The Future of Web3 Education: EasyA Receives Grant to Launch University Program
EasyA, a leading Web3 education platform, has been awarded a "Decentralized Futures Grant" from the Web3 Foundation to launch its latest project, EasyA x University. This initiative aims to support blockchain innovators by involving university talent and creating a Polkadot-focused educational program.
Founded by graduates from prestigious institutions like the University of Cambridge and The Wharton School, EasyA has garnered over 1 million downloads and has been recognized as Apple's App of the Day. The platform is dedicated to bringing developers into the Web3 space through in-person hackathons held in major cities worldwide.
The new university program will provide workshops, hackathons, and grants to help students work on projects within the Polkadot ecosystem. This nine-month project aims to enhance Polkadot's presence in academic circles and expand its developer community, following the success of similar programs in the blockchain industry.
The demand for Web3 professionals is on the rise, offering lucrative salaries and abundant growth opportunities across various roles, from finance specialists to developers. Companies are seeking individuals with a strong technical background and a solid understanding of decentralization and blockchain principles.
The Web3 Foundation has allocated a prize pool of 10 million DOT tokens (approximately $65 million) to support the rollout of the Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) upgrade for the Polkadot ecosystem. Participants must meet specific criteria to qualify, including block importing and production, performance standards on Kusama and Polkadot, and security audits.
EasyA has played a crucial role in driving developer activity on Polkadot, with nearly 1,000 startups emerging from their hackathons this year. The platform's user-friendly interface and engaging learning experience have made it a popular choice among aspiring Web3 developers.
Graduates of EasyA have gone on to establish startups valued at over $2.5 billion and secure funding from top venture capital firms. For instance, Cognition AI, founded by EasyA hackathon winner Walden Yan, achieved a $2 billion valuation in April. Walden initially presented his blockchain idea at an EasyA hackathon at Harvard in 2022.
Despite the promising opportunities in the Web3 industry, the complexities of blockchain technology, including decentralized systems and diverse consensus algorithms, present challenges for developers, both seasoned and new. The multitude of networks with unique programming languages and tools further complicates the learning process for newcomers.
In conclusion, the collaboration between EasyA and the Web3 Foundation to launch the EasyA x University program signifies a significant advancement in Web3 education and developer empowerment. As the demand for Web3 professionals continues to grow, individuals can leverage programs like EasyA to enhance their skills and capitalize on the expanding opportunities in the blockchain industry.