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May 20th-21st, 10AM EDT

Hedera x AI

The final culmination of the Hedera OpenConvAI Hackathon where shortlisted teams will present their innovative projects to our panel of judges in a YC-style pitch competition for a chance to win from our $30,000 prize pool.

May 20th-21st, 2025
Virtual Event
$30,000 Prize Pool

Sponsored by

HederaHBAR Foundation
Hashgraph Online Logo

Hashgraph Online

Streamed & Hosted by

Genfinity Logo

Demo Day

Presentations & Judging

Team Pitches

Finalists present their innovative AI solutions to the judges.

Expert Judging Panel

Industry leaders evaluate projects based on set criteria.

Event Schedule

Our Hedera x AI event follows a structured format designed to give each team the spotlight they deserve while maintaining an efficient judging process.

Day 1 · May 20th

10:00 AM EDT
Live Start – Welcome & Overview

Introductions and overview of the event. 10 minutes

10:10 AM EDT
Pitch 1: Unthink AI

Scott Friedman, Helix Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:25 AM EDT
Pitch 2: Character AI

Quincy Jones, XDC Foundation Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:40 AM EDT
Pitch 3: HederaPayBot

Marco, Algorand Foundation Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:55 AM EDT
Showcase Segment: Neuron

Showcase from the Hedera Ecosystem

11:00 AM EDT
Guest Segment - Mance Harmon

Hedera Ecosystem Leadership Guest Spot.

11:10 AM EDT
Pitch 4: Fausto Project

Constellation (Ben or Altif) Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:25 AM EDT
Pitch 5: Contracts auditor

Alex Nechaev, Funders Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:40 AM EDT
Pitch 6: HederaCodes

Tudor Holotescu, Headstarter Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:55 AM EDT
Pitch 7: Novix

VC or Judge Intro. Founder Pitch + Q&A

12:10 PM EDT
Showcase Segment: Moonscape

Showcase from the Hedera Ecosystem

Day 2 · May 21st

10:00 AM EDT
Live Start – Welcome & Overview

Introductions and overview of the event. 10 minutes

10:10 AM EDT
Pitch 1: Franky

Kayla Phillips, Hivemind Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:25 AM EDT
Pitch 2: SmartApp Studio

Lance Lilly, XDC Foundation Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:40 AM EDT
Pitch 3: Project Neo

Marco, Algorand Foundation Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

10:55 AM EDT
Showcase Segment: HashPack Showcase

Showcase from the Hedera Ecosystem

11:00 AM EDT
Guest Segment - Dr. Leemon Baird

Hedera Ecosystem Leadership Guest Spot.

11:10 AM EDT
Pitch 4: Talentai

Constellation (Altif) Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:25 AM EDT
Pitch 5: DeStatistics

Alex Nechaev, Funders Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:40 AM EDT
Pitch 6: HashBrownie

Tudor Holotescu, Headstarter Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

11:55 AM EDT
Pitch 7: HederaScanAI

Scott Friedman, Helix Brief Overview. Founder Pitch + Q&A

12:10 PM EDT
Showcase Segment: Decentralized Oracle

Showcase from the Hedera Ecosystem

Meet the Judges

Our esteemed panel of industry experts will evaluate your presentations and select the winners. Each judge brings unique expertise and perspective to the evaluation process.

Aleksandr Nechaev
Aleksandr Nechaev

Partner

Funders VC

Ashe Oro
Ashe Oro

Dir of Ecosystem

The HBAR Foundation

Dr. Leemon Baird
Dr. Leemon Baird

Co-founder, Chief Scientist

Hashgraph, Hedera

Kayla Phillips
Kayla Phillips

Senior Venture Principal

Hivemind Ventures

Lance Lilly
Lance Lilly

Ecosystem Development Manager

XDC Foundation

Mance Harmon
Mance Harmon

Co-founder

Hashgraph, Hedera

Marco Podien
Marco Podien

Senior Developer Advocate

Algorand

Michael Kantor
Michael Kantor

President

Hashgraph Online

Pietro Negri
Pietro Negri

Investor Relations & Partnerships

Outlier Ventures

Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones

Lead Developer Relations

XDC Foundation

Rob Allen
Rob Allen

Head of Future Payments

Australian Payments Plus

Ryan Solomon
Ryan Solomon

Founder

Genfinity

Scott Friedman
Scott Friedman

Partner

Helix

Ty Smith
Ty Smith

Sr. Product Manager

Hashgraph

Judging Criteria

Our judges will evaluate each presentation based on the following criteria, which together make up your final Hedera x AI score.

Presentation Quality

30%

Clear, engaging presentation that effectively demonstrates your solution. Includes demo, implementation details, and future vision.

Technical Achievement

25%

Level of technical complexity and innovation displayed in the project. Effective use of Hedera services and standards.

User Experience

25%

Intuitive, accessible user interface and overall experience. Shows thoughtful design and consideration for end users.

Future Potential

20%

Viability as an ongoing project with real-world applications. Business model and growth strategy.

Presentation Tips & Requirements

Maximize your impact during the 3-minute pitch window with these essential tips and technical requirements.

Streaming Information

Host: The Hedera x AI event will be streamed and hosted by Genfinity on Streamyard.

Team Representation: Due to streaming platform limitations, only one team member can present during the pitch. Choose your presenter wisely!

Platform: We'll be using Streamyard for the presentations. All participants should:

  • Familiarize yourself with Streamyard before the event

  • Test your camera, microphone, and screen sharing at least 24 hours before the event

  • Have a backup device ready in case of technical issues

  • Join the stream 15 minutes before your scheduled presentation time

While you have full flexibility in how you use your 3 minutes, the following sections offer suggestions and requirements:

1
Preparation

  • Practice your pitch thoroughly—aim for at least 5 full rehearsals

  • Create slides with 90% visuals, 10% text—let your voice tell the story

  • Record a practice run and time yourself—stay within 2:45 to allow buffer

  • Prepare concise answers to anticipated questions from judges

2
Content Structure

  • 1

    Problem & Hook (30 sec): Start with a compelling problem statement and why it matters

  • 2

    Solution Demo (1-2 min): Show don't tell—focus on a live demonstration of key features

  • 3

    Technical Implementation (30 sec): Highlight how you're using Hedera's services and standards

  • 4

    Vision & Impact (15-30 sec): Conclude with future plans and potential market impact

Pro Tip: Your Q&A session (5-7 minutes) is just as important as your pitch. This is where judges dig deeper into your project's potential and technical merits. Be prepared to explain your technical choices and business strategy in detail.

Continued Development

Take advantage of additional development time to refine your project before Hedera x AI.

Polish Your Project After Submission

Good news! Even after the official hackathon submission deadline, you'll have flexibility to continue refining and improving your project before Hedera x AI. Use this time to polish your UI, fix bugs, enhance features, and prepare an impressive presentation. Just ensure your core concept remains consistent with your hackathon submission.

Refine UI/UX - Ensure your application is visually appealing and intuitive

Fix Bugs - Resolve any issues identified after submission

Perfect Your Demo - Practice and fine-tune your live demonstration

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about the Hedera x AI event and presentation process.