SkillForge

Inspiration

We were inspired by the millions of blue-collar workers worldwide who lack formal certifications and face barriers when trying to prove their skills in new jobs, especially across borders. We wanted to create a decentralized, verifiable skill passport that empowers them to showcase their abilities globally, fight workplace mistreatment, and access better job opportunities.

What it does

SkillForge is a blockchain-based platform that issues soulbound NFT skill certificates to blue-collar workers, verified through work history, tests, or institutional partnerships. Workers can: Earn NFT-based, tamper-proof skill certificates Track skill growth with on-chain logs Get customer ratings after every gig Report workplace abuse anonymously Apply for jobs via an AI-powered job portal Participate in worker forums and discussions It acts as a dynamic resume, job marketplace, and worker support network — all on the blockchain.

How we built it

Smart Contracts: Developed using the Move language for secure smart contract implementation. Soulbound NFTs: Created non-transferable skill NFTs representing verified skills. OCR-based Signature Verification: Integrated OCR tools for non-institutional workers to self-sign and verify skills. Frontend: Developed a responsive dashboard for workers and employers. AI Job Suggestions: Implemented basic AI models to recommend relevant job listings based on user profiles.

Challenges we ran into

Designing soulbound NFTs with evolving metadata for skill growth was complex. Integrating OCR for signature validation required fine-tuning for accuracy across varied handwriting. Ensuring data privacy while enabling abuse reporting on-chain presented ethical and technical dilemmas. Balancing low transaction fees with frequent on-chain updates for dynamic resumes.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully built a working prototype of skill NFTs with dynamic growth logs. Developed an AI-powered job suggestion module integrated with on-chain skill data. Created a safe abuse-reporting mechanism on a decentralized platform. Enabled workers without formal institutional backing to self-verify through OCR-based signatures.

What we learned

The importance of user-first blockchain UX, especially for non-tech-savvy workers. How to leverage soulbound NFTs for non-financial use cases. The potential of AI + blockchain integration in skill certification and employment systems. The social impact possible when tech is designed with inclusivity and worker welfare at its core.

What's next for SkillForge

Integrate skill-based micro-learning modules directly into the platform. Collaborate with NGOs, unions, and gig platforms for on-ground validation. Launch multi-language support for workers globally. Implement advanced AI job matching algorithms and fraud detection for fake job listings. Develop a mobile-first application for easier access to job opportunities and skill passports. Explore partnerships with government skill councils and certification bodies.

Built With

• javascript
• ocr
• python
• react.js
• tensorflow