dRepWatch - A transparency web platform for dReps

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Patrick Tobler

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

patrick@nmkr.io

Additional applicants

No additional applicants.

[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?

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

Data, Explorers, Trackers

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

TLDR / Summary:

dRepWatch is a proposed web platform addressing transparency, accessibility, engagement, and accountability issues in decentralized systems.

It will allow users to interact directly with dReps, observe their voting behaviour, and access on-chain data about their governance participation.

The platform, inspired by abgeordnetenwatch.de, will be developed by Patrick, founder of NMKR, and his team.

Firstly, the problems we are tackling in more detail:

1. Lack of Transparency: By providing information about dReps' voting records, side tasks, and income from the network, a platform similar to dRepWatch could help increase transparency in the decentralized system. This allows participants to make more informed decisions when voting for or delegating authority to their dReps and to hold these representatives accountable for their actions.
2. Limited Access to dReps: In many decentralized systems, ordinary participants may find it difficult to communicate directly with their elected dReps. A platform like dRepWatch could provide a means for participants to ask questions to their representatives publicly, making dReps more accessible to the community.
3. Low Engagement in Governance: By facilitating direct communication between participants and dReps, a platform like dRepWatch could help increase engagement in the governance of the decentralized system. When participants see that they can directly interact with their representatives, they may be more likely to take an active role in governance.
4. Accountability: The platform would allow participants to publicly ask questions, which means dReps' responses (or lack thereof) are visible to everyone. This public scrutiny can help hold dReps accountable for their positions and promises.
5. Information Asymmetry: During delegation periods, participants often struggle to find reliable and comprehensive information about potential dReps. A platform like dRepWatch could provide a centralized place where participants can find detailed information about dReps, their positions, and their track records.

What does this solution look like?

We will create a web platform called dRepWatch that is similar to abgeordnetenwatch.de.

It will be a platform that allows for easy access to dReps, allowing users to ask questions directly to the dReps and observe their voting behaviour.

dReps will be able to connect their wallets to confirm their on-chain identity and then answer questions asked by community members + fill in more information about them and their general stance on certain topics.

In addition, there will be a focus on easy accessibility of on-chain data about dReps and how they're participating in governance. So, e.g. a way to easily see who voted for what decision.

Who will be working on this proposal?

dRepWatch will be developed by Patrick, founded of NMKR and supported by 1-2 developers of his team.

How will dRepWatch prove impact?

There are key metrics to observe to see the impact of dRepWatch, some of them being

• Amount of dReps that connected their wallets
• Amount of questions asked and answered
• Website Visitors

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

Our proposed solution, dRepWatch, directly addresses the challenge by enhancing transparency, accessibility, and engagement within the Cardano ecosystem. Here's how it aligns with the key metrics:

1. Diversity of dReps: By providing a platform where dReps from various backgrounds can share their views and interact with the community, we encourage diverse participation. The platform will be designed to be inclusive and user-friendly, accommodating dReps with different languages, national origins, occupations, genders, ages, religions, etc.
2. Number of dReps: dRepWatch will make it easier for potential dReps to engage with the community, potentially increasing the number of dReps onboarded. It will provide a centralized place for them to showcase their stances and contributions, attracting more participants to take up the dRep role.
3. Number of Delegates: By making information about dReps easily accessible and understandable, we can help voters make informed decisions, potentially increasing the number of delegates to dReps.
4. Accuracy of Delegate Decisions: dRepWatch will provide comprehensive information about dReps and their voting records, helping delegates make more accurate and informed decisions.
5. Accuracy of dRep Decisions: The platform will also allow dReps to directly answer questions from the community, providing insights into their decision-making processes and increasing the accuracy of their decisions.

By increasing transparency and engagement, we can boost participation rates in Catalyst voting and reduce the number of random votes. By making it easier to understand and evaluate proposals, we can help users who may not be technologically skilled or fluent in English. This solution aligns with the goals of Decentralized Consortium Funding and roadmap approval voting, contributing to a more decentralized and functional Cardano ecosystem.

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

How will dRepWatch measure the success of the project?

There are key metrics to observe to see the impact of dRepWatch, some of them being

• Amount of dReps that connected their wallets
• Amount of questions asked and answered
• Website Visitors

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

Our plan to share the outputs and results of the dRepWatch:

1. Public Website: The primary output of our project, the dRepWatch website, will be publicly accessible. This means that anyone can visit the site to view dRep profiles, voting records, and community interactions.
2. Open Source: We will make the code for dRepWatch open source, allowing anyone to review, contribute to, or adapt the code for their own purposes. This promotes transparency and encourages community involvement in the development and improvement of the platform.
3. Social Media: We will create a Twitter account for dRepWatch to share updates, highlight key findings, and engage with the community. This will provide a channel for us to disseminate information quickly and interactively.
4. Regular Reports: We will also publish regular reports summarizing the activities and trends observed on the platform. These reports will provide insights into the behavior of dReps and the concerns of the community, contributing to a better understanding of the Cardano ecosystem.
5. Community Engagement: We will actively seek feedback from the community and incorporate it into our ongoing development efforts. This could involve hosting AMAs (Ask Me Anything sessions), conducting user surveys, or participating in community forums.

By sharing our outputs and results in these ways, we aim to maximize the impact of our project and foster a more transparent and engaged Cardano community.

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

Our ability to deliver the dRepWatch project with high levels of trust and accountability is solidly grounded in the strong track record of our organization, NMKR, and its founder, Patrick Tobler.

As a leading NFT Creation, Minting & Trading Infrastructure provider on the Cardano blockchain, we have a proven history of delivering robust and reliable solutions. We've minted over 2 million NFTs and have worked with high-profile clients, including celebrities like Martin Lawrence and foundational entities of the Cardano Blockchain: IOHK (IOG), Emurgo, and the Cardano Foundation.

Our founder, Patrick Tobler, brings extensive experience in blockchain technology and a deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem. His leadership and expertise are instrumental in our operations and project execution.

Furthermore, we are committed to developing the project with transparency and community engagement at the forefront. We plan to share regular updates on our progress and actively seek feedback from the community.

The combination of our technical expertise at NMKR and our commitment to transparency and community engagement gives us a strong capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability.

[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 dRepWatch project are to increase transparency, accessibility, and engagement within the Cardano ecosystem, and to address information asymmetry.

We aim to onboard diverse dReps and increase the number of careful voters. We will validate our approach by monitoring key metrics such as the diversity and number of dReps onboarded, the number of delegates, and the accuracy of delegate and dRep decisions.

We'll also seek continuous feedback from the community.

[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.

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Design (1-2 months)

• Task 1.1: Define project scope and requirements
• Task 1.2: Design user interface and experience for the dRepWatch platform
• Task 1.3: Develop a detailed project plan and timeline

Milestone 2: Development of Core Features (2-3 months)

• Task 2.1: Set up the basic infrastructure for the dRepWatch platform
• Task 2.2: Develop features for viewing dRep profiles and voting records
• Task 2.3: Implement functionality for users to ask questions to dReps

Milestone 3: Integration and Testing (1-2 months)

• Task 3.1: Integrate dRepWatch with the Cardano blockchain
• Task 3.2: Conduct thorough testing to ensure all features work as expected
• Task 3.3: Fix any identified bugs or issues

Milestone 4: Launch and Community Engagement (1 month)

• Task 4.1: Launch the dRepWatch platform to the public
• Task 4.2: Promote the platform through social media and other channels
• Task 4.3: Collect and incorporate feedback from the community

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Design

• Deliverables: Project plan, design mockups for the dRepWatch platform
• Outputs: A detailed project scope and requirements document, user interface and experience designs
• Intended Outcomes: A clear roadmap for the development of the dRepWatch platform, with designs that meet the needs of the users

Milestone 2: Development of Core Features

• Deliverables: Working version of the dRepWatch platform with core features
• Outputs: Code for viewing dRep profiles and voting records, functionality for users to ask questions to dReps
• Intended Outcomes: A functional platform that allows users to interact with dReps and view their voting records

Milestone 3: Integration and Testing

• Deliverables: Fully integrated and tested version of the dRepWatch platform
• Outputs: Code integrating the platform with the Cardano blockchain, testing reports
• Intended Outcomes: A reliable and robust platform that works seamlessly with the Cardano blockchain

Milestone 4: Launch and Community Engagement

• Deliverables: Publicly accessible dRepWatch platform, promotional materials
• Outputs: A live platform, social media posts and other promotional content
• Intended Outcomes: Increased awareness and usage of the dRepWatch platform, initial user feedback

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

Project Planning and Design: 50,000 ADA

• Requirements Gathering: 10,000 ADA
• User Interface and Experience Design: 20,000 ADA
• Project Management: 20,000 ADA

Development of Core Features: 130,000 ADA

• Backend Development (Blockchain integration, database setup): 50,000 ADA
• Frontend Development (User interface implementation): 40,000 ADA
• Quality Assurance: 10,000 ADA

Integration and Testing: 40,000 ADA

• Integration with Cardano Blockchain: 20,000 ADA
• Testing and Bug Fixing: 20,000 ADA

Launch and Community Engagement: 30,000 ADA

• Marketing and Promotion: 15,000 ADA
• Community Management and Support: 15,000 ADA

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

1. Increased Transparency and Accountability: By providing a platform for direct interaction between dReps and the community, and making voting records and other key information easily accessible, dRepWatch will significantly increase transparency and accountability within the Cardano ecosystem.
2. Enhanced Community Engagement: The platform will facilitate greater community engagement by making it easier for users to participate in governance, ask questions to dReps, and make informed decisions.
3. Support for Diverse Participation: By providing a platform that accommodates dReps from various backgrounds, dRepWatch will help promote diversity within the Cardano ecosystem, which is key to its decentralization and resilience.
4. Expertise and Track Record: The project will be led by Patrick Tobler and the NMKR team, who have a strong track record in the Cardano ecosystem, ensuring that the funds are used effectively and the project is delivered successfully.

[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