Surreal World Assets: A Virtual Buildathon on the Future of IP and RWAs

Story

29 April 2025

Join us to discover how blockchain redefines ownership, licensing, and monetization of real-world assets.

What is the Surreal World Asset Buildathon?

Surreal World Assets is a virtual, free buildathon designed to bring together the best minds and builders in the Real-World Asset (RWA) space. It is hosted by Story, a purpose-built layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for tokenizing the multi-trillion-dollar asset class of intellectual property (IP). Story is already onboarding the biggest IPs we know today, including Justin Bieber, BTS, and David Goyer, screenwriter of The Dark Knight trilogy.

Surreal World Assets is open to both technical and non-technical folks to explore how IP and RWAs can be onboarded to the blockchain. Top finalists will have an opportunity to pitch to investors and get feedback on their product. The technical workshops and final code-based projects will use Story as the base IP layer, but there are many other bounties and related tech stacks to explore. There will also be a non-technical track for more conceptual, product-driven applicants.

Apply Here

What You’ll Walk Away With

Optional: A brief introduction to Web3 programming (smart contracts, wallets, etc.)
A strong technical and conceptual understanding of how to monetize and legally protect your own IP on the blockchain using Story’s L1
Knowledge of how to build a product tailored to the demands of the biggest investors/companies in Crypto/AI/IP
An opportunity to pitch to and get product feedback from leading investors
Building your resume with a working prototype or product concept
A deeper understanding of blockchain and IP
New collaborators and friends in the space

What to Expect

Throughout the buildathon, we will have:

Technical workshops to give you Web3 programming knowledge and a strong understanding of developing on Story.
Conceptual workshops where you will learn from industry leaders about the current AI<>IP landscape, what investors are looking for, and what the future looks like.

The following weeks will consist of more workshops where participants will build their own projects based on available tracks (including a non-technical track). We will also host product-definition workshops for technical and non-technical builders alike to discuss and get feedback on their product.

Regardless of whether you’re developing a project or conceptualizing a product, participants will conclude the buildathon by submitting for various tracks, each with their own bounty prizes. Top finalists will have the opportunity to present their project or product idea to investors and be considered for long-term support from the Story team.

This buildathon is a fantastic opportunity for existing professionals or students enrolled in a high school, undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program to get practical experience building a Web3 project related to IP and RWA.

Who Should Apply?

Anyone who is:

Creating tools that empower creators and IP owners
A student enrolled in a high school, undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program, looking to add practical resume experience and walk away with a working prototype
Product obsessed and has been thinking about the intersection of AI, RWA, IP, and/or Crypto
Building DApps surrounding IP (ex, licensing/monetizing IP, IP marketplaces, DeFi applications around IP “IPFi”)
Participating in a high-energy, collaborative, and purpose-driven community
Interested in getting direct feedback on your product idea from the Story team, which is onboarding the biggest IPs in the world

You don’t need to be an expert in crypto or a coding wizard. Curiosity and commitment are more than enough.

What You’ll Need

A computer or device to join virtual sessions
A few hours a week for workshops and build time
A project idea (or join someone else’s!)

Applications Now Open

We’ll be accepting applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to applicants who have a strong background or have already been thinking about IP and RWAs.

Apply Here

Want to help out as a mentor, speaker, or partner? Please reach out to events@storyprotocol.xyz

Let’s build the future of RWAs — together.