Catalyst4Carbon: A Gamified Mobile App Encouraging Reduction of Personal Carbon Footprints Through the Cardano Ecosystem.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Donald Isufi

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

donaldisufi9@gmail.com

Additional applicants

Burak Sen

buraksenb@gmail.com

Umut Guler

umtglr1121@gmail.com

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

7

[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

Gaming

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG goals:

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

SDG subgoals:

Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

The solution we propose is a mobile app, "Catalyst4Carbon". This app will address climate change by focusing on individual engagement and incentives. Most people are aware of the fact that climate change poses very significant challenge for our planet, however, most of them feel powerless and don’t know how they may contribute on solving this problem. Our app aims to change this narrative by engaging individuals in a gamified the process that will help them calculate and reduce their carbon footprint.

The game we propose is simple and powerful at the same time. Users will be asked to self-report their daily, weekly, and monthly activities, for example what transportation methods did they use and how long was the distance they covered, did they consume any meat today, how much water did they use, what was the electrical bill they paid this month etc. Based on these data, the app will calculate the user's carbon footprint.

Our gamification strategy is:

At the end of each cycle (30 days), if the carbon footprint of the user is below a predetermined threshold, they will be awarded game tokens which can be used to purchase different forest elements such as trees and animals to populate their virtual forest. This feature will add a visual element to the game and will help keep users engaged in terms of their carbon reduction achievements.

On the other hand, if a user's carbon footprint is above the predetermined threshold, their virtual forest will suffers some consequences. For example, some trees in their forest may rot or some animals may disappear, and no game tokens will be awarded for that cycle. We believe that this visual effect will act as a powerful motivator for users to be more responsible in reducing their carbon footprint the next cycle.

Moreover, the app will allows users to purchase additional game tokens with ADA. This feature is intended more for users whose carbon footprint exceeds the threshold, so that by purchasing additional game tokens with ADA they will prevent their forest from perishing. All the ADA gathered from these transactions will be donated to environmental organizations at the end of each cycle.

With "Catalyst4Carbon", we intend reach and engage a broad range of users. We believe that this app will get attention from individuals who are concerned about climate change and want to do something about it, people who are enthusiastic about blockchain technology, and people who enjoy gamified apps. By intertwining individual carbon footprint reduction with a simple, fun game and a real-world positive outcome, we hope to inspire users to take more responsibility for their personal carbon emissions

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

The solution we propose directly addresses the challenge of climate change . The "Catalyst4Carbon" bring awareness to the climate change problem in terms of what an individual can do to be part of the solution and it gives the users the opportunity to be part of a fun and engaging game while helping them reduce carbon footprint.

The benefits that our project brings to the Cardano Ecosystem are:

• Community Growth: our app will attract new users, mostly people who are interested in climate change. All of the new users will have to interact with the Cardano blockchain hence the number of interactions and adaptations will increase.

• New Use Case for ADA: ADA integration in a key part our gamification strategy, thus it makes ADA have an additional use case.

• Positive Impact on Environment: Our app aims to encourage users to reduce their carbon footprint and at the same time it makes real-world contribution to environmental causes through ADA donations.

Within the first year, we expect the “Catalyst4Carbon” app to reach thousands of downloads. In addition to contributing to the fight against the climate change, these users will also engage with the Cardano Ecosystem, hence it will help expand Cardano’s reach and impact.

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

The key indicators that will help measure the success of our project are:

1. The total number of users who download our app, how often do these users interact with our app, and the how healthy are their virtual forests.
2. The quantity of ADA tokens used for maintaining virtual forests, and then donated to environmental organizations.
3. The number of users who succeed on lowering their carbon footprint overtime.
4. Feedback from our users on what we can do to make their experience in the app better.

In the short term, by following this metrics we will be able to track the impact that our app has had. In the long term, as more users download the app, we intend to measure the success of the project by the overall decrease in carbon footprint and the quantity of ADA tokens donated to environmental organizations.

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

• Open Source Repository: We intend to make our application's code publicly available on GitHub. We welcome constructive feedback from other developers.

• Progress Updates: we will post regular updates on development progress in Cardano Forum.

• Social Media Engagement: We plan to be fairly active in platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for announcing our project updates.

• Community Interaction: We intend to be very active on the Cardano Discord and Telegram channels for communicating with community members directly.

• Success Metrics: When the app becomes operational, key performance indicators of our app (downloads, user engagement, and ADA donations) will be posted regularly on our website and social media profiles

• Collaborative Efforts: We’ll announce, through all available channels, the amount of money collected from our app in ADA, which then will be donated to environmental NGOs at the end of each cycle.

We are committed on keeping stakeholders updated on our "Catalys4Carbon" project, fostering a sense of participation in our fight against climate change.

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

We are a group of ambitious developers, graduated from top-tier universities in Turkey. Our academic backgrounds have instilled in us a rigorous discipline, keen attention to detail, and unmatched ability for problem-solving. These qualities, along with our technical expertise in frontend, backend, and full-stack development, have proven crucial in delivering projects with the utmost trust and accountability.

Our qualifications include:

• Technical Proficiency: Our team has command over several programming languages and technologies essential for mobile app development, such as Java, Swift, React Native for cross-platform applications, and Node.js for backend development. We are well-versed in leveraging cloud services like AWS for scalable infrastructure.

• Project Management: Our project management skills are honed through years of working within agile methodologies, enabling us to keep our project on schedule and deliver within set milestones.

• Scalability: We bring valuable experience from past high-scale projects to this initiative, preparing us to develop an app capable of smoothly handling extensive user traffic and transactions.

• Security: Recognizing the crucial role of security in an app handling financial transactions, we commit to incorporating secure coding best practices and routinely conducting security audits to ensure the robustness of our platform.

• Community Engagement: We embrace the principles of open-source development and active community engagement. Our development process will be transparent, and we'll actively solicit community feedback and contributions.

Each one of us recognizes the crucial role that trust plays in this digital age, particularly in a dynamic and volatile space like blockchain. We appreciate the magnitude of our responsibility and see every project not just as a contract, but as an investment in our futures.

• Transparency: By open-sourcing our code and offering regular progress updates, we'll ensure complete transparency in our actions.

• Responsiveness: We will stay actively engaged with our users and the broader community, promptly responding to any feedback, queries, or concerns.

• Integrity: We will operate with utmost integrity, ensuring secure and ethical handling of all transactions within our platform.

• Quality Assurance: Our commitment to quality assurance includes stringent testing and quality control processes, ensuring a reliable, high-quality app.

With these competencies and values in place, we stand confident in our capacity to deliver a high-quality mobile app with an elevated level of trust and accountability.

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

Our project has four primary objectives, each with a unique focus:

• Developing an Engaging Mobile App: Our first objective is to create an intuitive, visually appealing, and user-friendly application. The success of this goal will be measured through comprehensive user testing and feedback.

• Educating Users on Carbon Footprint: We aim to enhance users' understanding of their personal carbon emissions derived from their everyday actions. The validation for this objective will come from user surveys and observed reductions in carbon footprint scores over time.

• Increasing Cardano and ADA Adoption: By integrating ADA as a key aspect of our app's gamification strategy, we hope to stimulate increased usage and adoption of Cardano and ADA. The volume of transactions and ADA usage within the app will be key indicators of our success.

• Promoting Positive Environmental Impact: Through our efforts in promoting carbon footprint reduction and directing ADA donations to environmental NGOs, our ultimate goal is to make a real, positive impact on the environment. Success in this area will be measured by the total amount of ADA donations and subsequent environmental impact reports from the NGOs receiving these funds.

[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 Conceptualization (Month 1)

• Define project scope and objectives
• Identify key features for the initial app version
• Create initial design mockups and UX/UI flows
• Build the project timeline and identify resources needed

Milestone 2: Development Phase I - Prototype (Month 2-3)

• Build a basic functioning prototype of the application
• Develop core features such as user registration, activity tracking, and carbon footprint calculation
• Initial integration of ADA for in-app purchases and donations
• Begin development of the virtual forest game mechanic

Milestone 3: User Testing and Feedback (Month 4)

• Beta release of the app for a small user group for testing
• Collect and analyze user feedback
• Identify bugs and areas for improvement

Milestone 4: Development Phase II - Refinement (Month 5)

• Refine and improve application based on user feedback
• Continue development and improvement of the virtual forest game mechanic
• Improve ADA integration based on user feedback

Milestone 5: Marketing and Promotion (Month 6)

• Develop and execute a marketing plan to attract users
• Create social media channels and start engagement
• Begin a press outreach campaign

Milestone 6: Official Launch (Month 7)

• Officially release the app for all users
• Monitor user interaction and engagement
• Regular updates to the Cardano community about the project's progress and user engagement

Milestone 7: Post-Launch Analysis and Improvement (Month 8-10)

• Regularly analyze user data and engagement metrics
• Identify areas for improvement based on user feedback and analytics
• Implement changes and updates to the app
• Plan for future features and improvements for the next version of the app

We expect to have the application fully operational within 7 months with the initial version of the app launched in month 5. The post-launch period will be dedicated to improvements and feature additions based on user feedback and data analysis. This timeline allows us to carefully develop and refine the app to ensure it is effective, user-friendly, and truly helps individuals reduce their carbon footprint and engage with the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Conceptualization

• Deliverables: Project scope and objectives, key features for the initial app version, initial design mockups, UX/UI flows, and project timeline.
• Outcomes: A clearly defined project plan that will guide the entire development process.
• Measurement: Success at this stage will be measured by the completion of all planning documents and the readiness to proceed to the development phase.

Milestone 2: Development Phase I - Prototype

• Deliverables: : Basic functioning prototype of the application with core features such as user registration, activity tracking, carbon footprint calculation, and initial ADA integration.
• Outcomes: A tangible, usable prototype that showcases the primary functions of the app.
• Measurement: A successful prototype development phase will be marked by the usability and functionality of the prototype and the successful integration of ADA for in-app purchases and donations.

Milestone 3: User Testing and Feedback

• Deliverables: Beta version of the app, user feedback report, identified bugs and areas for improvement.
• Outcomes: Insights into user experiences, which will guide improvements and refinements to the application.
• Measurement: We will measure the success of this milestone by the amount and quality of user feedback collected, and the identification of critical areas for improvement.

Milestone 4: Development Phase II - Refinement

• Deliverables: A refined application with improvements based on user feedback and continued development of the virtual forest game mechanic.
• Outcomes: An improved and more user-friendly application that provides a rewarding and educational experience.
• Measurement: Progress will be measured by successful integration of user feedback into app enhancements and the advancement of the virtual forest game mechanic.

Milestone 5: Marketing and Promotion

• Deliverables: Executed marketing plan, established social media channels, and initiated press outreach campaign.
• Outcomes: Increased awareness of the app, leading to a substantial user base upon official launch.
• Measurement: We will track metrics such as user engagement on social media, press coverage, and user sign-ups or pre-registrations for the app.

Milestone 6: Official Launch

• Deliverables: Fully functional application released to all users.
• Outcomes: A vibrant user community using the app to track their carbon footprint and engage with the Cardano ecosystem.
• Measurement: Success will be evaluated by app downloads, user engagement, and ADA transactions within the app.

Milestone 7: Post-Launch Analysis and Improvement

• Deliverables: Regular analysis of user data, identification of areas for improvement, implemented changes, and a roadmap for future features.
• Outcomes: Continuous improvements to the app and increased user satisfaction and engagement.
• Measurement: We will track user feedback, user retention rates, and engagement metrics to measure the success of our post-launch improvements.

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

The proposed budget breakdown for the Catalyst4Carbon project is as follows:

Project Planning and Conceptualization: During the Project Planning and Conceptualization milestone, we will define the project scope, objectives, key features, and design mockups, while establishing a comprehensive project timeline. We will also seek professional advice from ecologists to ensure accurate carbon footprint calculations and the environmental impact of the virtual forest. The estimated cost for this milestone is ₳35,000:

• Project Manager: ₳10,500
• UI/UX Designer: ₳7,000
• Developer: ₳7,000
• Ecologist: ₳10,500

Development Phase I - Prototype: This milestone includes the development of a basic functioning prototype of the application with core features such as user registration, activity tracking, carbon footprint calculation, and initial ADA integration. The cost for this milestone is ₳70,000 and includes the cost of hiring a developer to build the prototype, as well as the cost of third-party tools and services.

User Testing and Feedback: This milestone includes the beta version of the app, user feedback report, identified bugs, and areas for improvement. The cost for this milestone is ₳25,000 and includes the cost of hiring a user researcher to conduct user testing, as well as the cost of fixing bugs and making improvements based on user feedback.

Development Phase II - Refinement: This milestone includes a refined application with improvements based on user feedback and continued development of the virtual forest game mechanic. The cost for this milestone is ₳26,500 and includes the cost of developer team payment to refine the app and improve the virtual forest game mechanic.

Marketing and Promotion: This milestone includes executing the marketing plan, establishing social media channels, and initiating a press outreach campaign. The estimated cost for this milestone is ₳25,000.

• Hiring a marketing manager: ₳7,000
• Creating marketing materials: ₳9,000
• Running marketing campaigns: ₳9,000

Official Launch: This milestone includes releasing the fully functional application to all users. The cost for this milestone is ₳10,000 and includes the cost of hosting the app on a server and making it available to users.

Post-Launch Analysis and Improvement: This milestone includes regularly analyzing user data, identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes, and creating a roadmap for future features. The cost for this milestone is ₳7,500 and includes the cost of paying a data analyst to analyze user data and identify areas for improvement.

The total estimated budget for the Catalyst4Carbon project is ₳199,000

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

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

• Unique Use Case: The Catalyst4Carbon App introduces a unique use case for Cardano by leveraging gamification and incentivisation to drive individual behavior change for reducing carbon footprints. The cost of the project enables the development of an engaging and user-friendly app that encourages sustainable actions and promotes environmental awareness. This adds value to the Cardano ecosystem by expanding its use cases beyond financial transactions.

• User Engagement and Adoption: The cost allocated to marketing, community engagement, and promotion ensures the app reaches its target audience effectively. By attracting users interested in climate change and sustainability, the project contributes to the growth of the Cardano user base and increases engagement within the ecosystem. This increased user adoption and engagement strengthen network effects and drive further innovation.

• Positive Impact on the Environment: The project incentivizes and tracks individual carbon footprint reduction, creating a positive impact on the environment. The allocation of ADA tokens for donations to environmental organizations showcases the practical application of Cardano's blockchain for supporting real-world environmental causes. This aligns with Cardano's vision of creating a sustainable and environmentally conscious ecosystem.

In terms of the costs, they have been determined based on industry standards, the complexity of the project, and the expertise required to execute it.

• Development Expenses: The average hourly rate for software developers in the United States varies from $30 to $70. However, since our team is located in Turkey, where the hourly rates for developers range from $15/hr for junior developers to $70/hr for senior developers, it gives our team a cost benefit. Given that the development phase is vital to our project and will consume a significant portion of the timeline, this allocation is reasonable.

• Design Costs: These are based on average rates for UI/UX designers and the time required to create an intuitive and engaging platform.

• Marketing and Promotion: The budget for marketing and promotion is critical for the adoption and success of the platform. The cost is determined based on industry standards for digital marketing and influencer collaborations.

• Third-Party Services: These costs are based on standard rates for server hosting, software licenses, and professional services (legal, accounting).

While the project represents a significant investment, we believe that the potential returns in terms of community growth, ecosystem development, and real-world adoption of Cardano far outweigh the costs.

[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