In my experience organizing the first FVM Hackathon for the Latin American region, open to the world, I encountered significant challenges during the marketing campaign, especially when targeting non-developers. The majority of the audience perceived it as potential fraud or responded negatively to the advertisements. Approximately 80% of the ad responses were negative, while only 20% showed genuine interest.
Negative responses:
On the flip side, the response from the technical communities was encouraging, leading to the selection of three remarkable projects as the winners of the major prizes.
These winning projects were dedicated to the following essential themes: https://www.dfhcommunity.com/events/dfh-hackhathon/winners
Cultural Preservation: Emphasizing the significance of preserving and safeguarding cultural heritage through innovative applications of Filecoin technology.
Data DAOs: Demonstrating groundbreaking solutions in the realm of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) specifically focused on data management and governance using Filecoin's capabilities.
Species Conservation: Highlighting the vital role of Filecoin in addressing environmental challenges and promoting conservation efforts for endangered species.
In addition to the winning projects, the event also witnessed five exceptional presentations, each providing insightful and compelling explanations about Filecoin, its applications, and its potential impact on various industries and communities.
Undoubtedly, this event format empowered individuals who were not deeply familiar with Filecoin to understand its mission better. In Ecuador, we embarked on an arduous task of spreading awareness by utilizing printed advertising in various places such as universities and public places. We targeted individuals not directly associated with technology, aiming to widen our reach.
While not all individuals participated in the Hackathon, we successfully planted the seeds of curiosity and potential future engagement. The event served as an opportunity to introduce Filecoin to a broader audience and establish a foundation for further development and exploration.
Despite the challenges faced, we achieved a degree of success in fostering interest and enthusiasm for Filecoin within the Latin American region. Moving forward, we can build upon this experience and employ different marketing strategies to attract a more diverse group of participants for future Hackathons.
The lessons learned will undoubtedly contribute to the improvement of future events and the growth of Filecoin's community in the region and beyond.