Investor & Tech conference: Connect investors with Cardano start-ups as well as connect Cardano tech with successful Web2 startups.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Bridgebuilders

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

info@bridgebuilders.io

Additional applicants

Nori Nishigaya

Felix Weber

Juliane Montag 

Dean Taylor 

Yoram Ben Zvi

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

5

[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.”

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

Other

[METADATA] SDG rating

This proposal cover many of the SDG goals as per the conference agenda, Cardano ecosystem, and growing investors interest in those areas

3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Collaborating with a leading investor & tech conference www.noah-conference.com, to make Cardano visible for all: educate the participants, connect between Cardano startups and investors and between funded startups and Cardano based technology.

About Noah Conference:

You can find information about Noah at the following website: https://www.noah-conference.com/

I would like to point forward the following links:

• About the conference: https://www.noah-conference.com/noah-zurich-conference-2023/
• Why the partner with Noah: https://www.noah-conference.com/for-corporates/#contact

For the first 11 years the conference was focused on connecting technology companies and investors and was established as one of the leading matchmaking investor conferences. In the last two years the conference has been focusing on sustainability with the key objective being to fund sustainable tech solutions and empower collaboration within the natural capital ecosystem.

Cardano blockchain technology comes hand in hand with sustainability and Impact is a key element of the Cardano philosophy. The first sentence at cardano.org is “making the world better for all” and you can see this line in practically every video of Mr. Charles Hoskinson as well as many of the Cardano ecosystem activities. 

There is a great match between sustainability projects and the technology infrastructure on Cardano that provides transparency, traceability and trust through offering solutions around tokenization, DID, smart contracts, Defi, NFT and open Ledger.  

 

We can already see startups in the ecosystem focusing on sustainability such as 

• https://empowa.io/
• https://worldmobiletoken.com/
• https://openlittermap.com/
• https://digifarm.io/
• https://www.landano.io/
• https://algaetoken.com/
• World Mobile Token | Own and earn WMT

to name a few. 

About Bridge Builders 

Bridge Builders is an aligned team of highly engaged and committed Catalyst Community members coming together as a community driven Assembly to provide value to their environment through building bridges to corporates and investors. 

We sensor and identify gaps within the ecosystem to co design and initiate required solutions. Bridgebuilders already created a bridge between many companies and the Cardano ecosystem including Ledger, Goodwall, Seedstars, Digifarm to name a few. 

Many of the Cardano/catalyst projects, mainly bootstrapping, need support with investor & business development mentorship and channels. 

In Fund 10 we have therefore presented 5 proposal covering different gaps that we have identified

• Fundraising support: Helping companies to create investor pitch decks and have a pitch event to venture investors 
• Venture capital dealflow: Preparing a deal flow of companies to connect to investors
• Investor Conference: Promoting the ecosystem in a leading investors & tech conference 
• Connecting tech 2 business: Supporting companies with business development activities
• Cyber security & Cardano: A collaboration with a leading cyber security company with the goal to make the ecosystem more attractive to corporates and investors   

We look forward to continue collaborating with the community and try to fill up some of the gaps we see to promote the Cardano ecosystem

The Bridgebuilders team has already participated in the conference in 2022, self sponsored and here is a summary of the meetings we had:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MWYuN8_f9V4yqki3-ssQR3BLQ2QqZR0vlWjus3O8pDo/edit?usp=sharing 

As you can see, the amount and level of meetings was impressive and some contacts are progressing further discussions for collaboration. Blockchain solutions were still limited at last year's event and it is a great opportunity for the Cardano ecosystem to stand out.

  

This year we would like to come even more ready and create a strong connection and impact for the ecosystem.

The aim of this proposal:

• Connect technology startups from the Cardano ecosystem to the ecosystem of investors and change makers
• Connect the Cardano technology to growing sustainability startups that have funding and can implement the Cardano technology to scale/improve their work
• Coordinate collaboration between CF and Noah for the benefit of the ecosystem (already initiated discussions with CF)
• Education - provide links to educational materials and reports re Cardano & sustainability, and how one can learn more about the ecosystem. Explain why Cardano is the place for sustainable projects and impact investors.

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

This proposal is in line with the challenge as it does not fit to any of the other challenges (How do we create a space for ideas and projects that do not fit any of the other current Challenges?)

This proposal aims to impact the Cardano ecosystem through connecting to investors and potential clients that are not yet on Cardano. We will help to create awareness, education and adoption which is fully aligned with Cardano Foundation 2023 goals. This proposal will support exposure of Cardano to 100s of leading investors and technology startups.

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

• Awareness: 
• This will be measured by the number of participants that will receive information about Cardano and that will request more information. 
• Number of people from the community joining Bridgebuilders Discord and Telegram groups. 
• Connections
• Bridgebuilders will facilitate the connections/match between companies and Noah conferences participants (investors & potential clients) and we will be able to follow on:
• How many companies were connected to how many investors.
• How many companies were connected to how many potential clients 
• How many discussions for collaboration 
• Feedback form to be filed by the Cardano companies.
• Feedback from to be field by the Noah conference organisers & selected participants     

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

All project deliverables will be available to the community through the milestone reporting. We will also perform community sessions in Swarm, after town hall and Cardano4climate, community meetings. The community will be able to follow the communication around the conference and join the efforts around the event. A detailed summary report will be provided post conference.  

Finally, the team is well known in the community and very accessible. Our goal is to provide ongoing business development activities to contribute to the growth of the ecosystem. 

Per request of the Cardano related companies we are supporting, some information might stay private.

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

The Bridgebuilder team is active on the Cardano community and Ecosystem for over 2 years, including on project Catalyst. The team has a strong track record of contributing to the community and successfully completing funded projects. This specific proposal is highly related to the core activities of the team and as much as possible & efforts to support the community with the conference will be done even if the proposal is not funded.

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

Main Goals:

• Awareness: We want everyone at Noah conference to hear about Cardano and get curious to hear more. 
• Connections: 
• Cardano companies connect with investors
• Cardano companies connect with potential clients 
• Concrete discussions for collaboration 
• Feedback form to be filed by the Cardano companies
• Feedback from the Noah conference organisers & selected participants     

[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.

Current work

The coordination for the conference already started and we are in contact with Marco Rodzynek the founder of Noah conference: 

• Connect Noah team with CF partnership team to evaluate collaboration 
• Connect between Noah and with ventures building on Cardano that wish to participate and present (examples: goodwall.io, digifarm.io)
• We are in contact and ongoing discussions with some of the participants from last year interested in collaboration   

This work will continue even if the project will not get funded.

The work for this proposal

• Phase 1: Mid September - Mid October - spread the word to the community
• Reach out to the Cardano ecosystem (through Town Halls, Cardano Ambassadors, key Youtubers) and see who is interested in the opportunity
• Have at least two community sessions to provide further information.
• Prepare a questionnaire that every interested company will fill up mentioning key solutions/services and key needs for partnership and funding
• We will understand who is interested to be present in person at the event
• Put together links for educational materials about Cardano & sustainability. Explain why Cardano is the place for sustainable projects and impact investors.
• Open a discord channel for communication    

• Phase 2: Month of October - November - preparation for the conference
• Finetune the information requested from the companies
• Prepare a doc/ Catalog with all the companies and services
• Coordinate with Noah & CF & interested Companies the best opportunity to have visibility at the conference, Some options includes:
• A newsletter pre conference
• A dedicated Cardano/blockchain event at the conference
• Direct relevant intros and connections
• Share educational materials about Cardano & sustainability 

• Phase 3: Month of December
• The conference will take place in Zurich
• Set meetings for the conference.
• Prepare sessions / presentations.

• Phase 4: Month of January 2024
• Follow Ups
• Feedback and summary report 

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

Deliverables:

• At least two community sessions will be recorded and available for the community to review.
• Reach out to the community through town halls, Ambassadors and youtubers will be visible for the community.
• Companies database
• Questioner and prepare Database 
• Maintenance over the period of the proposal 
• Preparation of a presentation/catalogue to share with conference participants 
• Summary of feedback and results will be available post event
• Create and maintain communication with companies and discord server 

KPI 

• Collaboration with the Cardano community: 
• Collaboration with 20 - 40 ecosystem companies that will be part of the database.
• Promotion of the Cardano community
• Get the database to over 100 relevant participants. 
• Around 50 relevant connections between participants at the conference and Cardano ecosystem
• Aim for at least 20 concrete connections to discuss investment or collaboration 

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

Pre phase 1 - contribution to the community

Budget for this proposal:

The proposal will be led by a team of three from the Bridge Builders and have support from the rest of the team as needed.

Estimated hour required per week:

September

• Project lead – 4 hours/week for two weeks = 8 hours
• Project support team – 0
• Community and communication/ setting = 0 hours 

Total = 8 hours

October

• Project lead – 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours
• Project support team – 2 hours/week for four weeks = 8 hours
• Community and communication - 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours

Total = 40 hours

November

• Project lead – 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours
• Project support team – 2 hours/week for four weeks = 8 hours
• Community and communication - 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours

 

Total = 40 hours

December

• Project lead – 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours
• Project support team – 4 hours/week for three weeks = 12 hours
• Community and communication - 4 hours/week for four weeks = 16 hours

Total = 44 hours

January

• Project lead – 2 hours/week for four weeks = 8 hours
• Project support team – 2 hours/week for four weeks = 8 hours
• Community and communication - 2 hours/week for four weeks = 8 hours

Total = 24 hours

.

Total Hours: 156

Hourly rate: ₳ 300 

Total cost: ₳ 46,800 

  

Conference cost:

Conference registration ₳ 2100 (640 Franc Swiss/0.3) x 2 = ₳ 4200 

Travel: ₳ 650 (200 Franc Swiss) x 2 = ₳ 1300 

Hotel for 1 nights: ₳ 500 (150 Franc Swiss) x 2 rooms = ₳ 300

Total conference cost: ₳ 5,800 

Promotion budget to get the most visibility pre and during the conference: ₳ 5,000

Admin, Reporting, Others ₳ 4,000 

Total proposal cost: ₳ 61,600  

($18,480 in time of proposal submission, $3,695/month for all team members)

Promotion and services budget:

Based on negotiation with Noah we might be able to negotiate discounted rates if many companies would like to attend. We might in addition be required to add some more funds in case a private room will be allocated to Cardano or other promotion. We will request some participation in ₳ from the companies that will be promoted and it will also show the interest by the company. We estimate a range between ₳ 100 to ₳ 500.

Other budget consideration:

The proposal is based on an ₳ price of 0.3 USD. In case the ₳ price will go up above 0.3 USD, we will use the access funding in promotion activities for the event.

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

Business development activities to connect with clients and investors is very costly and time consuming. Companies spend significant budgets in human resource, promotional activities and tradeshows. Technology based companies might not have experienced team members to support the go to market and investment strategy. 

In addition to that, there is also a barrier of knowledge for investors and potential clients regarding web 3 and Cardano.

 

By making a concentrated effort we will be able to have a strong impact on the Cardano ecosystem in one of the most prestigious investment and tech conferences in Europe, with a fraction of the cost if each company should do it separately. 

Overall the budget considered is around 3% of the challenge budget which gives opportunity to many other proposals to get funded. 

[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