UW Prepared to Host WyoHackathon

Several hundred blockchain technology enthusiasts are expected in Laramie this weekend for the WyoHackathon 2018, hosted by the University of Wyoming.

The event takes place Sept. 7-9 and is a competition among technologists that will award winners with prizes worth more than $80,000. Participants will be joined by some of the most notable and successful entrepreneurs in the sector. The event will take place in the War Memorial Fieldhouse and some portions of the event are open to the public.

Mark Gordon and Mary Throne, Wyoming's gubernatorial candidates in the upcoming election, are scheduled to attend Sunday's festivities in order to encourage participants to set up their software companies in Wyoming. They also will help judge the “Best For Wyoming” category of the competition.

The public is invited to join for the general session on Sunday, Sept. 9:

11:45 a.m.: Doors open for the public to enter the upper deck of Fieldhouse

Noon: Keynote speeches from Patrick Byrne (CEO of Overstock.com); Joseph Lubin (founder of ConsenSys); George Weiksner (12-year old CEO of Pocketful of Quarters) and others

2:30 p.m.: Presentations by competitors

4 p.m.: Keynote speech, “The Journey and Importance of Blockchain To Wyoming,” Wyoming State Rep. Tyler Lindholm (Chairman of Wyoming Blockchain Task Force)

4:20 p.m.: Winner announcements and concluding remarks

The public is also welcome to participate in several workshops on Saturday, Sept. 8, including a session explaining the benefits of Wyoming’s blockchain laws. Workshops will take place in Room 178 of the UW School of Law Building. A complete schedule of workshops and registration is available at https://www.wyohackathon.io.