HAKUHODO KEY3’s 2023 Global Web3 Hackathon: Commences on September 30

The web3 Global Hackathon 2023 is set to commence on September 30, as declared by Hakuhodo Inc., a prominent integrated marketing and innovation firm headquartered in Tokyo. This event marks the second in a series of hackathons orchestrated by HAKUHODO KEY3 in partnership with Mazda Motor Corporation (Masahiro Moro, Representative Director, President and CEO), located in Hiroshima, and Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (Atsushi Nakajima, President & Chief Executive Officer), based in Tokyo. Hakuhodo is actively engaged in the web3 sector and, in collaboration with Sota Watanabe from the Astar Network, founded HAKUHODO KEY3 INC. (Toshinori Shigematsu, CEO), a Tokyo-based entity, in December 2022. This organization is dedicated to developing web3 services alongside clients while organizing and facilitating web3 hackathons.

The forthcoming phase of the internet, referred to as web3, is anticipated to rely on decentralized frameworks such as blockchains. To motivate sei-katsu-sha* to integrate web3 into their daily routines, HAKUHODO KEY3 organizes and oversees web3 hackathons aimed at crafting experiences and services that capture their interest. In this context, in collaboration with Mazda and Mitsubishi Estate, HAKUHODO KEY3 will conduct the web3 Global Hackathon 2023, commencing on September 30. With awards available for each category, the hackathon presents specific development themes that embody the attributes and strengths of Mazda and Mitsubishi Estate. The leading teams will also partner with the companies post-hackathon to implement services in society and will receive investment, collaborative development, and growth support from the firms.

Mazda’s theme, “Drive to Earn, Use for Fun,” seeks to establish the first web3 service globally that enhances the driving experience. Specifically, the aim is to offer entertainment services leveraging web3 technology for both drivers and passengers. The focus for Mitsubishi Estate is the DAO Building in Tokyo. The concept is to utilize web3 technology to develop a service that facilitates natural communication among individuals, with the TOKYO TORCH district serving as the backdrop, to aid in transforming the area surrounding Tokyo Station into a modern web3 city.

The live proceedings of the hackathon will be broadcast online, with simultaneous interpretation available for engineers and creators from around the world.

To deliver top-tier web3 services in Japan, supported by insights and innovations from sei-katsu-sha, HAKUHODO KEY3 collaborates with its business partners to foster a society where a greater number of sei-katsu-sha can engage with web3.

Web3 Global Hackathon 2023 Outline

• Dates: September 30–December 9, 2023
• Location: MY Shokudo Hall & Kitchen, 3rd Fl., TOKYO TORCH Tokiwabashi Tower and online
• Prizes: Totaling over 11 million yen in Astar.
• Entry Fee: No registration cost (one to four members per team).
• Registration: To sign up, please visit the webpage below.
  https://key3.eventos.tokyo/web/portal/744/event/7845
• The preliminary registration deadline is September 30 at 23:59 JST.
• The hackathon is accessible to engineers employed by companies as well as freelance engineers.
• The event is open to business developers, designers, and marketers in addition to engineers.

Schedule

• Entry period: September 4 until November 24.
• Kickoff event: September 30
• Development period: September 30 – November 24
• Event Mazda in North America: October 28 — Information will be provided separately.
• The submission deadline is November 24 at 23:59 JST.
• Teams for the pitch round will be announced on December 1.
• Pitch event: December 9 — Winning teams will be revealed on that day.

Prizes

• Mazda Grand Prize (one project): Astar equivalent of 3 million yen.
• Five projects will receive Mazda Excellence Prizes, each valued at one million yen in Astar.
• Mitsubishi Estate Grand Prize (one project): 1 million yen equivalent in Astar.
• Mitsubishi Estate Excellence Prize (one project): 500,000 yen in Astar.
• Astar Grand Prize (one project): Astar equivalent of one million yen.
• Two projects will be awarded Astar Excellence Prizes for a total of 250,000 yen each.
• Biconomy & Astar Prize (one project): 500,000 yen equivalent in Astar.
• Astar Moon Prize (one project): An invitation to the Spark innovation program.
• VeryLongAnimals Prize (one project): 150,000 yen equivalent in Astar.

Principal Partners:

Mitsubishi Estate and Mazda

Technology Partners

Startale Labs Japan, Biconomy, Bunzz, Ginco, Solidity-Jp, Astar Foundation, and UNCHAIN.

Community Partners

AKINDO, bitbank, IVS / IVS Crypto, Moon Creative Lab (Mitsui & Co. Group), Skyland Ventures, TEAMZ, TechFeed, VeryLongAnimals, WebX / CoinPost, and Web3 Foundation.