A decentralized labor marketplace that gives Fort Worth workers portable, on-chain reputation and escrow-backed payment protection.

Built for HackFW — Fort Worth's convergent technology hackathon accelerating reindustrialization and American productivity.

Workers in traditional labor markets—tradespeople, gig workers, tutors, digital freelancers—face three critical barriers:

1. Reputation doesn't travel. A master electrician with 20 years of stellar work on one platform starts from zero on another. Their reputation is locked in silos, owned by the platform, not the worker.

2. Payment risk. Workers complete milestones but wait weeks for payment, face arbitrary disputes, or get stiffed entirely. Escrow exists in traditional systems, but it's opaque and controlled by intermediaries.

3. Procurement barriers. Fort Worth city contracts often include M/WBE (Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise) subcontracting requirements, but the RFPs are written in dense procurement language that filters out qualified workers who could do the work.

Trailmark Guild solves this by putting reputation on-chain (workers own it, take it anywhere), backing every job with smart contract escrow (payment is guaranteed and transparent), and using AI agents to translate complex city RFPs into plain language and match workers to opportunities they'd otherwise miss.

This project was built for HackFW, Fort Worth's hackathon focused on convergent technology solutions that accelerate reindustrialization and American productivity. HackFW creates a sustainable innovation flywheel by exposing youth and workforce to hands-on technical product development, building a pipeline that keeps technical talent local while establishing Fort Worth as an emerging tech hub.

Trailmark Guild addresses industrial problems in North Texas by building trust infrastructure for the skilled trades workforce—a critical bottleneck in regional manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure development.

Bounty List: https://dao.fwtx.city/bounties

• Own your reputation: Complete jobs, earn peer attestations, verify licenses on-chain. Your reputation is yours—portable across any platform that reads the Trailmark Protocol.
• Get paid automatically: Milestone-based escrow releases payment when the client confirms completion. No intermediaries, no waiting 30 days for an invoice to process.
• Access city opportunities: The Scout AI agent translates dense Bonfire RFPs into plain English, checks your eligibility, and flags M/WBE subcontracting requirements you qualify for.
• See your path forward: The Pathfinder AI agent shows you the exact gap to your next tier—not generic advice like "keep working hard," but specific numbers: "You need 3 more verified jobs and 2 peer attestations from Tier 2+ workers in your category."

• Hire with confidence: Filter workers by tier, verified credentials, category, and neighborhood. Every worker's reputation is backed by on-chain attestations.
• Escrow-backed payments: Fund jobs through smart contracts on Base. Payments release milestone-by-milestone as work is confirmed.
• Local, verified talent: All workers are Fort Worth-based with verified TDLR licenses (for licensed trades) and neighborhood-specific expertise.

• M/WBE participation: The Scout agent actively surfaces subcontracting opportunities in city contracts, lowering barriers for minority and women-owned businesses.
• Local wealth retention: Payments flow directly from client to worker wallets—no platform taking 20-30% cuts.
• Trust infrastructure: Peer attestations and staked vouching create a self-regulating network where reputation has real financial weight.

• Base Sepolia (Ethereum L2): Escrow contracts with milestone-based payment releases
• Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS): On-chain credential attestations (licenses, peer vouches, work records)
• Privy: Wallet authentication and embedded wallet support
• Vocdoni: Anonymous DAO governance voting

• Anthropic Claude API (Sonnet 4.5): Powers three specialized agents:
  • Trailblazer: Conversational onboarding—detects worker category, verifies TDLR licenses, explains tier requirements
  • Scout: Translates Bonfire city RFPs into plain language, checks worker eligibility, surfaces M/WBE opportunities
  • Pathfinder: Career roadmap—shows exact tier gaps, matches workers to open roles, suggests training paths
• Model Context Protocol (MCP): External tool integration for AI agents to query worker profiles, job listings, and reputation data

• Next.js 16 (App Router): React framework with server components and streaming
• Supabase: PostgreSQL database, real-time subscriptions, vector embeddings for semantic job matching
• Tailwind CSS: Utility-first styling
• TypeScript: Type-safe development

• TDLR API: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation—verifies electrician, plumber, HVAC, and roofing licenses
• Bonfire: Fort Worth's city procurement platform (RFP scraping for Scout agent)

• Node.js 18+ (Node.js 24 LTS recommended)
• npm, pnpm, or bun
• Git
• A Base Sepolia testnet wallet with test ETH (get faucet here)

git clone <your-repo-url>
cd trailmark
npm install

Create a .env.local file in the root directory:

# Anthropic API (required for AI agents)
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_api_key_here

# Supabase (required)
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL=your_supabase_project_url
NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY=your_supabase_anon_key
SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY=your_supabase_service_role_key

# Privy (required for wallet authentication)
NEXT_PUBLIC_PRIVY_APP_ID=your_privy_app_id

# Base Sepolia (blockchain)
NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_SEPOLIA_RPC=https://sepolia.base.org
NEXT_PUBLIC_ESCROW_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=  # deployed contract address (see below)

# EAS (Ethereum Attestation Service)
NEXT_PUBLIC_EAS_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=0x4200000000000000000000000000000000000021
NEXT_PUBLIC_EAS_SCHEMA_UID=  # your schema UID after registration

# TDLR API (Texas license verification)
TDLR_API_BASE_URL=https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/tools/api

Need help getting API keys?

• Anthropic API: Sign up at console.anthropic.com
• Supabase: Create a project at supabase.com
• Privy: Get an app ID at privy.io
• Base Sepolia RPC: Public endpoint provided above (no key needed)
• EAS Schema: Register the Trailmark credential schema at easscan.org (see ARCHITECTURE.md for schema details)

Run the Supabase migrations:

# If you have Supabase CLI installed:
supabase db push

# Otherwise, copy the schema from /supabase/migrations and run in Supabase SQL Editor

Seed data (optional but recommended for demo):

# Run the seed script to create sample Fort Worth jobs
npm run seed

If you want to deploy your own escrow contract:

cd contracts
npm install
npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network base-sepolia

Copy the deployed contract address to NEXT_PUBLIC_ESCROW_CONTRACT_ADDRESS in .env.local.

For hackathon judging: A pre-deployed contract address is included in the repo for quick setup.

npm run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 to see the app.

• Navigate to /onboarding
• Connect wallet via Privy
• Chat with the Trailblazer agent:
  • Describe your work in plain language
  • Agent detects your category and subcategory
  • If you're in a licensed trade (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), provide your TDLR license number
  • Agent verifies license via Texas TDLR API and issues an on-chain attestation
  • Get assigned to Tier 0 and see your exact roadmap to Tier 1

• Browse open jobs at /jobs
• Filter by category, tier requirement, Fort Worth neighborhood, budget
• View job details: milestones, client info, required credentials
• Apply with a cover note

• Client accepts your application
• Client funds the job by depositing ETH into the escrow smart contract
• Milestone structure is defined on-chain (e.g., "Materials inspection: 0.03 ETH", "Final inspection: 0.05 ETH")
• When you complete a milestone, client confirms → payment auto-releases to your wallet
• Transparent, trustless, instant

• View any worker's profile at /profile/[wallet-address]
• See:
  • Tier badge (Apprentice → Journeyman → Master → Expert → Guild Master)
  • Completion rate, quality score, peer attestations
  • Verified credentials (TDLR license, peer vouches, job history)
  • EAS attestations (on-chain proof)

• Navigate to /scout
• Paste a Bonfire RFP URL or text
• Scout agent:
  • Summarizes the RFP in plain language
  • Checks your eligibility against tier and credentials
  • Flags M/WBE subcontracting requirements: "This is an $800K contract with a 30% M/WBE requirement = $240K in subcontracting opportunity"
  • Lists missing credentials and how to get them

• Navigate to /pathfinder
• Agent reads your on-chain profile and outputs:
  • Exact tier gap: "You need 3 more verified jobs (currently 7, need 10) and 1 more peer attestation from a Tier 2 worker in your category"
  • Active training bounties you qualify for
  • Under-supplied categories in Fort Worth where your skills transfer

• On any worker profile, click "Vouch for this worker"
• Stake ETH to back your attestation
• If the worker fails a job dispute, your stake gets slashed (skin in the game)
• Attestations are stored on-chain via EAS

The app exposes Model Context Protocol tools for external AI agents:

• trailmark_find_workers: Search for workers by category, tier, location
• trailmark_get_jobs: Query open jobs with filters
• trailmark_get_worker_profile: Retrieve on-chain reputation data

Demo: Call these tools from Claude Code or any MCP-compatible agent.

Workers advance through 5 tiers based on verified metrics:

• Tier 0 (Apprentice): New to network, no verified jobs
• Tier 1 (Helper): 3+ verified jobs, 1+ peer attestation
• Tier 2 (Journeyman): 10+ verified jobs, TDLR license (if applicable), 3+ peer attestations
• Tier 3 (Master): 25+ jobs, 90%+ completion rate, quality score 400+, active mentor
• Tier 4 (Guild Master): 50+ jobs, 95%+ completion rate, DAO vote approval

Each tier unlocks higher-value jobs and city procurement eligibility.

Client posts job → Worker applies → Client accepts
  → Client funds escrow (ETH locked in contract)
  → Milestones defined on-chain
  → Worker completes milestone → Client confirms
  → Smart contract auto-releases payment to worker wallet
  → Repeat for remaining milestones
  → Job complete → Reputation updated

No intermediaries. No payment delays. Full transparency.

All three agents use the Claude API with tool calling:

• Trailblazer tools: get_categories(), check_tdlr_license(), get_tier_requirements(), suggest_vouching_candidates()
• Scout tools: translate_rfp(), check_worker_eligibility()
• Pathfinder tools: get_tier_gap(), find_training_bounties(), suggest_category_transfers()

Agents are read-only—they populate information for human confirmation, never execute financial transactions.

Workers in Fort Worth's trades and service sectors—many of whom are immigrants, women, or people of color—build reputation that they own. It's not locked in Thumbtack's database or Upwork's proprietary score. It's on-chain, readable by any future platform, any city system, any DAO.

A roofer who completes a job doesn't wait 45 days for an invoice to process. A tutor doesn't chase a parent for Venmo payment. The smart contract holds the funds, and release is automatic when the client confirms the milestone. This is transformative for workers living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Fort Worth city contracts often include requirements like:

"Bidders must subcontract at least 25% of project value to certified M/WBE firms, with documentation of outreach to a minimum of three firms in the project category."

Most workers don't speak this language. The Scout agent translates it to:

"This is a $600K streetlight project. You need to hire M/WBE subcontractors for at least $150K of the work. Here are 3 certified electrical contractors in Fort Worth you can reach out to."

That's the difference between missing an opportunity and capturing it.

Platform fees on traditional marketplaces (Upwork, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack) range from 15-30%. On a $10,000 home remodel, that's $1,500-$3,000 extracted from the local economy.

Trailmark's protocol fee is 2.5%, and it flows to the DAO treasury, which funds:

• Training bounties for workers advancing tiers
• Dispute resolution (neutral jury pool)
• Open-source tooling for other cities to adopt the protocol

More money stays in Fort Worth. More wealth builds in the community.

• Deploy to Base mainnet
• Partner with Fort Worth M/WBE certification office
• Integrate real-time Bonfire scraping
• Launch with 50 pilot workers across 5 categories

• Release Trailmark Protocol SDK for other cities
• Soulbound tier badges (ERC-5114)
• Streaming payments for recurring work (Superfluid integration)
• Event-driven reputation (immutable on-chain logs)

• Austin, Dallas, Houston adopt the protocol
• Cross-city reputation portability
• Statewide TDLR integration
• Texas-wide M/WBE opportunity matching

trailmark/
├── src/
│   ├── app/                 # Next.js App Router pages
│   │   ├── (platform)/      # Authenticated routes (jobs, profile, agents)
│   │   ├── onboarding/      # Worker onboarding flow
│   │   └── api/             # API routes (MCP tools, agent endpoints)
│   ├── lib/
│   │   ├── agents/          # AI agent implementations (Trailblazer, Scout, Pathfinder)
│   │   ├── contracts/       # Smart contract ABIs
│   │   ├── supabase/        # Database client & queries
│   │   └── tdlr.ts          # TDLR license verification
│   └── shared/
│       └── components/      # Reusable UI components
├── supabase/
│   └── migrations/          # Database schema
├── contracts/               # Solidity smart contracts
├── public/                  # Static assets
├── ARCHITECTURE.md          # Technical deep-dive
├── HACKATHON_SPRINT.md      # Build plan & status tracker
└── BLOCKCHAIN_MECHANICS.md  # Future enhancements (slashing, SBTs, streaming)

This project fulfills the HackFW submission requirements:

Complete source code with setup instructions, technical specifications, and deployment guide (see Local Setup section above)

[Link to demo video] - Coming soon

The video walks through:

• The problem: Fort Worth workers losing reputation when switching platforms, payment risks, and procurement barriers
• The solution: Portable on-chain reputation, smart contract escrow, and AI agents that translate city RFPs
• Live demo: Worker onboarding, job marketplace, escrow payment flow, and AI agent interactions
• Impact: How Trailmark reduces barriers for M/WBE participation in city contracts and keeps wealth in Fort Worth

This project addresses workforce development and economic inclusion challenges in Fort Worth's industrial sector, aligning with HackFW's mission to solve real problems in North Texas industry through convergent technology.

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

Love for Fort Worth, frustration with platform monopolies, and belief that workers deserve to own their reputation.

Questions? Open an issue or reach out at kyle@datalof.com

• Fort Worth's trades community for inspiration
• HackFW organizers for creating a platform that accelerates Fort Worth's tech ecosystem
• Base for fast, cheap L2 infrastructure
• Anthropic for Claude API that makes agents feel human
• Supabase for Postgres that scales
• The Fort Worth innovation community for the deadline that shipped this