On January 23, 2024, the Pi Commerce Hackathon was excitedly announced by Pi Network. An app creation contest has been initiated by the Pi community to facilitate the easy location of local businesses that accept Pi as a form of transaction.
In the wake of the successful PiFest event held in December 2023, which garnered participation from thousands of Pioneers across 155 countries, it was evident that both merchants and customers within the Pi community were eager to engage in Pi transactions within their localities. However, a common platform for discovering and conducting business while utilizing Pi was lacking.
The Pi Commerce Hackathon has been organized in response to this demand to support the development of a commerce app connecting local Pi businesses with Pioneers. To kickstart the hackathon, the Core Team has provided a prototype for a commerce app that developers can utilize. This prototype will be shared at the commencement of the Pi Commerce Hackathon on February 1st.
The Challenge
Teams participating in the hackathon are required to build a commerce app based on the core team’s commerce app prototype. The app should facilitate discoverability and connections between local businesses and customers, offering features such as a searchable database, business profiles, menus, loyalty programs, Pi payments, and more.
Benefits and Support
The winning app will be prominently featured during the global Pi Day celebration on March 14, 2024. This feature will be shared across official communications, reaching millions of Pioneers worldwide. Additionally, the winning app, if built using PiOS, may receive support from the Pi Core Team, including server resources to ensure app stability and the removal of cost barriers.
How to participate
Interested developers must fill out the registration form and sign up for the hackathon mailing list for official updates and team formation assistance. Collaboration is encouraged, and participants are urged to connect with other developers to form teams or groups focused on building their apps.
The hackathon will officially begin on February 1, 2024, and submissions will be due on March 3, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. PT. During this period, developers worldwide will collaborate to build a Pi commerce app that connects merchants and customers, facilitating Pi transactions and utility. The winning app will be announced to the community on Pi Day, March 14, 2024.
Participation Guidelines
Participants must register using the provided form and join the hackathon mailing list for official updates from the Core Team. Registration and team formation begin on January 23, 2024. The hackathon officially starts on February 1, 2024, with submissions due on March 3, 2024. There is no limit on team sizes, and participants are encouraged to collaborate on PiOS to build high-quality apps. Apps must adhere to the PiOS license and trademark guidelines.
App Guidelines
Apps should follow the prototype as a guide for flow and functionality. Apps must abide by trademark guidelines and use the Pi SDK for payments and authentication. Apps must be deployed on the Testnet for interaction with Pioneers and reviewers. Apps should have a functional UI, support user interactions, and be minimally functional. Apps must adhere to recommended data collection guidelines.
Conclusion
The Pi Commerce App Hackathon offers Pioneer developers a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of the Pi ecosystem. By building localized commerce apps, participants can play a crucial role in facilitating Pi transactions and connecting businesses with the Pi community. The Pi Network looks forward to innovative solutions emerging from this hackathon, furthering the goal of an open network. Interested developers are encouraged to register and be part of shaping the future of Pi transactions.
