mac Mini hardware awards, before final judging even begins.

Post-Hackathon Opportunities (for selected projects)

• Potential onboarding as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)
• Support with fundraising conversations and investor introductions
• Anvil Credits for the first 3 months for the chain deployment on Mainnet
• Continued technical and ecosystem support
• Help transitioning from developer to long-term builder or founder

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Rewards

Total Rewards Pool: $25,000 USD equivalent

Rewards may include:

• Mac Mini hardware awards
• Cash grants
• Sponsored trips to the Network School
• Tooling and infrastructure grants
• Ecosystem growth and distribution support

Note: All rewards are subject to the quality and eligibility of submissions. Initia reserves the right to revise, reduce, or withhold rewards if entries do not meet the expected standards.

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Timeline

Hackathon Start: 16th March, 2026

Submission Deadline: 15th April, 2026

Workshops, mentor sessions, and community calls will be scheduled throughout the hackathon period. Final judging and demo day dates will be announced during the event.

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Support and Resources

Participants will have access to:

• Technical documentation and starter kits
• Community support channels
• Mentor office hours and technical guidance
• Collaboration and networking opportunities with other builders
• Developer Hackthon Documentation
• Main Website
• X
• Discord

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Eligibility & Requirements

• Open to individuals and teams worldwide
• No prior Initia experience required
• Projects must be original and built during the hackathon period

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Goal

Initiate is the Initia Hackathon with an objective to support builders in launching functional applications with real users, clear utility, and long-term potential within the Initia ecosystem.