Key Points of the Article

1. Hedera Africa Hackathon Launched
   • A large-scale pan-African Web3 initiative aimed at accelerating digital innovation.
2. $1 Million Prize Pool
   • Significant funding to support winners, grants, and post-hackathon project development.
3. Organizers
   • Co-hosted by The Hashgraph Association and the Exponential Science Foundation.
4. Event Timeline
   • Runs from August 1 to September 30, 2025.
5. Pan-African Reach
   • Aiming for 10,000+ participants from over 15 African nations.
6. Hybrid Format
   • Features both virtual participation and physical "hacking stations" in 20+ major cities (e.g., Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo).
7. Innovation Tracks
   • Focus areas include:
   • a. Real-world asset tokenisation & on-chain finance
   • b. ESG & sustainability
   • c. Self-sovereign identity & AI
   • d. Gaming, Metaverse, and NFTs
8. Education & Certification
   • Includes technical training, mentorship, and blockchain certification via the Hedera Academy.
9. Inclusive Participation
   • Open to all backgrounds and skill levels—no prior blockchain experience needed.
10. Support from Over 50 Partners

• Including universities, tech hubs, and coordination support from DAR Blockchain.

Paolo's Role Highlighted

• Executive Chairman & Co-Founder of the Exponential Science Foundation, one of the main organizing bodies.
• Strategic Visionary behind the hackathon’s educational and entrepreneurial goals.
• Emphasizes the hackathon as a tool to empower Africa’s next generation of tech builders.
• Advocates for long-term ecosystem growth, enabling participants to go beyond the event and build sustainable ventures.
• Promotes inclusive access to Web3 technologies through structured training and mentorship.

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