You have been selected to participate in this year’s #BUIDLathon, which is on track to be the world’s largest web3 #BUIDLathon to date. We’re thrilled to be #BUIDLing alongside you towards the decentralized future. We hope that your time in the Mile High City is a memorable one and that you leave believing that you are capable of making a difference in the web3 ecosystem and the world. Because you are.
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of materials that will get you up to speed before the event begins in February. The more knowledge you have before attending ETHDenver, the more you’ll get out of the weekend. This guide will give you several quality resources, from basic to advanced, to help you be as effective as possible during your time with us.
ETHDenver 2023 also welcomes other chains and technologies that aren’t directly related to Ethereum. We believe that the web3 effort is a “rising tide raises all boats” effort. We believe in a future where blockchain interoperability and collaboration create limitless possibilities.
Should you have any questions, please contact our #BUIDLx team at buidlx@ethdenver.com or in the #buidlx and #mentors-dev-help channel on Discord.
See you soon!
ETHDenver #BUIDLx Stewards
Propagated at ETHDenver 2018, #BUIDL is a misspelling of the word "Build."
#BUIDL is a call to blockchain enthusiasts to build and contribute to the advancement of the blockchain ecosystem (decentralization), rather than passively HODLing (HODL Bitcoin), and waiting for the price to go up.
ETHDenver is focused on #BUIDL culture rather than HODL culture. We cannot just HODL our way into the future, we must #BUIDL the decentralized future.
A “#BUIDLathon” is a celebration of #BUIDL culture and values:
At ETHDenver 2023, #BUIDLers will form teams of 2 to 4 and spend up to 9 days #BUIDLing to their unique web3 visions. #BUIDLers have the 24/7 support of peers, mentors, stewards, and sponsors. They are the stars of ETHDenver’s community innovation festival; their projects, teams, and relationships will propel web3 forward long after the 2023 #BUIDLathon has concluded.
We define “#BUIDLer” very broadly:
#BUIDLing is all about collaboration. The best products (and communities) meld unique perspectives from different walks of life. Whether you have a technical background or not, there’s a role for you in the #BUIDLathon and beyond:
Mentors are here to support #BUIDLers in their pursuit of new ideas and contributitions to our decentralized future. ETHDenver Mentors will provide feedback, help think through challenges, and generally guide you through the ETHDenver #BUIDLathon experience. Seeking wisdom from these mentors can not only just bring you a new advocate, but will unlock new experiences (hint…hint)!ETHDenver also has a mentor program that operates year round and supports BUIDLers even after this weekend comes to a close.
Roles our Mentors are Experts in:
Our judges understand what it takes to #BUIDL the decentralized future. Experts in their craft, they encourage innovation and can spot creativity, uniqueness, and real impact. ETHDenver Judges will evaluate submitted projects to the five tracks using our 2023 Judging Criteria and provide you with feedback so you can keep on #BUIDLing after ETHDenver completes.
Roles our Judges are Experts in:
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Our sponsors are some of the most respected projects, DAOs, and companies in web3. Their support enables this event to be what it is. They have chosen to be at ETHDenver specifically to connect with #BUIDLers—providing bounties, job opportunities, and support to accelerate your project.
The community of ETHDenver will be buzzing around the #BUIDLathon all weekend, but on Sunday, they gather for the main event: to watch the #BUIDL teams pitch their projects. The ETHDenver community recognizes the dedication and effort that goes into #BUIDLathon and is there to celebrate it (and maybe find some alpha!).
ETHDenver was founded to grow and celebrate the Ethereum + web3 ecosystem. The #BUIDLathon is an extension of that vision focused on hands-on doing.As our community innovation festival has grown, so has the team and infrastructure available to support #BUIDLers.The BUIDLx Team is tasked with creating opportunities for #BUIDLers to learn, create, network, earn, and land jobs. Your success is our success metric.
Your 2023 BUIDLx Team includes the following stewards:
Jason
Matt & Max
Casey
Graven
Jason & Justin
#BUIDLathons are designed to speedrun the discovery process for your next big idea (or web3 job). Mentors, educational content, networking, and bounties are there specifically to help remove obstacles to making that happen.
The best #BUIDL participants don’t ignore constraints though. You have 9 days to demonstrate to your peers, the judges, and sponsors that your project/team has legs. Your personal vision, no matter how strong, must meet the audience and users where they’re at, so they can join you in the future.
Ask yourself early and often “Why (not just what) are we BUIDLing?” to focus your efforts. No project is perfect after 9 days (or ever), so iteration is key.
Successful projects aren’t always the most technically intricate, but the ones with a narrative that resonates with the audience. They have a well-developed user perspective and unique selling point. Teams that blend technical, design, and business expertise are the best at this!
In the real world, you compete with spam, scams, and full-time work just to get 10 seconds of attention through a tweet, DM, or email. Use this unique time when mentors, peers, employers, and partners have explicitly come to the #BUIDLathon to connect with you.
Don’t wait until judging time to introduce yourself, your team, and project to the #BUIDLathon. The most valuable things you can leave the #BUIDLathon with are relationships (mentors, advocates, employers, co-founders, employees, etc.) that persist back to the real world. You never know what opportunities will present themselves in the future because you spent a few minutes listening, sharing, and connecting with someone on a personal level.
In the end, have fun. Be present. Make memories. Commit to making the 2023 ETHDenver #BUIDLathon a seminal moment in your web3 journey whether it is just starting or is ready to go to the next level!
ETHDenver is committed to supporting BUIDLers with high-quality and professional mentors. Mentors are volunteers who have a vast amount of experience stretched across multiple skillsets available 24/7 during ETHDenver. These mentors can be found in person as well as on our discord.
Mentors in the #BUIDLhub are located on the left-hand side, between Workshop Stage 1 and Workshop Stage 2. Although not all mentors will be available 24/7, you can find mentors for help with technical and business questions here all throughout #BUIDLWeek. These mentors can also help you with answering questions about the #BUIDLathon, Bounties, Judging, and more too.
Finding an in-person mentor is super easy at the $SPORK Castle. Located on the lower level of the National Western, the mentorship table provides teams access to assistance across all aspects of the development and design process. Although not all mentors will be available 24/7, you’re sure to find valuable knowledge and support here all throughout ETHDenver weekend.
Discord will be the primary location for quick and easy mentorship assistance during the event—especially when a mentor for your specific question isn’t available live. Navigate to the #mentors-dev-help channel and ask anything from development, business, or general guidance from an experienced mentor. If the right mentor is unavailable or more guidance is required, email mentors@ethdenver.com.
If you are working on a project using one of our sponsors’ technologies and are having technical difficulties, stop by the #BUIDL Mentor Desk. We can help you get in contact with the correct party to help debug any issues you are having with a sponsor’s technology. Every sponsor will have a channel in Discord that you can ping 24 hours a day (many of them have global teams able to help during off-hours as well). You can also visit sponsors directly at their tables located in the education wing of the $SPORK Castle. They will have representatives present to give you quick assistance so you can finish their bounty!
Want to find a team to #BUIDL a project with and solve sponsor bounties? Need to brush up on your skills for presenting your project, bounties, and more? You can always check out how-to-articles on the web or try to watch a YouTube video. But since you’re at ETHDenver, why not tap into a great new resource this year’s #BUIDLathon—the #BUIDLer Palace.
We are providing various in-person classes/workshops that are aimed to help you win bounties and succeed as a project. You can take workshops to pick up tips and tricks on pitching your project to judges, how to answer questions judges may ask, improving your UI/UX, and how to rethink problems when you are stuck. You can dive into topics such as project management, designing pitch decks, picking the right bounties, becoming a better solidity developer, defining an MVP, how to approach investors and funding after ETHDenver, regulatory guidance, and more.
Three types of in-person workshops—Skills, Labs, and Walks we are working on. The Skills classes feature basic lessons on specific #BUIDLer topics, processes, and techniques. The Lab classes are more interactive and provide hands-on participation working with mentors, community leaders, sponsor, and community peers. The Walks classes teach you how to prepare to deploy your projects in the real world.
To qualify for track and bounty prizes, #BUIDLathon teams must consist of 2 to 4 members. We suggest taking the time to start your team formation efforts before the event. Here are some ways that you can get started if you don’t have a team yet, or do, but wish to add a few more members:
If you are coming to ETHDenver as yourself and without a team, it is common that you might find yourself overwhelmed when it comes to finding a team to work with. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to relate your skills to the projects that you see and or hear people are working on. To help you, we’ve created many ways to start engaging with others prior to the event happening.
Note that we typically have over 500 solo #BUIDLers attending. Make an effort to connect with people via the Discord channel, but don’t be worried if you can’t form or join a team until the first day of the event. And, if you don’t start BUIDLing until March 3rd (Friday), don’t be concerned you are late to the #BUIDLathon, #BUIDL a project and submit. Five projects last year that made it to the main stage started #BUIDLing on Friday night and walked away with over $100K in prizes.
#BUIDLers who have never attended ETHDenver or participated in a #BUIDLathon (or hackathon), can suffer from “imposter syndrome”: the feeling that they don’t belong because they are new to the space, don’t know how to code, or some other internal barrier that’s been erected. Well, check that at the door because everyone has something to contribute. We are all students. We are #BUIDLing the future together.
DAOs, digital communities, tokenomics, governance, bridges to Web3, etc.
DeFi 2.0, DEXs, lending protocols, yield farming, staking, liquidity mining, etc.
UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), public goods funding, ReFi,, underserved communities, etc.
digital art, PFPs, wearables, metaverse ecosystems, blockchain games, collectibles, etc.
L1, L2, side chains, zk rollups, POA networks, dev tools, wallets, on-chain privacy, etc.
Not every project makes a great #BUIDLathon project. It’s important to maximize the following qualities in the project that you are working on:
When you start a team, you should treat these ideas like a checklist. Teams that think like this will be happier and more productive.The sooner your team can start to think about these the better. Which is why participating in as many pre-#BUIDLathon content opportunities are a smart thing to do.
Sponsors have created detailed guidelines for their bounties in the following 5 categories. You can hack on as many as 10 bounties, or one. Stack bounties to get more chances to make a connection with a sponsor, and of course, potentially win some money.
The easiest way to win a bounty is by reading/listening carefully. Address the challenge the sponsors have outlined in their bounty descriptions and be clear throughout #BUIDLing why your efforts qualify. Judging a project submitted for a bounty, but not understanding why the work meets the criteria is a judge’s least favorite outcome. When it comes time for judging, directly explain to the sponsors why your project fits their criteria, why you chose the bounty category, and why they should choose you as a winner!
There are five categories of bounties this year at ETHDenver:
To qualify for track and sponsor bounty prize consideration:
The #BUIDL Steward is like the commissioner of any sports league. The #BUIDL Steward will have final say in your team and projects eligibility in #BUIDLathon, prizes, and awards for all track prizes and sponsor bounties.
The Top 15 projects from the Five Tracks will have an opportunity to present on stage during Sunday’s closing ceremony. Prizes will be awarded to select projects from these five tracks. Sponsors will also announce bounty prizes. All winning teams will be recognized during the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, March 5th.
There are two types of judging happening during ETHDenver: Track Judging and Sponsor Bounty Judging. Track Judging focuses on the project that you submit to track of your choosing in the #BUIDLathon and Sponsor Judging focuses on the bounties that you include in your projects.
Let’s break down how “Track Judging” works and how “Sponsor Judging” works. If you’ve participated in years past, there are some key improvements we’ve made so make sure you read through.
Community Judges will be responsible for judging a single track, based on their expertise. Each judge that has applied has identified their top three tracks and what role(s) they are experts in. The roles that they have self identified include the following:
Judges are required to include why they are an expert in these topics, past experiences judging, and if they are technical individuals they are required to provide GitHub. Each judge will be vetted by the BUIDLx Stewards, Event Founders, Buffi’s Round Table, and Bufficorn Ventures.Judging teams are based around a single track and split across these four categories:
Let’s talk about the schedule:
IMPORTANT: Before/After Your Track Presentation
Before/After your track presentation you will be assigned a table on the #BUIDL floor so that the community can visit to learn about your project and so that interested sponsors who have qualified your bounty submission can get an in-person demonstration.
Presentations:
10AM to 2PM - Bounty Presentation
10AM to 2PM - Track Presentations
3PM to 5:30PM - Top 15 Presentation
Let’s talk about the schedule:
During the first round of judging, Sponsor Bounty Judges will review all submitted entries through the #BUIDLathon platform we are using this year. After reviewing they will come visit the projects that they are considering awarding the bounty prize to. If you completed a Bounty, please make sure you do not vacate your table unless you are presenting on the track stage. If you do not hear from a sponsor bounty judge that you applied for, please first look at the #BUIDLathon platform to see if the sponsor had left feedback or request to meet.
Community Judges will be responsible for judging a single track, based on their expertise. Each judge that has applied has identified their top three tracks and what role(s) they are experts in. The roles that they have self identified include the following:
The ETHDenver team has been incredibly impressed with the quality of projects we’ve seen before, and picking a “winner” quickly becomes a game of inches and preferences. This is why for the sixth year in a row, we have chosen to split each track’s prize pool equally among the teams in their track. For example, if there are 3 NFT Track teams in the final round, all 3 teams will split the NFT Track prize.
IF a Track has $15,000 in prizes, the distribution would look like this:
> Team 1 - $5,000
> Team 2 - $5,000
> Team 3 - $5,000
Celebrity Judges will not be deciding the Track finalists, but they will each select their favorite team to allocate a cash prize to. Going home with the “Vitalik’s Choice” award would be an honor to us, and, we hope, to you.
We suggest reviewing the detailed schedule at ethdenver.com (to be released during #BUIDL Week) with your team so that you can schedule time in advance to attend workshops and panels without disturbing your team’s workflow.
Plan to attend BUIDLWeek events from Friday, February 24th through Wednesday, March 1st! Events will center around educational and technical workshops to get you ready to rock at ETHDenver. All #BUIDLWeek event details are on ETHDenver’s website. If you decide to arrive in town early but still need to get work done between sessions, be sure to take advantage of complimentary co-working space access at the #BUIDLHub from 9am to 11:59pm, February 24th to March 1st.
ETHDenver officially begins on March 2nd, 2023 for the Opening Ceremony. The BUIDLathon starts on February 24th at 10 AM until the project submission deadline of 8:00 AM on Sunday, March 5th.
The Closing Ceremony, including Top 15 awards, is on Sunday, March 5th from 2:00-6:00 PM. Remember that your physical presence is required for prizes per the guidelines above.
The ETHDenver Closing Party takes place from 6:30 PM-8:00 PM at National $Spork Castle and the ETHDenver After Party from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM features live music, libations, and an incredible spread catered by top local eateries.
#BUIDLers who demonstrate to mentors that they are continually working on their project will be “air-dropped” free food, drinks, and additional credits to spend at the #BUIDLer Bodega, food trucks, and around the entire venue, like the coffee lounge. Just a bit of extra motivation and reward on top of the value of making new connections with mentors, winning bounties, and developing skills during the #BUIDLathon.
Make sure you download the Official ETHDenver 2023 Wallet My Ethere Wallet (MEW Wallet)
Patrick Collins course will give you a full introduction into all of the core concepts related to blockchain, smart contracts, Solidity, ERC20s, full-stack web3 dapps, decentralized finance (DeFi), JavaScript, TypeScript, Chainlink, Ethereum, upgradable smart contracts, DAOs, the graph, moralis, aave, IPFS, and more. Follow along with the videos and you'll be a blockchain wizard in no time!
Start Course
Learn Solidity Programming by Building a Game - Crypto Zombies
Learn Solidity Security by Wargame (Capture-the-flag)
DApp Development Tutorial (Videos)
Interactive Tutorials on Decentralized Web Protocols (more than just blockchain!)
Introduction to Web3
Beginner’s Guide to DeFi
Beginner’s Guide to NFTs
Minting, buying, selling NFTs
Vitalik’s blog post from 2014
Kinjal’s DAO resource guide
Brief Primer - just a start “DAOwn” the rabbit hole
These links will give you a starting place for learning about blockchain & Ethereum. Although you may be aware of these concepts, it is essential to know the fundamentals.
Understanding Blockchain Technology - Matt Lockyer (Bounties Steward)
Why does blockchain matter?
What is Blockchain?
What industries will Blockchain disrupt?
How does Ethereum work anyways?
Token Standards of Blockchain
ETHhub Reading & Community Resources
Polygon PoS -
These links will give you a starting place for learning about blockchain & Ethereum. Although you may be aware of these concepts, it is essential to know the fundamentals.
A Brief Primer on a few ethereum competitors (smart contract platforms)
Chainlink - an oracle system for odd-chain data to be verified and locked on a chain
IPFS - A distributed file system, often paired with blockchain data & contracts
HyperLedger - a set of projects centering around blockchain for Enterprise.