[2506] Rootstock Hackaton

[NicoleCarolina]

Rootstock Hackaton Proposal

I am writing to you to propose a strategic collaboration that will significantly benefit Rootstock: to become the Official Sponsor of the upcoming hackathon. This event, scheduled for September 2025, will focus exclusively on the development of Solidity projects on Rootstock, with a particular emphasis on incentivizing innovative solutions that boost the Rootstock ecosystem.

This hackathon represents a unique opportunity for Rootstock to strengthen its ecosystem, particularly in Spain, attract new developers, and accelerate the creation of innovative solutions on its platform, consolidating its position as a leader in the convergence of Bitcoin and smart contracts.

This hackathon is not just an event; it is a talent incubator and a catalyst for the development of its ecosystem. Here’s why:

• Exclusive Focus on Rootstock: Our hackathon will be designed so that participants use Solidity to build directly on the EVM. This means that all resulting efforts and projects will be directly applicable and beneficial to its network, generating functional prototypes from day one.

• Specialized Talent Development: We will attract developers interested in the potential of Bitcoin and DeFi, who will be trained and experience Rootstock’s capabilities firsthand. This will create a larger and more qualified talent pool for its ecosystem, empowering its developer community.

• Innovation and New DApps: The hackathon will generate solutions that could solve existing challenges or open new business avenues on Rootstock, from new DeFi primitives to community tools.

• Visibility and Market Leadership: By sponsoring this focused event, Rootstock positions itself as the undisputed leader in the convergence of Bitcoin and smart contract functionality, demonstrating its commitment to the developer community and decentralized innovation. • Engaged Community: We will foster the creation of a stronger and more active Rootstock developer community, facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continued adoption of its platform.

Official Sponsorship Options and Benefits

As an Official Sponsor, Rootstock will enjoy unparalleled visibility and impact. We have designed a comprehensive proposal to maximize your return on investment:

Exclusivity as an Official Sponsor of the Solidity Track at Rootstock:

• Event Name: The hackathon could be presented as “Rootstock Hackathon By c3” or “Rootstock Developer Challenge.”

• Prominent Logo: Your logo will be featured on all event materials (website, banners, flyers, participant t-shirts, social media, press releases, etc.), making you the most visible of all sponsors.

• A Rootstock representative will have the opportunity to give an inspirational speech at the start of the hackathon, presenting the company’s vision, the challenges they want to see solved, and the opportunities at Rootstock.

• Jury Participation: A Rootstock expert will be an integral part of the judging panel, providing their technical knowledge and perspective to evaluate the winning projects.

• Rootstock-sponsored Challenge: You will be able to propose one or more specific challenges within the hackathon (e.g., “Best Lending DApp on Rootstock,” “L2 Scalability Solution on RVM”), incentivizing teams to build on use cases relevant to their ecosystem.

Visibility and Ongoing Branding:

• Dedicated Engagement Space: A prominent virtual or physical booth (if the event is hybrid) for the Rootstock team to interact with participants, conduct demos, answer questions, and encourage adoption of its tools.

• Access to Participant Database: With your consent, for future communications and recruitment opportunities for Rootstock-specialized talent.

Talent Recruitment:

• Virtual Job Board: Offering a space for Rootstock to post job postings targeted at the most outstanding participants.

• Networking sessions: Facilities for your recruiting team to connect directly with promising developers.

Tangible Benefits and Prizes:

I propose that Rootstock sponsor the first prize in its entirety, incentivizing excellence and dedication to development on its platform.

Estimated Expenses for the First Prize and Logistics

To quantify Rootstock’s contribution, we present an estimate of the costs associated with the prizes and basic hackathon logistics (not including venue, marketing, virtual platform, etc.).

First Prize (Sponsored by Rootstock):

We estimate an attractive value for the first prize at €5,000. This not only rewards effort and innovation but also acts as a powerful magnet to attract top talent. We believe €5,000 in cryptocurrency (e.g., rBTC or stablecoins on Rootstock) would be an ideal incentive, demonstrating practical use of the network.

• Basic Operating Expenses for 2 days (example of our contribution and that of other potential sponsors):

o Additional Prizes (2nd and 3rd place, mentions): We estimate approximately €5,000 in prizes to encourage participation and recognize more teams. €3,000 for the second prize and €2,000 for the third prize.

o Food and Beverages for Participants and Staff (approx. 100 people):

 Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for two days: approximately €25 per person/day x 100 people x 2 days = €5,000.

o Support Staff (3 people): Coordination, technical support, logistics.

 Estimated salary per person/day (2 days): €250/day x 3 people x 2 days = €1,500.

This opportunity is a major boost for Rootstock, strengthening its brand in the global developer community. I am open to discussing this proposal in detail and customizing it to perfectly fit Rootstock’s goals and budget.

I appreciate your time and consideration, and look forward to discussing this exciting opportunity in depth. Sincerely,

Nicole Carolina Fucili

Community & Event Manager Web3

Rootstock Ambassador

+34 611 197 105

Nicole.rootstock@gmail.com

Nicole.culturac3@gmail.com

[Manuvegadt]

Buena propuesta!!! Los chicos de C3 son una comunidad muy activa y comprometida con los valores de Rootstock

[Kaf_StableLab]

Thanks for sharing the proposal @NicoleCarolina, I like the idea overall, personally, I’d love to see a Rootstock-focused hackathon in Spain.

That said, I think there are a few key details missing for now: it’s not clear whether it’s in-person or virtual, where it would take place, how many developers you expect, or how it would be organized. Also, the total amount isn’t small (+€15K estimated), so it’s worth structuring it a bit more.

Right now it doesn’t follow the updated grant process (milestones, video, etc.). I get that not everything may apply exactly given the nature of the proposal, but sticking to the basic structure really helps everyone evaluate it better.

Happy to help if you need support!

[NicoleCarolina]

The hackathon will take place in person in Barcelona. We are currently evaluating three venue options (to be confirmed shortly):

• 42 Barcelona
• INNOIT
• Tech Barcelona

We anticipate an estimated attendance of around 50 participants, depending on how early we can begin promotional efforts and ensuring no scheduling conflicts with competing events.

Attached you will find photos of previous meetups and workshops we’ve organized, highlighting our capacity to engage and mobilize the developer community effectively.

[NicoleCarolina]

[NicoleCarolina]

[NicoleCarolina]

[Kaf_StableLab]

Thanks for the update and the photos, it’s great to see you’ve already been doing real work with the community. It definitely makes me feel more confident about supporting this, and the budget you outlined (prizes, catering, staff) seems reasonable overall.

One little idea from my side: do you think there could be a moment to introduce Rootstock Collective and the governance side too? Even just a short mention during the opening talk would be good, or maybe a small booth or info table where people can learn how to get involved after the hackathon.

[NicoleCarolina]

I think it’s a perfect idea. In most of the meetups I’ve attended, I usually talk about Rootstock Collective, and I think anything related to the community and ecosystem fits in well. Thanks for your response.

[Kath]

This is a solid proposal to help grow the Rootstock ecosystem. A Solidity-focused hackathon could attract new developers and inspire creative dApps built on Rootstock. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves. Great initiative, Nicole!

[NicoleCarolina]

Thank you so much ! I truly appreciate your support and thoughtful feedback. You’re absolutely right a Solidity focused hackathon has the potential to bring fresh talent into the Rootstock ecosystem and catalyze the development of innovative, real-world dApps that leverage Rootstock’s strengths in Bitcoin- ayer smart contracts. By fostering creativity and collaboration, we hope to not only expand the developer community but also highlight the unique possibilities Rootstock offers. I’m excited to see what we can build together stay tuned!

[Kaf_StableLab]

Hey Nicole, thanks for putting this proposal forward — I’d like to share some thoughts. The idea of a Rootstock-focused Solidity hackathon makes sense and is clearly aligned with ecosystem priorities like developer onboarding and visibility. That said, I’m voting NO on this proposal in its current form. There are a few concerns I think should be addressed before moving forward. First, the proposal mentions a €5,000 first prize, but the on-chain request is only 1,200 RIF — which at today’s price amounts to less than $70. This appears to be a mismatch that should be clarified. While there’s an attempt to outline the total budget — estimated at around €16,500 — the financial structure isn’t fully detailed. It’s not clear how the remaining costs will be covered, whether other sponsors are confirmed, or how responsibilities are distributed. I’d also expect to see some basic milestones or deliverables (like number of participants or dApps submitted), and a commitment to share a post-event recap with the community. For future submissions, I recommend following the structure outlined in the June 2025 grant process update here. I’d be happy to reconsider a future version that includes those elements. Appreciate the initiative and looking forward to seeing how this evolves.

[NicoleCarolina]

Thank you for your comment and for taking the time to review the proposal.

I’d like to clarify a few important points to ensure full transparency in the process:

1. Event publicity and prior confirmation
   We completely understand the importance of a solid communication strategy, but it’s essential to highlight that we cannot begin any public promotion of the event without official confirmation. Launching promotional efforts without certainty could seriously damage the project’s and the sponsor’s reputations—especially if, for any reason, the hackathon had to be cancelled or significantly altered. That’s a scenario we want to avoid at all costs, which is why we prefer to move forward with caution and professionalism.

2. Confirmation of additional sponsors
   Similarly, onboarding other sponsors depends on securing an initial confirmation, ideally from Rootstock as the main sponsor. This early commitment would allow us to present a more solid and credible proposal to other potential partners. It’s a phased approach that ensures the event is built on confirmed foundations rather than assumptions.

3. Date change to late October
   Due to logistics and to optimize outreach, we are adjusting the event date to the end of October 2025. This change is strategic, allowing us more preparation time and enabling us to align with the European Blockchain Convention (EBC), which will also take place in Barcelona around that time. This alignment would allow us to attract not only local developers but also international talent and a relevant audience already present in the city for EBC. It’s a strategic opportunity to amplify the hackathon’s reach without duplicating efforts.

4. Correction in cost figures
   Finally, thank you for pointing out the issue regarding the budget numbering. It was indeed a formatting error, which I’ve now corrected with accurate and consistent figures. I appreciate your understanding.

In summary, I remain fully committed to organizing a high-impact event focused on the Rootstock ecosystem, while prioritizing responsible, secure, and professional planning. We’re happy to keep refining the proposal to ensure it aligns perfectly with Rootstock’s objectives.

[changuito]

Nicole! Excellent proposal. Congratulations, I support the initiative and would be happy to spread the word about this beautiful community with friends I have over there.

[NicoleCarolina]

thank you so much for your support!

[Manu]

Great proposal!! I know all the work you do for growing Rootstock community

[Manu]

I understand there may still be some questions and that more clarity is needed on certain aspects, such as the exact date of the hackathon, confirmation of some sponsors, or a more detailed cost breakdown. However, this grant is precisely being requested so the project can take the lead as the main sponsor and move forward with the organization.

I haven’t organized a hackathon myself, but I have co-organized large-scale conferences, and I know there’s always a high degree of uncertainty at this stage. Having a main sponsor from the start greatly reduces that uncertainty, as it gives the organizers the financial backing they need to dedicate time and resources to both the organization and pre-production.

In particular, I recognize the work Nicole has been doing for years with Rootstock, her track record in organizing and co-organizing events, and her involvement in Cultura C3, an organization with extensive regional experience. She also has an active community of followers — including ambassadors and Rootstock users — who promote Rootstock’s adoption.

For all these reasons, I believe it’s very valuable to give a vote of confidence and support this initiative, especially as it comes from someone with a proven track record, well-known among those of us building on Rootstock.

[NicoleCarolina]

Thank you so much for your words and for trusting in this initiative!
I truly value your recognition of the work I’ve been doing and of the efforts of the community driving Rootstock forward.

I’d like to confirm that the hackathon will take place from October 19th to 21st, right after the EBC in Barcelona, with the aim of leveraging its audience and attracting more developers interested in building on Rootstock.

I know that at this stage there may still be questions and details to finalize, but having a main sponsor from the beginning will allow me to reduce uncertainty and dedicate the time and resources needed to make this event a success. I remain committed to delivering it with the quality and impact our community deserves.

[NicoleCarolina]

I am committed to promoting the search for Rootstock solutions for the needs of Bitcoin economies

[Blockchaindevbcn]

I believe this is a value proposition that can help bring visibility to the most important Bitcoin sidechain here in Spain and encourage developers to keep building on the network. On a personal note, I know Nicole and have seen firsthand the enthusiasm and dedication she brings to the events I’ve had the chance to attend