TechFW, Fort Worth DAO, and Moonshot Close 30-Day Manufacturing Challenge

Fort Worth residents involved in manufacturing and technology saw the final results of a month long competition on Oct 30. The event, titled HackFW: MADE Challenge, concluded with a demo day at the headquarters of Moonshot. This gathering brought together local developers, students, and industry leaders to review new tools designed for the industrial sector.

The challenge ran for exactly 30 days, starting on Oct 1. During that window, individuals and teams worked to build functional solutions for specific problems in the manufacturing and tech industries. The program was sponsored by Tech Fort Worth, Fort Worth DAO, and Moonshot. Moonshot participates in the Manufacturing Accelerator and Development Engine program, which supports regional industrial growth.

Tobalo Valderas, President of the Fort Worth DAO, explained that the initiative began as an effort to grow Fort Worth’s builder culture through nontraditional channels. He noted that technical talent is in short supply across large employers and the venture ecosystem. Valderas stated that the next generation of wealth and talent will come through North Texas over the next 30 years. He added that the best way to predict the future is to build it.

Participants worked across four specific problem tracks. These included AI for manufacturing, supplier relationship management, AI for transportation, and tokenized industrial real estate. At the demo day, teams gave live demonstrations of their final products. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with the builders and observe the skills they developed while designing and presenting their solutions.

McMinn, representing the organizing partners, said the event is one of many ways TechFW partners with the community to build real solutions for manufacturing industries. He described the participants as the current and future workforce and tomorrow’s business leaders. He noted that industry is paying attention to the creativity and tenacy shown by these builders. McMinn emphasized that the event was the first of many and required several key sponsors to execute.

Tech Fort Worth has operated as a nonprofit startup incubator and accelerator in Fort Worth since 1998. The organization supports founders in biotech, hardware, AI, clean energy, software, and emerging technologies without taking equity. Fort Worth DAO, a nonprofit and modern day guild, hosts the flagship HackFW event and teaches digital ownership, cryptography, blockchain, and cybersecurity to cultivate civic innovation.