Web3 Root Beer Game
EasyA x Polkadot Hackathon at Harvard University
A Web3 implementation of the classic supply chain management game (originally ideated at MIT in 1960 and developed by Harvard Publishing) that opens up new avenues in Web3 gaming for Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization at scale for supply chain financing.
The Problem
Global SMEs face a $2-3 trillion gap in supply chain financing, particularly in developing countries. The main challenges include:
- Lack of high-scale, low-barrier validation for business genuineness and creditworthiness
- The Bullwhip Effect - small demand variations amplify into larger supply fluctuations across the supply chain
- Traditional Web2 systems only work with adjacent nodes, distorting demand visibility
- Unpredictability increases validation risk, forcing SMEs to resort to predatory lending
Our Solution
Web3 Root Beer Game
A blockchain-based implementation that provides full supply chain transparency through Polkadot's trust-minimized peer-to-peer architecture, eliminating the blindness to true demand that plagues centralized systems.
NFT Badges for Validation
Dynamic NFTs serve as proof of membership in high-performance supply chains, providing cash flow validations that institutional DeFi needs for financing decisions.
Team-Based Scoring
The game emphasizes team scores over individual performance, training participants to optimize for the entire supply chain rather than local optimization.
RWA Tokenization
Extends NFTs beyond crypto-native collectibles to Real World Assets - including nativity badges, biodiversity badges, and heritage occupation NFTs.
Technology Stack
Why Unique Network on Polkadot?
- 1.High-volume, Low-cost NFTs - Perfect for brand and compliance NFTs at scale
- 2.Nested NFTs - Model team-level structures for vertically integrated supply chains
- 3.Dynamic NFTs - Keep scores at individual and team levels that update in real-time
- 4.Customizable NFTs - Show operational excellence through proof of participation badges
Impact
- Play to Manage - Train on advanced Web3 supply chain visibility
- Play to Finance - Earn operational excellence badges for RWA instruments
- Democratize Access - Broaden funding access for global SMEs through validated supply chain credentials