Cross Chain Caravan: (Part 1) Driving decentralized learning and blockchain adoption one mile at a time

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Allen Curry

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

N/A

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

Cross Chain Caravan: a mobile onboarding and marketing hub, to drive adoption, foster decentralized learning/education, and onboard new products and communities into the Cardano ecosystem.

[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.”

N/A

[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

In every way possible, we will be open-source. While not all specific data will be shared for user security, general data will be freely available. Access to our platform will also be shared as openly as we can.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The Cross-Chain Caravan Initiative proposes to establish a fleet of three RVs, each with a unique focus, traversing the United States. This initiative aims to educate, market, and onboard sponsored projects and businesses from both Cardano and vechain. The project emphasizes community engagement, awareness spreading, and blockchain technology adoption, with a focus on sustainability and wellness. The requested funding amount is $45,000, which is allocated for RV acquisition, upgrades, website development, and taxes. The initiative's roadmap outlines milestones including foundation establishment, RV acquisition, website development, and infrastructure development. The team consists of experienced individuals passionate about blockchain, sustainability, and community engagement, with previous successful initiatives such as the Cardano Caravan, Star Forge, and Flower Den Retreats. The benefits include increased adoption, innovation, and enriched ecosystems for Cardano and vechain. Metrics for success include user engagement, partnerships established, feedback gathered, and increased adoption rates. Legal and compliance considerations are also addressed, with plans to share outputs and results through a comprehensive interactive education platform.

In addition to its core objectives, the Cross-Chain Caravan Initiative aims to broaden its reach by actively participating in non-crypto events such as Comicon, concerts, car shows, sports events, trade shows, gaming conventions, universities, community gatherings, and various other in-real-life (IRL) gatherings where cryptocurrency may not typically be part of the conversation. By attending these events, the initiative seeks to engage with audiences outside the crypto ecosystem, introducing them to the concepts of blockchain technology, sustainability, and community engagement. This approach allows the initiative to connect with diverse communities, fostering understanding and interest in blockchain solutions. Through these interactions, the initiative can gather support, onboard new participants, and expand its network beyond traditional crypto circles.

We plan to expand this initiative to other blockchains over time. And we are applying to multiple grant programs to aid in expanding to other regions and ecosystems. If funded in these ecosystems, the additional funds would be used to expand the movement. We would like to kickstart initiatives in other countries and or on other continents. Such as Japan or other countries in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and Australia. This could potentially be short-term or long-term missions.

Part 1: This marks the start of our foundational efforts, laying the groundwork for the larger plan. These milestones establish the core infrastructure for the entire initiative, setting us up to achieve the objectives outlined in the second proposal and the broader goals of the Caravan. It will create a stable base upon which the entire movement will be built.

https://youtu.be/uaJGV0M3BtM

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

Benefits of the Caravan to the Cardano and vechain Ecosystems:

• Increased Adoption and Interaction: The Caravan, a mobile educational hub and content studio, boosts Cardano and vechain adoption through valuable resources and promotes interaction with the blockchain.
• Feedback and Innovation: The Caravan seeks community input for participation, innovation, and alignment with Cardano's and vechain's needs.
• Enriched Ecosystem with New Use Cases: The Caravan enriches the Cardano and vechain ecosystems with new use cases, expanding possibilities for users and attracting more interactions.
• We are contemplating how to incorporate the $B3TR into all 3 of the Caravans, and how that lends itself to some cross-chain use cases. (More info to come)

Metrics to Measure Success:

• The number of users engaging with the Caravan's educational content and resources.
• The number of partnerships and collaborations established with local Cardano and vechain communities, educational institutions, and industry organizations.
• Feedback will be gathered from the Cardano and vechain communities through surveys, polls, and comment sections.
• Increased adoption of Cardano and vechain as a result of the Caravan's initiatives.
• The number of new products or integrations developed or improved based on community feedback and needs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Cross-Chain Caravan initiative is essential for assessing its success and making data-driven decisions. Here's a detailed plan to track each KPI, along with estimated numbers for events and locations of varying event sizes.

Number of New Community Members Onboarded:

Small Event (e.g., local meetup): Aim to onboard 5-10 new community members. Aim To Attend (15-25 small)

Medium Event (e.g., regional conference): Target 10-25 new community members. Aim To Attend (8-15 Medium)

Large Event (e.g., national convention): Set a goal of 25-100 new community members. Aim To Attend (2-3 Large)

(A lot of these events will not be web3 specific.)

Engagement Metrics on Social Media Platforms:

Utilize platform analytics to track:

Views: Aim for 100-500 views per post for small events, 500-1000 for medium events, and 1000+ for large events.

Likes: Target 5-10 likes per post for small events, 10-30 for medium events, and 30+ for large events.

Shares: Aim for 1-5 shares per post for small events, 5-10 for medium events, and 10+ for large events.

Comments: Target 1-2 comments per post for small events, 2-5 for medium events, and 5+ for large events.

Number of Interviews Conducted:

Aim to conduct:

2-3 interviews with industry leaders, project representatives, and community members per month.

Scale up based on event sizes and availability of interviewees.

Increase in Cardano's and vechain's Brand Awareness:

Monitor:

Mentions and reach across online platforms: Aim for a 10-20% increase in mentions and reach over the duration of the initiative.

Media coverage: Aim to secure coverage in at least 2-5 reputable media outlets over the course of the initiative.

Website traffic and search engine rankings: Target a 10-15% increase in organic search traffic and improvements in search rankings 

for relevant keywords.

Feedback and Sentiment Analysis from Community Members:

Collect feedback through:

Surveys: Aim for a 10-15% response rate from community members.

Polls: Aim to gather responses from 20-100 community members per poll.

Comment sections and feedback forms: Monitor and respond to all feedback received within 24-72 hours.

By tracking these KPIs and adjusting strategies based on the insights gained, the Cross-Chain Caravan initiative can effectively measure its impact and continuously improve its outreach efforts.

Legal and Compliance:

Ensure compliance with local regulations related to travel, event participation, permits, and branding guidelines.

Adhere to relevant tax obligations.

Respect intellectual property rights when creating and promoting content.

Sharing outputs and results:

Develop a comprehensive interactive education website for Cardano and vechain ecosystems.

The website will serve as a centralized platform to document achievements, progress, and impact of the Caravan.

Provide real-time updates on location and activities.

Access to detailed information about initiatives, events, and decentralized/educational content.

Feature an interactive map to track the Caravan's location.

Enhance transparency, and accessibility, and serve as a valuable resource.

Showcasing the impact of the initiative.

[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?

Previous Accomplishments:

Cross Chain Caravan: The initiative conducted a successful experiment in October 2022, covering 4200 miles and engaging with over 2000 individuals at meetups, events, national parks, gas stations, restaurants, and conventions. In the 18-day trial run, we visited countless towns and cities along the way. However, we chose to focus our efforts more on the rural towns and small cities as we traveled, knowing there would be little to no knowledge of the tech or opportunities. We visited and onboarded a few people on our trips to 7 state or national parks. The intent was to gather useful content from an old-school-styled road trip shared amongst a group of friends. Frequently while stopped for fuel or to eat, one of our crew would get out the guitar and busking for people. Often these songs were Web 3 themed, and albeit funny, they contained a lot of useful information and terms.

After this prototype journey, we learned the importance of gathering data, recording content, and documenting metrics. This led to a complete redesign of the initial approach and the addition of cross-chain educational materials and branding. From this, the Cross Chain Caravan was born. The word of what we had done quickly spread and others wanted to join our mission. Each brings their own specific interests and expertise to the initiative.

Flower Den Retreats: We’ve created & continue to build two companies that will complement our mission with the Caravan.

The first is Flower Den Retreats which began as my vision of the ideal atmosphere to stimulate healing, creativity, growth & sustainability. We made the first step in 2016 by opening up our real estate portfolio to the sharing economy through existing home-sharing platforms. In a short time, we were fully booked & reached our milestone of traveling whenever we desired with the ability to work remotely. Now we travel between locations with plans for repairs & upgrades to perform during our time at each. We’re working to outfit our locations with specialty tools like curated libraries, float tanks, hypnagogic lights, sound beds, musical instruments, cold plunges, saunas, specialized art studios for recording, glassblowing, tattoo & all manner of art supplies… to name a few. While on the road between the west & east coasts of the US, we identify, stay, & network with property owners building their own spaces with a shared focus on wellness, creativity & sustainability. Phase two is to bring these locations together within the Flower Den platform. The vision for Flower Den is to create a blockchain-connected platform of IRL locations filled with specialty tools & curriculum designed to support healing, growth, the exploration of consciousness, artistic expression, sustainable living & all guided by property/experience hosts & guests.

The second is our product marketing company Positive Lifeline. During the course of our travels & work with Flower Den we target the market & organically connect with businesses & individuals by knocking on doors, and attending; events, festivals, tradeshows & any other chance encounters along the way. We network, educate & sell products/services to our clients who work with a focus on health, wellness, body art, hospitality, sustainability & so much more by connecting them with the work of the creators we represent. Whether our new connections work with us through Flower Den or Positive Lifeline, whatever their challenges or needs, we can identify how blockchain will help them reach their goals & guide them in the space. The Caravan is the bow that ties all of our initiatives together by helping us find further sustainability through marketing sponsorships on our vehicles/RVs & from our journey, entry to events & bringing together a tight-knit team of captains with a shared vision. Positive Lifeline can offer income opportunities to captains in the caravan interested in repping products that align with their interests while Flower Den locations can be their hubs to rest, network, collect content & host meetups/events. Sustainability through community support & the sharing economy is the goal.

Star Forge: The Star Forge project started out as a solar battery project. Back then you could run a Cardano stake pool on Raspberry Pi SBCs using around 4 watts per node. As time went by the pool was upgraded to Mac M1 Mini's that draw around 6 watts each. Shortly afterwards Starlink started rolling out and I purchased one of the original round dishes. At first, it was not reliable enough but as time went by the service improved enough to rely on in production.

After a couple of years of operating flawlessly, I wanted to create a mobile Cardano stake pool in a motor home. I purchased a 23.5-foot 2017 Thor Gemini RV with a power-stroke diesel. I added 700 watts of solar panels to the roof & 900AH of LiFeP04 storage. I upgraded the RV's electrical system with a Victron multiplus, Victron MPPT charger, and Renogy DC to DC charger. This allowed me to charge the lithium with solar, grid, and the Ford Transit alternator. The RV also has a 3600-watt Cummins propane generator. I then purchased the high-performance Starlink panel certified for in-motion connectivity and mounted it in the skylight.

The RV is now a successfully tested mobile Cardano stake pool capable of in-motion block production or parking remotely anywhere with a view of the sky. I drove the RV across the country and back without issue. Along with Cardano nodes, I also run an Ergo full node and Rosen bridge watcher.

I set out to go across the country and back living and traveling with the support of delegators(proof of stake) in the form of stake pool operator rewards. Several hundred blocks were successfully forged on chain. I am interested in efficiency & decentralization and looking for other ways to live off the grid showcasing what is possible in this industry.

I own the right to operate a couple of World Mobile Earth nodes and hope to also provide cell coverage with one of their Air nodes in the RV.

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

Corporate Framework:

• Forming the LLC: $1,000
• Milestone: Establishing the legal entity for the initiative, ensuring compliance and liability protection.
• Tasks:
• Research legal requirements for forming an LLC in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Prepare and file the necessary paperwork with the appropriate state authorities.
• Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
• Allocate funds for legal fees, filing fees, and any other associated costs.

• Tax Liabilities: $4,000
• Milestone: Addressing tax liabilities associated with the initiative.
• Tasks:
• Consult with tax professionals to understand tax obligations for the initiative.
• Set aside funds to cover federal, state, and local taxes, including income tax and sales tax.
• Ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations to avoid penalties or legal issues.
• Keep accurate records of income and expenses for tax reporting purposes.

• Set aside: $5,000 towards the RV tax, tile, and insurance. To be prepared for the next milestone. Because the total needed for the acquisition would exceed 30% of the total funding if these allotments were included.

• Milestone Total $10,000 (22.22% of Total Budget)

RV Acquisition and Restoration: $13,000

• Milestone: Acquiring a suitable RV and conducting necessary upgrades and restoration.
• Tasks:
• Research and identify suitable RV options for purchase or restoration.
• Negotiate prices and finalize the acquisition of the primary educational RV.
• Coordinate with vendors or contractors for restoration work if applicable.
• Perform a thorough inspection of the acquired RV to identify maintenance needs.
• Address any safety concerns and ensure all systems are functioning properly.
• Upgrade essential components such as electrical systems, plumbing, and appliances if necessary.

• Milestone Total $13,000 (28.88% of Total Budget)

Website Development: $10,000

• Milestone: Designing and developing an interactive and user-friendly website for the initiative.
• Tasks:
• Collaborate with a web development team to design and develop the website.
• Incorporate educational content, resources, and information about the initiative.
• Ensure the website is mobile-responsive and accessible to a wide audience.
• Implement features for user engagement, such as forums or interactive maps and tools.
• Allocate funds for website hosting and maintenance to ensure continuous availability.

• Milestone Total $10,000 (22.22% of Total Budget)

Upgrades to the RV: $7,000

• Milestone: Enhancing the RV with additional upgrades to support educational workshops and demonstrations.
• Tasks:
• Assess current infrastructure needs and identify areas for improvement.
• Upgrade RV equipment and technology to enhance educational activities. Such as tablets/ laptops, projectors, etc.
• Implement eco-friendly solutions to minimize environmental impact during travels.
• Allocate funds for additional upgrades such as solar panels, multimedia equipment for content creation, or security and safety features.
• Purchase and install Starlink and mobile hotspots to ensure mobile connectivity at any location.

• Milestone Total $7,000 (15.55% of Total Budget)

Balance of the Tax Liabilities: $5,000

• Milestone: Manage payment of funds set aside to cover federal, state, and local taxes, including income tax and sales tax.
• Ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations to avoid penalties or legal issues.

• Milestone Total $5,000 (11.11% of Total)

Total Budget: $45,000 - (100,000 ADA)

(The price of ADA estimated when the proposal was written and submitted was $0.45)

This budget and milestone plan aims to establish a solid foundation for the Cross-Chain Caravan Initiative, focusing on acquiring and upgrading an RV for educational purposes, developing a comprehensive website, addressing tax liabilities, and ensuring sustainability through necessary upgrades.

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

Team Experience:

Allen Curry (Project Lead, Traveling Educator):

On X: @Flawwed1Art / flawwed1@hotmail.com

Actively engaged in the Cardano community since April 2021. Hosted over 400 educational Twitter Spaces and attended numerous community events. Led the successful Caravan project in 2022, covering 4,000 miles over 18+ days.

Contributed to various Cardano teams for 2.5 years. Experienced in community management, marketing, project development, creative direction, art and graphic design, and project leadership. Consulted numerous individuals and teams on networking and community growth.

The Caravan enriches the Cardano ecosystem with new use cases, expanding possibilities and increasing user interaction.

Todd Robertson (Web Design/UI UX):

On X hypertodd (https://hyperspective.com): Todd@https://hyperspective.com

Over 28 years directing and producing film, video, animation, web, and interactive media.

Founded “Hyperspective” digital agency in 1996. Expertise in marketing, communications, and media production with visual communications education. Active involvement in Cardano NFT projects since November 2021, contributing to branding, marketing, and communications.

Marketing and Communications Specialist with expertise in strategy, content creation, and project management.

Wayne Cataldo (Mobile SPO, Tech Expert):

On X @Star_Forge_Pool / waynecataldo@gmail.com

My name is Wayne, I am a 51-year-old Linux enthusiast with an interest in the tech side of distributed systems. My background is a mix of automotive/equipment technician, heavy construction, and 3D design work for construction/masonry projects. Since the pandemic, I have focused on living off the grid, sustainability through web3 projects, and making it all come together in an RV. I have been a part of the creation of a few communities around the Cardano & Ergo ecosystems including World Mobile tech. I am interested in getting people started with learning Linux and providing support to like-minded individuals.

Daniel Mallett (Traveling Educator):

On X @ChivalrousOne / @FlowerDenNFT

Attended CNFT 2022 & NFTxLV 2023 events & Float Conference 2018-2023. Sharing economy entrepreneur with multiple locations and towable trailers to support Cardano IRL events. 10 years of sales, marketing & project management background within the construction industry.

Successfully hosted multiple artistic wellness retreats to introduce artists to NFTs. Offering an Artist incubator program at Flower Den Retreats. Outfitting Flower Den rentals with tools for wellbeing & human optimization, including float tanks, cold plunge, sauna, hypnagogic light therapy & more. Outreach efforts have successfully brought many Web 2.0 connections to Cardano.

Traveled 15k-20k miles/yr for the last 5 years, with a focus on sales, marketing, and onboarding for his own and other Cardano projects. Averages 6-8 months per year on the road between the west & east coasts of the USA. Goal to grow existing Short Term Rental network into a global platform guided by a DAO structure, integrating Cardano, token gating with NFTs & crypto payments for real estate rentals worldwide.

Angie Weeks (Traveling Realtor/Broker, Educator, & Artist):

On X @AngieWeeks / YouTube @HomebuyingRegistry / Insta @AngieWeeks1 / LinkedIn

Founded Cal Coast Web Design, a successful Web 2.0 marketing & SEO company. Networked and well-connected for 20+ years in the real estate industry; including marketing, sales, and CA Broker’s license created Vow2Save, a crowdfunding platform for Homeownership, with a goal to transition into Web 3.0 with DAO2Save. Passionately educates on ways to become financially free through owning property, including a 12-year running annual event with Chapman University, National Association of Women in Real Estate Business (NAWRB), and Young Professionals Network (YPN) called Homeownership Day.

Homeownership Day is now a virtual event and was a pioneer in offering free classes on safely buying property with cryptocurrency. HOD offers educational courses, tutorials, and guides to help empower anyone interested in buying property. Mints a commemorative NFT for every closed real estate transaction on the Cardano blockchain to raise awareness. The goal is to eventually incorporate every real estate transaction on the blockchain. Attended CNFT 2022 & NFTxLV 2023 events. Regularly conducts and hosts video interviews, workshops, and IRL gatherings at her Short Term Rental spaces.

Andrew Ryan (Traveling Educator/Original Crew):

On X @Drew_Aces / contact@drewaces.com

As a member of the inaugural caravan journey, it was my responsibility to help secure funding and plan the logistics of the trip. What began as social media promotion evolved into taking on the task of art direction & securing vinyl advertisement media for the RV, as well as assisting in locating suitable rental vehicles & planning the caravan's intended route. Once our team hit the road, I worked on dealing with a litany of unforeseen roadblocks to ensure our mission was a success. Other tasks included (but were not limited to) networking with cryptocurrency projects, onboarding individuals by teaching basic blockchain concepts, and securing a speaking presentation for our crew at the Rare Bloom event. In summation, I am confident in my ability to creatively solve problems to ensure the success of a long-term caravan initiative.

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

Budget Overview:

Forming the LLC:

• USD Amount: $1,000
• ADA Value: 2,222 ADA ($1,000 / $0.45)

RV Tax, Title, and Insurance:

• USD Amount: $5,000
• ADA Value: 11,111 ADA ($5,000 / $0.45)

RV Acquisition and Restoration:

• USD Amount: $13,000
• ADA Value: 28,888 ADA ($13,000 / $0.45)

Website Development:

• USD Amount: $10,000
• ADA Value: 22,222 ADA ($10,000 / $0.45)

Upgrades to the RV:

• USD Amount: $7,000
• ADA Value: 15,555 ADA ($7,000 / $0.45)

Tax Liabilities:

• USD Amount: $9,000
• ADA Value: 20,000 ADA ($9,000 / $0.45)

Part 1 Total Budget:

• USD Amount: $45,000
• ADA Value: 100,000 ADA ($45,000 / $0.45)

(The price of ADA estimated when the proposal was written and submitted was $0.45)

This budget plan aims to establish a solid foundation for the Cross-Chain Caravan Initiative, focusing on acquiring and upgrading an RV for educational purposes, developing a comprehensive website, addressing tax liabilities, and ensuring sustainability through necessary upgrades.

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

Comprehensive Approach: Maximizing impact through interactive education, community building, and marketing.

Mobile Educational Hub and Content Studio: RV customization for interviews, content creation, and community engagement.

Roadshow and Community Meetups: Direct engagement, knowledge sharing, and networking with local communities.

Convention Participation: Amplifying visibility and brand recognition through booth spaces and interviews.

Marketing and Outreach: Vinyl-wrapped Caravan, online campaigns, and content promotion for wider reach.

Volunteer-Driven Efforts: Cost-effective, community-driven approach for sustainable success.

Future Plans and Sustainability: Evaluating impact, scaling, partnerships for long-term growth.

The proposed USD Amount: $45,000 ADA Value: 100,000 ADA budget aligns with project goals, community engagement, and education. It drives adoption and sustainable community engagement within Cardano through funding Part 1 of this proposal.