Trust & Pay Hackathon
Trust & Pay Hackathon
Welcome to the Trust & Play Hackathon!
We're thrilled to have you join us on this journey of co-creation, trust, and imagination across Web3, fintech, and the metaverse. This hackathon isn’t just about competition—it’s a space to explore meaningful ideas for identity, play, and civic value in a digital future.
Hosted by w3 ff and WASA in partnership with ETHRiyadh, the Trust & Play Hackathon is a hybrid event where global talents come together to reimagine digital trust. Through storytelling, creativity, and concept-building, we’ll shape new ways of interacting with finance, culture, and technology.
Before we dive in, let’s set the stage for a collaborative and respectful environment where all voices are heard and all participants feel empowered to contribute their best.
Hackathon Tracks
🧩 Track 1: Web3 & Decentralized Identity (DID)
The Future is Self-Sovereign
How can decentralized identity enable trust in finance, education, or virtual platforms?
Examples:
- KYC with DID
- DID-powered educational platforms
- Cross-platform Web3 login
🎮 Track 2: Metaverse Gaming & Experience Design (The Sandbox)
Play. Build. Own.
Create immersive games and experiences using The Sandbox tool stack.
Examples:
- Financial literacy adventure game
- DID-powered avatars with reputation
- Metaverse learning hubs
💸 Track 3: Fintech Innovation & Gamified Finance
Banking that speaks to the next generation
Design Web3-first financial tools with fun, accessible UX.
Examples:
- Gamified budgeting tools
- NFT-based rewards
- AI coaches with storylines
- 24/7 banking counter in the metaverse
🕌 Track 4: Web3 for Civic Trust & Cultural Integrity
Inspired by the themes of EthRiyadh
Develop concepts that use Web3 and the Metaverse to reinforce trust, cultural identity, and public good in Saudi Arabia.
Examples:
- Onchain civic participation platforms
- Virtual “Majlis” for cultural dialogue
- Digital heritage NFTs
- Youth or community DAOs
🕌 Track 5: Cashless Payment solution for visitors & pilgrims
Millions of pilgrims and visitors arrive in Saudi Arabia carrying only foreign cash often without smartphones or access to digital banking.
In a rapidly cashless Kingdom, how can these guests immediately and effortlessly participate in everyday digital payments?
This challenge invites teams to design a simple, inclusive, and secure solution that enables pilgrims and travelers to convert cash into a usable digital payment experience without technical complexity, long onboarding, or reliance on personal devices.
Track 6: Simple Agentic Use Cases for Real-World Operations
Saudi Arabia is rapidly scaling smart infrastructure, autonomous systems, and data-driven operations as part of Vision 2030.Across mobility, industry, and infrastructure, machines and assets are becoming increasingly connected — yet many operational processes still rely on manual decisions, approvals, and payments.
While AI systems already generate insights, the next step is controlled action:AI agents that can act on behalf of machines or assets, safely, transparently, and within clearly defined limits.
The challenge is not technological possibility — it is trust, accountability, and business viability.
Track 7: From CV to Career – Building a Trusted AI Career Agent
Your challenge is to help transform reason.carrere from a CV-building tool into a trusted AI-powered career companion.
This next generation of the platform should:
- Support talents beyond CV creation
- Help them navigate real career opportunities
- Treat personal and career data securely, responsibly, and transparently
Application and Team Selection Process
The Trust & Play Hackathon is a team-based hybrid hackathon. While individuals are welcome to register, all participants must either join or form a team in order to compete during the hackathon phase.
Teams must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- 🧑🤝🧑 Team Size: 2 to 6 participants per team
- 🔞 Age Requirement: All participants must be at least 18 years old
- 🌍 Participation Format: Open to remote, hybrid, and on-site participants (Riyadh)
- 🗣 Language Requirement: At least one team member must be fluent in English and able to join mentoring sessions and checkpoints
- 💡 Originality: Submitted ideas must be original and must not infringe on third-party IP rights (copyright, patents, trademarks)
- 🚫 Exclusions: Teams with already commercially available solutions are not eligible
- 🎓 Skills: Diverse technical and business skill sets are recommended; at least one member should be familiar with the chosen theme
- 📆 Commitment: Teams must commit to full participation throughout the hackathon, including at least 2 mentoring sessions and all checkpoints to be eligible for awards
- 👤 One Team Only: Each participant may only be part of one team
Registration & Submission
Key dates:
- 📅 Registration open: Dec 3 | 2025
- Masterclasses & Panel discussions in the virtual phase: Dec. - End of Jan | 2026
- 📣 Announcement of Selected Teams: Feb | 2026
- 🤝 Online Matchmaking & Team Formation Events: Will take place during the Pre-Hack Phase between December and January
Teams Pre-Selection and Announcement
Before entering the active hackathon phase, all submitted teams will undergo a pre-selection process to ensure alignment with the Trust & Play Hackathon’s objectives and thematic focus.
🧩 Selection Criteria:
- Team Size:Minimum of 2 members required. Teams with 3 or more members are preferred to promote skill diversity.
- Problem Statement:Submissions must include a clear description of the problem the team seeks to address, explaining its relevance and potential impact.
- Solution Overview:An initial solution idea should be outlined. Early-stage or open-ended approaches are acceptable.
- Thematic Alignment:Teams must clearly demonstrate how their idea connects to one or more of the official hackathon tracks: Web3 Identity, Metaverse, Fintech, or Civic Trust. And should combine at least two of them
🎯 Selection Outcome:
Submissions will be reviewed by the organizing team based on the above criteria. Selected teams will be announced via the official hackathon platform in the Ideas/Teams section.
📌 Team Numbers:
Each accepted team will receive a unique team number, which remains fixed throughout the event.
Team names and idea titles can still be updated during the hackathon.
Contact Information and Important Links
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.w3-ff.com
Schedule
6 Dec 2025
Location: On this platform
Idea Submission Deadline (Platform)
This marks the deadline for submitting ideas on the hackathon platform. All teams and individual participants are required to upload their idea descriptions, including the core concept, problem statement, and initial approach.
Submitting an idea does not require a fully developed solution. Early-stage concepts, evolving ideas, and draft proposals are explicitly encouraged. The platform serves as a living space where ideas can be refined, updated, or even reworked as teams progress.
Idea submission is essential for visibility, matchmaking, mentor feedback, and evaluation. Only ideas submitted on the platform will be considered for mentoring support and the final pitching sessions.
Make sure your idea is visible — it’s the starting point for collaboration, feedback, and impact.
Location: On this platform
10 Dec 2025
28 Jan 2026
Location: https://mural.zoom.us/j/96786150811?pwd=Zcmf22aG5I6YvsMUbGqHRDwv7fnuFO.1
29 Jan 2026
Location: https://mural.zoom.us/j/95739281038?pwd=cCyjqyjagK4wf4stg9xwbvJIXVsY07.1
Great hackathons don’t fail because of ideas — they fail because teams don’t align fast enough.
On Jan 29 | 6 pm KSA, we’re hosting
Team Alignment Under Time Pressure: Simple Recipes for Smooth Hackathons.
This hands-on session introduces a lightweight team alignment recipe based on methods from LUMA Institute — designed for real decision-making under time pressure.
You’ll learn:
- How teams align quickly at the start
- How short checkpoints keep momentum
- How decisions and handoffs stay clear under pressure
Practical, human-centered, and directly applicable during the hackathon.
🗓 Jan 29 | 6 pm KSA
🎙 with Caroline Gilliland (LUMA) & Sabrina Goerlich (w3 ff)
2 Feb 2026
Location: meet.google.com/tfe-jijo-eho
3 Feb 2026
Location: meet.google.com/mbc-oyaj-azs
5 Feb 2026
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
Arrival / badges
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
On-Site Hackathon Phase | Riyadh
The on-site phase of the hackathon will take place in Riyadh from February 5–7, 2026.
During these days, teams will collaborate in person to further develop their ideas, refine solutions, and prepare their final pitches. Throughout the event, mentors, industry experts, and partners will be available to provide guidance, feedback, and hands-on support.
We strongly encourage participants to join on-site to fully benefit from the experience — from direct mentorship and real-time collaboration to valuable networking opportunities and the unique energy that only an in-person hackathon can offer.
Beyond the work, expect inspiring conversations, new connections, and an atmosphere that makes building together both impactful and enjoyable.
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
Presentation of the Hackathon Tracks
This session provides a comprehensive introduction to the hackathon tracks, outlining the thematic focus, key challenges, and strategic objectives of each track. Participants will gain clarity on the problem spaces, expected impact, and how their ideas can align with real-world needs and industry relevance.
All track descriptions and related materials are also available on the hackathon platform. During this session, however, we will revisit the tracks to address open points, clarify expectations, and respond to individual questions in more depth.
The presentation will further highlight evaluation criteria, innovation potential, and practical considerations such as feasibility and scalability. This is intended to help teams refine their direction, sharpen their problem statements, and make informed decisions when selecting or adjusting their track.
By the end of the session, participants will have a clear understanding of the opportunities within each track and how to position their solutions for meaningful impact throughout the hackathon.
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
- Idea pitches (60 sec each) + “I need / I offer”
Location: https://meet.google.com/bhr-ndda-ott
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
Matchmaking Session
The matchmaking session is all about bringing people together. It connects participants who are not yet part of a team with existing teams, and supports those who want to team up with others to form something new.
Participants are encouraged to share their skills, interests, and early ideas, explore open challenges, and actively look for complementary profiles. Whether you’re a developer, designer, strategist, or visionary — this session is your opportunity to find the right people to build with.
You don’t have to wait for the session to get started. Matchmaking can already begin now via the hackathon platform, where participant profiles, ideas, and team needs are visible at all times. The session itself will help accelerate connections, spark conversations, and turn first introductions into real teams.
Be open, be curious, and be bold — great teams are built through conversation, trust, and shared ambition.
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
Welcome & Opening Ceremony
Official kick-off of the Hackathon with a short keynote and networking opportunity.This session provides important context, inspiration, and orientation for all participants.
Here are a few impressions from the last hackathon. Don't miss the opportunity to participate!
For active participants:
An additional matchmaking & FAQ session will be scheduled separately to support team building and open questions.Nevertheless, all participants are strongly encouraged to attend the Welcome & Opening Ceremony.
Location: Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12464, Saudi-Arabien @The technical digital college
- choose idea, define MVP, assign ownership, set next checkpoints
6 Feb 2026
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
- Each team states: goal today, who owns what, biggest risk.
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
- 09:30–09:40 Standup (mandatory)
- 09:40–11:00 Build Block 1
- 11:00–11:30 Mentor window A (booked)
- 11:30–13:00 Jumu’ah protected break ✅
- 13:00–14:00 Lunch + reset (Mentor sessions)
- 14:00–15:10 Build Block 2
- 15:10–15:30 Asr break ✅
- 15:30–17:30 Build Block 3
- 17:30–18:30 Maghrib + Dinner ✅
- 18:30–20:00 Mentor window B (booked) + build
- ~19:10–19:25 Isha short break (optional but nice) ✅
- 20:00–22:30 Build + pitch prep / submission prep
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
- Problem + user: Who is the user and what pain are you solving?
- Demo scope: What will you deliver by submission? What are you not doing
- Show progress: Demo something real (clickable flow, API call, contract stub, data output, or end-to-end mock).
- Riskiest assumption: What’s the biggest risk (trust/identity/payment/compliance) and how will you test it today?
- Plan to finish: Top 3 tasks + owners + “demo by 6pm” milestone.
- Blockers + mentor ask: What’s stuck? Which mentor slot do you need (tech / business / legal)?
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
- Demo proof: Link or 60–90s Screenrecord (rough)
- One-pager (max 200–300 words): Problem, User, what has been built, what's missing, next steps
- Repo/link (optional if available)
7 Feb 2026
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
Announcement of Selected Teams
During this session, the selected teams advancing to the next stage of the hackathon will be officially announced.
Team selection is based on the ideas submitted on the hackathon platform, the alignment with the hackathon tracks, as well as criteria such as innovation potential, feasibility, and overall impact. The announcement marks an important milestone, providing teams with clarity on their status and next steps.
Selected teams will receive confirmation to proceed to the pitching phase in front of the jury, along with detailed guidance on pitching formats, timelines, and expectations for the evaluation process.
For all participants, this moment marks a key transition point in the hackathon — from ideation and collaboration to presentation, validation, and impact — while continuing to engage with the community throughout the final phase.
Regardless of selection, the hackathon platform remains open for collaboration, learning, and networking.
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub
Location: Al Khalidiyah, Diriyah 11011, Saudi-Arabien @Monshaa´t Startup Hub