Building bridges between Cardano, universities, and the private sector in Chile

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Rodrigo Oyarzun

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

chilestakepo@protonmail.com

Additional applicants

Camilo Chacon Sartori

Ivan Fredes Peñaloza

Media production Team

Rodrigo Oyarzun

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

2

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

Yes

[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

Regional Expansion

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

After years of working on building relationships with institutions in Chile, in 2023, we organized a blockchain course focused on Cardano for the Adolfo Ibáñez University as part of their AI Master's program. The course was highly praised by both the students and the academic leadership, providing us with an excellent opportunity to further engage the students with Cardano technology.

I have noticed that in Chile, there is a focus on blockchain development for enterprise solutions. However, many institutions rely on private EVM networks, which limits scalability and adoption by small and medium-sized businesses seeking to work on the main network. This situation hampers the opportunity to offer solutions that can be adopted by individuals in their personal lives as well as private sector clients.

To address this issue, we are organizing an event at Adolfo Ibáñez University where we will gather various key players from the Chilean ecosystem, including the Ministry of Economy, the Chilean Chamber of Commerce, AUNA Blockchain, the University of Santiago, the University of Chile, the Catholic University, and technical and vocational training centers. The objective of this event is to present the advantages offered by Cardano's decentralized infrastructure. We will emphasize formal methods and highlight the differences between the e-UTXO model and the account model, illustrating how these differences impact businesses when operating on the main network and various networks. Additionally, we will introduce Marlowe as a tool for creating smart contracts.

The event experience will include a guided practical exercise, enabling attendees to create smart contracts using Marlowe. This exercise aims to reduce complexity and facilitate the provision of blockchain-based financial services.

The main goal of this activity is to introduce Cardano to the Chilean ecosystem within a framework of learning and showcasing the advantages it can offer to businesses, while also creating networking opportunities. Our aim is to raise awareness about the benefits of this technology and increase the number of institutions using Cardano in Chile. This can be measured by the number of accounts opened to work on Cardano using Demeter, the number of projects opting to migrate, and, on a more qualitative level, the number of individuals seeking documentation or scheduling future meetings.

Furthermore, we intend to create an audiovisual record of the event that encompasses the entirety of the proceedings, allowing people from all over the world to gain insight into our activities. Additionally, we plan to produce individual videos for each speaker, enabling the sharing of specific topics and providing us with the opportunity to measure viewership.

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

Our proposal is aimed at the Developer Ecosystem Challenge, and with that objective, we have designed an activity that impacts the Chilean ecosystem.

Private companies: We expose the opportunities brought by the e-UTXO model compared to the account-based model, providing an opportunity for these companies to make an informed decision about which platform to build their services on. We have relationships with two large companies that serve the needs of the Chilean Chamber of Commerce, particularly AUNA Blockchain, which provides services to institutions in Latin America. We see an opportunity to generate value by introducing them to Cardano and allowing them to experience a hands-on activity with Marlowe.

Ministries of Education and Economy: These ministries have departments for technological research and innovation and are constantly engaged in activities that present opportunities for government platforms. While we are not submitting a tender with these organizations, we believe it is vital for them to understand the differences between the accounting models and to be aware that our community is another actor in Chile.

Universities and training centers: We want to reach out to all academic institutions and showcase the advantages of Cardano. We invite them to include Cardano as a unit within their blockchain courses at each of their centers. We believe that the experience of witnessing the creation of a smart contract using Marlowe will be advantageous in motivating and encouraging them.

Students: We want to engage with students and familiarize them with Cardano and its benefits. We want to provide them with the opportunity to discover tools like Demeter, enabling them to work on their Cardano projects within minutes. We want them to see how simple it is to create a smart contract using Marlowe.

All of these efforts are aimed at impacting the developer ecosystem in Cardano, whether it's in the private, academic, institutional, or student realm. It is essential to present this technology in a friendly and clear manner so that they understand its accessibility. We are confident that our efforts have a direct impact on the developer ecosystem.

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

We will use the following criteria to measure the success of this project:

1. Conduct the event and have the participation of at least 5 universities.
2. Generate a positive opinion about Cardano's technology from the private sector guests.
3. Identify local stakeholders who are interested in the technology and, based on this identification, develop a strategy for future activities.
4. Utilize audiovisual content distribution platforms and observe indicators such as comments and views.

These criteria will allow us to assess and determine the achievement of our objectives, providing a clear understanding of the project's impact and the necessary measures for its success.

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

The results of the event will be available to the Cardano community in two formats:

1. Audiovisual format of the event, which will be uploaded to YouTube.
2. Written format with the event results, which will be uploaded to GitHub.

All the networking that takes place within this activity will contribute to enriching the collective of individuals and institutions working within the Catalyst community.

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

I have been working on Cardano 24/7 since epoch 211 without rest to maintain network infrastructure as an SPO and offer staking services to the community. In this role, I am in contact with people from different parts of the world and various age ranges. Often, personalized assistance is needed to perform operations such as initiating delegation or managing private information like keys.

Parallel to this, I have a podcast with the best business partner one could have in the world, Sebastian, also known as "El Individuo Digital." Together, we have built a community that spans across Spanish-speaking territories and includes a significant number of migrants who use this technology to support their families, for example. Through our content creation, we have brought projects closer to the community in their own language. We have interviewed over 50 guests, including SPOs from different regions, DEXs, IOG, DcSpark, and Worldmobile, generating a strong networking presence within the Spanish-speaking Cardano community.

In 2022, Sebastian and I traveled to Argentina to cover the Hackathon in Buenos Aires. There, we had the opportunity to meet the Argentine community and the Education team from IOG. We live-streamed the entire weekend, allowing people from different parts of the world to connect with the event in Argentina. Additionally, we produced a mini-series of documentaries showcasing the work done during the Hackathon to the rest of the world.

In 2023, at the Adolfo Ibáñez University, we organized the first blockchain course with a focus on Cardano in Chile, as part of the Master's program in AI. Over 20 participants had the opportunity to learn about the advantages of the eUTxO model and the security of Plutus for developing smart contracts. We also explored how easy it is to use Marlowe with its user-friendly front-end interface.

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

We aim to organize an event in Chile that brings together key players from the blockchain ecosystem. This event will provide a platform to discuss the advantages of Cardano, fostering connections between these actors and the Cardano community.

Additionally, we will facilitate a guided "hands-on" activity, enabling participants to create smart contracts using Marlowe. This interactive experience will showcase the simplicity and security of utilizing Cardano's capabilities.

Furthermore, we plan to introduce students to the Cardano ecosystem by utilizing the Detemer tool. This user-friendly tool will offer a rapid and straightforward introduction to Cardano development, empowering students to explore its potential.

By combining these initiatives, we aspire to create a cohesive and engaging environment, facilitating knowledge exchange, collaboration, and exploration within 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 milestones are divided into stages:

Stage 1

Meeting with

• Adolfo Ibañez University to present the idea. ✅
• Speaker team to present the idea.✅
• IOG education team member to present the idea.✅🛫
• Private sector entities to present the idea.✅
• Quote catering for the event.⏳🍕
• Audiovisual production services.⏳🎥

Stage 2 - Once Catalyst funding is confirmed

Confirm date with:

• Adolfo Ibañez University.⏳
• Speaker team.⏳🛫
• IOG education team.⏳🛫
• Private sector.⏳
• Catering quote.⏳🍕

Promotion campaign by focus:

• Private sector.⏳
• Academic sector.⏳
• Student sector.⏳
• Public sector.⏳
• Purchase airplane tickets for IOG Speaker (Europe - SCL).⏳🛫
• Arrange hotel stay.⏳
• Purchase tickets for Camilo (Europe - SCL).⏳🛫
• Pay for audiovisual production services/catering.⏳🍕🎥

Stage 3

Produce the event.

Deliver audiovisual material, written report.

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

We will create a comprehensive report documenting our experience in organizing an event of this nature, with the intention of contributing to similar initiatives worldwide. The report will include detailed notes, capturing valuable insights and lessons learned throughout the process.

Furthermore, we are committed to actively engaging on social media platforms, leveraging the power of online networks to share our experience and promote the Cardano community. Through regular updates, posts, and engagement, we aim to foster a vibrant and informative online presence.

To enhance accessibility and reach, we will produce audiovisual material showcasing the event and featuring each speaker. This content will be available online, allowing individuals worldwide to learn about Cardano in Spanish and gain insights from our event. By providing this resource, we hope to contribute to the global dissemination of knowledge about Cardano and facilitate its adoption and understanding.

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

The budget is divided as follows. We have provided a simplified explanation to make it easy to understand:

• 12,856 ADA: Lisbon to Santiago flight
• 10,713 ADA: Madrid to Santiago flight
• 16,285 ADA: Venue rental
• 6,427 ADA: Catering
• 3,085 ADA: Hotel (4 days) for the IOG team
• 3,085 ADA: Hotel (4 days) for Camilo
• 12,855 ADA: Audiovisual production
• 12,427 ADA: Project management
• 2,900 ADA: Social media marketing (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, local media)
• 15,400 ADA: Speaker fees
• 3,967 ADA: Souvenirs and extras

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

The project's cost offers excellent value for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Increased Awareness and Adoption: Through the creation of a documentary series highlighting the Cardano community in South America, the project aims to raise awareness and drive adoption of Cardano in the region.
2. Building Trust and Credibility: The documentary series serves as a powerful platform to showcase the transformative potential of Cardano and its positive impact on individuals' lives and communities. This helps build trust and credibility within the Cardano ecosystem.
3. Documentation and Archiving: The project's cost contributes to the documentation and archiving of the stories and experiences of the Cardano community in South America. This preserves valuable knowledge and provides a historical record of the community's growth.
4. Showcasing Diverse Perspectives: By investing in the project, diverse perspectives within the Cardano community can be explored and showcased. This highlights the inclusive nature of the ecosystem and encourages a broader range of individuals to participate.
5. Ripple Effect: The impact of the documentary series extends beyond its immediate reach. It has the potential to inspire and motivate others worldwide, generating a ripple effect of interest and engagement in Cardano.

In summary, the cost of the project represents excellent value for the Cardano ecosystem. It expands awareness, builds trust, documents community stories, showcases diverse perspectives, and generates long-term benefits. The initial investment pales in comparison to the significant outcomes and the resulting growth and adoption of Cardano, making the project a highly valuable endeavor for the 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