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Max is a community manager with over a decade of experience building and scaling community programs around the world. He's passionate about connecting people, creating spaces to share ideas, and making sure community voices shape the future of the products they use. Originally from London, he now lives in NC with his wife, two daughters, and their golden retriever, Sadie.
Secure Experiences at API World Hackathon with Vonage
Time to read: 3 minutes
This year, Vonage had the chance to sponsor the DevNetwork [API + Cloud + Data] Hackathon 2025 at API World in Santa Clara, and what an experience it was. Hackathons are one of our favorite ways to connect with developers because they bring out so much creativity, energy, and unexpected ideas.
Vonage developer team members sitting together at a dinner table during API World Hackathon 2025
For our challenge, we asked teams to take on “Secure Your App with Enhanced Authentication Using Vonage APIs.” The idea was designed to have a real-world feel about it: security is essential, but it should not come at the expense of user experience. We invited participants to explore how our Verify API, Number Insights API and SIM Swap API (the latter two APIs will sunset on November 23. They will be replaced by the new Identity Insights API) could be combined to create authentication flows that are both secure and seamless.
From August 18 to September 5, developers from all over the world jumped in, forming teams on Devpost or meeting in person at API World. We loved chatting with participants in the Hackathon Lounge, hearing how they planned to use our APIs, and seeing projects evolve in real-time.
When it came time to pick a winner, Vonage’s own Chris Tankersley and Michael Crump stepped in as judges. We were not just looking for code that worked; we wanted projects that showed creativity, strong execution, and potential to grow into something even bigger.
The Vonage WordPress Plugin project stood out. It showed how our APIs could be dropped right into one of the most widely used platforms on the internet: WordPress. The plugin made it easy for WordPress site owners to add secure authentication without the headache, which checked all of our boxes: innovative idea, strong technical build, and a ton of potential for future use.
Zimrri Gudino’s winning project “Vonage WordPress plugin authentication”
API World was not just about the hackathon. Our team also took the stage to share ideas and inspire builders. Chris Tankersley gave a talk on the Art of API Design, walking developers through practical ways to make APIs more usable for the people building with them.
Chris Tankersley presenting Art of API Design talk
And Alex Barnett, Head of Developer Experience at Vonage, delivered a keynote on How Network Capabilities Are Powering the Next Wave of Digital Transformation. His talk explored how technologies like Vonage’s Network APIs are unlocking entirely new possibilities for businesses and developers.
Alex Barnett presenting his keynote on Network APIs at API World
Being part of this conference and hackathon was a great reminder of why we love working in the developer ecosystem. Hackathons are not just about building apps on a deadline. They are about sparking new ideas, meeting people who see problems differently, and finding those “aha” moments when technology clicks in unexpected ways.
We are grateful to DevNetwork for putting on such a smooth event, to all the teams who took part in our challenge, and to our DevRel judges Chris Tankersley and Michael Crump for helping us select a standout winner. Most of all, thank you to the developers who rolled up their sleeves and showed us what is possible with Vonage APIs. We cannot wait to do it again.
Have a question or something to share? Join the conversation on the Vonage Community Slack, stay up to date with the Developer Newsletter, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), and subscribe to our YouTube channel for video tutorials. Stay connected, share your progress, and keep up with the latest developer news, tips, and events!
Share:
Max is a community manager with over a decade of experience building and scaling community programs around the world. He's passionate about connecting people, creating spaces to share ideas, and making sure community voices shape the future of the products they use. Originally from London, he now lives in NC with his wife, two daughters, and their golden retriever, Sadie.