On Friday, September 27, 2024, ICP Rwanda hosted its highly anticipated Hackathon Demo Day, marking a significant day of innovation, collaboration, and blockchain development.
The event brought together developers, blockchain enthusiasts, and tech innovators from across Rwanda, eager to demonstrate their skills in building decentralized applications (dApps) using the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP).
The Demo Day featured a series of projects developed during the hackathon, showcasing how ICP is reshaping the Web3 landscape. Teams presented their creative solutions, designed to address real-world challenges using blockchain technology.
Sebakara Maic, ICP Rwanda spoke lead, expressed his enthusiasm for the platform, stating, “ICP has the potential to revolutionize the way we handle data, privacy, and security. Compared to current systems, it’s faster, more secure, and offers endless opportunities for innovation.”
Maic also highlighted the organization’s outreach efforts, especially in schools, saying, “We have been conducting evangelism tours on blockchain and ICP, particularly among students, to ensure that the next generation of technologists in Rwanda is well-prepared for the decentralized web.”
A notable figure at the event was Mupenzi Theogene, a previous hackathon winner, who shared his journey of discovering ICP during one of the platform’s tours at IPRC Huye, where he was studying for his bachelor’s in technology.
Mupenzi and his team won the July 2024 Hackathon with a project aimed at revolutionizing apartment rentals through blockchain technology.
“Our platform allows users to rent apartments both locally and internationally while protecting their personal data on a secure central server. It’s a game-changer in terms of privacy and efficiency,” Mupenzi explained.
The Demo Day concluded with an awards ceremony, recognizing the top three teams for their innovative and impactful projects. Among the winners was a group of girls from Rwanda Coding Academy who developed a project to protect digital assets uploaded to the internet. Their solution ensures that digital properties cannot be misused or claimed by unauthorized individuals.
Giselle Akuzwe Mugisha, one of the team members, explained, “Our project is crucial for securing digital assets, and we believe it will help create jobs in the future by ensuring creators are protected.”
The top three teams shared a 1,000,000 RWF prize pool, but Sebakara Maic encouraged more partners to support future hackathons.
“We’re calling for more partners to come on board so we can increase the prize pool and attract even more talented developers. We believe in the power of collaboration to drive innovation,” Maic said.
Kabarisa Rene, a representative from the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), reinforced the government’s commitment to supporting such initiatives.
“The government will continue to back ICP Rwanda and other tech-driven innovations that propel Rwanda forward in the digital age,” Kabarisa noted.
The ICP September Hackathon Demo Day was not just a showcase of talent and ingenuity—it was a clear indication of the country’s commitment to fostering blockchain technology and decentralization.
As Maic aptly summed up, “This is just the beginning. The future of blockchain in Rwanda is bright, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this technological revolution.”
