Bringing Blockchain to Local Champions: Cardano Wallets for Community Growth

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Matthew Roberts Davies

[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)

9

[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)

Equip 100 African leaders with Cardano wallets and stablecoins. Using the Social Capital Score, we’ll improve fund management, transparency, and access to global donors.

[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?

No

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

Our project will follow an open-source approach where applicable to promote transparency, collaboration, and community development. 

[METADATA] Horizons

Connected Community

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem:

African community leaders struggle with fund management and accessing global donors due to high fees and currency volatility. These leaders have a track record of success in Web2 platforms but lack the tools to scale through blockchain technology, which could offer transparency and financial efficiency.

Our Approach:

We aim to onboard 100 African community champions using Cardano wallets and stablecoins to mitigate currency volatility and lower transaction costs. By leveraging BackaBuddy’s Social Capital Score, we will identify the most impactful leaders for this initiative.

• Education Program:
• Comprehensive workshops will provide training on Cardano wallet usage, managing stablecoins, and engaging global donors. Champions will learn to manage community projects with lower fees and higher transparency.
• Cardano Wallet Integration:
• We will teach leaders to use Cardano wallets to receive, manage, and transfer funds while mitigating currency risks. Stablecoins will be integrated to smoothen cross-border donations and reduce volatility.
• Fund Management and Global Donor Access:
• By reducing transaction fees and currency risks, leaders will gain access to a larger global donor network, driving donations for their community-driven projects.

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

Impact on the Cardano Community:

1. Increased Adoption of Cardano Tools: Onboarding 100 African community champions will directly increase Cardano's real-world adoption in underserved regions, especially for fundraising and transparent financial management.
2. Showcasing Cardano’s Utility: The project will demonstrate how Cardano wallets and stablecoins can resolve key issues like high fees and currency volatility in the context of community-driven projects.
3. Data-Driven Metrics:
4. Number of Cardano wallets created and actively used.
5. Volume of funds managed through Cardano wallets and stablecoins.
6. Global donors engaged through the Cardano system.
7. Reduction in transaction costs and enhanced fund management transparency.
8. Sharing Outputs: We will publish case studies, impact reports, and financial transparency metrics through BackaBuddy's website, conferences, and collaboration with Cardano community member

[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?

Proven Track Record:

BackaBuddy has raised $45 million from global donors, empowering 1.7 million users to run successful community projects. Our Social Capital Score ensures we target the most impactful leaders.

Phased Implementation:

• We will start with a pilot program for 20 champions, gather feedback, and refine our approach before scaling to 100.
• We have a technical team experienced in integrating financial tools with blockchain, ensuring the seamless adoption of Cardano wallets and stablecoins.

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Onboarding (Month 1-2)

• Outputs: Detailed project plan, selection of 100 community champions.
• Success Indicator: Project plan approved, leaders identified through the Social Capital Score.

Milestone 2: Education Program Development (Month 2-4)

• Outputs: Comprehensive education curriculum (wallet setup, stablecoin usage, donor engagement).
• Success Indicator: Pilot workshop with 20 champions and feedback.

Milestone 3: Cardano Tool Integration (Month 4-5)

• Outputs: Stablecoin integration for fund management and testing of tools with 20 champions.
• Success Indicator: 20 leaders using Cardano wallets successfully.

Milestone 4: Full Rollout and Optimization (Month 5-6)

• Outputs: All 100 champions onboarded and using Cardano wallets and stablecoins.
• Success Indicator: 80% of champions actively managing funds with Cardano tools.

Final Milestone: Project Reporting (Month 6)

• Outputs: Final report on outcomes, challenges, and roadmap.
• Success Indicator: Comprehensive report shared with the Cardano community.

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

Matt Roberts-Davies – Project Director

• Role: Oversees the overall project execution, strategy, and ensures alignment with the objectives of transitioning BackaBuddy to the Cardano blockchain. Matt will also manage partnerships and ensure seamless integration of the tokenized reputation system.
• Experience: Director of BackaBuddy, Africa’s largest crowdfunding platform, and co-founder of Thundafund Africa. Matt has a background in fintech, social inclusion, and has managed projects with global organizations like Kiva.org and UNCDF.
• LinkedIn: Matt Roberts-Davies

Alex Macbeth – Head of Research & Onboarding

• Role: Leads the Web3 education and onboarding of local leaders, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary knowledge to adopt blockchain technology and Cardano wallets. Alex will also handle research and user feedback collection.
• Experience: Co-founder of Innofund, with 15 years of experience in Africa, Central Asia, and global media sectors. Alex has extensive experience in development and technology, particularly in emerging markets.

Gabriel von Roda – Finance & Technical Operations

• Role: Manages the financial aspects of the project, ensuring proper allocation of resources and transparent fund management. Gabriel will also oversee the integration of Cardano wallets and smart contracts for decentralized fundraising.
• Experience: Co-founder of Innofund, with over two decades of experience working on business development across multiple continents. Gabriel has expertise in blockchain integration and financial oversight.

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

Total Budget: 150,000 ADA

1. Personnel Costs (70,000 ADA)

• Project Lead: 15,000 ADA
• Blockchain Integration Specialist: 20,000 ADA
• Education Program Manager: 12,000 ADA
• Community Outreach Coordinator: 10,000 ADA
• Financial Systems Analyst: 13,000 ADA

1. New Hires (30,000 ADA)

• Cardano Developer: 20,000 ADA
• UX/UI Designer: 10,000 ADA

1. Education and Training (20,000 ADA)

• Curriculum Development: 6,000 ADA
• Training Materials: 4,000 ADA
• Workshop Expenses: 10,000 ADA

1. Technology and Infrastructure (25,000 ADA)

• Cardano Integration Development: 15,000 ADA
• Security Audits: 5,000 ADA
• Server and Hosting Costs: 5,000 ADA

1. Marketing and Community Engagement (5,000 ADA)

• Promotional Materials: 2,000 ADA
• Community Events: 3,000 ADA

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

This project offers exceptional value for money by focusing on high-impact adoption of Cardano tools in real-world projects led by African community champions. The cost per champion is 1,500 ADA, which is a cost-efficient approach to equipping influential leaders who will drive long-term usage and community trust in Cardano-based solutions. By solving tangible problems (fund management, cross-border donations), the project creates a sustainable model for Cardano adoption in emerging markets.

1. Strategic Onboarding of New Users

• Impactful Outreach: By targeting local leaders with proven social capital and strong community ties, the project will bring new, influential users into the Cardano ecosystem. These leaders are trusted in their communities and have the ability to onboard hundreds or even thousands of additional users. This grassroots approach ensures scalable and sustainable growth.
• Cost Efficiency: The cost of onboarding local leaders, providing them with educational resources, and supporting them through a pilot program is a low-cost investment compared to the potential long-term returns. These users will help drive adoption of Cardano wallets and stablecoins, creating more on-chain activity.

2. Real-World Utility and Use Cases

• Practical Use Case: Integrating Cardano wallets and stablecoins into community-driven crowdfunding creates a real-world use case for blockchain technology. Demonstrating blockchain’s effectiveness in solving tangible problems—like donation management and fund transparency—helps Cardano solidify its position as a leading platform for decentralized solutions.
• Long-Term Adoption: The pilot program will serve as a proof of concept that can be expanded to other platforms and regions, amplifying Cardano’s reach in emerging markets where blockchain can have significant social and economic impact.

3. Phased, Scalable Approach

• Low-Risk, High-Reward: By starting with a pilot group of leaders, the project takes a low-risk approach while maximizing learning potential. Feedback from the pilot will allow for process refinement, ensuring that when the project scales, it will do so efficiently and effectively. The initial investment ensures that resources are allocated wisely.
• Building a Sustainable Model: Once the onboarding process is refined, the model can be used to engage more local leaders and even expand to new sectors. The potential for scale provides a high return on investment for the ecosystem, with future phases costing less as onboarding processes become more streamlined.

4. Transparent Fund Management

• Blockchain Transparency: The use of Cardano wallets and stablecoins ensures transparent management of funds. All transactions will be verifiable on-chain, which aligns with Cardano’s values of decentralization and accountability. This transparency boosts trust in the platform, encouraging further adoption by community leaders and their networks.
• Clear Reporting: The project includes a final report to be shared with the Cardano community, outlining the outcomes, lessons learned, and next steps for scaling. This ensures that every ADA spent is accounted for, providing the community with confidence that the project delivers value.

5. Educational Materials as Long-Term Assets

• Reusable Resources: The educational materials developed during the project (wallet guides, video tutorials) will remain as open-source assets, allowing future users to benefit from them without additional costs. This ensures that the initial investment continues to provide value as more local leaders and their communities are onboarded.