Top Tech Leaders Join Ripple’s CBDC Innovate Challenge as Judges
Tags: xrpl, cbdc
Published: 2022-07-29 17:00:44

The response to Ripple’s [recently announced](https://dev.to/ripplexdev/title-now-open-enter-ripples-cbdc-innovate-challenge-5fph) CBDC Innovate challenge has been overwhelming. In just 3 weeks the challenge has received over 200 entrants, but there is still time for developers to enter the challenge.  

Coders from enterprise organizations and individuals are invited to enter the two-part challenge to develop CBDC applications in the categories of interoperability, retail and financial inclusion to support the possible adoption of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) with [XRP Ledger (XRPL)](http://www.xrpl.org) technologies.  

**Meet the Judges**

To support developers in their quest to create CBDC applications, Ripple is honored to welcome a panel of industry experts as judges of the challenge. They are: 

[**Stefany Bello**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefany-bello-997b3949/), Head of Digital Partnerships and Strategic Alliances in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Mastercard

[**Jonathan Donovan**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-donovan/), Vice President of Product Development - Blockchain and Digital Assets, Mastercard 

[**Daniel Eidan**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-eidan/), Adviser and Solution Architect, BIS Innovation Hub (BIS IH)

[**Aleksi Grym**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksigrym/), Head of Fintech and Principal Adviser, Bank of Finland

[**Bryena Jyoti**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryena/), Director, Blockchain Technology Solutions, Digital Assets Innovation, PwC

[**Jennifer Lassiter**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrookslassiter), Executive Director, The Digital Dollar Project

[**Dr. Ousmène Jacques Mandeng**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ojmandeng/), Senior Advisor, Blockchain and Multiparty Systems, Accenture

[**Brett Molin**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-mollin-7b82381/), Technical Partner Director, Central Banks Ripple

[**Anastasia “Tracy” Raissis**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-tracy-raissis-25222b27), Director for International Financials, World Wide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

[**Rajesh Sadhwani**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-sadhwani/), Managing Director - Banking & Capital Markets, DXC Technology 

[**Nav Singh**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/navsinghmarketing/), Head of EMEA Marketing and Communications - Banking and Capital Markets, DXC Technology

[**John Velissarios**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnv/), Global Managing Director - Digital Assets, Custody and CBDC Lead, Accenture

[**Xiaochen Zhang**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmyidea/), Global Head of Innovation & Go To Market, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

"Ripple’s expertise in the CBDC space, along with our existing partnerships with central banks around the world, allows us to encourage and better assist contestants in this exciting CBDC-focused challenge,” said James Wallis, Vice President of Central Bank Engagements & CBDCs at Ripple. “We are excited to see the enthusiasm for CBDCs continue to grow, and we are honored to have such a distinguished group of judges from the blockchain, finance and digital assets sectors join [Ripple’s inaugural CBDC Innovate competition](https://ripplecbdc.devpost.com/).”

**Finalists and Winners: Upcoming Announcements**

Enterprise and individual developers are invited to submit their applications for Phase 1 of the challenge through August 25. Finalists from Phase I will move onto Phase II of CBDC Innovate where they will compete for one grand prize of $150,000 USD.

Up to 28 finalists will be selected to receive mentorship from industry experts, with the initial group being announced on September 8 at [Apex: XRPL Developer Summit in Las Vegas](https://www.apexdevsummit.com/). Finalists’ solutions will be highlighted to a global audience in November at [Ripple Swell Global](https://swell.ripple.com/).  

_Watch this space for further updates as the competition evolves!_