Enhancing Cardano Adoption Through Targeted Industry Conferences and Speaking Engagements

[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)

12

[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. Every conference or speaking engagement we attend, we will share the outputs.

[METADATA] Category of proposal

Events

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution involves leveraging the extensive backgrounds of Nicolas Caridi and Viviek Patel in entrepreneurship, business development, marketing, and blockchain project management to increase Cardano's exposure and adoption in key industry spheres. These include Family Office, investment, government solutions, and more.

We identified the problem of limited exposure of Cardano in these crucial areas as a significant bottleneck to the growth and widespread adoption of the Cardano ecosystem. Our approach is direct and highly impactful – we aim to ensure Cardano is represented in relevant conversations and debates that are shaping the future of blockchain technologies in these spheres.

Nicolas and Viviek will network with key stakeholders at industry conferences, workshops, and speaking events. Their role will be to foster relationships, present Cardano's capabilities, and align its offerings with the needs and goals of these sectors. We chose this approach because these events are often where important decisions are made, partnerships are formed, and innovations are sparked.

Our solution takes a personal, relationship-oriented approach. While other strategies might focus solely on marketing campaigns or technical developments, we believe that the personal factor can drive significant impact and should not be overlooked. At these events, we will network with businesses and connect them to the appropriate entities building on Cardano such as Cardano Foundation, IOG, and other Cardano based businesses.

We'll demonstrate our impact through several key indicators, such as the number of events attended, partnerships formed, leads generated, and measurable increases in Cardano adoption within the targeted industries.

The beneficiaries of our proposal will primarily be the Cardano ecosystem, as increased exposure and adoption directly contribute to its growth and robustness. Moreover, organizations and individuals within the sectors we target will also benefit from understanding and leveraging Cardano's blockchain solutions.

This should be important to Cardano because as a decentralized ecosystem, its growth and success heavily rely on widespread adoption and utilization across various sectors. Our proposal aims to directly contribute to this goal.

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

Our proposal is focused on increasing Cardano's exposure and adoption in sectors such as Family Office, investment, and government solutions. By leveraging our extensive backgrounds and networks, we will put Cardano's capabilities in front of decision-makers and influencers in these sectors, directly contributing to the goal of increased adoption and utilization of Cardano's blockchain solutions.

The benefits to the Cardano ecosystem from this project are threefold:

1.Increased Exposure: By representing Cardano at key industry events, we will ensure that Cardano is part of the conversation in these crucial sectors, enhancing its visibility and credibilit

2. Relationship Building: Our focus on networking will lead to the development of strategic relationships with influential players in these industries, fostering partnerships and collaborations that can spur innovation and growth for Cardano.

3. Adoption: By demonstrating Cardano's capabilities to relevant stakeholders, we aim to drive adoption of Cardano's blockchain solutions within these sectors. This will not only increase the utilization of the Cardano blockchain but also contribute to its ongoing development and robustness.

In terms of quantifying the impact, we estimate that within a year, we could represent Cardano at 10+ industry events, connect with 500+ potential partners or adopters, and help to form at least 10 strategic partnerships combined. These are realistic and conservative estimates based on our previous experiences in similar roles. We also expect a proportional increase in Cardano adoption within these sectors, leading to more transactions on the Cardano blockchain.

Beyond these direct impacts, our project will also contribute to strengthening the Cardano community by bringing in new users and developers from these sectors, further diversifying and enriching the ecosystem. It also addresses a key challenge in the blockchain world - making complex technologies accessible and relevant to traditional sectors. By breaking down barriers and fostering understanding, we aim to facilitate the integration of Cardano into mainstream industries.

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

Number of Events Attended: This is a simple, clear indicator of our presence in the targeted sectors. Our initial goal is to represent Cardano at 1+ industry events within a year.

Connections Made: We will track the number of potential partners or adopters we engage with during these events. We aim to connect with 500+ potential stakeholders in 12 months.

Strategic Partnerships Formed: The formation of strategic partnerships is a strong indicator of successful networking and relationship building. Our target is to help form at least 10 strategic partnerships combined.

In the short term, our actions will result in increased awareness and visibility of Cardano in these crucial sectors. This will be reflected in the number of events attended and connections made. In the long term, we expect to see increased adoption of Cardano's solutions within these sectors, demonstrated by the number of strategic partnerships formed and an increase in Cardano usage within these sectors.

These measures are realistic based on our past experiences and the extensive networks we already have within these sectors. They allow us to track our progress effectively while keeping our focus on our ultimate goal - increasing Cardano's exposure and adoption in key industry spheres.

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

1. Events Blog: After each event, we will compile a report detailing the event's highlights, the major connections made, and potential opportunities for Cardan

2. Connection Excel Document: We want to share the connections we make with the Cardano community. So we will create an excel document with everyone we connect with, their contact info, a description of who they are, and a description of the problem they need solved.

3. Partnership Announcements: Each time a strategic partnership is formed as a result of our efforts, we will coordinate with the involved parties to announce this to the community, thereby showcasing the tangible outcomes of our work.

In terms of utilizing the results for further research and development activities, the insights we gain from our interactions with industry stakeholders will be invaluable. Understanding the needs and challenges of these sectors will help guide the development of new solutions on the Cardano blockchain. Furthermore, the relationships we form will serve as a foundation for future collaborations and partnerships.

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

Nicolas Caridi: Nicolas has an extensive background in multiple industries, including CPG, Payment Processing, Events, and Telecommunications. His previous roles involved managing large-scale projects and forging strategic partnerships, including engagements with US and international government officials. His involvement in the Cardano Ecosystem includes creating the first Ethereum digital collectible with Cardano utility, a decentralized collectible marketplace, and an innovative disruptor to the subscription industry. Nicolas has already self-funded and represented Cardano at over 10 speaking events, demonstrating his commitment and ability to execute this project successfully.

Viviek Patel: Viviek has robust experience in product marketing and project management, especially in the tech startups space. He has worked with Blockchain, IoT, Fintech, and more. He was a product marketer at Unstoppable Domains, where he facilitated the go-to-market launch of various products, including the marketing for digital avatars, which integrated with six blockchains. In recent months, he's worked with seven Cardano-based businesses to scale their marketing efforts and has conducted workshops and speaking events for Cardano at colleges.

In terms of accountability, we understand the importance of transparency and trust when managing community funds. We plan to:

Budgeting: The budget will be used for travel & lodging only. Any food costs we will pay ourselves. This enables us to attend at least 10 conferences

Community AMAs: We believe in the importance of community engagement. We will maintain open channels of communication with the Cardano community, answering questions and connecting people to the network we build..

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

Represent Cardano at Industry Events: Our primary goal is to ensure that Cardano is represented at key industry events in the sectors of Family Office, investment, and government solutions. Our target is to attend at least 10+ such events in a year.

Build Relationships: We aim to connect with 500+ potential partners or adopters from these industries at these events. This is not about quantity but quality. We aim to make meaningful connections that could potentially lead to increased adoption of Cardano's solutions in these sectors.

Form Strategic Partnerships: We aim to help form at least 10 strategic partnerships within these sectors within a year. These partnerships are a strong indicator of successful networking and relationship building and would provide a significant boost to Cardano's presence and utilization in these sectors.

Promote Adoption: Ultimately, our goal is to promote the adoption of Cardano's blockchain solutions in these crucial sectors. This is a more qualitative goal and will be measured through indicators such as the number of partnerships formed, increased transaction volume from these sectors on the Cardano blockchain, and feedback from the organizations we engage with.

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will track our progress against these goals continuously. This involves:

• Keeping a record of the number of events attended and the connections made at these events.
• Tracking the number of strategic partnerships formed as a direct result of our efforts.
• Keeping an eye on transaction volumes from these sectors on the Cardano blockchain to see if there's a noticeable increase.
• Collecting and analyzing feedback from the organizations we engage with to gauge their interest in and adoption of Cardano's solutions.

Given the extensive backgrounds and networks of Nicolas Caridi and Viviek Patel, we are confident in our ability to achieve these goals. 

[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: Identify and Prepare for Industry Events

- Tasks: Research and identify key industry events in the sectors of Family Office, investment, and government solutions. Prepare presentations and materials highlighting Cardano's capabilities for these events.

- Timeline: Month 1

- Success Criteria: Identify at least 10 suitable industry events for attendance.

- Projected Cost: 0 

Milestone 2: Attendance at First Set of Industry Events

- Tasks: Attend the first 5 identified industry events. Engage in networking and relationship building activities at these events. Compile a report detailing the event's highlights, the major connections made, and potential opportunities for Cardano.

- Timeline: Month 2-6

- Success Criteria: Attendance at 5 industry events, connection with at least 250 potential partners or adopters, and at least 5 potential strategic partnerships identified.

- Projected Cost: $6,200 (Travel and accommodation)

Milestone 3: Development of Strategic Partnerships

- Tasks: Follow up with potential partners identified during the first set of events. Work towards forming strategic partnerships with them.

- Timeline: Month 5-7

- Success Criteria: At least 5 strategic partnerships formed.

- Projected Cost: 0 (Follow-up meetings and discussions, legal and administrative costs associated with forming partnerships)

Milestone 4: Attendance of Second Set of Industry Events

- Tasks: Attend the second 5 identified industry events. Engage in networking and relationship building activities at these events. Compile a report detailing the event's highlights, the major connections made, and potential opportunities for Cardano.

- Timeline: Month 7-12

- Success Criteria: Attendance at 5 industry events, connection with at least 250 potential partners or adopters, and at least 5 potential strategic partnerships identified.

- Projected Cost: $6200 (Travel and accommodation)

Milestone 5: Development of Strategic Partnerships

- Tasks: Follow up with potential partners identified during the first set of events. Work towards forming strategic partnerships with them.

- Timeline: Month 9-12

- Success Criteria: At least 5 strategic partnerships formed.

- Projected Cost: 0 (Follow-up meetings and discussions, legal and administrative costs associated with forming partnerships)

We plan to adopt an iterative, relationship-oriented approach to our project. Regular follow-ups and communication will be a key part of our strategy. We will also maintain transparency with the Cardano community through regular updates through our medium blog.

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

Milestone 1: Identify and Prepare for Industry Events

Deliverables: A list of 10 key industry events identified for attendance. Prepared presentations and materials highlighting Cardano's capabilities for these events.

Intended Outcomes: Set the stage for the next stages of the project, with the potential industry events and stakeholders identified and the necessary preparatory work completed.

Measurement: The completion of the list of events and the prepared presentations and materials.

Milestone 2: Attendance at First Set of Industry Events

Deliverables: Medium Blogs detailing the highlights of each event, the connections made, and potential opportunities for Cardano.

Intended Outcomes: Increased exposure for Cardano within these key sectors, the establishment of new connections with potential partners or adopters, and the identification of potential strategic partnerships.

Measurement: Number of events attended, number of potential connections made, and potential partnerships identified.

Milestone 3: Development of Strategic Partnerships

Deliverables: Strategic partnership agreements with the identified potential partners.

Intended Outcomes: Formalized partnerships that contribute to the increased adoption and utilization of Cardano within the targeted sectors.

Measurement: Number of strategic partnerships formed.

Milestone 4: Attendance of Second Set of Industry Events

Deliverables: Reports detailing the highlights of each event, the connections made, and potential opportunities for Cardano.

Intended Outcomes: Further increased exposure for Cardano, the establishment of new connections with potential partners or adopters, and the identification of potential strategic partnerships.

Measurement: Number of events attended, number of potential connections made, and potential partnerships identified.

Milestone 5: Development of Strategic Partnerships

Deliverables: Strategic partnership agreements with the identified potential partners from the second set of industry events.

Intended Outcomes: Additional formalized partnerships that contribute to the increased adoption and utilization of Cardano within the targeted sectors.

Measurement: Number of strategic partnerships formed from the second set of industry events.

Our key tracking measures throughout the project will be the number of events attended, the number of potential connections made, and the number of strategic partnerships formed. These measures will be tracked through the deliverables produced at each milestone, namely the event reports and the strategic partnership agreements.

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

All expenses will go towards covering Travel and accommodation, split evenly between Viviek and Nicolas.

This includes travel fares and hotel accommodation related to attending the 10 identified industry events. We have estimated an average cost of $700 per event, based on previous experiences and industry standards. This does not include food and beverage expenses, which we will cover ourselves. Any other costs we will cover ourselves.

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

The cost of this project represents excellent value for money given the potential benefits and impact it can bring to the Cardano ecosystem. Our budget of $12,500 is mainly dedicated to travel and accommodation for attending industry events. The events we target are pivotal gatherings of decision-makers and influencers in sectors such as Family Office, investment, and government solutions. Being able to represent Cardano and directly engage with these individuals in person will provide invaluable exposure and potential adoption avenues.

Here's how we justify the budget:

Travel and Accommodation: The average cost per event of $700 is based on our past experiences attending such events. This includes a conservative estimate of average flight costs and hotel accommodations.

Given these estimates, we believe the proposed budget offers value for money considering the potential exposure and adoption of Cardano it can generate. The cost of raising awareness, building relationships, and securing partnerships within these industries far outweighs the investment required for our proposal.

[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