Platform to attract Indonesian developers to host APAC Stellar Hackathon
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Rise In, a web3 education and acceleration platform, in partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation, is organising the APAC Stellar Hackathon, a technology competition aimed at attracting developers, startup founders, and builders from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia to create digital financial solutions usable by the wider public.
Country Lead Rise In – Indonesia, Kenny Rivaldi, in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, said the programme is not merely a tech competition but an effort to build a stronger digital-talent ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
“We hope more young developers from Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries will dare to build digital products with real impact. Our target is not only to produce projects during the Hackathon but also to pave the way for the best solutions to continue evolving after the programme ends,” he said.
According to Kevin, Southeast Asia was chosen as the main focus because the region is developing into one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.
This is supported by increasingly open regulations relating to digital assets, rising use of blockchain-based transactions, and the public becoming more accustomed to digital financial services via mobile devices.
Indonesia, for example, is taking a more serious direction towards developing this industry after regulatory oversight of crypto assets was shifted to the Financial Services Authority (OJK).
In other countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, support for the digital asset ecosystem is also visible through various new policies that open up greater space for fintech innovation.
Meanwhile, the use of digital assets in the APAC region continues to rise. Many people are using this technology for everyday needs, such as cross-border remittances, digital payments, and storing assets in stablecoins.
“This is exactly why there is a growing need for financial applications that are simple, safe, and easy to use,” he added.
Through the APAC Stellar Hackathon, it is hoped that new solutions will emerge that are closely aligned with the needs of the public.
In this event, participants will develop a range of ideas, from cross-border payment apps, digital wallets, stablecoin-based payroll systems, blockchain-based digital financial services, to various financial solutions.
“ Southeast Asia has great potential to become the next hub for fintech innovation. We want this Hackathon to be a space where solutions are born that are not only technologically appealing but also truly relevant to people’s needs,” he said.
The programme will run online and include various supporting activities such as workshops, community meetups, and campus activations in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The entire sequence of events will conclude with a final in-person event staged simultaneously in the three countries.
“Through this programme, we also want to broaden access to learning and collaboration opportunities for young talents in Southeast Asia. We hope the hackathon can be a starting point for the birth of startups or new digital innovations from the APAC region that can compete globally,” added Kevin.
In addition to learning opportunities and building international networks, participants can win total prizes of up to USD 60,000, direct mentoring from Stellar ecosystem mentors, access to technical training, certification, and opportunities for further development support for the best projects after the programme ends.
The programme is open to developers, students, startup founders, engineers, or anyone interested in the development of digital financial technology and who wishes to build real solutions through blockchain technology.