Blockchain-Servitization Hub: Empowering African Startups

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Tinhinane TAZAIRT

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

tazairt.tinhinane@gmail.com

Additional Applicants

Houssem BENMAHMOUD

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” in this field.

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project outputs be fully Open Source?

No

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.” in this field.

While the majority of our incubator's resources will be openly accessible, some proprietary components won't be open source. These include:

1. Specialized Training Material: We plan to develop unique, high-quality educational content for our incubator program. Some of these resources, particularly those tailored towards our specific mentoring and teaching approach, will be exclusive to the incubator participants.
2. Proprietary Software Tools: If the project development process requires the creation of unique software tools or applications, these may not be released as open-source initially, primarily due to intellectual property considerations and the need to sustain the incubator's operations.

Our goal is to strike a balance between contributing to the open-source community and maintaining the unique value proposition of our incubator program. We believe this approach is crucial to the program's sustainability and its capacity to continue serving African startups in the long term.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Incubation

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG 4: Quality Education - Through the provision of comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources, the incubator enhances the quality of education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for African startups in the field of blockchain and servitization.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - The incubator's focus on empowering startups promotes job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth within the African region.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - By supporting African startups in leveraging the Cardano blockchain and embracing service-centric solutions, the incubator contributes to fostering innovation, building resilient infrastructure, and promoting sustainable industrialization.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - By providing targeted support to African startups, the incubator helps reduce inequalities by ensuring that underrepresented groups and regions have access to opportunities in emerging technologies and innovation.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - The establishment of the incubator promotes partnerships between academia, industry experts, and startups, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing for the achievement of sustainable development goals.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is to establish a Blockchain-Servitization incubator focused on empowering African startups. Our project will bridge the gap between traditional industries and the emerging blockchain technology through the concept of servitization.

The problem we are solving lies in the struggle many African startups face when they try to integrate themselves into the digital and blockchain world. The complexity of transitioning from a traditional manufacturing model to a service-oriented model, particularly within the blockchain domain, is overwhelming for many. It requires a unique blend of digital, strategic, and business process knowledge that these startups often lack.

Our approach to solving this problem is rooted in our unique blend of expertise. We will draw upon our knowledge in digital Servitization, Marketing, statistics and data analysis, Sales enablement, and Blockchain to provide comprehensive and tailored support to these startups. This project intends to go beyond simple education or training. It will be an incubator program, providing hands-on, real-world experience and mentorship in developing service-centric solutions on the Cardano blockchain.

Combining Servitization and Blockchain:

Servitization and blockchain are transformative paradigms that can revolutionize traditional business models. Servitization is the shift from selling standalone products to providing comprehensive solutions that generate ongoing value. By offering integrated solutions that involve both physical products and associated services, businesses can foster customer loyalty, differentiate themselves from competitors, and facilitate sustainable growth.

Blockchain technology, known for its decentralization, security, and transparency, provides an effective tool for executing and recording transactions in a trustable manner. In a servitized business model, blockchain can track and authenticate every interaction along a product's lifecycle. This combination not only enhances transparency but also enables novel business models, such as decentralized autonomous services, pay-per-use services, or dynamic pricing based on real-time data.

Targeting African Startups:

We aim to support African startups due to the unique blend of opportunities and challenges they present. Africa is witnessing a digital revolution, and its startups are at the forefront of this transformation, tackling local challenges with innovative solutions. Yet, these startups often lack access to resources and mentorship to fully leverage emerging technologies like blockchain.

Our Blockchain-Servitization Startup Incubator aims to bridge this gap. By targeting African startups, we can drive socio-economic development on the continent, promote financial inclusion, and contribute to the digital transformation of Africa.

Components of the Incubator Program

1. Selection Process: We would initiate a rigorous selection process to identify startups with the highest potential to implement service-centric solutions using the Cardano blockchain.
2. Education and Training: Selected startups will receive extensive education and training on servitization, blockchain technology, and specifically the use of Cardano. This training will involve workshops, seminars, and continuous learning modules to keep up with the rapidly evolving space.
3. Mentorship and Guidance: Startups will be paired with mentors with deep expertise in digital servitization, blockchain, sales enablement, and business process optimization. These mentors will provide guidance on strategic decisions, technical challenges, and business model innovation.
4. Technical Support: Startups will receive technical support to develop their solutions on the Cardano blockchain. This includes providing resources and tools to overcome technical challenges and fostering collaboration between different teams for problem-solving.
5. Business Model Innovation: We will guide startups in rethinking their business models to incorporate servitization and blockchain effectively. This includes designing service packages, establishing pricing models, and creating value propositions around their service offerings.
6. Community and Network: The incubator will also provide startups with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration, idea exchange, and mutual support. We will leverage our network to provide startups with opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and funding.

Measuring Impact

Our incubator's impact will be measured by the number of startups it helps, the quality of solutions these startups launch on the Cardano blockchain, the degree of Cardano adoption this drives, and the feedback from the startups. We aim to create a measurable, significant impact on the Cardano ecosystem and the African startup landscape.

Open Source Commitment

Finally, our commitment to making project outcomes open-source ensures that our impact goes beyond the startups in the incubator. By sharing resources, tools, and learnings, we aim to foster a collaborative, innovative ecosystem within Cardano and help more startups navigate the servitization and blockchain landscape.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

Our proposed solution directly aligns with the Development & Infrastructure category by aiming to foster an ecosystem that will empower African startups to build service-centric applications on the Cardano blockchain. Our project will not only provide the necessary tools, resources, and mentorship for these startups but also add significant value to the Cardano community.

Addressing the Challenge:

The challenge is to improve the ease with which projects are developed on Cardano and ensure the effective operation of stake pool nodes. By establishing our Blockchain-Servitization Startup Incubator, we will directly address this challenge in the following ways:

• Tools and Resources: We will provide startups with the essential tools, libraries, SDKs, and resources required to develop applications on the Cardano blockchain. These resources will include technical guides, development templates, and best practice documents, among others. By making these tools readily available, we reduce the barrier to entry and increase the number of high-quality projects developed on Cardano.

• Education and Training: Through our extensive education and training programs, we will improve the understanding of Cardano's ecosystem among developers and entrepreneurs. Our training will cover all aspects of Cardano development, from running nodes for SPOs, Plutus & IELE development to native asset development.

• Mentorship: Our mentorship program will provide the guidance startups need to navigate the complexities of blockchain development and servitization. By pairing them with experienced mentors, we ensure they have the right support to develop innovative solutions on Cardano.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

The success of the Blockchain-Servitization Startup Incubator can be evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Here are the key metrics and methods we propose:

1. Startups Incorporated: The primary measure of our incubator's success will be the number of startups we are able to incorporate into our program. We aim to incorporate at least 10 startups within the first year, which we believe is a realistic goal given the current interest in blockchain technology among African startups.
2. Solutions Launched: Another direct indicator of our program's success will be the number of service-centric solutions that the startups successfully launch on the Cardano blockchain. We estimate a success rate of 30%, anticipating at least three startups launching a solution within a year. This reflects the challenges associated with developing new solutions, but also the potential for success with the right support.
3. User Engagement: We will track user engagement with the solutions launched by the startups from our incubator. This includes the number of users of each solution, their activity level, and the number of transactions they perform. We conservatively project an initial user base of around 100 users for each solution in the first three months after launch, and each user performing an average of 5 transactions per month.
4. Community Growth: Our program's impact on the Cardano community will be another important measure of success. We aim to attract at least 100 new members to the Cardano developer community within the first year. This figure includes both developers from the startups we incorporate and those attracted to the open-source resources we provide.
5. Feedback from Startups: We will also solicit feedback from the startups in our incubator. This qualitative measure will help us understand how well we are meeting their needs and where we can improve. Feedback will be collected through surveys, interviews, and regular check-ins.
6. Socio-Economic Impact: While more challenging to quantify, we will aim to measure the socio-economic impact of our program. This could involve tracking job creation among the startups, the extent to which they address local challenges, and other indirect impacts of their success. We will work with the startups and local partners to develop appropriate measures.

In terms of how our project would affect Cardano's productivity and growth, we anticipate both short-term and long-term impacts:

Short-term impacts:

• Increase in DApp Development: By supporting startups to develop service-centric solutions, we contribute to an increase in DApp development on the Cardano blockchain.
• Community Growth: Our project will help grow the Cardano community by bringing in new developers and users.

Long-term impacts:

• Wider Adoption of Cardano: As the startups from our incubator launch solutions that address real-world problems, we anticipate a wider adoption of Cardano, which will contribute to the growth and strength of its ecosystem.

• Socio-Economic Development: Given our focus on African startups, we can contribute to socio-economic development on the continent. As these startups succeed, they can create jobs, address local challenges, and contribute to Africa's digital transformation.

These metrics and impacts are realistic given the potential of blockchain technology and servitization, the digital transformation happening in Africa, and the unique features and growing interest in the Cardano blockchain.

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

Sharing the outputs and results of our project, the Blockchain-Servitization Startup Incubator, is key to our mission of enhancing the Cardano ecosystem and fostering innovation. Here's our plan to disseminate our outputs and results:

1. Dedicated Website: We will develop a dedicated website for our incubator program supporting English and French languages. This platform will serve as the central hub for all our activities, hosting comprehensive information about the program, the startups involved, the solutions developed, and the open-source resources. It will also feature a blog for regular updates, success stories, and educational content.
2. Open Source Resources: As per the guidelines of the Development & Infrastructure category, most tools, libraries, SDKs, and other resources developed through our project will be made open source. They will be uploaded to a public repository on platforms like GitHub. Accompanying these resources, we will create detailed documentation and guides to encourage easy adoption and adaptation.
3. Specialized Training Material: We plan to develop unique, high-quality educational content for our incubator program. Some of these resources, particularly those tailored towards our specific mentoring and teaching approach, will be exclusive to the incubator participants. However, we may share some general insights and lessons learned through our public channels to benefit the broader developer community.
4. Proprietary Software Tools: If unique software tools or applications are developed during the project, these might not be released as open source initially due to intellectual property considerations and the need to sustain the incubator's operations. However, over time, we could consider open-sourcing these tools, particularly if they can significantly benefit the broader Cardano ecosystem.
5. Periodic Reporting: We will generate periodic reports outlining our project's progress, achievements, and challenges. These reports will be shared with the Cardano community through various channels, keeping the community engaged and informed.
6. Startup Showcases: As the startups in our incubator develop and launch their solutions, we plan to showcase their work to the Cardano community and the broader public. This will not only highlight the startups' achievements but also demonstrate the potential of building on Cardano.
7. Collaboration with Stakeholders: We will share our results and impact with various stakeholders, including other incubators, universities, NGOs, and government agencies to foster partnerships and collaborations.
8. Social Media: We'll maintain an active online presence through social media channels to share project updates, success stories, and key findings.

For further research and development activities:

1. Improving the Incubator Program: The results and feedback we collect will help refine our incubator program. We will continually iterate on our approach based on these insights.
2. Developing New Resources: Insights gained from our work with startups will inform the development of new tools, resources, and training materials. We will identify gaps in the existing resources and create solutions to fill those gaps.
3. Informing Future Research: Our project can provide valuable data and insights that inform future research in areas such as blockchain adoption, startup incubation, and the application of blockchain in service-centric business models.
4. Policy Advocacy: Our results could be used to advocate for policies that support blockchain innovation and startup development, particularly in the African context.

Through this balanced approach of sharing open-source resources and maintaining some proprietary elements, we aim to maximize our project's impact on the Cardano ecosystem while ensuring our program's sustainability and unique value proposition.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our team's capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability stems from our diverse expertise in digital servitization, blockchain technology, data analysis, marketing and strategy, sales engineering, and project management. This combination of skills uniquely positions us to drive the development of a startup incubator focused on fostering blockchain adoption within the African startup ecosystem.

Here's why we believe we're best suited to deliver this project:

1. Expertise and Experience: Our team's skills cover a broad spectrum: Digital-Servitization, marketing and strategy, B2B consulting, data analysis methods, optimizing sales solutions, project management and Software Quality. Our diverse background offers us a comprehensive understanding of the requirements to set up and run a successful incubator for startups on the Cardano blockchain.
2. Proven Track Record: Our team members have a history of delivering successful projects within their respective fields. Their combined experience ensures an understanding of project delivery within budget, on time, and to high standards.
3. Data Analysis and Market Research: With our team's expertise in statistics, data analysis methods, and marketing, we have the capabilities to gather insights, analyze market trends, and make data-driven decisions. This allows us to tailor our incubator program and resources to meet the specific needs of startups and ensure their success in the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Strong Network: Our team's experience across different sectors and industries gives us access to a vast network that can be instrumental in attracting startups to our incubator and creating beneficial partnerships that contribute to our project and the broader Cardano ecosystem.

To ensure transparency and trust in our management of funds, we will incorporate the following steps:

1. Transparent Budgeting: We will develop a clear, detailed budget that outlines all anticipated costs and the planned use of funds. This budget will be regularly updated and shared with the community.
2. Regular Reporting: Our team will provide regular updates on project progress, financial status, and milestones achieved. Any challenges encountered will be openly communicated and addressed.
3. External Auditing: To enhance trust, we will engage an external auditor to periodically review our financial management, ensuring funds are used appropriately and as planned.
4. Escrow Services: If necessary, we are open to using escrow services to hold funds and release them as project milestones are accomplished. This approach offers an additional layer of security and accountability.
5. Community Engagement: Regular interaction with the Cardano community will be a part of our project. We welcome their feedback, ideas, and suggestions and will use this input to enhance accountability and ensure we are responsive to the needs of the ecosystem.

Our team's diverse expertise, demonstrated dedication to transparency and accountability, and deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem make us uniquely suited to deliver this project and manage project funds effectively.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

Our project's main goals revolve around empowering startups to create service-centric solutions on the Cardano blockchain. To realize this vision, we have identified the following specific objectives:

1. Establish the Blockchain Servitization Startup Incubator: Our primary goal is to set up the incubator program that can support 10 startups in the first year.
2. Facilitate Development of Service-Centric Solutions: We aim to enable the participating startups to create innovative, service-oriented solutions that leverage the Cardano blockchain. Our success in this respect can be measured by the number of solutions developed and the degree of their adoption.
3. Expand the Cardano Developer Ecosystem: By providing resources, mentorship, and support to startups, we hope to foster an increase in the number of developers building on Cardano. We'll quantify this through the number of developers engaged in our program.
4. Promote Adoption of Cardano Blockchain: By facilitating the development of practical, useful solutions, we aim to drive the wider adoption of the Cardano blockchain. We'll measure this through the number of users and transactions of the solutions developed by our incubator's startups.
5. Cultivate Open-Source Contribution: We strive to enhance the open-source culture within the Cardano ecosystem by encouraging the startups in our incubator to make their tools and resources open source. We'll track the number of open-source contributions resulting from our program.

To validate the feasibility of our approach and measure the achievement of our goals, we will use both quantitative and qualitative measures:

1. Pilot Program: Launch a pilot program with a smaller number of startups. This will allow us to test our processes, resources, and support structures, and refine them based on real-world feedback before scaling up.
2. Continuous Feedback: Seek continuous feedback from the participating startups and the wider Cardano community. This will enable us to identify any issues or shortcomings in our approach and rectify them promptly.
3. KPI Tracking: Regularly track our key performance indicators (KPIs) against our objectives. This will provide quantitative data on our progress and success.
4. External Review: Engage external experts to periodically review our program. Their impartial insights will help ensure our approach remains effective and relevant.
5. Adaptability: We'll maintain a flexible mindset, ready to adapt our approach as necessary based on new learnings, technological developments, and changes in the blockchain ecosystem.

By integrating these mechanisms into our project, we'll ensure our approach is not only feasible but also effective in achieving our goals and contributing to the Cardano ecosystem.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Planning (Month 1 - Month 2)

• Tasks: Finalizing project plan, setting up the core team, establishing partnerships, securing office space, and setting up necessary IT infrastructure.
• Success Criteria: Completion of project plan, assembled team, established partnerships, and set up workspace and IT infrastructure.

Milestone 2: Incubator Design and Development (Month 2 - Month 4)

• Tasks: Designing the incubator program, developing curriculum and resources, setting up the website, creating a startup application process, and marketing the program.
• Success Criteria: Functional website, complete program curriculum, effective marketing strategy, and a transparent, efficient application process.

Milestone 3: Startup Selection and Onboarding (Month 4 - Month 6)

• Tasks: Reviewing startup applications, conducting interviews, selecting startups, and onboarding the chosen startups into the program.
• Success Criteria: At least 5 startups successfully onboarded into the incubator program.

Milestone 4: Incubator Execution (Month 6 - Month 11)

• Tasks: Conducting the incubator program, providing mentorship, resources, and support to startups, tracking their progress, and managing any arising issues.
• Success Criteria: Startups show significant progress in their projects, satisfactory feedback from participants, and successful resolution of any issues.

Milestone 5: Review and Future Planning (Month 11 - Month 12)

• Tasks: Reviewing the incubator's first run, gathering feedback, assessing the impact, and planning for the next batch of startups.
• Success Criteria: Comprehensive review document detailing successes, challenges, lessons learned, and a robust plan for the future.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Project Initiation and Planning

• Deliverables: Project plan, assembled core team, established partnerships, workspace and IT infrastructure set up.
• Intended Outcomes: Project plan will guide the execution and control of the project. Assembled team and established partnerships will provide the necessary resources and capabilities to implement the project.
• Measures: Project plan completion, successful team assembly, partnership agreements, workspace and IT infrastructure setup.

Incubator Design and Development

• Deliverables: Incubator program design, developed curriculum, functional website, application process, marketing strategy.
• Intended Outcomes: The incubator program design will act as a blueprint for executing the program. The website will provide a platform for startups to apply and for stakeholders to gain information about the program. The marketing strategy will aid in attracting quality startups.
• Measures: Program design completion, website functionality, quality and comprehensiveness of curriculum and resources, effectiveness of the application process.

Startup Selection and Onboarding

• Deliverables: Selected startups, startups onboarded into the program.
• Intended Outcomes: Chosen startups are the ones with high potential, the ones that align with our objectives and have the capability to leverage the blockchain service-centric solutions.
• Measures: Number and quality of applications, startups successfully onboarded, feedback from startups on the onboarding process.

Incubator Execution

• Deliverables: Executed incubator program, startups' projects in progress.
• Intended Outcomes: Startups make significant strides in their projects. They gain knowledge, resources, and network necessary to make their projects successful.
• Measures: Startup project progress, feedback from participants, resolution of issues.

Review and Future Planning

• Deliverables: Comprehensive review document, future plan.
• Intended Outcomes: The team understands the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the first run of the incubator. The future plan sets the path for the next batch of startups.
• Measures: Completion of review document, future plan, feedback from stakeholders.

Each deliverable will be tracked and measured to ensure it meets the required quality standards and intended outcomes. This comprehensive set of deliverables and measures will ensure the progress and success of the project.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Human Resources: 100,000 ADA

• Core team salaries (including project management, technical, and administrative staff)
• Consultant fees (including technical consultants, legal advice, accounting, etc.)

Operational Expenses: 50,000 ADA

• Office Lease & Utilities
• IT Infrastructure (hardware, software licenses, cloud services)
• Office Supplies

Program Development & Execution: 50,000 ADA

• Curriculum development
• Mentorship programs
• Support services

Marketing and Community Engagement: 40,000 ADA

• Website development & maintenance
• Marketing and promotional activities
• Community events and meetups

Miscellaneous and Contingencies: 10,000 ADA

• Unforeseen costs
• Miscellaneous expenses

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem for several reasons. Firstly, the budget allocation reflects a balanced distribution of resources across different aspects of the project, ensuring comprehensive support for African startups aiming to develop service-centric solutions on the Cardano blockchain. The breakdown takes into account the need for skilled human resources, operational expenses, program development, marketing, community engagement, and contingencies.

Regarding human resources, the allocation of 100,000 ADA for salaries and consultant fees is based on industry standards and the expertise required for successful project execution. It ensures that qualified professionals are onboarded to manage and guide the incubator program effectively. The budget considers competitive remuneration to attract and retain top talent with the necessary knowledge and experience in digital servitization, blockchain, marketing, and strategy.

Operational expenses of 50,000 ADA cover essential aspects such as office lease and utilities, IT infrastructure, and office supplies. These costs are justified by market rates and are necessary to establish a functional and efficient workspace where the core team can operate, collaborate, and support the startups effectively.

The program development and execution budget of 50,000 ADA is allocated for crucial activities like curriculum development, mentorship programs, and support services. These costs reflect the investment needed to provide comprehensive training, guidance, and resources to the startups, ensuring they have the best chances of success.

Marketing and community engagement, with a budget of 40,000 ADA, are critical for promoting the incubator program, attracting startups, and fostering a vibrant Cardano community. These activities involve website development and maintenance, marketing campaigns, and organizing community events and meetups. The allocated budget allows for effective outreach, awareness building, and collaboration opportunities, contributing to the growth and adoption of Cardano.

Lastly, a contingency budget of 10,000 ADA is included to address any unforeseen costs or miscellaneous expenses that may arise during the project. This allocation provides flexibility and ensures that unexpected challenges or needs can be addressed promptly without compromising the project's overall success.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept