Cardano Business Springboard: Empowering African Businesses for Success

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

Additional applicants

NATHANIEL DWAMENA

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

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

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

[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.”

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

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

Project will be fully open source.

[METADATA] Category of proposal

[METADATA] SDG rating

Using the SDG Proposer tool, here are some relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sub-goals, and key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be incorporated into the proposal:

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Sub-goal 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities in Africa.
• KPI: Number of businesses adopting innovative technologies, such as Cardano, in Africa.

 SDG 4: Quality Education

• Sub-goal 4.3: Ensure equal access to affordable technical, vocational, and tertiary education.
• KPI: Number of businesses in Ghana receiving education and training on blockchain technology and Cardano adoption.

 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Sub-goal 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• KPI: Number of partnerships and collaborations established between the Cardano ecosystem, local businesses, governments, and educational institutions in Africa.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Sub-goal 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation.
• KPI: Increase in business productivity and growth facilitated by the adoption of Cardano in Ghana and Africa.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Sub-goal 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• KPI: Number of businesses from diverse backgrounds and sectors empowered to adopt Cardano through inclusive education programs and mentorship.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The transition of businesses into the blockchain ecosystem through adoption is gradually becoming a global phenomenon. This paradigm shift has become prominent due to the unique advantages it offers in terms of productivity and profitability. As businesses recognize the transformative potential of blockchain technology, particularly its decentralization, transparency, and traceability, they are actively seeking suitable blockchain networks to meet their operational needs. With numerous blockchain ecosystems available, businesses in Africa have the opportunity to choose the most suitable platform.

The popularity of Africa as a market further reinforces the case for Cardano's adoption. The continent's business communities are eager to embrace innovative technologies that can drive growth and development. Given the current rapid pace of blockchain adoption, particularly with the rise of web 3 technology, it is crucial to penetrate the African business communities with the Cardano network. This will enable businesses in Africa to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and reap the benefits of cardano blockchain adoption among existing businesses. Therefore, the Cardano Business Springboard presents the opportunity to highlight the specific potential and opportunities that Cardano brings, such as easing business operations and scaling up productivity and profitability. These functionalities provides suffficient evidence to convince businesses to make Cardano their preferred blockchain solution. The event seeks to provide the platform that will offer education, training and mentorship to empower existing businesses for the cardano blockchain adoption in their operations.

Education and training will play a crucial role in achieving this milestone. Initiating and transitioning existing businesses into the blockchain ecosystem will require comprehensive education programs to familiarize business owners and employees with the benefits and mechanics of the Cardano network. In view of this, we’re convinced that this event presents the right atmosphere to engender and foster any future collaboration with the blockchain ecosystem. By providing accessible and tailored training opportunities on blockchain, businesses can enhance their understanding of Cardano's features and functionalities. This knowledge will empower businesses to integrate Cardano effectively into their operations and leverage its capabilities.

With a firm commitment to driving adoption and scalability within the business community, it is important to pursue this initiative for the greater good of the Cardano catalyst ecosystem. By fostering partnerships and collaborations with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions, Cardano can establish a strong presence in Africa. This presence will not only contribute to the growth of African businesses but also enhance the global expansion of Cardano as a leading blockchain network. By this initiative, we'll also facilitate the adoption of the cardano network by existing businesses in Ghana into Cardano ecosystem. Ideally, there should have been stand-alone challenge setting to enable the community spearhead this drive, however, the existing category which is startups and students onboarding challenge setting narrow its target audience to start ups, which makes this project best suited for the open catalyst challenge setting. The event will be in two-fold, an in-person and an online event, with the following topics for the next 3 month, events after funding has been approved:

• Introduction to Blockchain Technology: Provide an overview of blockchain technology, its key principles, and its potential applications in various industries.

• Understanding Cardano: Dive deeper into the Cardano blockchain, its architecture, consensus mechanism (Ouroboros), and its unique features such as staking, smart contracts, and native tokens. Explain the advantages of Cardano compared to other blockchain platforms.

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

APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGE

The central theme of our project is to transition existing businesses in Ghana into the blockchain ecosystem, making the cardano blockchain as their preferred choice. This initiative will require comprehensive education programs to familiarize business owners and employees with the benefits and mechanics of Cardano. Therefore, our approach to addressing this is to host a specialized blockchain training symposium for Ghanaian businesses, promote and facilitate the adoption of the Cardano network among the business community in Ghana. The transition of businesses into the blockchain ecosystem through adoption is gradually becoming a global phenomenon. This paradigm shift has become prominent due to the unique advantages it offers in terms of productivity and profitability. As businesses recognize the transformative potential of blockchain technology, particularly its decentralization, transparency, and traceability, they are actively seeking suitable blockchain networks to meet their operational needs. With numerous blockchain ecosystems available, businesses in Africa have the opportunity to choose the most suitable platform.

The popularity of Africa as a market further reinforces the case for Cardano's adoption. The continent's business communities are eager to embrace innovative technologies that can drive growth and development. Given the current rapid pace of blockchain adoption, particularly with the rise of web 3 technology, it is crucial to penetrate the African business communities with the Cardano network. This will enable businesses in Africa to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and reap the benefits of cardano blockchain adoption among existing businesses. Therefore, the Cardano Business Springboard presents the opportunity to highlight the specific potential and opportunities that Cardano brings, such as easing business operations and scaling up productivity and profitability. These functionalities provides suffficient evidence to convince businesses to make Cardano their preferred blockchain solution. The event seeks to provide the platform that will offer education, training and mentorship to empower existing businesses for the cardano blockchain adoption in their operations.

Education and training will play a crucial role in achieving this milestone. Initiating and transitioning existing businesses into the blockchain ecosystem will require comprehensive education programs to familiarize business owners and employees with the benefits and mechanics of the Cardano network. In view of this, we’re convinced that this event presents the right atmosphere to engender and foster any future collaboration with the blockchain ecosystem. By providing accessible and tailored training opportunities on blockchain, businesses can enhance their understanding of Cardano's features and functionalities. This knowledge will empower businesses to integrate Cardano effectively into their operations and leverage its capabilities.

With a firm commitment to driving adoption and scalability within the business community, it is important to pursue this initiative for the greater good of the Cardano catalyst ecosystem. By fostering partnerships and collaborations with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions, Cardano can establish a strong presence in Africa. This presence will not only contribute to the growth of African businesses but also enhance the global expansion of Cardano as a leading blockchain network. By this initiative, we'll also facilitate the adoption of the cardano network by existing businesses in Ghana into Cardano ecosystem. Ideally, there should have been stand-alone challenge setting to enable the community spearhead this drive, however, the existing category which is startups and students onboarding challenge setting narrow its target audience to start ups, which makes this project best suited for the open catalyst challenge setting. The event will be in two-fold, an in-person and an online event, with the following topics for the next 3 month, events after funding has been approved:

• Introduction to Blockchain Technology: Provide an overview of blockchain technology, its key principles, and its potential applications in various industries.

• Understanding Cardano: Dive deeper into the Cardano blockchain, its architecture, consensus mechanism (Ouroboros), and its unique features such as staking, smart contracts, and native tokens. Explain the advantages of Cardano compared to other blockchain platforms.

BENEFITS/IMPACTS TO THE CARDANO ECOSYSTEM

The project aims to benefit the Cardano ecosystem in Africa by promoting its adoption among the business community. Here's how the project can contribute to making Cardano the preferred choice in Africa:

Foster Adoption Through Education and Training

By providing this platform for education and training on the cardano blockchain network, we hope to facilitate and promote the cardano blockchain adoption by businesses. We plan to provide comprehensive education programs to familiarize business owners and employees with Cardano's features and functionalities. By empowering businesses with the necessary knowledge, they will be able to integrate Cardano effectively into their operations and leverage its capabilities.

 Highlighting Unique Advantages

The project will showcase the unique advantages of the Cardano blockchain, such as decentralization, transparency, and traceability. By emphasizing these benefits, businesses in Africa will recognize the transformative potential of Cardano and its ability to meet their operational needs effectively.

Penetrating the African Market

The project recognizes Africa as a ready market for blockchain technology. By actively engaging with the African business communities, the project will promote the adoption of Cardano and position it as the preferred choice for businesses in the region. This will enable African businesses to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and leverage the benefits of blockchain adoption.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

The project aims to foster partnerships and collaborations with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions in Africa. By establishing a strong presence and building networks in the region, Cardano can gain credibility and trust, further encouraging its adoption as the preferred blockchain solution.

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

To measure the success of the project, the following approaches would be taken:

Number of Businesses Engaged: Measure the number of businesses that participate in the training symposium and engage with the project. This metric indicates the level of interest and involvement from the target audience.

Adoption Rate: Monitor the number of businesses that actively adopt Cardano and integrate it into their operations after the training. This metric reflects the project's success in transitioning businesses into the blockchain ecosystem and making Cardano their preferred choice.

 Feedback and Surveys: Collect feedback from participating businesses to gauge their satisfaction, knowledge gained, and the impact of Cardano adoption on their operations. Conduct surveys or evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the training program and identify areas for improvement.

Partnership and Collaboration Development: Track the number and quality of partnerships and collaborations established with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions. Evaluate the outcomes of these partnerships, such as joint projects, knowledge sharing, or resource sharing, to measure the project's success in fostering collaborations.

 Continued Engagement: Monitor the post-training engagement of businesses with Cardano and the project. Measure their ongoing involvement, participation in community activities, and utilization of Cardano's features. Continued engagement indicates the project's effectiveness in sustaining interest and support for Cardano adoption.

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

Upon meeting our targets as indicated in the project, we expect a collaboration with policies makers in the business communities on partnership that will foster the education and awareness creation among entrepreneurs.

To make the project more efficient, we plan to split it into two phases, each lasting four months.

Community Accountability

Our milestones provide specific quantity-based targets to measure the impact of the event on businesses and ensure that a significant number of businesses are reached, educated, and empowered through this event. In ensuring our team’s accountability and transparency to the cardano ecosystem, all the needed documentation from start to finish of the event will be presented to the community including video recordings where necessary. These documentations will be presented, in addition to our monthly report to the catalyst community. The documents will be posted on all catalyst affiliate social media platforms.

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

CAPACITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Our team have been active in the catalyst ecosystem since fund 7. As a project lead, I am currently a team member of the development and infrastructure challenge team in fund 10. since fund 7, 8 and 9, I’ve been an active community Advisor, a voter and a proponent with two community funded and executed project. From these credentials, it’s worth noting that our contribution to the ecosystem has been immerse especially in spearheading the community goal of catalyst. 

Apart from our active involvement in the catalyst space, our team brings not only extensive experience but also a profound level of engagement in the Cardano Catalyst space, specifically in terms of project implementation. We have led several initiatives that received funding from the Catalyst community. Through our active involvement in the Catalyst community, we have successfully executed three major projects, all of which are open source and available for community verification.The successful execution of those projects has propelled us with experience in mobilizing grassroots for blockchain adoption as well as engaging policymakers and regulators through policy dialogues.

By making these projects transparent, the community can verify our capacity to deliver on the current project. See reference to proposal https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/62263

https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/64358

https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/64441

In accordance with the project completion procedures for Project Catalyst, we always submit a report for community verification, allowing the community to validate the outcomes of our projects. We are dedicated to scaling up the advancement of the Catalyst goal, and our commitment to credibility has consistently been paramount throughout our past project completions. Our ultimate aim is to create a meaningful impact within the Catalyst space.

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

The main goals for the project are as follows:

•  Promote the adoption of Cardano among businesses in Ghana and Africa.
•  Educate and empower existing businesses to integrate Cardano into their operations.
• Establish partnerships and collaborations with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions.
•  Increase awareness and understanding of the unique advantages of Cardano in the African business community.

To validate the feasibility of the approach, the following steps will be taken:

 Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to assess the current state of blockchain adoption, the level of interest among businesses in Ghana, and the potential for Cardano in the African market. This research will provide insights into the feasibility and demand for the project's goals.

 Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with relevant stakeholders in the Cardano ecosystem, such as businesses, government entities, educational institutions, and local communities. Seek their input, gather feedback, and assess their willingness to collaborate and support the project. This engagement will help validate the project's approach and ensure alignment with the needs and expectations of stakeholders.

 Partnerships and Support: Reach out to potential partners, including local businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions, to assess their interest in collaborating on the project. Evaluate the level of support and resources they can contribute, such as venue space, funding, or expertise. Building strong partnerships will validate the feasibility of implementing the project and ensure a collaborative ecosystem.

Pilot Programs: Conduct pilot programs or smaller-scale events to test the effectiveness and feasibility of the project's approach. Gather feedback from participants, evaluate their experiences, and identify areas for improvement. The results and feedback from these pilot programs will provide valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of the project's approach.

[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.

ROADMAP

The goal is to boost the adoption of the cardano network among the business community in Africa, facilitate and promote more innovative ideas in the Cardano ecosystem to enable the adoption of blockchain in Ghana through diversification. By this, we’ll host two set of events, an in-person event and an online event, with the expectation of ensuring a faster adoption rate of the Cardano Network in Ghana and Africa at large. With this being said, we plan to carry out this initiative in phases upon receiving funding for the project. Thus, our roadmap looks like this;

Phase 1

  Team setup – 1 week

• Formulate a team responsible for organizing and executing the event 

• Define the event objectives, target audience, and desired outcomes.

• Communication of detailed plan and activities.

• Allocate resources, including budget, venue, and equipment.

• Assigning roles and responsibilities

• Create social media channels.

Phase 2

Reservations — 3 weeks 

• Event space

• Catering service

• Event logistics 

• Event date selection

 Phase 3

Event Promotion–– 4 weeks

• Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to raise awareness about the event.
• Create a visually appealing website or landing page to provide event details, speaker information, and registration instructions.
• Utilize social media platforms, email marketing, and targeted advertising to reach the target audience.
• Leverage partnerships with educational institutions, student organizations, and local media outlets to amplify promotion efforts.

Phase 4

Final preparation and Event Execution –– 1 week

• Ensure smooth event logistics, including registration, venue setup, audiovisual equipment, and internet connectivity.
• Coordinate with speakers, ensuring their technical requirements are met and they are well-prepared.
• Engage participants throughout the event, encouraging active participation and networking.
• Capture photos and videos to document the event for future promotion and knowledge sharing

 Phase 5

Post-Event Activities

• Collect feedback from participants through surveys or evaluations to gauge their satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
• Share event highlights, key takeaways, and presentation materials on the event website or through social media channels.
• Establish follow-up communication channels to maintain engagement with attendees, such as a mailing list or online community.
• Encourage participants to explore further learning resources, join relevant online communities, or participate in future events.

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

Milestone 1: Team Setup (1 week after funding)

Deliverables:

• Formulated project team responsible for organizing and executing the event.
• Defined event objectives, target audience, and desired outcomes.
• Detailed plan and activities communicated to the team.
• Allocated resources, including budget, venue, and equipment.
• Roles and responsibilities assigned to team members.
• Social media channels created for project promotion.

Outputs:

• Established project team with defined roles and responsibilities.
• Clearly defined event objectives and plan.
• Resource allocation and budget management.
• Communication channels for team coordination.
• Social media channels for project promotion.

Intended Outcomes:

• A well-organized project team ready to execute the event.
• Clarity and alignment among team members regarding project objectives and plan.
• Effective utilization of allocated resources.
• Enhanced visibility and promotion of the project through social media channels.

Milestone 2: Reservations (3 weeks post funding)

Deliverables:

• Event space reservation for in-person event.
• Catering service arrangements.
• Event logistics planning, including equipment and materials.
• Selection of a suitable event date.

Outputs:

• Confirmed venue for the in-person event.
• Catering service secured for event participants.
• Event logistics planned and organized.
• Defined event date that aligns with the target audience's availability.

Intended Outcomes:

• Availability of a suitable venue for the in-person event.
• Provision of necessary amenities and services for event attendees.
• Smooth logistics and operations during the event.
• Maximizing attendance by selecting a convenient event date.

Milestone 3: Event Promotion

Deliverables:

• Comprehensive marketing strategy for event promotion.
• Visually appealing website or landing page with event details.
• Utilization of social media platforms for targeted advertising and promotion.
• Partnerships with educational institutions, student organizations, and local media outlets for increased reach.

Outputs:

• Marketing strategy to raise awareness about the event.
• Visually appealing website or landing page with event information.
• Social media campaigns and targeted advertising for event promotion.
• Partnerships established with relevant entities for broader outreach.

Intended Outcomes:

• Increased awareness and interest in the event among the target audience.
• Effective communication of event details and registration instructions.
• Reach and engagement through social media platforms and targeted advertising.
• Extended reach through partnerships and collaborations.

Milestone 4: Event Execution

Deliverables:

• Smooth event logistics, including registration, venue setup, and equipment.
• Coordination with speakers, ensuring technical requirements are met.
• Active participant engagement and networking during the event.
• Documentation of event through photos and videos for future promotion.

Outputs:

• Well-executed event logistics and operations.
• Prepared and engaged speakers delivering informative sessions.
• Active participation and networking among event attendees.
• Captured photos and videos to document the event.

Intended Outcomes:

• Positive participant experience through seamless logistics and well-prepared speakers.
• Knowledge sharing and networking opportunities among participants.
• Event documentation for future promotion and knowledge sharing.

Milestone 5: Post-Event Activities

Deliverables:

• Collection of feedback through surveys or evaluations from event participants.
• Sharing of event highlights, key takeaways, and presentation materials on the event website or through social media channels.
• Establishment of follow-up communication channels for continued engagement.
• Encouragement of participants to explore further learning resources and join relevant online communities.

Outputs:

• Gathered feedback from event participants.
• Event highlights, key takeaways, and presentation materials shared.
• Established channels for post-event communication and engagement.
• Participants encouraged to further explore Cardano resources and engage in future events.

Intended Outcomes:

• Insightful feedback to assess participant satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
• Continued engagement and communication with event participants.
• Encouragement for participants to further explore and utilize Cardano resources.
• Preparation for future events and initiatives based on participant feedback and engagement.

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

BUDGET ALLOCATION

The budget allocation for this event is pegged to an ADA price between the ranges of 0.2 to 0.25 per ADA coin. Given the current cryptocurrency market atmosphere, anticipate that the price of ADA will be between this prior to the project execution. However, the budget has also been well designed to adjusted align with the price of ADA should it move beyond these range. Based on this premise, our allocated budget amount is 16940 ADA. Here is the breakdown;

Venue/Conference Hall: 1800 ADA

Incentive for Speakers : 1500 ADA

Refreshment for 100 participants: 2000 ADA

T-shirts printing for participants and Team: 3020 ADA

Marketing & Publicity: 2260 ADA

ADA Airdrop for participants: 2800 ADA (28 ADA * 100 participants)

Incentives for Team:

Innocent (Logistics supplies, Team Lead): 1200 ADA

Kingsley (Graphics and IT): 1160 ADA

Nathaniel (Organizer): 1200 ADA

The total proposed budget for the project is the sum of all these components, which amounts to 16,940 ADA.

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

Given the prevailing market prices of the items listed in our budget breakdown, we believe our team has accurately presented a budget consistent with the market prices. In drafting the budget, we were also not oblivious to the fact that the ADA prices fluctuate, hence our budget factored in the changes in the price levels of ADA which is likely to affect the all-overall amount requested. More importantly, the current cryptocurrency market atmosphere has been more bearish in nature in recent months, therefore we designed our budget to in a way that is consistent with the cryptocurrency so as to ensure that we’re able to implement our project irrespective the changes in the price levels of the cardano coin. Nonetheless, we are certain that the value addition of our project outweighs the amount allocated for the proposal. The intrinsic value proposition of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

Adoption and Expansion: By investing in the project, the Cardano ecosystem can promote the adoption and expansion of Cardano in Africa, particularly in Ghana. The project aims to educate and empower existing businesses, making Cardano their preferred choice for blockchain adoption. This increased adoption translates into a larger user base and network effect for Cardano, contributing to its overall growth and long-term sustainability.

Market Penetration: The project's focus on Africa, specifically Ghana, presents an opportunity to penetrate a rapidly growing market. Africa is recognized as a market with immense potential for blockchain technology, and by positioning Cardano as the preferred choice in the region, the project can gain a strong foothold in an untapped market. This market penetration can lead to increased visibility, partnerships, and business opportunities for the Cardano ecosystem.

Ecosystem Development: The project's emphasis on education, training, and fostering collaborations with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions contributes to the development of a robust ecosystem. By investing in the project, the Cardano ecosystem can support the growth and maturation of the blockchain community in Africa. This ecosystem development enhances the network effect, encourages innovation, and creates a supportive environment for businesses and developers to build on Cardano.

 Network Effect: The project's focus on partnerships and collaborations amplifies the network effect of Cardano. By engaging with local businesses, governments, and educational institutions, the project aims to create a network effect where stakeholders contribute to the ecosystem's growth and success. This network effect enhances the value of Cardano as a blockchain network, attracting more users, developers, and investors.

Long-Term Value: Investing in the project demonstrates a commitment to the long-term value and sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem. By supporting education, adoption, and collaboration, the project lays the groundwork for continued growth and success in the African market. The value generated through increased adoption, partnerships, and ecosystem development can have long-lasting positive effects on the Cardano ecosystem's overall value proposition.

[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.