[TEX] TEX Academy: Cardano-Oriented Blockchain Learning and Education Platform

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Tran Huy Hiep

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Not Incorporated)

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

10

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

Yes

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will create a blockchain-based platform that offers Cardano blockchain courses, empowering global educators and learners, while providing free access to university students to blockchain education.

[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] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

TEX Academy will be fully open source under the MIT License. All outputs will be accessible through a public repository on GitHub, allowing free use, modification, and distribution. This fosters collaboration and transparency, ensuring the project evolves to meet community needs within the Cardano ecosystem.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

TEX Academy is a blockchain-based educational platform that teaches about the Cardano blockchain in Vietnam and globally. The issue with many existing blockchain courses is their fragmentation across multiple learning platforms, which makes it difficult for learners to follow a structured path. TEX Academy addresses this gap by consolidating all relevant courses onto one platform, making it a central hub for blockchain education.

Overview diagram of interaction of agents in the system

TEX Academy is a blockchain-based educational platform that teaches about Cardano blockchain in Vietnam and globally. Our solution offers specialized courses, including free and paid, ranging from blockchain basics, advanced development on Cardano, to practical use cases. In addition to the course, TEX Academy allows users to create blogs to share their blockchain knowledge, which people can interact with as well as the course. Our platform will provide unique features such as:

• DID identification: Learners will have a decentralized identity (DID) for secure authentication.
• NFT course certificate: Upon completion of the course, learners will receive an NFT as a verifiable, tamper-proof credential.
• Interactive Course Experience: TEX Academy will provide a user-friendly course interface that includes video lectures with detailed lesson plans, progress tracking, feedback and Q&A.
• Blog and Community Engagement: TEX Academy will have an integrated blog system where users can share articles, insights and updates on blockchain topics. Learners and instructors will be able to interact by writing posts, commenting and participating in discussions, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
• University Integration: Our courses on our platform will be taught at the Blockchain Club of the University of Transport in Vietnam, providing students with hands-on exposure to blockchain technology.
• ADA Payments: Courses will be purchasable with Cardano's native cryptocurrency ADA, 5% of each transaction will be allocated to the admin team for platform maintenance, automated via Aiken-based smart contracts.

Reasons for this approach:

We use blockchain technology to solve problems because it brings transparency, security and decentralization - important factors for the future of education.

As members of the Fund 10, 11 funded team, we want to spread knowledge to the next generation of blockchain clubs as well as people in Vietnam and around the world. Learning right on a platform integrated with Blockchain will definitely be more interesting and attractive to everyone.

Finally, Cardano with its strong community and advanced smart contract functionality, is the ideal platform for decentralized education and teaching about them.

Who should participate:

TEX Academy will attract blockchain enthusiasts, developers, university students and lecturers around the world. By integrating our platform into university clubs and providing free courses, we will build a community of learners who contribute to the continuous development of the Cardano ecosystem.

Our impact will be measured through:

• Number of students enrolled: We will track the number of students completing the course, using data from DIDs and NFT issuance as evidence.
• Global reach: We aim to attract users from within and outside Vietnam through online marketing campaigns and partnerships, creating a global Cardano learning hub.
• ADA payment acceptance: We will measure ADA transaction volume to gauge user engagement with blockchain payments.

Uniqueness and importance to Cardano:

TEX Academy’s unique selling point is blockchain integration—combining learning with decentralized technologies such as DIDs and NFTs. By providing a dedicated Cardano education platform, we will strengthen this ecosystem by building a skilled user community and promoting the use of ADA. This is important for the growth of Cardano as it helps increase adoption, raise awareness, and expand the use of blockchain from finance to sustainable education.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

TEX Academy aims to make a significant positive impact in the Cardano community by providing high-quality, accessible educational resources with a specific focus on the Cardano blockchain. Our platform will empower new course creators, learners, developers, and enthusiasts, helping them gain the skills needed to make meaningful contributions to the ecosystem, ultimately driving greater adoption and innovation.

Measuring Impact:

• Quantitative Metrics: We are committed to reaching 5,000 learners in the first year, with a goal of completing 250 courses. We are targeting a total of 3,000 hours of learning across all courses and will issue 2,50 NFTs as a token for course completion. Additionally, we will partner with at least 3 universities and blockchain organizations to promote our platform.
• Qualitative Feedback: We will collect testimonials and feedback from participants to evaluate the effectiveness of the courses and the overall learning experience. Therefore, continuously improve the product.

Sharing the results:

We plan to share our educational materials and resources through a public GitHub repository, ensuring that all content is accessible to the community. Additionally, we will promote our platform through social media, online forums, and partnerships with universities and blockchain organizations. Regular updates and success stories will be communicated through newsletters and community channels, highlighting the opportunities created by TEX Academy.

By cultivating a skilled and engaged community of learners, TEX Academy will enhance the Cardano ecosystem, contributing to sustainable growth and promoting a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team comprises three core members with extensive knowledge of the Cardano blockchain, all of whom have successfully secured funding for our proposals in both the 10th and 11th rounds of Catalyst. Additionally, we serve as the executive board of the Blockchain Club at the University of Transport and Communications, ensuring that the courses and materials we develop will be heavily utilized within the club. That is a good foundation to be able to bring the project to reach more people later. 

Not only are we experienced with blockchain, we also have experience in developing large-scale, multi-tenant websites with new technologies: Microservices, Cloud (AWS, Azure), CI/CD, SPA like ReactJs/VueJs... A prominent asset in our team is Mr. Bach, whose expertise in video streaming technology and proficiency in AWS will play a key role in delivering a smooth and engaging user experience for courses on our platform.

Diagram showing how to convert video to streaming video (HLS) using AWS

Our dedication to excellence is demonstrated by our previous project, which won first prize in a school-level scientific research competition 2 years ago with the topic of Cardano Blockchain application. We have a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape, technology required to develop websites and applications of the Cardano blockchain, including transaction creation, NFT minting, and smart contracts. With effective collaboration between team members, we are confident in our ability to enhance our platform and achieve our goals.

As proof of knowledge and research skills, some of our current proposals funded are attached:

• Proposal funded 1: “Tamper-proof Certificate System”
• Proposal funded 2: "Study guide for Marlow"
• Proposal funded 3:"CareBlock: Empowering secure healthcare transactions by Cardano"
• Article: "Sinh viên Nghiên cứu khoa học với Blockchain Cardano"

Validation of Feasibility

To ensure effective financial management, we will adopt the following strategies:

• Budget Planning: We will meticulously allocate funds for development, operations, and marketing activities.
• Transparent Cost Tracking: Maintaining clear records of all expenses will promote accountability and visibility.
• Regular Reporting: Regular reports will help us evaluate financial performance and guide our decisions.

To validate the viability of our approach, we will use both quantitative and qualitative measures:

Quantitative Validation:

• Track the number of modules upgraded and added via GitHub.
• Track the number of tasks exported from Jira
• Track user engagement through the number of active users on the platform.

Identity Validation:

• Conduct user satisfaction surveys to gather insights.
• Measure the level of excitement in project presentations to gauge interest.

Transparency and communication are fundamental to us. We prioritize open dialogue with all stakeholders, provide regular updates, and foster a collaborative atmosphere so that everyone is involved in the project’s progress. 

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Platform Design (2 months)

Milestone Outputs

• Functional Specification Document: A detailed document outlining the functionality of each component in the project, including user and technical requirements.
• Platform Codebase: Establish the platform codebase for the TEX Academy platform.
• Interface Templates: Develop interface templates for the interface, ensuring consistency and user experience.
• Infrastructure Setup: Complete the preparation of the infrastructure, including servers and cloud services, ready for development and deployment.

Acceptance Criteria

• Functional Document Approval: Documentation must be reviewed and approved by stakeholders before proceeding with development.
• Complete Platform Code: The platform code must run smoothly and be extensible for future features.
• Approve Interface Templates: All interface templates must be approved by the design team and stakeholders.
• Operational Infrastructure: Servers and cloud services must be configured and tested to ensure functionality.

Milestone Completion Proof

• Functional Documentation: An approved document detailing the functionality.
• GitHub Repository: Link to the code repository with commits for BE and FE projects.
• Infrastructure Audit Report: Document confirming that the infrastructure is up and running.

Milestone 2: TEX Academy Platform Development (3 months)

Milestone Output

• Core Feature Implementation: Core functionality completed, including uploading/viewing courses, posting blogs, and interacting with them.
• DID Integration: Integrate Decentralized Identity (DID) to identify users on the platform.
• Smart Contract Functionality: Develop and deploy smart contracts to issue NFTs.

Acceptance Criteria

• Core Feature Acceptance: All features must function without critical bugs and be verified through QA testing.
• DID and Smart Contract Functionality: Identity and smart contract features must function smoothly, with verifiable test transactions.
• QA Completed: All features must be tested and verified by the QA team.

Milestone Completion Proof

• QA Report: Documentation outlining the testing process, bugs found, and fixes implemented.
• Video Tutorial or Demo: Video demonstrating completed features and how to use them.
• Deployed Smart Contract Code: Smart contract code deployed on the preprod network with documentation for use.

Milestone 3: Finalize the project and prepare a marketing strategy (3 months)

Milestone output

• Backlog completed: Complete all remaining tasks from Milestone 2.
• Staging and testing environment: Set up staging and testing environments for final testing.
• Marketing strategy document: Detailed marketing plan for TEX Academy.
• Bug bounty program: Organize a bug bounty program inviting the community to report issues.

Acceptance criteria

• Backlog completed: All tasks must be completed without any unresolved issues.
• Functional staging environment: The staging environment must successfully run tests and verify functionality.
• Approved marketing strategy: The marketing plan must be approved by stakeholders.
• Successful bug bounty program: Must receive at least 5 bug reports from community participants.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Backlog Completion List: An updated tracking board of all tasks.
• Staging Environment Activity Report: A document confirming that the staging environment is up and running.
• Marketing Strategy Document: A copy of the approved marketing strategy document.
• Bug Bounty Report: A document listing reported bugs and their fixes.

Milestone 4: Launch of TEX Academy and User Onboarding (1 month)

Milestone Outputs

• Product Launch: The official launch of TEX Academy with all features operational.
• User Onboarding Materials: Documentation and instructional videos for new users on how to use the platform.
• Marketing Campaigns: Execution of advertising campaigns on Facebook and other media channels.
• Engagement Events: Organization of talk shows and workshops to introduce TEX Academy.

Acceptance Criteria

• Successful Product Launch: The launch event must attract at least 30 attendees with positive feedback.
• Completion of Onboarding Materials: All instructional materials must be clear and well-received by new users.
• Effective Marketing Campaigns: Achieve a conversion rate from advertisements of at least 10% and a minimum of 20% user growth.
• Successful Engagement Events: Events must attract at least 30 participants with positive feedback received.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Launch Event Report: Documentation detailing attendance and feedback from the event.
• Onboarding Materials: A copy of the instructional materials and videos for users.
• Marketing Campaign Results Report: Analytical data showing conversion rates and user growth statistics.
• Event Feedback Report: Feedback and evaluations from participants in the engagement events.

Final Milestone: Evaluation and Future Development Plan (1 month)

Milestone Outputs

• Project Evaluation Report: A comprehensive document evaluating the project's outcomes and lessons learned.
• Future Development Roadmap: A plan for future development based on user feedback and evaluation results.
• Final Project Close-out Report and Video: A concluding report summarizing the project's success and an introductory video.

Acceptance Criteria

• Completion of Evaluation Report: The report must include both quantitative and qualitative data on project performance.
• Approved Future Development Plan: The roadmap must be confirmed by stakeholders.
• Submission of Final Reports and Video: All documents and videos must be shared with the Cardano community and stakeholders.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Project Evaluation Report: A copy of the completed evaluation report.
• Future Development Plan Approval: Documentation confirming the development plan has been approved.
• Project Summary Video: A copy of the video summarizing the project's achievements and results.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Mr. Tran Huy Hiep: Project Manager/Technical lead

Experiences: 

• DevOps Engineer at Samsung R&D.
• Frontend: ReactJS, Angular, NextJS.
• Backend: Java Spring Boot.
• DevOps: Aws, Docker, Azure, Jenkins, Kubernetes
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: tranhuyhiep0710@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tranhhiep

Github: github.com/TranHuyHiep

Mr. Bach Trinh: Full-stack Developer/Blockchain Developer

Experiences: 

• Software Engineer at GrapeCity
• Frontend: ReactJS, VueJS.
• Backend: .NET Core, Dapper, EF Core, SQL, Redis…
• DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, Azure, Nginx…
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: txbach.11@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trinh-bach

Github: github.com/Bachhsunkid

Mr. Minh Le: Business Analyst/Blockchain Developer

Experiences:

• Frontend: ReactJS, VueJS.
• Game: Unity, Unreal Engine.
• Backend: .NET Core, SQL, Redis…
• DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes.
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: minhld.dev@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinhminhle

Github: github.com/dinhminhlh

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our proposal is expected to be divided into 05 milestones with the following expected budget:

(you can refer to this google sheet for more detail)

Milestone 1: Project Initiation and Platform Design (20,000 ADA)

• Tasks:
• Functional specification documentation
• Platform codebase setup
• Interface templates development
• Infrastructure setup
• Costs:
• Technical and Functional Documentation: 4,500 ADA
• Infrastructure Setup (Servers, Cloud Services): 6,500 ADA
• Design & UX Development (Interface Templates): 4,500 ADA
• Management & Coordination: 2,000 ADA
• Miscellaneous (licenses, tools, etc.): 2,500 ADA
• Total for Milestone 1: 20,000 ADA

Milestone 2: TEX Academy Platform Development (34,500 ADA)

• Tasks:
• Core feature implementation (uploading/viewing/censoring courses, blog system)
• DID integration
• Smart contract development (NFT issuance)
• QA & Testing (Manual testing & xUnitTest)
• Costs:
• Backend Development (smart contract, DID, NFT): 13,000 ADA
• Frontend Development (UI for courses, blog system): 9,000 ADA
• QA & Testing (internal and external testing): 5,000 ADA
• DevOps and Infrastructure Maintenance: 4,500 ADA
• Project Management: 3,000 ADA
• Total for Milestone 2: 34,500 ADA

Milestone 3: Finalize Platform & Marketing Strategy (27,000 ADA)

• Tasks:
• Complete remaining backlog tasks
• Staging and testing environment setup
• Marketing strategy development
• Bug bounty program
• Costs:
• Final Development Tasks (backlog completion): 8,500 ADA
• Staging & Testing Environment Setup: 5,500 ADA
• Marketing Strategy Development: 6,000 ADA
• Project Management: 3,000 ADA
• Bug Bounty Program: 4,000 ADA
• Total for Milestone 3: 27,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Launch of TEX Academy and User Onboarding (25,000 ADA)

• Tasks:
• Product launch
• User onboarding materials creation
• Marketing campaign execution
• Engagement events (workshops, talk shows)
• Costs:
• Marketing Campaign (Facebook, ads, partnerships): 7,000 ADA
• Launch Event & Engagement Activities: 6,500 ADA
• Onboarding Materials (tutorials, documentation): 4,500 ADA
• Event Logistics (venue, guest speakers): 4,000 ADA
• Project Management: 3,000 ADA
• Total for Milestone 4: 25,000 ADA

Final Milestone: Evaluation and Future Development Planning (13,500 ADA)

• Tasks:
• Project evaluation report
• Future development roadmap
• Final project close-out report and video
• Costs:
• Project Evaluation Report: 2,500 ADA
• Future Development Plan: 3,500 ADA
• Final Summary Video: 2,000 ADA
• Marketing for Project Conclusion: 2,500 ADA
• Project Management: 3,000 ADA
• Total for Milestone 5: 13,500 ADA

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

The TEX Academy project represents exceptional monetary value for the Cardano ecosystem due to its long-term impact and scalability. Our platform is specifically designed to provide high-quality, Cardano-focused blockchain education to new learners and enthusiasts. This is an important step in attracting and engaging future developers, users, and supporters for the Cardano network. Key reasons why our project offers great monetary value:

• Great educational impact: TEX Academy serves as an important educational resource for those new to blockchain technology, especially the Cardano ecosystem. By offering a mix of free and paid courses, we ensure accessibility for all, while providing more advanced materials for those who want to dig deeper. The knowledge gained will help nurture future talent, both locally in Vietnam and globally.
•  University Integration: A significant portion of our platform will be used by the Blockchain Club at the University of Transport in Vietnam. This is a center for nurturing young talents, allowing students to gain practical experience with blockchain technology and contribute to the development of Cardano by introducing this technology to the next generation of innovators. By providing these courses for free to students, we ensure that future developers and professionals are trained directly in the Cardano ecosystem.
• Cost-effective: We are committed to making the fees charged by teachers selling courses affordable for everyone. In addition, for really high-quality but expensive courses, we are willing to subsidize buyers with vouchers as well as free with universities when cooperating.
• Blockchain Integration and Sustainability: Through ADA payments and smart contracts built on Aiken, we ensure that a portion of the project’s sustainability is self-governed, with 5% of course transaction fees going towards platform maintenance. This creates a model where the platform can grow sustainably while also contributing to the wider adoption of ADA in the ecosystem.

By focusing on both local and global engagement, and by providing an educational platform that empowers new blockchain enthusiasts and students, TEX Academy delivers an excellent return on investment for the Cardano community.