– Taking part in such an event for the first time was eye-opening and enriching – says Jakub when asked about his general impression.

As the City Qualifiers Judge Jakub assessed five team projects under the Digital Empowerment track. The contesting teams’ tasks included creating a demo of their solution and presenting it in a short pitch. The project’s topic was to develop a solution utilizing an Avalanche Subnet to help Warsaw residents (of all ages and backgrounds) become more comfortable using blockchain technology in their daily lives. Jakub approached his task motivated, even though he had been skeptical about blockchain technology until now. Fortunately, during judging, he could take a closer look at blockchain and appreciate various aspects of its application.

– Judging was intense. I learned a lot, too! – highlights Jakub, his eyes still sparkling with the memory of past excitement. – I could see both sides of the same coin. It was hard to come up with a great idea and code it, it was also hard to assess it within fifteen minutes.

Indeed, the judges had a hard nut to crack: they had to listen to the pitch, check the demo, gauge the project’s potential impact, and check the source code. All that in only 15 minutes, while applying assessment guidelines: feasibility, innovation & creativity, user experience, technical merit, and pitch quality.

– If I could participate again, I would definitely do it. I met fantastic people: other judges, mentors, and participants from different backgrounds. Moreover, observing the challenge of organizing such a large event was enlightening.