University Blockchain Week
Experience a Chain-Agnostic, Hybrid (In-Person + Online) event at
Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU).
Organized by
Executive Overview
Talent Access.
Developer Outcomes.
Season Duration
Jan – April 2026
BlockFest Dates
March 25 – April 2, 2026
HS Blockchain Tour
Feb 23 – 25, 2026
Strategic Positioning
BlockFest is a structured conversion engine — transforming early interest into skilled builders and long-term ecosystem contributors.
This calendar presents BlockFest not as a one-off event, but as a multi-month pipeline delivering measurable developer engagement and partner ROI.
Mission Statement
To bridge the gap between Web2 students and real Web3 opportunities.
Ecosystem Pipeline
Bridging protocol foundations and student talent throughMeasurable outputs and validated products.
Talent Discovery
Identifying top STEM potential early
Structured Onboarding
Guided path from interest to building
Ecosystem ROI
Long-term value for protocol partners
Massive Momentum
Behind every line of code is a builder. Behind every builder is a community.
Empowering a new world of builders.
Real-world Web3 opportunities starts with the right community.
Intensive Web3 Bootcamps
Our Base
AASTU Hub
The Core Team
$2K
Global Partners
Beyond Just Code.
Networking, parties, and human connections.
Our Community
BaD (Builders & Developers) Ethiopia is the driving force behind BlockFest, cultivating a vibrant ecosystem where technical excellence meets radical innovation.
Developer Focus
Talent discovery, onboarding, and conversion in Web3
Outcome-Driven
Measurable impact through hackathons and ecosystem access
Chain-Agnostic
Supporting all blockchain ecosystems and technologies
Developer Focus
Talent discovery, onboarding, and conversion in Web3
Outcome-Driven
Measurable impact through hackathons and ecosystem access
Chain-Agnostic
Supporting all blockchain ecosystems and technologies
Season Highlights
An intense, 7-day immersion into the future of decentralization.
3-Day Hackathon
Build Web3 prototypes with real-world impact alongside top developers.
Expert Mentorship
Learn directly from industry builders and global protocol experts.
Career Acceleration
Access exclusive internships, grants, and Web3 career pipelines.
Global Ecosystem
Connect with 600+ builders and founders from the web3 community.
Web3 Native
On-chain voting, NFT tickets, and POAPs for every participant.
The Tracks
The BUIDL Track
3-day Web3 hackathon with smart contract workshops, dev-tooling demos, and mentor office hours. Build real prototypes and deploy to blockchain.
The Alpha Track
Keynotes on DeFi, DAOs, RWA, DePIN, and Privacy. Learn from protocol experts and gain strategic context for your builder journey.
The Culture Track
Networking mixers, NFT showcases, founder-student meetups, and sponsor activations. Build relationships in a long-term community.
Web3 Integration
NFT access passes, POAPs, and on-chain voting. BLOCKFEST eats its own dog food with composable Web3 infrastructure.
The Journey of 2026
The Seasons
of Growth
"We don't build events. We build pipelines for the future of blockchain in Ethiopia."
Genesis
The Seed of Intent
In the silence of January, we plant the seeds. This is the phase of deep architecture, where we align the core team, define our OKRs, and sculpt the technical foundations that will support hundreds of builders.
Outcome Manifestations
Genesis
The Surge
Kinetic Momentum
The energy shifts. February is about the High School Blockchain Tour—our first major pulse. We lock in partners, prime the speakers, and ignite the community to transition from theory into raw kinetic energy.
Feb 23-25
Outcome Manifestations
The Surge
Peak Impact
Total Manifestation
The journey reaches its zenith. BlockFest is not just an event; it's the conversion. We take the early interest and transform it into 80+ validated products, curated talent pools, and absolute ROI for the ecosystem.
Outcome Manifestations
Peak Impact
Core Program
March 25
National Visibility
Opening & Alignment
Opening ceremony, ecosystem vision, and expectations. Brand association with national Web3 initiative.
March 26
Talent Discovery
Team Formation & Ideation
Team formation, ideation sprints, and workshops. Early exposure to top student builders.
March 27
Protocol Integration
Hackathon Kickoff
Intense hacking begins with focused workshops. Hands-on protocol engagement for builders.
March 28
Product Development
Build Phase
Active development with 24/7 technical support and mentor guidance. Real product engineering.
March 29
Measurable ROI
Final Submission
Code freeze and pitch preparation. Culmination of technical development with measurable deliverables.
March 30
Curated Deal Flow
Internal Demo Day
Technical demos and mentor review. Shortlisting the top 10 projects from the cohort.
March 31
Storytelling
Conference Preparation
Demo polish, storytelling, and stage preparation for the main stage presentation.
April 1
Global Exposure
Conference & Awards
Top 10 demos on the main stage, keynotes, panels, and award ceremony. Thought leadership visibility.
Voices of Value
The
Leaders
Addis Alemayehou
Solomon Kassa
Kal Kassa
Hana Terefe
Aziz (Motomoto) Mohammed
Dawit Mengistu
Solene Daviaud
Dagim Jida
Joanne Wendoh
Access Tiers
Choose your pass.
Open access for builders. Premium access for ecosystem leaders.
Application required. No hidden costs.
- Full Conference Access (Keynotes + Panels)
- Full Hackathon Participation
- All Workshops & Technical Tracks
- Team Formation & Mentorship Sessions
- Demo Day Access
- Voting Participation (Community Choice)
- Digital Certificate of Participation
- NFT / On-Chain Ticket (Web3-native access)
Who it's for
University students · Developers · Designers · Early-stage founders · Web3-curious builders
Pay with crypto · EVM / BTC / SOL
- Exclusive After Party Access
- Private Networking Lounge
- Front Row Reserved Seating
- Airline & Hotel Discount Codes
- Priority Check-in & VIP Badge
- Curated Builder Introductions
- Direct Access to Speakers & Organizers
Who it's for
Ecosystem partners · Protocol teams · Startup founders · Investors · Corporate innovation teams
Manually verified by the team within 24h
Ecosystem Backbone
The powerhouses fueling the next generation of builders in Ethiopia.
Strategic Sponsor
Ecosystem & Protocol Partners
Academic & Developer Communities
Hospitality & Travel Partners
Point Central Hotel
Supporting speaker hospitality and event logistics during BlockFest Ethiopia.
Media Partners
Want to build with us?
Join our network of partners and help shape the future of Web3.
Become a Partner
Questions?
Everything you need to know about joining the movement.