European Cardano Community - Strategic and Research Blueprints for the Community

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Marcus Ubani

[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)

7

[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)

We will create strategic blueprints, collaborate publicly on GitHub, and leave room for discussion in our Discord, Fireside Chats, and XSpaces. We try to spark our journey to a self-sustainable model.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[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.”

• Functioning Multi-Signature Wallet (Adao, Summon implemented in F10)
• Cardano DAO Platform for voting (Summon, Clarity)
• Discord (Community communication)
• Zoom (Fireside Chats -> could move into Discord)
• Xspaces (They can glitch, but are getting better)
• GitHub (Using it as open-source platform, should remain so)

[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

All project outputs will be made available as open source under the GNU license. Like the Apache or MIT license, it requires documentation and referencing of our original documents. GNU enforces subsequent open-sourcing of our blueprints. The code, blueprints, and resources will be accessible through our publicly available GitHub repository, ensuring transparency and community-driven contributions throughout the project's lifecycle.

[METADATA] Horizons

Incubator

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our solution is to create a comprehensive series of strategic blueprints that address critical knowledge gaps beyond the Cardano ecosystem. We perceive the problem as a barrier preventing new builders from effectively entering and scaling within traditional and blockchain ecosystems, due to a lack of accessible resources tailored to diverse markets and industries. We believe our approach will cater to the sustainable approach of Cardano and be a great commutation tool to collaborate in many directions.

We are addressing this problem by leveraging our team's extensive expertise, working collaboratively with seasoned industry leaders and community members to ensure our blueprints are well-researched, practical, and tailored to specific market needs. This approach helps us create resources that are not only informative but also actionable.

Our project will engage various groups, including African and European founders, governance enthusiasts, game developers, and corporations interested in blockchain. By actively involving these groups through Fireside Chats, multilingual XSpaces, Discord discussions, and GitHub collaboration, we aim to foster a truly decentralized knowledge-sharing community.

To demonstrate our impact, we will track engagement metrics, such as the number of active participants in discussions, contributions to our GitHub repository, and the uptake of our blueprints by founders. We will also collect testimonials and case studies from builders who benefit from our resources.

What makes our approach unique in the Cardano ecosystem is the targeted focus on specific market dynamics—both regional and industrial—combined with a decentralized approach to learning.

The open-source nature of our outputs ensures continuous community collaboration and improvement. This project will empower builders across Africa, Europe, and beyond, offering a pathway to overcome knowledge barriers and succeed in the Cardano ecosystem, ultimately contributing to Cardano's vision of being an inclusive, global blockchain platform.

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

Our project will positively impact the wider Cardano community by providing comprehensive, accessible blueprints that help new builders successfully navigate the ecosystem. By closing knowledge gaps in governance, market insights, and industry-specific guidance, we will empower new entrants and established players alike, driving innovation and growth across the Cardano network.

We intend to measure our impact both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative metrics will include the number of blueprint forks, GitHub contributions, and active participation in our Fireside Chats, Discord discussions, and XSpaces. We will also gather qualitative data through testimonials, interviews, and case studies that highlight the tangible benefits experienced by those who utilize our blueprints.

Our outputs and opportunities will be shared openly through our GitHub repository, Fireside Chats, Discord community, and multilingual XSpaces.

We will also improve our easily accessible documentation and guides to accompany our blueprints, ensuring that community members can utilize these resources effectively.

Additionally, we will engage with other Cardano projects and key stakeholders to promote our outputs and foster collaboration.

Not everyone is familiar with using GitHub. However, onboarding users and helping them understand the basics will also lower the barrier to their participation in CIPs and other Cardano developments hosted on GitHub.

Roadmap and Key Focus Areas 

Our roadmap for the upcoming project months includes the following key areas of focus. All outlined blueprints will be onboarded around the same time and stretch over the course of 6 months with an extension for the closing. With that writers will also be rewarded on a per milestone base for their blueprints. The quality-gateways to receive rewards will be set during our first milestone.

We will continue to expand to include others to add more blueprints, which is what we hope the budget will also cater for:

1. Initializing - Understanding the African Market (Per Country): With Boaz Balume (Kongo) and Emmanuel Temitayo (Nigeria) taking the lead, we will be focusing on individual African countries, understanding their unique regulatory, cultural, and market landscapes to assist builders in finding product-market fit. Our objective is to collect and compile insights that will empower builders to navigate local ecosystems effectively.
2. Initializing - Understanding the European Market (Per Country): With Marcus Ubani taking the lead, we will work on building comprehensive market knowledge for different European countries. This includes addressing the legal and economic nuances that founders need to be aware of to create successful projects.
3. Initializing - DAO and Governance: Deryck Lance (aka Quasar), Community outreach of the Gamechanger Wallet and enthusiastic Cardano governance expert since Fund 1, will lead the initiative to educate builders on DAOs and governance models. This will include hands-on sessions, resource kits, and guides to help founders set up and manage DAOs effectively.
4. Initializing - Game Development & SDKs: Davide Lucchesi, who has recently worked on the NMKR Godot SDK, will head the gaming aspect of the blueprint. We aim to make game development accessible and blockchain-friendly by explaining also how to integrate SDKs that simplify processes for builders. The gaming component is especially critical given the fast-growing interest in blockchain games.
5. Initializing - Understanding Corporations and How to Approach Them: Markus Schütt, an experienced project manager and part of a German big corporation, will lead this segment. He will guide builders in understanding how to approach corporations, foster relationships, and explore funding or partnership opportunities. By bridging traditional corporate knowledge with the emerging blockchain ecosystem, we aim to help founders succeed in acquiring both institutional partnerships and funding.

Team and Collaboration 

We purposely work from Cardano Catalyst, independent of intersectMBO, while keeping an open door for collaboration to enhance the diversity of the ecosystem. Our network of collaborators includes experienced builders and thought leaders from across the blockchain and tech industries. In addition to Boaz, Emmanuel, Deryck, Davide, and Markus, we will continue reaching out to thought leaders from other communities, such as African blockchain experts and European corporate strategists, to enrich our blueprints.

Community Engagement 

We will maintain our ongoing bi-weekly fireside chats on YouTube, keeping the community informed on the latest developments, sharing progress on these blueprints, and fostering collaboration. Additionally, our multilingual XSpaces (Twitter) will continue to serve as a vital part of our decentralized founder knowledge incubator, enabling global participation and knowledge exchange.

Further Impact through collaboration with other Community Proposals

• Emmanuel is working jointly with Gimbalabs to onboard Nigerian developers, his collaborative work on our blueprints will support the Nigerian developer community to understand their own markets and those abroad (Proposal: https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/130422)
• OdyC DAO is expanding on our Country Hub workshops. Euphoria Expo is a three day event to celebrate and foster Cardano in Europe. A place to also market our outcomes in these events while being able to gather further feedback. (Proposal: https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/131038)
• Marcus, committed to transparency and sharing the learnings from the European Cardano Community, is proposing Daocounting. It initially is a timesheet for decentralized teams to increase transparency. We will be Alpha and Beta-Testers to increase our own transparency (Proposal: https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/130573)

[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?

We have established the European Cardano Community under @eucardano as the hub for founders - small and seasoned projects alike. Our guests range from the pre-product indy developer to Emurgo, from NFT project to Hardware provider. We invite, host and support founders from Europe, Africa, Asia and America. Our approach is collaborative.

Our core admin team consists of Marcus, Davide, and Deryck. We possess extensive experience within the Cardano ecosystem, having actively participated in and contributed to the community at least since 2022. In parts we've been working together since late 2021. A more detailed information on our profiles is provided in the resource section.

Additionally Boaz, Emmanuel, and Markus each bring specialized knowledge in their markets, governance, user-centric feedback, and corporate engagement, making us uniquely positioned to deliver the proposed blueprints.

With most recently Martin, Kostas and Giorgos we have a proven track record in organizing events, hosting workshops, demonstrating our ability to execute projects effectively.

We have adopted several processes to ensure that we can be trusted to manage funds properly, including regular transparent budgeting on Google Spreadsheets, MultiSignature Wallet and open progress reporting via GitHub, Fireside Chats, and Discord.

By making our finances and progress visible, we intend to establish a high level of accountability with our community.

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will pilot segments of the blueprints with a smaller group of early adopters, gather feedback, and refine our approach as needed.

This iterative process ensures that our blueprints are practical and meet the needs of the builders they are designed to support. They will be the foundation of our self-sustaining ECC community model - which is currently in the works.

Furthermore, our community-driven approach allows us to continuously adjust based on feedback, ensuring that the end products are effective and well-aligned with the needs of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Outputs

• Onboarding to Catalyst and setting up a detailed, public roadmap on GitHub (https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Kick off the application form and onboarding outlined blueprints
• Establishing foundational research guideline for African, European and possibly Asian markets
• Continue to host two fireside chats per month adding focus on market insights
• Introducing the blueprint plan to the audience also on X.
• Planning and execution of giveaways (merch + NFT)
• Start to onboard key community members.
• Tracking via Public Report/Project Roadmap on GitHub.

Acceptance Criteria

• Fortnightly EU Town Hall meetings planned, executed, and published
• X (formerly Twitter)-Spaces held and recorded
• Public Roadmap is available
• At least two blueprint leads have started their work
• EU Town Hall meetings took place and the recording is available on YouTube
• X-spaces in different European languages were hosted and recorded (with links on the website)
• GitHub documentation about the detailed planning for the blueprints incl. clear responsibilities for their execution (https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Merchandise and digital assets (e.g. NFT books, NFT music) were crafted, obtained and partly distributed via raffles.

NOTE: Team Members are excluded from the raffles.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Publicly available document with links to YouTube recordings
• Publicly available document with links to and KPI of the X-spaces hosted and recorded
• Publicly available and communicated roadmap on GitHub (e.g. https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Statement of transactions signed by multiple team members
• Publicly available document summarizing the status of merchandise, digital assets and outgoing transactions

Outputs

• Continue DAO and governance sessions led by Deryck
• progressing with blueprints.
• Engage with thought leaders in interviews and community calls to gather diverse insights.
• Continue to host two fireside chats per month adding focus on market insights
• Continue to market the blueprint plan to the audience also on X.
• Planning and execution of giveaways (merch + NFT)
• Tracking via Public Report/Project Roadmap on GitHub.

Acceptance Criteria

• Fortnightly EU Town Hall meetings planned, executed, and published
• X (formerly Twitter)-Spaces held and recorded
• EU Town Hall meetings took place and the recording is available on YouTube
• X-spaces in different European languages were hosted and recorded (with links on the website)
• GitHub documentation about the detailed planning for the blueprints incl. clear responsibilities for their execution (https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Merchandise and digital assets (e.g. NFT books, NFT music) were crafted, obtained and partly distributed via raffles.

NOTE: Team Members are excluded from the raffles.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Publicly available document with links to YouTube recordings
• Publicly available document with links to and KPI of the X-spaces hosted and recorded
• Publicly available and communicated roadmap on GitHub (e.g. https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Statement of transactions signed by multiple team members
• Publicly available document summarizing the status of merchandise, digital assets and outgoing transactions

Outputs

• Roll out gaming sessions and SDK guidance led by Davide
• continue with other ongoing blueprints.
• Collaborate with other Cardano initiatives such as OdyC Dao, which conduct in-person workshops, to gather and incorporate valuable insights.
• Focus on market-specific sessions led by Boaz, Emmanuel, and Markus
• expand collaboration to other contributors and initiatives that facilitate in-person learning.
• Continue to host two fireside chats per month adding focus on market insights
• Continue to market the blueprint plan to the audience also on X
• Planning and execution of giveaways (merch + NFT)
• Tracking via Public Report/Project Roadmap on GitHub.

Acceptance Criteria

• Fortnightly EU Town Hall meetings planned, executed, and published
• X (formerly Twitter)-Spaces held and recorded
• EU Town Hall meetings took place and the recording is available on YouTube
• X-spaces in different European languages were hosted and recorded (with links on the website)
• GitHub documentation about the detailed planning for the blueprints incl. clear responsibilities for their execution (https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Merchandise and digital assets (e.g. NFT books, NFT music) were crafted, obtained and partly distributed via raffles.

NOTE: Team Members are excluded from the raffles.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Publicly available document with links to YouTube recordings
• Publicly available document with links to and KPI of the X-spaces hosted and recorded
• Publicly available and communicated roadmap on GitHub (e.g. https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Statement of transactions signed by multiple team members
• Publicly available document summarizing the status of merchandise, digital assets and outgoing transactions

Outputs

• Finalize and publish comprehensive blueprints for each segment, covering governance, gaming, market insights, and corporate engagement.
• Hold wrap-up fireside chats and a series of multilingual XSpaces to share learnings and further develop the knowledge incubator.
• Complete and deliver a Project Close-out Report and Video summarizing the entire process, the insights gained, and the impact on the Cardano ecosystem.
• This milestone will include an evaluation of the project's success and any further steps for community-driven initiatives.
• Continue to host fireside chats adding focus on market insights, and marketing the blueprint plan to the audience also on X.
• Tracking via Public Report/Project Roadmap on GitHub.

Acceptance Criteria

• Fortnightly EU Town Hall meetings planned, executed, and published
• X (formerly Twitter)-Spaces held and recorded
• EU Town Hall meetings took place and the recording is available on YouTube
• X-spaces in different European languages were hosted and recorded (with links on the website)
• GitHub documentation about the detailed planning for the blueprints incl. clear responsibilities for their execution (https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Merchandise and digital assets (e.g. NFT books, NFT music) were crafted, obtained and partly distributed via raffles.

NOTE: Team Members are excluded from the raffles.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Publicly available document with links to YouTube recordings
• Publicly available document with links to and KPI of the X-spaces hosted and recorded
• Publicly available and communicated roadmap on GitHub (e.g. https://github.com/orgs/eucardano/projects/8/views/4)
• Statement of transactions signed by multiple team members
• Publicly available document summarizing the status of merchandise, digital assets and outgoing transactions
• Close out Report
• Close out Video

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

Our core admin team consists of the following members, each bringing unique expertise to ensure the successful completion of this project:

• Marcus Ubani (Larissa.Health & BIRTH SPO)- Lead for Markets and Project Management. Marcus is responsible for coordinating all activities related to the European market and overall project management.
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-m-ubani/
• https://twitter.com/marcusubani
• Bachelor in International Management (Economics)
• Master in Marketing Sales
• studied Economics Law at LLM level
• pursued further studies in Design Thinking (Strascheg Munich)
• Background in business consulting and project management since 2006
• Co-Founder of Larissa.Health
• Running a Web & Hosting Agency since 2012
• CFO for the Institute of Alternative Economic Theory
• SPO of Birth Stakepol since 09/2022
• Atala Prism Pioneer
• Emurgo's Haskell program
• interim and closing out Project Lead for the European Cardano Community Fund 10
• surprise Project Lead for the European Cardano Community Fund 11

• Davide Lucchesi (StudioMalaka) - Lead for Game Development & SDKs. Davide will head the gaming aspects of the blueprint, focusing on blockchain integration and the use of SDKs.
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/odiobill/
• https://twitter.com/studiomalaka

• Deryck Lance (Quasar) - Lead for DAO and Governance. Deryck will lead the initiative to educate builders on DAOs and governance models, including hands-on sessions and resource kits.
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/deryck-lance-9405898/
• https://twitter.com/QuasarSure

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

The Budget splits into 36k ADA for the ECC Operations and 64k ADA to compensate for blueprints.

We have a clear target of 6 blueprints, with openings for additional 4 blueprints.

With an estimated reward of around 6000 ADA per blueprint, we aim to fairly compensate our experts for their work.

This pricing reflects the dedication and experience found within our ecosystem, aligning with the shared commitment of our seasoned professionals.

Although the compensation may be below that of a typical professional in Northern or Western Europe, we believe this balance is fair—accounting for varying costs of living and comparable to rates for graduates with bachelor's or master's level expertise across different countries.

By focusing on equity and leveraging goodwill, we can ensure these resources are accessible and valuable for the entire Cardano community.

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

Our proposal is designed to provide maximum value to the Cardano ecosystem by leveraging our team's deep expertise and ensuring every resource is effectively utilized. It is important to note that the current compensation levels for the core team are on the lower end for an endeavor of this scope.

TL;DR

We are building a foundation for a self-sustaining incubator hub for founders within the European Cardano Community. Providing actionable knowledge and blueprints will be key to making our approach both feasible and accessible.

During this incubation phase, we aim to fairly compensate our supporting members, regardless of their backgrounds, in a way that benefits the community. Compared to the efforts and average professional wages in Western countries, the compensation is relatively low.

We prioritize community value and want to give back what we received in trust.

Detailed Version

With ADA currently at around 0.30€, and given the recent economic downturn as Germany announced a recession for Q4 2024, we expect other countries to follow due to the emerging trade war between Europe and China. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to delivering the project within the requested budget.

The core team compensation is set at reasonable rates considering the current economic landscape, reflecting a commitment to cost efficiency while recognizing the value of the expertise brought by governance experts, market analysts, and technical specialists. This budget allocation allows us to maintain fair remuneration for our team members while addressing the financial pressures of the current economic situation.

The costs associated with community engagement, such as bi-weekly fireside chats and XSpaces, are vital for keeping the community informed and involved. This budget element is modest compared to traditional marketing campaigns, as we focus on organic community-driven growth. Platform and collaboration tool costs are kept minimal, focusing on essential tools that enhance our transparency and engagement.

Collaborations with initiatives from different communities bring in valuable external perspectives, which contribute to the high quality of our blueprints. While the cost for third-party collaboration is included, we have ensured that it remains well within the budget limits, prioritizing value while enhancing knowledge.

The budget also includes content creation and documentation, ensuring that the blueprints and guides are comprehensive, accessible, and usable by a diverse audience. These elements are fundamental to empowering builders and facilitating their journey through the ecosystem.

Overall, the budget breakdown ensures that each aspect is proportional to its importance in achieving project success, without any unnecessary expenditure. Our aim is to maximize the impact on the ecosystem by delivering high-quality outputs that will drive innovation, enable growth, and ultimately contribute to Cardano’s long-term vision.