As always, I want to start by thanking Charlotte from Nethermind, Armando Serial hackathon winner, Dave from Blockheaderweb3, Beja from DojoCoding, Anne, Dragan, Konstantin, Solene from H.E.R dao, and every talented person I met during DevCon who generously shared their insights with me.
→ Open-source is a powerful talent acquisition channel when maintainers actively engage and guide contributors.
→ Developers stay engaged when they feel connected to leadership and part of the ecosystem’s mission.
→ Hackathons alone won’t retain talent without post-event support, mentorship, and funding.
→ A strong, supportive community is essential for keeping developers engaged long-term.
→ Clear, up-to-date documentation is critical for avoiding frustration and boosting productivity.
Introduction:
I interviewed over 10 developers, from newbies to experts, across top blockchain ecosystems like Starknet, Stellar, Ethereum, NEAR, Solana, ICP, SUI, Cosmos, Worldcoin, Zama and Aptos.
The consensus is clear: Hackathons alone aren’t enough. While they’re great for sparking initial interest, devs are frustrated, their projects often die post-event, and blockchain ecosystems are losing top talent before they even have a chance to build real businesses.
This isn’t just a missed opportunity, it’s a major gap. Blockchain foundations should focus on creating ecosystems where devs aren’t just attracted, but retained and empowered to build scalable, successful businesses on top of their tech.
What follows is a blueprint for attracting and keeping the talent your ecosystem needs to grow. It’s not about shiny hackathons or big prizes, it’s about building a foundation that supports developers from day one, through every step of their journey. Let’s dive in.
Hackathons Are Great, But They’re Not Enough
Hackathons are great for getting devs excited and bringing fresh ideas to the table. But too many ecosystems treat them as the finish line, not the starting point. After the event, devs are often left on their own. That’s a huge missed opportunity.
What’s missing? Post-hackathon support. Devs don’t just need a prize or a trophy, they need continuity. They need mentorship to refine their ideas, funding to turn them into something real, and a community to keep the momentum going. Without these, projects stall, and developers lose interest.
Hackathons can be good, but they can also be a 'grab money initiative' if there’s no post-Hackathon vision or support. Hackathons should have a solid follow-up plan, with mentorship and funding, to help developers turn their projects into products that attract real users. — Dave from Blockheaderweb3
Don’t fall into the trap of hosting a hackathon and walking away. If you do, your ecosystem will stagnate. Hackathons can’t be the only thing you rely on for talent retention.
The Role of Community in Retaining Talent
While devs are crucial for any tech ecosystem, community is what keeps them engaged and drives real-world impact. A community that is passionate, supportive, and collaborative can help keep developers motivated and invested in the long term. This is crucial for turning great code into impactful projects that attract users and solve real problems. Without a strong community, developers may find it difficult to stay engaged, and projects may lack the feedback and support necessary to grow.
What’s really important is the concept of solidarity. Especially when it comes to onboarding newcomers, there’s no competition, just support. We all work together to help each other reach our goals. Solene, H.E.R DAO
Foundations need to focus on building communities that support developers, share knowledge, and offer feedback. When builders feel connected and valued, they stay committed.
Documentation is the Backbone: No One Can Build on Shaky Ground
Poor documentation kills progress. Devs waste hours dealing with broken links, outdated guides, or unclear instructions. That’s not just frustrating, it’s a total motivation killer. If you want people to build on your ecosystem, you must ensure they have solid, reliable documentation to work with.
What I really like is when everything in one place. A Notion page with all the links is perfect, so you don’t have to go looking for things in a million different places. — Anne, Contributor and Maintainer
What works? Invest in clear, up-to-date docs and keep them regularly updated. The more complete and organized your documentation is, the faster developers can get started and stay on track. If they spend less time figuring out how to use your tech and more time building, your ecosystem will grow faster.
Bonus Ingredients to Attracting Top Talent
The Maintainer: The Key to a Thriving Open Source Ecosystem
Open-source is the best way for developers to learn, connect, and contribute. It’s where they can explore new technologies, get hands-on experience, and interact with the people who make the tech come to life. But an open-source ecosystem is only as strong as the maintainers who guide it. Maintainers are the glue that holds everything together
The criteria of a good maintainer is to be communicative, to be open, and to dedicate some time to the project itself. — Dragan, Contributor and Maintainer
Open source can be an incredible talent acquisition channel if it’s managed properly. It gives devs the opportunity to dive into real-world projects and start contributing from day one. They get to learn the ins and outs of the tech and form lasting connections with other contributors. But this only works if there are strong maintainers in place to guide the process, keep things organized, and make sure the community remains welcoming.
A good maintainer creates a good community for your project, so people don’t leave. You need to create a good atmosphere for contributors. — Konstantin, Contributor and Maintainer
Community is everything. A great maintainer builds trust, and trust is what keeps developers coming back. When developers feel heard, supported, and valued, they stick around to build something that lasts. Ignore the human side, and your ecosystem will collapse.
Accessible Leadership
Accessible leadership is one of the biggest advantages any blockchain ecosystem can have. When developers can approach the founders and have direct communication, they feel part of the bigger mission. Without that, they’ll lose interest.
I sat at a table randomly in the coworking space, and it turned out to be full of OGs from the Starknet ecosystem. They became friends first before mentors. It’s inspiring to have people who are passionate about what they do and are willing to guide you through. —Charlotte from Nethermind
Capitalize on Your Own Smart Contract Language
The market for Solidity devs is overcrowded. But ecosystems with their own smart contract languages (like Cairo for Starknet, Noir for Aztec, Move for Aptos, Soroban for Stellar, or Ralph for Alephium) offer a huge opportunity.
The advantage? A unique smart contract language allows developers to dive into a less saturated market, giving them more visibility, growth potential, and better opportunities.
Conclusion: The Blueprint for Sustainable Dev Onboarding
Stop relying on one-off hackathons to solve your developer problems. You need to build a funnel that nurtures developers from day one, provides continuous support, and sets them up to create successful businesses. Hackathons are just the beginning, what happens after is what really counts.
It all boils down to community. If people believe in something, if they share a belief, they'll stick to it. As a dev you want to build cool stuff with cool people. — Beja, Dojo Coding
It’s time to build a funnel that works. It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking or flashy. Just focus on creating a clear path for developers to grow, contribute, and eventually build businesses that matter. Start now, before your talent goes elsewhere.
