Web3 ATL, the largest Web3 conference in Atlanta for the second year in a row, boasted 350 attendees, 94 speakers, and 44 panels over three days the first weekend in November right in the heart of Tech Square.
Hosted by 404 DAO, founders Pruitt Martin, Cole Schendl, Jack Sanniota, and Manny Jonson (a collective of Web3 enthusiasts in Atlanta who are working to transform the city into a global tech hub) organized the three-day event to invite thought and tech leaders alike to learn more about utilizing Web3 in a variety of verticals.
Atlanta, often recognized for its diverse culture and developing tech community, is gearing up to host the inaugural Web3 ATL Hackathon 2023, where cutting-edge technologies and blockchain enthusiasts converge for a week of innovation, collaboration, and spirited competition.
This year, Web3 ATL explored the convergence of three emerging technologies: AI, Blockchain, and XR. From conversations with leading Fortune 100 technology companies, industry experts are seeing a change in how Web3 is defined. Rather than solely referring to blockchain and crypto, these corporations are seeing it more as an umbrella term that encapsulates several tech trends. For example, the future of the internet will not include just blockchain, but also artificial intelligence and hybrid interactions (physical and digital) powered by virtual and augmented reality (XR). Additionally, with blockchain technology in a high growth stage, one of the most exciting use cases for Web3 for large corporations is increasing customer loyalty.
Speaking of large corporations, participants were also able to uncover how companies bridge the gap for crypto into mainstream tech communities from enterprises such as FedEX, Amazon, and Google. They were also educated on these companies are utilizing Web3 technologies, specifically blockchain, AI, and AR/VR.
Another unique component of the conference was ticket tracking. Attendees were issued Verifiable Credentials (VCs) as their tickets to Web3 ATL. Powered by Heirloom, VCs are non-transferable decentralized IDs. By using VCs, 404 DAO was able to gain extra insights into attendee behavior and attendees were able to use one QR code to access the main conference and the three other official side events. These VCs can also be used as the building blocks for future events hosted by 404 DAO and future Web3 ATL conferences.
