Cardano Summit 2025 - Day Zero
Cardano is ready to build whatever people can imagine! As part of the Cardano Summit 2025, we invite the builders, developers, and dreamers of Cardano to join the exclusive Day Zero Cardano Summit gathering in Berlin.
Before the Summit goes to the main stage for the enterprise-focused two days that follow, we start where it matters most: with the builders, dreamers, and doers of Cardano.
Constituting the opening celebration of the Cardano Summit, Day Zero promises to be a high-energy day of demos, debates, and connections that set the stage for the main Summit. Come see the latest ideas, meet your peers, and celebrate what’s being built right here, right now. Dedicated to the innovators and evangelists of Cardano, this free event promises to be a day out unlike any other.
Join the early start of the Cardano Summit 2025 in Berlin and witness the thrill of this year’s Summit hackathon and pitch competition.
🗓️ Preliminary Itinerary:
09:00 - 12:30: Cardano Governance Sessions
12:30 - 13:30: Lunch
13:30 - 15:30: Hackathon Demos
15:30 - 16:00: Coffee Break
16:00 - 19:00: Battle of the Builders
19:00 - 22:00: Networking & Pre-Summit Welcome Party
☕ Morning Cardano Governance Sessions
Join a focused session to help shape the future of Cardano Governance. Connect with the community, explore priority topics, and contribute your ideas. Session details will be announced closer to the date. The conversation continues at the Summit.
🔗 Layer Up: Cardano Hackathon
This year’s Cardano Summit hackathon comes in a brand-new format, so developers can level up and build even more impactful projects. Special onboarding materials will be provided to reduce barriers of entry, making it easy for projects to bring their bold ideas to Cardano.
Focus: Innovation on Cardano
Expected Outcome: A functional demonstration solving the outlined problem
Timeline
8 September – 30 October Team registration
3 November Online hackathon kick-off
3–5 November Learning sessions
11 November Final sprint & in-person hub (Berlin)
11 November Final presentations
Registration on the Summit website is required to participate https://summit.cardano.org/page/5135431/layer-up
🎤 Battle of the Builders: Pitch Competition
The Summit pitch competition returns for 2025, giving projects a golden chance to speak directly to investors and accelerate towards their next evolution. Watch the top 10 pre-seed, seed, or early-stage startups present their working MVPs live and explaining their go-to-market strategies.
Submit your project via the form on the Summit website:
https://summit.cardano.org/page/5135432/battle-of-the-builders
Eligibility Criteria:
Pre-seed, seed, or early-stage startups
Working MVP or live demo
Go-to-market draft
Cardano-native project, or credible intent to migrate or interoperate with Cardano
🎟️ Who Should Attend Day Zero?
Cardano Summit: Day Zero is designed to connect, celebrate, and activate the people who make Cardano possible: the Cardano community. This event is open for free (with registration) for the following:
Hackers and developers looking to build the next great blockchain-based solution.
Early-stage startups seeking funding and exposure.
Investors scouting for the next big project in Web3.
Cardano community members interested in what’s being built on the platform.
Cardano Summit attendees to collect your Summit badge, and get ready for the main event.
Anyone seeking to celebrate Cardano!
⏳ When to Arrive?
The w3.hub is open all day with an open-door policy. Feel free to stop by whenever you can to co-work, network, or join in on the action. You can participate in the hackathon or simply watch the pitch presentations. Please note that registration on Luma is required to attend the event. Additional registrations are required to participate in the Layer Up Hackathon or the Battle of the Builders pitch competition.
Please note, your registration for this pre-summit event does not include access to the main Cardano Summit. If you wish to attend the summit at the Gasometer, please be sure to purchase your ticket here: https://summit.cardano.org/page/5056323/