Empowering Student Entrepreneurship through Cardano-focused Innovation Pitch Program at Mizzou

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Viviek Patel

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

thedegencreator@gmail.com

Additional applicants

Nicolas Caridi

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

6

[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?

Yes

[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?

Yes

[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

Incubation

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge of diversifying and expanding the Cardano ecosystem. By tapping into the underutilized potential of the student community, we are essentially introducing a fresh pool of talent, ideas, and resources into the ecosystem. The benefits of our solution to the Cardano ecosystem are:

1. Creation of Cardano-based businesses: The program's primary output will be the generation of innovative, scalable businesses that operate on the Cardano blockchain.

2. Expansion of the Cardano community: Our program will expose a large number of students to Cardano. While not every participant will launch a successful business, they will nevertheless gain a deep understanding of Cardano's benefits and potential. This knowledge may manifest in various ways - perhaps as future projects, collaborations, or simply as advocacy for Cardano in their networks.

3. Increased adoption of Cardano: The new businesses developed through our program will not only use Cardano themselves but will likely foster its adoption among their respective user bases. The scale of this impact will depend on the nature and success of the businesses, but it represents a strong potential for growth in Cardano's user base.

4. Reinforcement of Cardano's innovative image: By actively fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among a young, technologically savvy demographic, we will contribute to reinforcing Cardano's image as a progressive, forward-thinking blockchain solution. 

It's difficult to precisely quantify the impact, as it greatly depends on the businesses that emerge from the program and their subsequent success. However, assuming an average of 15 participants per university and 10 universities participating, we could potentially introduce around 150 new entrepreneurs to Cardano in the initial phase of the program alone. With successful businesses, the ripple effect in terms of user adoption could be significantly larger. Moreover, the longer-term impact, in terms of students continuing to engage with Cardano beyond the program, should not be underestimated.

This proposal doesn't fit into any other challenge. The closest one is Startups and onboarding students. However, this category is limited to students filling out the challenge. Also, because this is a pilot pitch program, we believe Catalyst open would be the best fit. This will enable us to violate the idea and expand to other schools.

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

1.Creation of Cardano-based businesses: The program's primary output will be the generation of innovative, scalable businesses that operate on the Cardano blockchain.

2. Expansion of the Cardano community: Our program will expose a large number of students to Cardano. While not every participant will launch a successful business, they will nevertheless gain a deep understanding of Cardano's benefits and potential. This knowledge may manifest in various ways - perhaps as future projects, collaborations, or simply as advocacy for Cardano in their networks.

3. Increased adoption of Cardano: The new businesses developed through our program will not only use Cardano themselves but will likely foster its adoption among their respective user bases. The scale of this impact will depend on the nature and success of the businesses, but it represents a strong potential for growth in Cardano's user base.

4. Reinforcement of Cardano's innovative image: By actively fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among a young, technologically savvy demographic, we will contribute to reinforcing Cardano's image as a progressive, forward-thinking blockchain solution. 

It's difficult to precisely quantify the impact, as it greatly depends on the businesses that emerge from the program and their subsequent success. With successful businesses, the ripple effect in terms of user adoption could be significantly larger. Moreover, the longer-term impact, in terms of students continuing to engage with Cardano beyond the program, should not be underestimated.

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

Number of participating students: This basic yet vital metric will reflect the level of interest and engagement. We anticipate students across various faculties showing interest due to the broad application of blockchain.

Number of Cardano-based business ideas developed: While the main goal isn't necessarily to launch fully-fledged businesses, we aim for the program to be a catalyst for generating feasible and innovative Cardano-based business ideas.

Quality and viability of the ideas presented: The final pitch competition will give us a quantitative measure of the quality of ideas produced during the program. Judges will consider the viability, scalability, and the potential of these ideas to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem.

Post-program engagement with Cardano: An integral part of our program's impact is fostering a sustained interest in Cardano and blockchain technology among students. We'll track this by following up with participants after the program and measuring ongoing engagement, such as participation in Cardano community events or further development of their ideas.

Participant feedback and learning outcome: We will conduct surveys to measure the increase in knowledge and understanding of Cardano and blockchain technology among participants. Additionally, feedback gathered from students throughout the program will provide insights into the effectiveness of our teaching methods, content, and the overall program structure.

Interest from other universities: A measure of success will be the program's adaptability and appeal to other universities. This could be measured through inquiries or requests for collaboration, indicating the program's wider potential.

In the short term, this program is expected to contribute to Cardano's growth by fostering a deeper understanding and interest in Cardano among a younger, tech-savvy demographic. In the long term, the knowledge and skills gained by the students will potentially see them becoming contributors to the Cardano ecosystem in various ways, whether as developers, entrepreneurs, or advocates, thereby enhancing the vitality of the Cardano community. These measures align with our focus on the educational aspect and the cultivation of a future generation of Cardano innovators.

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

1. Project Blog and Social Media: The project's blog will serve as the main hub for sharing updates and result

2. Partnerships with Universities: We plan to share the results and impact of the project with partnering universities and look forward to expanding this initiative to other academic institutions. 

3. Cardano Community and Blockchain Industry: We will engage with the Cardano community and the wider blockchain industry. The goal is to raise awareness about the project's outputs, potentially sparking similar initiatives and collaborations.

4. Media Outreach: We plan to reach out tol media outlets, as well as relevant technology and education publications, to share the program's outcomes and the success stories of the participating students.

5. Student-led Dissemination: Participating students will be encouraged to share their learning journey, the projects they develop, and their experiences with their peers and on their personal social media platforms. This will help further spread the word and inspire more students to engage with Cardano and blockchain technology.

As for using the results generated from the project in further research and development activities, the feedback and data collected will be used to refine and improve future iterations of the program. The business ideas generated through the program can also inform the areas of interest and potential gaps in the application of Cardano in various industries, which could inspire future research or development initiatives. 

Moreover, we will create case studies from successful projects, which can serve as valuable educational and promotional resources for the wider Cardano community. These case studies can provide insights into how Cardano's technology can be applied in different contexts, encouraging others to develop their own innovative solutions on the Cardano platform.

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

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability due to our extensive connections with universities across the U.S., our deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem, and our track record in the Web3 space.

1.University Connections: We have strong relationships with university leaders across the U.S., which will be crucial in implementing the program effectivel

2.On-the-Ground Support: We will be working closely with university professors who will oversee the implementation of the program from within the institution

3.Team Expertise: Nicolas and Viviek have been building full-time in the Web3 and Cardano ecosystems for over 2 year

In conclusion, our team's strong connections, on-the-ground support, and in-depth expertise demonstrate our capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We are excited about this opportunity and confident in our ability to execute this program to the highest standard.

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

1. Educate and Engage Students: Provide education and immersion in Cardano and the broader blockchain space to students from University of Missour

2. Foster Innovation: Assist in the creation of viable, scalable business ideas that leverage the Cardano ecosystem. These will be the ideas that make it to the final pitch competition. The success of this goal can be validated by the innovative solutions presented and the potential impact they have on the Cardano ecosystem.

3. Expand Cardano Ecosystem: Contribute to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem by adding student ventures that integrate with Cardano (the winners of our pitch competition). Every year there will be a new set of students attending the University; therefore, there will always be a pool of newcomers that have no blockchain experience that may build through this pitch program. 

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will lean on our extensive connections within universities and our deep understanding of the Cardano and blockchain ecosystems. We will engage university professors and builders on Cardano in our program to provide the necessary support and mentorship to the students. 

We will also leverage existing resources and tools within the Cardano community for educational and developmental purposes. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions with participating students will help us identify and address any challenges early on, ensuring the success of our program.

Our project is not primarily technical or software development-oriented but is more educational and entrepreneurial in nature. However, we do anticipate that some of the ventures developed through our program may involve technical development. In such cases, we will connect students with technical mentors within the Cardano community to provide guidance.

By setting these clear, measurable goals, and having mechanisms to validate our approach, we believe we can successfully achieve our project objectives and make a significant contribution 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.

Our project will be implemented in four main stages with the total budget being 75k ADA:

1. Program Design and University Collaboration (1 Month, 3k ADA): We will design the program's curriculum and structure with 2 professors at the University of Missouri and Cardano Leaders focused on educating the public, focusing on providing students with a comprehensive understanding of Cardano and the tools to create their own Cardano-based businesse

    Key Tasks: 

    - Curriculum development

    - Securing university collaboration

    - Establishing connections with potential mentors

2. Program Launch and Student Recruitment (1 Month, 7k ADA): We will launch the program across our partner universities, conduct marketing and promotional activities to attract student participants. We aim to recruit at least 100 students.

    Key Tasks: 

    - Marketing and promotional activities

    - Student recruitment

3. Pitch Preparation and Competition (2 Months, 7k ADA): We will conduct the three Cardano crash courses and guide students through the application process, business model development, and pitch preparation. The pitch competition will take place at the end of this period, resulting in 10 finalist teams.

    Key Tasks: 

    - Conducting crash courses

    - Mentoring students in application and business model development

    - Organizing and conducting pitch competition

4. Education Program and Final Pitch Competition (3 Months, 55k ADA): The 10 finalist teams will participate in our intensive education program, receiving mentoring from entrepreneurial leaders, developers, marketers, and other experts. The program will culminate in the final pitch competition, where seed funding will be awarded to the top two teams and a community favorite.

    Key Tasks: 

    - Conducting the education program

    - Mentoring finalist teams

    - Organizing and conducting the final pitch competition

    - Awarding seed funding: 

        - 1st place - $8500 (at current value of 30k ADA)

        - 2nd place - $4200 (at current value of 15k ADA)

        - Cardano community favorite - $2800(total) (at current value of 10k ADA)

This gives us a total budget of 75k ADA. Please note that these are estimated costs and the actual costs may vary slightly. We will ensure that all funds are managed transparently and responsibly, with regular updates to the Cardano community on our progress.

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

1. Program Design and University Collaboration:

    - Deliverables: A comprehensive curriculum designed for the education program, a collaboration agreement with universities, a network of mentors.

    - Outcomes: A detailed, structured program curriculum and secured partnerships with universities. 

    - Measurements: We will track progress through the completion of the curriculum, signed agreements with universities, and secured commitments from mentors. 

2. Program Launch and Student Recruitment:

    - Deliverables: A successful program launch, a diverse pool of student participants, and engagement with the program.

    - Outcomes: Active participation from students across partner universities, evidenced by their engagement in the program's activities. 

    - Measurements: We will measure this through the number of registered students and their active engagement in the program's activities, such as attending the crash courses.

3. Pitch Preparation and Competition

    - Deliverables: Successful completion of the crash courses, student business proposals, and the selection of 10 finalist teams.

    - Outcomes: Student teams with a solid understanding of Cardano and viable business proposals based on the Cardano platform.

    - Measurements: We will track progress through the number of completed business proposals and the selection of 10 finalist teams.

4. Education Program and Final Pitch Competition

    - Deliverables: Completion of the education program, successful final pitch competition, and the awarding of seed funding.

    - Outcomes: Finalist teams equipped with the knowledge and resources to start their own Cardano-based businesses. 

    - Measurements: We will measure this through the number of teams that complete the education program, their performance in the final pitch competition, and the successful distribution of seed funding.

Through these milestones, we aim to inspire and educate a new generation of Cardano entrepreneurs. We believe that our project will not only benefit the participating students but also the wider Cardano ecosystem by fostering innovation and growth.

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

1. Program Design and University Collaboration (4k ADA): This will be spent on curriculum development and establishing partnerships with universitie

2. Program Launch and Student Recruitment (9k ADA): This will cover marketing, promotional activities, and outreach initiatives to attract student participants. This will include the cost of creating promotional materials, digital advertising, and event organization costs.

3. Pitch Preparation and Competition (7k ADA): This includes the cost of organizing and conducting the three Cardano crash courses and the initial pitch competition. We will also allocate some funds for mentorship sessions during this phase.

4. Education Program and Final Pitch Competition (55k ADA): This budget will cover the prizes for the pitch program for the 10 finalist teams. 55k will be allocated for the final prize pool (30k ADA for the 1st place, 15k ADA for the 2nd place, and 10k ADA for the audience favorite).

Additionally, our team members, Nicolas and Viviek, will be leveraging their existing knowledge and skills to handle the majority of the curriculum development, program management, and mentorship roles. Therefore, we have not included any costs for hiring additional personnel.

We believe that this budget will be sufficient to achieve our project's goals. We're committed to being transparent and responsible in managing the funds provided. We will maintain a detailed record of all expenditures and provide regular updates to the Cardano community on our progress.

In case of any unforeseen expenses, our team is prepared to contribute personal resources to ensure the project's success. We are fully committed to this project and its potential to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

The cost of the project, at 75k ADA, represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem. This is because our initiative aims to not just educate students about Cardano but also foster a new generation of entrepreneurs who will build upon the Cardano blockchain. 

1.Creating Future Builders: By investing in the education of students and facilitating their entrepreneurial efforts on Cardano, we're empowering the next generation of Cardano builder

2.Long-term Growth: The prize pool, which forms the largest part of our budget, is directly injected back into the Cardano ecosystem as it will be utilized by winning teams to develop their Cardano-based businesse

3.Promoting Cardano: With the visibility of the competition across universities, we are not only attracting student participants but also raising awareness and knowledge of Cardano amongst a wider student body and academi

The costs associated with running the program have been estimated based on the typical costs of organizing such initiatives, including promotional costs, logistics, organization of pitch competitions, and creation of educational content.

The team's expertise and connections in the space significantly reduce potential overhead costs. Both Nicolas and Viveik will handle the bulk of program management and mentorship roles, leveraging their skills and experience in the Cardano and Web3 ecosystem. This allows us to maximize the use of the budget towards direct project activities and the prize pool.

In conclusion, every ADA spent in this initiative is an investment into the future of the Cardano ecosystem, nurturing new talents and businesses that will drive the ecosystem forward. The potential long-term impact significantly outweighs the initial cost, representing excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem.

[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