Frequently asked questions
Is the hackathon free?
Yes. Participation is completely free - there are no registration or entry fees.
Can I participate online?
Yes. The hackathon is an online competition - teams can collaborate remotely or meet in person, organising their own schedule throughout the hackathon. The top five teams will pitch in person at the Grand Finale.
Do I need previous Interledger experience?
No. Teams will be introduced to the Interledger Protocol, Open Payments and the supporting tools through documentation, workshops and mentor support sessions.
Can I register without a team?
Yes. Indicate on the registration form that you are registering as an individual and we will do our best to place you into a team.
How many teams can take part?
To ensure a high quality experience for participants and judges, places are limited to 15 teams. Teams are accepted on a first come, first served basis once registration has been reviewed - so register early.
How large can a team be?
Teams should ideally include three to five participants, with at least one person able to work on the technical implementation.
Do I need to be a developer?
No. The hackathon is open to designers, product people, fintech professionals, students, entrepreneurs and community innovators - teams are encouraged to be multidisciplinary.
What must we build?
A working or partially working proof of concept that addresses a focused part of the spaza shop payments challenge and makes meaningful use of Interledger or Open Payments technology. See The Challenge and Submissions.
Can we start working before the event?
Work should primarily be completed during the official hackathon period. You are welcome to research the problem space and learn the technology in advance.
Who owns the solution?
Teams retain ownership of their work.
What happens if our prototype is incomplete?
That's okay - partially working prototypes may be submitted. Teams are not judged purely on polish: a smaller, well-considered working solution may perform better than an ambitious but incomplete idea. Be clear about known limitations and recommended next steps in your submission.
How will teams receive support?
All teams receive access to the challenge brief, technical documentation, workshops, mentor check-ins and the event communication channels. See Technology & Resources for the Slack Community and mentor support details.
What happens at the Grand Finale?
The top five teams are invited to present their solutions live at the in-person Grand Finale in Cape Town, where the winners are announced. Venue arrangements, including catering and connectivity, will be confirmed closer to the event - finalists should bring their own laptop and anything else they need to present comfortably.
When will the challenge brief be released?
The challenge brief will be shared with registered teams - the release date will be announced on this site and in the event communication channels.