Ikigai | Cardano Clash Marketing Campaign Tournament marketing Cardano to Gamers

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

David Yagi

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

Entity (Incorporated)

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

3

[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)

Cardano Clash enables collections to form teams for holders to compete in a professionally produced and marketed eSports event, with prizes at stake.

[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

Marketing efforts and papers used will be published as well as any smart contracts under MIT open license.

[METADATA] Horizons

Marketing

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We are thrilled to present an online event featuring Cardano collections and projects in Ascent: Rivals, a competitive game built on Cardano. NFT holders can join teams based on their NFTs, while Cardano projects can sponsor the prize pool, gaining visibility with branding around the track. This flagship event aims to unite NFT holders, project teams, and spectators, showcasing the vibrant competition and community spirit of the Cardano ecosystem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y71odpHP2k

Cardano Clash is a competitive eSports event with professional coverage, featuring popular collections registering teams for their holders. Brand integrations include billboards and spectator placements, showcasing your favorite Cardano ecosystem builders and projects.

All money collected from sponsors and portion of grant will be going back to Cardano holders as there will be verification of having an NFT of a players respective team (ex: must hold House of Titan to join team). As such, we'll be able to spend the funds to distribute funds to active communities, influencers in Cardano, with a portion of the budget described below for marketing and operations.

Offering custom jerseys with teams, sponsors, brands will help grow teams and raise hype into the tournament. We've also brought in professional shoutcasters and content creators to expand reach.

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

• Community Engagement: Cardano Clash encourages active participation from Cardano holders and enthusiasts by integrating NFT verification, incentivizing engagement through gameplay, and distributing prize money back to the community.
• Brand Visibility: Cardano Clash integrates brands directly into the mix by integrating them into the game via replay cameras, billboards, and logos on ships.
• Ecosystem Growth: By showcasing Cardano-based projects and collections in a competitive gaming environment, Cardano Clash drives interest and adoption of Cardano technology, contributing to the overall growth and development of the ecosystem.
• Partnerships and Collaborations: The event facilitates partnerships and collaborations among Cardano projects, sponsors, influencers, and community members, fostering a collaborative and interconnected ecosystem.

[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?

Billboards and Streaming concept can be seen in practice here:

https://youtu.be/PfgE0l6cFmo

• Many improvements to billboards, camera, shoutcasting, and brand integrations have been made since, but we've shown the ability run, organize, and shoutcast a tournament without catalyst budget

Early Achievements to show capability and public building

1. Showcased the game at PAX West 2024(130k attendees) winning players choice award
2. Won DreamHack Dallas Indie award (60k attendees)
3. PAX Rising winners (120k attendees) out of thousands of game studios
4. Showcased at Rare Evo 2024 (2.5k attendees)
5. Winners of DreamHack Atlanta (35k attendees)
6. Over 4,000 hours of organic playtesting and a player retention rate 30% higher than the industry average
7. Featured on Steam front page with 200 million MAU - twice!
8. Featured by Sony's largest gaming infrastructure provider, Accelbyte
9. Partnered with Saleen, Dirtfish, and Shelby

All footage can be found on our youtube channel.

September 2023 - Winner of “Player’s Choice Award” at PAX 2023 (120k attendees)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAnnsbV9X7E

April 2024 - Attended west coast's largest LAN. Over 10% of players played Ascent Rivals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHrqJwKJo_c

March 2024 - Winner of DreamHack Dallas Indie Playground

March 2024 - Featured on Steam store front page with 200 million MAU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMupkx4yg7I

August 2024 - Sponsored by Rare Evo to showcase Ascent Rivals in Las Vegas (2.5k attendees)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2qjXvTX2s

October 2024 - Winner of DreamHack Atlanta Indie Playground (second time)

https://youtu.be/JmQqPHx3iDQ

Highlighting Cardano in Sony's largest gaming infrastructure provider

https://youtu.be/j1InFg5YY5k

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

Announce Cardano Clash

10% cost | 2 weeks | 10% completion

Deliverables:

• Promotional Materials made
• Tournament design, schedule, format completed
• Announcement trailer
• Develop site with details and registration

Acceptance criteria:

• Site with details and registration is live
• Announcement trailer is posted on socials

Acquire Sponsors, Team Registrations, and Partners

15% cost | 1 month | 25% completion

Deliverables:

• Sponsorship tiers are at least 50% filled
• At least minimum (6) teams are registered
• Engage partner networks

Acceptance criteria:

• Event team requirement met and prize pool met

Kick Off Event 1

15% cost | 8 weeks | 50% completion

Deliverables:

• Weekly Matches for Circuit Points
• Post game interviews

Acceptance criteria:

• Live coverage and VODs covering events

Acquire Sponsors, Team Registrations, and Partners for Second Round

15% cost | 1 month | 65% completion

Deliverables:

• Sponsorship tiers are at least 50% filled
• At least minimum (6) teams are registered
• Engage partner networks

Acceptance criteria:

• Event team requirement met and prize pool met

Kick Off Event 2

25% cost | 8 weeks | 80% completion

Deliverables:

• Weekly Matches for Circuit Points
• Post game interviews

Acceptance criteria:

• Live coverage and VODs covering events

Posting Metrics and Results

10% cost | 2 weeks | 100% completion

Deliverables:

• Host finals with cash prizes and live coverage
• Interviews with winners and runner ups

Acceptance criteria:

• Prize pool money distributed

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

David Yagi (cryptochips) as Project Manager, Merch Sponsor, Tournament Organizer

Michael Yagi (genun games) as Delivery Manager, Partnerships

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

Marketing = $4,000 / ₳11,428.57

• Digital Advertising
• Content Creation
• Community Engagement
• PR and Media Outreach
• Bringing KOL and active streamers into covering event

Event Coverage = $2,000 / ₳5,714.28

• Media companies, outlets, PR agencies

Prize Pool = $8,000 / ₳22,857.14

• prize pool for 3 months of weekly streamed tournaments
• Matching NFT Sweep for projects participating in Rivals Matches
• Matching player or sponsorship contributions to the prize pool
• viewing party giveaways

Development, Designs, & Merchandise = $1,000 / ₳3,500

• Website
• Jerseys at wholesale rates w/partnership with Cryptochips

Floating Budget = $1,000 / ₳2,702.70

TOTAL AMOUNT

• $15,000 / ₳42,857

We apply a 0.35 USD/ADA exchange rate, which is the average rate over the past few months conservatively adjusted downward to ensure that the project will remain viable despite moderate price shocks that may occur before or during the project timeline.

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

• Market Cardano to Consumer Audiences: players and spectators from tradtional gaming will be introduced to Cardano projects via billboards, intermission streamed advertisements, twitter promotions, and earned media.
• Prize Money Distribution: Sponsors' contributions and grant allocations will be redistributed to Cardano holders through NFT verification, incentivizing active participation and community involvement.
• Targeted Marketing: Funds allocated for marketing will be used strategically to reach and engage specific communities within Cardano, including active holders, influencers, and enthusiasts interested in gaming and blockchain.
• Community Engagement: Investing in community-focused initiatives, such as distributing funds to active communities and influencers, strengthens relationships and fosters loyalty within the Cardano ecosystem.