About the Hackathon
# π Ubuntu Bitcoin Hackathon 2025
**Building Bitcoin Solutions for the Global South**
Join us for the first-ever **Bitcoin Zambia Hackathon** β where developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and educators come together to build real solutions for real challenges. From Lightning-powered apps to self-custody tools and financial inclusion projects, this is your chance to create tools that can make a difference.
Over a month, participants will collaborate, learn from mentors, and showcase their projects to a global audience. With BTC prizes, many giveaways, and the opportunity to shape the future of money in our region, this hackathon is more than a competition β itβs a movement.
π **Register today and help us build the future of Bitcoin in Zambia and beyond.**
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Participants will build on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, with opportunities to experiment with:
- **SDK's(voltage,breeze etc)**
- Lightning APIs & developer tools
Projects can also integrate with wallets, point-of-sale systems, or community onboarding initiatives.
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## π₯ Participant Entry Requirements
- Open to Zambian participants **and african participants who team up with at least one Zambian teammate.**
- Age: 18+
- Teams of 3-5 members
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## ποΈ Key Dates
- **Registration:** Sept 6 β Sept 30, 2025
- **Online Bootcamp:** Starts Sept 8, 2025 β Every **Monday & Wednesday at 8PM CAT** (2 sessions/week)
- **Physical Hacking Day (Lusaka):** Oct 24β25, 2025
- **Submission Deadline:** Oct 25, 2025 @ 23:59 UTC
- **Judging Period:** Oct 26 β Oct 31, 2025
- **Closing Ceremony & Winners:** Nov 1, 2025
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## π° Prize Pool
- bitcoin and bitcoin merch
- **Distribution:** BTC via Lightning / on-chain.
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## π§© Hackathon Tracks
### **1. Lightning Apps β Payments & Remittance**
Build Lightning-powered apps for micropayments, remittances, or merchant tools.
*Target:* Developers.
### **2. Self-Custody & Security Tools**
Create apps, guides, or visual tools for wallets, multi-sig, and safe storage.
*Target:* Developers / security builders.
### **3. Education & Onboarding**
Design resources, workshops, games, or campaigns for teaching Bitcoin and Lightning.
*Target:* Non-technical (educators, designers, activists).
### **4. Community & Local Impact Solutions**
Develop financial inclusion tools for small businesses, rural areas, or women-led initiatives. Could include business models, awareness campaigns, or service design.
*Target:* Non-coders, business innovators.
### **5. SDK / No-Code Development**
Use **Breeze SDK, Voltage SDK**, or other plug-and-play tools to build prototypes quickly.
*Target:* Builders with limited coding experience.
### **6. Open Track β Unlimited Innovation**
Any ideas that donβt fit the other tracks β experimental or bold.
*Target:* Visionaries, product innovators.
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## π§βπ» Submission Requirements
Each team must submit via DoraHacks:
- **GitHub repo** (public) with project code or resources
- **README** explaining the project
- **Demo video** (max 10 min)
- **Pitch video**: Team intro, problem, solution, business model, traction, roadmap
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## π§ Judge Criteria
Projects will be evaluated on:
- **Relevance to Theme (25%)**
- **Innovation (20%)**
- **Technical Execution (25%)**
- **Impact & Usability (20%)**
- **Presentation (10%)**
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## π Developer Resources
- [Breeze SDK Docs]
- [Voltage SDK Docs]
- [Bitcoin & Lightning Dev Guides]
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## π Workshops & Office Hours
- Lightning app development crash course
- Self-custody & hardware wallet demos
- SDK integration tutorials (Breeze, Voltage)
- Weekly office hours on Discord (after bootcamp sessions)
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## π’ Official Communication Channels
- **Discord (main hub):** [https://discord.gg/4w5CERUK](https://discord.gg/4w5CERUK)
- **Twitter:** @BitcoinZambia
- **Email contact:** [bitcoinzambia1@gmail.com](mailto:bitcoinzambia1@gmail.com)
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## π Post-Hackathon Support
Promising teams will gain:
- Connections to Bitcoin grants and incubation opportunities
- Mentorship from experienced builders
- Visibility via Bitcoin Zambia, BFF, BitDevs Zambia, and DoraHacks networks
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π **Register Sept 6 β Sept 30, join the bootcamp (starting Sept 8), and be ready to hack with us in Lusaka Oct 24β25!**
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