Manish Kumar
Barnwal
Developer Relations Engineer/Technical Community Builder
DevRel & Ecosystem Operator helping Web3 protocols onboard, activate, and retain developers at scale. Led $1M+ hackathons and built a 10K+ developer community across APAC.
Who I Am
With 3+ years in Developer Relations and ecosystem building, I specialize in driving developer acquisition, activation, and long-term retention across Web3 ecosystems in APAC. From organizing Eastern India's largest student-led hackathon to onboarding thousands of developers into Web3, I bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and the people who build with it.
My work spans workshops, hackathons, developer education, and ecosystem partnerships. I'm passionate about empowering builders with the tools and knowledge they need to ship meaningful projects.
Tech Stack
How I Can Help
Hackathons & Builder Programs
Design and execute high-impact hackathons and builder programs with proven ROI. From ideation to mainnet deployment support.
Community Building & Scaling
Build and scale developer communities from 0 to 10K+ members through strategic partnerships, advocacy programs, and grassroots activation.
DevRel Funnel Design
Structure complete DevRel funnels: onboarding → activation → retention. Data-driven developer journey optimization.
APAC Ecosystem Growth
Launch ecosystem growth campaigns across APAC with university partnerships, regional events, and localized developer programs.
Technical Content Creation
Create technical workshops, demos, and developer content. Hands-on tutorials, documentation, and learning resources at scale.
Protocol Representation
Represent protocols at conferences, hackathons, and universities. Technical talks, workshops, and strategic ecosystem presence.
Ready to grow your developer ecosystem?
Where I've Worked
APAC Ecosystem Lead (DevRel) at HackQuest
- Leading developer relations across APAC through workshops, hackathons, and build stations.
- Managing partnerships with universities and developer communities.
Developer Relations Engineer at HackQuest
- Onboarded 2,000+ developers through hands-on training sessions.
- Built the HackQuest Advocate Program to 50+ members.
Founder & Lead Organizer at Hack4Bengal
- Built Eastern India's largest student-led developer community with 7,500+ builders.
- Organized 4 flagship hackathons and 100+ workshops across the region.
Events & Appearances
ETHIndia 2024
Won at Asia's largest Ethereum hackathon with an innovative DeFi solution.
Hack4Bengal 4.0
Organized the 4th edition of Eastern India's largest student-led hackathon.
Web3 Developer Workshop Series
Led hands-on workshops on Solidity, Hardhat, and smart contract development.
Flow Blockchain Global Hackathon
Hosted a global virtual hackathon with $500K in prizes, 3x expected submissions.
ETHIndia 2022
First ETHIndia win, building on Ethereum ecosystem with a novel protocol.
APAC Developer Meetup Tour
Conducted 25+ developer meetups across the Asia-Pacific region for ecosystem growth.
Featured Projects
DeFi Protocol
Award-winning decentralized finance protocol built during ETHIndia 2024, featuring innovative yield optimization and cross-chain bridging capabilities.
HackQuest Advocate Dashboard
Internal dashboard for managing the HackQuest Advocate Program, tracking contributions, events, and community impact across 50+ advocates.
Smart Contract Workshop Kit
Open-source workshop materials and starter templates for teaching Solidity, Hardhat, and Foundry to new blockchain developers.
Latest Writing
Best Practices for Successful Web3 Hackathon Project Submissions
When you're gearing up for a hackathon or submitting your Web3 project, following these best practices can make all the difference between standing out and getting lost in the crowd.
Product Feedback: Sanctum Wonderland
Sanctum Wonderland isn’t just another staking platform. It’s a fresh, innovative blend of DeFi and gamification that makes staking fun and rewarding.
Beyond USDC: Exploring EURC and the Future of Stablecoins
Cryptocurrencies have revolutionized the financial landscape, introducing digital assets that transcend geographical boundaries.
Impact Dashboard
What People Say
"I've had the pleasure of working with Manish for our content marketing needs. Manish has a deep understanding of technical platforms, excellent content writing skills. He understands complex cloud concepts and is able to draft it in a concise manner. I recommend working with him."
"Manish did a great job during his Internship at the Linux Foundation supporting the OpenDaylight Project. He helped with our MediaWiki to Confluence migration and JIRA clean-up. He quickly tackled tasks, was very responsive, and was great with following up on action items. He showcased a great example of proactive participation in the remote workforce. With his newfound familiarity with open source communities and a distributed workforce, he would be a good addition to any organization. "
Beyond Code
When I'm not onboarding developers, you'll find me chasing adventure in the mountains.
The same mindset that drives me toward mountains and calculated risk-taking shapes how I build resilient developer ecosystems.
Let's Connect
Want me to speak at your event?
I'm available for keynotes, panels, and workshops.
Speaker KitLooking to partner?
Open to ecosystem partnerships and collaborations.
Get in TouchOrganizing a hackathon?
I can help with planning, mentorship, and judging.
Let's TalkOpen to DevRel leadership, ecosystem growth, and high-impact community programs.
Work With Me