Building Eventra: My First Hackathon Journey with Hedera The Challenge

#web3 #hackathon #dlt #nft

The Challenge

When I joined my first hackathon with Hedera, I had no idea what I was getting into. Grouped with talented individuals, we faced the ultimate challenge: solve a real problem, benefit the community, and leverage Hedera’s technology—all while learning entirely new technologies from scratch.

The Problem We Tackled

In Nigeria, 10.3% of the population owns or uses cryptocurrency, but most don’t know how to use it for everyday purchases like event tickets. We asked ourselves: How do we build a platform that serves both Web3 natives and complete beginners?

Enter Eventra - a fraud-proof, fast, and fair event ticketing platform built on Hedera Hashgraph.

What is Eventra?
creates a transparent, low-cost event management platform that:

• Prevents ticket fraud - Every ticket is an NFT, impossible to duplicate

• Enables dual payments - Users can pay with Hedera (HBAR) or traditional methods (Paystack)

• Provides permanent proof of attendance - NFT certificates for participants

• Fair resale marketplace - Organizers earn 5% royalty on resales
• Rewards system - Points for ticket purchases
• Comprehensive analytics - Detailed event reports for organizers

Why Hedera?

Hedera made this possible through:

• Ultra-low fees(~$0.0001 per transaction)
• Lightning-fast finality (3-5 seconds) for instant verification
• Carbon-negative network - environmentally sustainable
• Enterprise governance - trusted by universities, corporations, and governments

My Learning Journey (The Real Story)

Here’s the thing: I had zero experience with TypeScript, Solidity, or Supabase before this hackathon. When Firebase started requiring credit cards, I switched to Supabase—a tool I’d barely touched.

Week 1-2: Crash Course Mode

• Dove into Solidity documentation
• Binge-watched Naz Dumanskyy’s tutorials (absolute lifesaver!)
• Built micro-projects to test my knowledge
• YouTube and AI became my debugging partners

The Reality Check

I was the only backend developer on the team. The pressure was real. I encountered:

• Supbase Functions issues
• Countless TypeScript bugs
• Moments of what did I get myself into?

But here’s what I learned: asking “ridiculous” questions is how you grow. The community, documentation, and fellow developers were incredibly supportive.

Tech Stack

Backend: TypeScript + Supabase (Functions & Database)
Blockchain: Hedera Hashgraph (Smart Contracts in Solidity)
Payments: Hedera Token Service + Paystack Integration
NFTs: Hedera Token Service for ticket minting

Key Features Implemented

Dual Payment System

Integrated both Hedera (crypto) and Paystack (fiat) to ensure accessibility for everyone.

NFT Ticketing

Every ticket is minted as an NFT on Hedera blockchain with:

Permanent proof of ownership
Impossible to counterfeit
Transferable on our marketplace

Fair Resale Marketplace

Transparent pricing
Organizers earn 5% royalty automatically
Prevents scalping while maintaining liquidity

Proof of Attendance NFTs

Attendees receive permanent certificates they can showcase in their Web3 portfolios.

Analytics Dashboard

Organizers get comprehensive insights into ticket sales, attendance patterns, and revenue.

Lessons Learned

Don’t be afraid to start from zero - Two weeks ago, I couldn’t write a line of Solidity
Community matters - Hackathons are collaborative, not competitive
Build micro-projects first - Testing knowledge before diving into production saves time
AI is a tool, not a crutch - Use it to understand, not just copy-paste
Team diversity is strength - Different skill sets create better solutions

What’s Next?

This hackathon taught me that the best way to learn is by building something that matters. Eventra isn’t just a project it’s a solution to real problems in event management and Web3 accessibility.

Resources That Helped Me