Consensys Hackathon

ConsenSys is the leading Ethereum software company behind MetaMask, Infura, Linea, and Diligence. While ConsenSys no longer runs traditional open grant programs (the ConsenSys Grants program concluded in 2020), they now focus on targeted ecosystem support through the ConsenSys Scale Program, MetaMask Grants DAO ($2.4M annually), and ConsenSys Fellowship (12-week pre-accelerator with $1.5M follow-on fund). These initiatives provide white-glove support, technical mentorship, and funding to Web3 builders creating impactful experiences within the MetaMask and Linea ecosystems.

2025/2026 Focus Areas:

• MetaMask Extensibility - Building Snaps (wallet extensions) to make MetaMask the most extensible wallet
• Linea Deployment - Supporting dapps building on ConsenSys's zkEVM Layer 2
• Web3 Developer Tools - Infrastructure, middleware, and optimization solutions
• DeFi Innovation - Applications leveraging Ethereum and EVM chains
• Security & Auditing - Tools that strengthen Web3 application security

For ZHC builders, ConsenSys programs are most valuable for:

• MetaMask-integrated applications requiring wallet extensibility
• Linea ecosystem projects building on zkEVM technology
• Web3 infrastructure and developer tooling companies
• Early-stage founders needing pre-accelerator support (Fellowship)
• DeFi protocols requiring technical architecture guidance

ConsenSys provides more than funding—it offers direct access to the teams behind the world's most-used Ethereum wallet (30M+ monthly active users) and critical infrastructure serving billions of blockchain queries. Partnership can accelerate product-market fit through MetaMask's distribution and Infura's infrastructure.

ConsenSys Programs (2025/2026)

ConsenSys Scale Program

• Structure: 12-month program with comprehensive benefits package
• Focus: Leading Web3 ventures building on Linea and MetaMask
• Benefits:
  • White-glove technical support and architecture guidance
  • Access to MetaMask (30M+ MAU), Linea zkEVM, Infura, Diligence Fuzzing
  • Partner benefits including Covalent grants ($25K in API credits)
  • Direct grants for high-performing dapps deploying on Linea
  • Integration support and go-to-market strategy
• Requirements:
  • Building on Ethereum or EVM-compatible chains
  • Commitment to deploy on Linea or integrate with MetaMask
  • Early traction or strong technical team
  • Open to applications year-round

MetaMask Grants DAO

• Budget: $2.4M per year ($600K per quarter)
• Structure: Employee-led DAO with 900+ ConsenSys employees voting
• Focus: External developers building impactful MetaMask ecosystem experiences
• Grant Types:
  1. Leadership Committee Grants - Allocated by 7-member committee
  2. DAO Grants - Full DAO vote with simple relative majority
• Primary Use Case: MetaMask Snaps development and wallet extensibility
• Requirements:
  • Project adds value to MetaMask ecosystem
  • Open source preferred
  • Clear deliverables and impact metrics
  • Can be individual developers or teams
• Application: Via MetaMask Grants DAO website with proposal submission
• Timeline: Quarterly grant rounds with ongoing applications

ConsenSys Fellowship (Pre-Accelerator)

• Duration: 12 weeks
• Cohort Size: Up to 15 startups per cohort
• Structure: Workshops, education, networking, mentorship
• Equity: No equity required for first cohort (0% ownership taken)
• Follow-on Fund: $1.5M available from ConsenSys Mesh and Tachyon
• Focus Areas:
  • Extensibility - Access layer (wallets) or application layer projects
  • Optimization - Tools, middleware, and developer solutions
  • Scalability - Layer 2 solutions and zero-knowledge proofs
• Benefits:
  • 25 workshops hosted by industry leaders
  • 20+ hours dedicated mentorship with experts
  • Networking with guest speakers, VCs, and ConsenSys executives
  • IRL Demo Day to present to VCs and acquisition team
  • Access to ConsenSys product suite (no cost)
• Requirements:
  • Early-stage Web3 startup with founding team
  • Building on Ethereum or EVM chains
  • Commitment to 12-week program
  • Available for April 5, 2024 Demo Day (next cohort)
• Partner Support: SheFi, Bankless DAO, Aave Companies, SAFE, Gitcoin, Polygon, and VCs (Algaé Ventures, Ethereal Ventures, Superscrypt, 1kx)

ConsenSys Scale Partner Benefits

• Covalent Data Credits: Up to $25K per project for structured blockchain data
• Technical Infrastructure: Infura API access, Linea deployment support
• Security Tools: Diligence Fuzzing for smart contract testing
• Marketing Support: Co-marketing opportunities and ecosystem amplification

ZHC-Specific Fit Assessment

✅ Excellent fit for:

• MetaMask Snaps developers creating wallet extensions
• Linea ecosystem builders leveraging zkEVM technology
• Web3 infrastructure and developer tooling companies
• DeFi protocols requiring MetaMask integration
• Early-stage teams needing pre-accelerator support (Fellowship)
• Projects requiring Infura infrastructure or Diligence security
• Builders with Ethereum/EVM focus and strong technical capability

❌ Poor fit if:

• Building on non-EVM chains (Solana, Cosmos, etc.)
• No clear MetaMask or Linea integration path
• Looking for large equity funding (grants are non-dilutive but smaller)
• Closed-source or proprietary solutions
• No technical product yet (need at least MVP stage)

ConsenSys Scale Program Process

Phase	Timeline	Details
Application	Ongoing	Submit application via ConsenSys Scale website
Initial Review	2-3 weeks	Team assesses fit and potential impact
Interview	1-2 weeks	Discussion with ConsenSys Scale team
Onboarding	2-4 weeks	Integration setup and partner introductions
Active Support	12 months	Ongoing technical support and benefits
Milestone Reviews	Quarterly	Progress check-ins and additional support

MetaMask Grants DAO Process

Phase	Timeline	Details
Proposal Submission	Ongoing	Submit proposal via MetaMask Grants DAO platform
Community Discussion	1-2 weeks	DAO members provide feedback
Committee Review	2-3 weeks	Leadership committee or full DAO evaluation
Voting Period	1 week	DAO members vote on proposals
Grant Award	Upon approval	Funds distributed via multi-sig wallet
Reporting	Per agreement	Progress updates and deliverables

Voting Structure:

• Leadership Committee: 7 members can approve quickly
• Full DAO: All 900+ employees can participate
• Simple relative majority passes
• Proposals via Snapshot on Codefi Activate platform

ConsenSys Fellowship Timeline

Cohort Structure (Next: November 2023 - April 2024) ├── Applications Open: September 20, 2023 ├── Application Deadline: October 30, 2023 ├── Selections Announced: November 1, 2023 ├── Program Starts: November 6, 2023 ├── Week 1-4: Workshops and Team Formation ├── Week 5-8: Development and Mentorship ├── Week 9-12: Demo Preparation └── IRL Demo Day: April 5, 2024

Fellowship Components:

1. Workshops (25 sessions):

   • Product-market fit and go-to-market strategy
   • Technical architecture with ConsenSys engineers
   • Fundraising and pitch development
   • Legal and compliance fundamentals
   • Token economics and governance

2. Mentorship (20+ hours):

   • 1-on-1 sessions with industry experts
   • ConsenSys product team office hours
   • VC and investor connections
   • Technical architecture reviews

3. Networking:

   • Weekly guest speakers from leading Web3 companies
   • VC introductions (Algaé, Ethereal, Superscrypt, 1kx, etc.)
   • Peer founder cohort connections
   • ConsenSys team integration

4. Follow-on Funding:

   • $1.5M fund from ConsenSys Mesh + Tachyon
   • Individual investments based on performance
   • Potential ConsenSys acquisition discussions
   • VC introductions for Series A/Seed rounds

Required Materials

For ConsenSys Scale:

1. Company overview and product description
2. Technical architecture and roadmap
3. Team backgrounds and GitHub profiles
4. Current traction metrics (users, TVL, etc.)
5. MetaMask/Linea integration plans
6. Specific support needs from ConsenSys

For MetaMask Grants DAO:

1. Project description and goals
2. MetaMask ecosystem impact explanation
3. Technical implementation plan
4. Budget breakdown and justification
5. Timeline with milestones
6. Team background
7. Open source commitment
8. Expected deliverables

For ConsenSys Fellowship:

1. Founder bios and relevant experience
2. Problem statement and solution
3. Current stage (idea, prototype, MVP)
4. Why Ethereum/ConsenSys stack?
5. Vision for ConsenSys tool usage
6. Team composition (technical + business)
7. Commitment availability (12 weeks)