Cardano Advancement

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Fred Tanaka

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

fred@lightning-communications.co.jp

Additional Applicants

Takayuki Hirano

Russell Saito

Christopher Ludgate

Shion Conaway

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

4

[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.

Because we are dealing with opinion leaders and VIPs and some of the insights gained may be of a confidential or proprietary nature. It would also be counterproductive to our work on behalf of the project to make this open to a flood of contacts. As a result their care and trust is paramount.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Other

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Traction in the Japan market has been limited in comparison with other blockchain platforms - namely Ethereum.

Change in Japan does not happen at a grassroots level and will need to be driven top-down as favored in the Japan market. As a result, an influencer relations program is particularly effective.

We will engage with opinion leaders in industry, government, associations, and where appropriate the media who are defining the Web3 / blockchain scene.

Gather crucial intelligence and conduct research to establish a firm understanding of the landscape including opportunities, challenges and to focus our plan for key results.

Provide high-touch consultancy services and access to opinion leaders in industry, associations, government, and media that are meaningful and will set the stage for a concrete way forward to establish opportunities that take the Cardano blockchain platform to a new level of relevance in the crucial Japan market.

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

Open up doors and opportunities with Web3 leaders and indispensable entities in Japan including but not limited to:

Digital Garage

NTT Data

Hakuhodo Key3

Sony Network Communications

Coincheck

SoftBank

Rakuten

MUFG

P&G Japan

GM Japan

Konami Digital Entertainment

Toho Pictures

Nikko Open Innovation Lab

Fuji Film

PwC

Deloitte

KPMG

Bain & Company

Goldman Sachs

B DASH Ventures

SoftBank

SBI

Sony Ventures Corporation

Sony Pictures

Sony Corporation

Nissan Motor Company

Honda Motor Company

Shiseido

Estee Lauder Group Companies

SK II

EY

Tokyo University

Waseda University

Keio University

Hitotsubashi University

Influentials SMEs

Provide a platform to initiate high level and on-point meaningful discussions.

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

Meetings initiated, relationships developed, follow-up opportunities or new leads created for projects built on the Cardano platform.

Create a sea change in opinion of Cardano and its ecosystem, willingness to develop using the platform.

Gather key information and uncover opportunities that are the best and most meaningful projects and introduce these to IOG, Emurgo, dcSpark - Paima, and others that are a fit in the Cardano community to establish a hitherto unprecedented beachhead from which to foster growth and development.

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

Monthly reporting of:

1. Outreach
2. Initial meetings
3. Meeting minutes (feedback and results)
4. Next step action items
5. Following actions and meetings taken
6. Introductions to community projects and members
7. Actions initiated with Cardano ecosystem members
8. 
   

In addition, we'll develop a solid base of intelligence to brainstorm with members of the community as well as leadership in the Cardano ecosystem from which to advise and where relevant guide program direction and development.

Outputs/impact and opportunities will be shared on reports and at regularly scheduled meetings with community leaders in Japan and relevant members of the global ecosystem as well as interested parties at IOG and Emurgo.

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

Members of the team have a power network and are connected to leaders in Web3, fintech industry and associations, consultancies as well as corporations initiating blockchain/Web3 initiatives.

Through our work on blockchain projects and initiatives dating back to 2017 we have established a high degree of credibility.

We are active at all the Web3, blockchain events in Japan including Japan Blockchain Week, NIKKEI Fin/Sum, NIKKEI Global Digital Summit, WebX, IVS Kyoto, TEAMZ Web Summit, Web3 BB, as well as private events, closed-door dinner parties, and other private occasions.

As a result of our work and activities we have expanded our PR remit to include government relations with Digital Agency, METI, Financial Services Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications who have their blockchain initiatives.

Through the trust engendered over the years with these contacts we will work industriously to introduce them and or have them reconsider the Cardano ecosystem in a new positive light.

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

Main goals are to establish a beachhead of leading corporations, associations, consultancies, and ministries who are interested and intent on making Cardano one of the leading platforms in Japan.

A strategic position for Cardano as a top consideration.

Companies interested in developing a means of initiating projects on the Cardano platform.

Opportunities for engagement by projects undertaken by the Community, IOG, and Emurgo.

We will also establish an unparalleled knowledge base of intelligence in order to lay the groundwork to establish develop practical action plans.

The feasibility of the program has been validated based on previous interactions, the strength of our relationships, and advancements in technology like Milkomeda.

[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.

Landscape development and strategic approach - 2 - 3 weeks

Communications network and database - 1 week

Calendar of meetings 3/week on average - 16 weeks

Intelligence reports - 3

Approach review, coordinations, and adjustments - Weekly

Reporting - Weekly and monthly

Guide follow up meetings and development of plans including practical action items - Weekly

Plans and opportunities for projects - Weekly

New contacts - Weekly

Project discussions initiated - Starting from second - third month of program

Projects confirmed - Month 4

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

Updated Fact Sheet introductory document - 1

Case study presentation - 1

Initial outreach and introductions - 72 (from network database)

Meetings with opinions and VIPs in industry, associations, government, and as fitting media (top-tier business, mainstream, tech only) - 36

Meetings with Cardano community leaders, project owners, IOG, and others (online) - approx. 80

Intelligence reports - 3

Plans and opportunities for projects - 4

Project coordination support and document development - as developed / required

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

Research and planning

Initiation - background briefings, relationship building meetings, networking events (private and public)

Document development, updates

Database tools - data-driven influencer platform solution 

Discovery

Collation of data, application of analytics

Resources

Consultants: Fred Tanaka, Takayuki Hirano, Russell Saito, Christopher Ludgate

Meetings, events, and other forums for meaning engagement and interactions

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

Costs are well below market rates provided by consultancies like Deloitte Web3 (https://www2.deloitte.com/jp/ja/blog/d-nnovation-perspectives/2022/web3-trends.html)

PwC Blockchain Laboratory (https://www.pwc.com/jp/ja/services/consulting/disruptive-technology/blockchain.html) and local firms including G.U. Technologies.

Core costs are labor - consultant, network based.

Cross-cultural, bilingual support at consultancies are hourly fee based at approximately 100,000 yen per hour. We estimate a total of 125 hours devoted to the project per month which would be billed at 12,500,000 yen at a consultancy / influencer relations agency.

[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