DaoCounting: Decentralized Timesheet-based Collaboration and Accounting Platform for Web3 (Cardano, Midnight)

[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 (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

Yes

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

DaoCounting will be an online collaboration timesheet allowing blockchain-based transparency.

It integrates with GitHub and offers basic accounting for individuals working in decentralized environments

[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.”

• Development Tools and Error-Reporting (i.e. BugSnag - low centralized risk to default)
• Cardano blockchain (low decentralized risk of default)
• possibly Midnight for private transactions (currently in Testnet)
• possibly Majestro / Blockfrost for reduced development time (centralised risk to default)
• possibly Marlowe for Smart Contracts (opensource)

[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

NO - We plan to build a sustainable business case around this proposal and act as a service provider.

However, we recognize the value of contributing to the community, which is why smart contracts are considered to be made publicly available, also to increase trust.

[METADATA] Horizons

Business Services

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

TL;DR

Most people I've worked with in the crypto space dislike paperwork, especially when logging time for ongoing projects. DaoCounting aims to solve this issue while preventing over-expenditure and ensuring contributors feel appreciated.

Detailed version

I have already experienced the pitfalls and benefits of creating and using a basic draft of such a system for the European Cardano Community. We used Google Sheets, but this approach proved to be neither sustainable nor properly compliant. Existing time-tracking solutions are either too simply or too complex, they lack transparency, blockchain integration, and the flexibility that decentralized projects require, particularly in the web3 ecosystem.

DaoCounting will be an online timesheet and collaboration tool that provides blockchain-based transparency, integrates with GitHub for seamless project tracking, and offers basic accounting capabilities for individuals working in decentralized environments.

Built on the Cardano blockchain, DaoCounting aims to streamline decentralized collaboration, from tracking work to storing records on-chain, making it an ideal solution for DAOs and other decentralized teams.

We want also include a background fiat to ada on-ramp, to onboard users from outside the cryptocurrency ecosphere.

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

I have already experienced the pitfalls and benefits of creating and using a basic draft of such a system for the European Cardano Community. We used Google Sheets, but this approach proved to be neither sustainable nor properly compliant. Existing time-tracking solutions lack transparency, blockchain integration, and the flexibility that decentralized projects require, particularly in the web3 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?

Statement

I am far from perfect, but I am deeply passionate about transparency, accountability, and social-preneurship. As a husband, father of four, caregiver, and entrepreneur, I know what true responsibility means.

My diverse experience in management, development, and blockchain technology positions me well to explore and prepare DaoCounting in becoming an essential tool for decentralized teams.

Learning Path

During the project I will have to explore and learn the different projects around Cardano on an implementation level. This will include getting in touch with the projects and possibly dive through the Gimbalabs courses.

The MVP will most likely only make use of basic transactions and providing meta data.

This deeper exploration will help me understand best practices, ensure compliance, and determine the most efficient solutions for both the short and long term.

Partial building in public

While the project will be proprietary, the GitHub project link will serve as a public roadmap for Catalyst, ensuring full transparency of our progress and inviting community feedback.

Here a is a quick breakdown of my resumé.

Economic Background:

• 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
• CFO for the Institute of Alternative Economic Theory

Developer Background:

• Running a Web & Hosting Agency since 2012
• Completed Emurgo's Haskell program
• Node operator since 09/22
• web developer and sysadmin since 2010
• basic understanding of Plutus
• aiming to use either the Majestro, Blockfrost API or a personal Cardano node for integration. 

Cardano Background:

• 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

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

Version 1 - MVP: Website, Marketing

Output / Explorations

• Public Roadmap setup: Setting up a public (Catalyst) project roadmap on GitHub
• User Authentication: web2 and web3 authentication, including Wallet-based authentication supporting popular wallets (e.g., Eternl, Nami) to ensure secure, decentralized identity management, validating current implementation readiness of additional identity solutions
• Dashboard: Overview of projects and integration with GitHub to manage time logs, allowing users to toggle between private and public data for complete privacy control.
• Frontend: Website Frontend (Home, Product & FAQ, Most recent, Legal)
• Marketing: Accounts, Visuals, Discord Server, onboarding Alpha Testers
• Legal: Basic legal coverage and compliance
• Alpha Testers: Onboard and define Acceptance Tests for M1

Acceptance Criteria

• Roadmap on GitHub publicly available
• All corresponding miles roadmap issues are marked with DONE or IMPEDIMENT, with a documented plan for mitigation or adjustment
• All of the above is implemented
• Social media channels are claimed with at least three posts (not YouTube) and an introduction video on YT
• User feedback from Alpha tester group is generated
• All of the above (except the link to the roadmap on GitHub) are available on the website: https://daocounting.com

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to public report on GitHub
• Link to corresponding milestone issues on GitHub
• All of the above functioning
• user feedback from Alpha group is generated

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Version 1 - MVP: Core Documentation

Output / Explorations

• Timesheet Management: Create, edit, delete, and customize time entries, and toggle between public and private visibility. Collaborators can see off-chain entries before being locked on-chain
• GitHub Integration: Basic integration with GitHub projects, Conceptualizing further integration in v2
• Accounting Feature: Basic income and expense management for individuals in web3, including linking entries to relevant transactions.
• Admin Features: View and approve or reject finalized time periods for efficient management.
• Alpha Testers: Define Acceptance Tests for M2 and run bug bounty over M1 and M2

Acceptance Criteria

• Roadmap on GitHub publicly available
• All corresponding miles roadmap issues are marked with DONE or IMPEDIMENT, with a documented plan for mitigation or adjustment
• All of the above is implemented
• User feedback from Alpha tester group is generated

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to public report on GitHub
• Link to corresponding milestone issues on GitHub
• All of the above functioning
• user feedback from Alpha group is generated

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Version 1 - MVP: Blockchain Integration and Payments

Output / Explorations on Testnet

• Blockchain Integration: Finalize and lock public data on the Cardano blockchain
• Exploring Midnight: Storing decoupled DID:Documents for private, commercial use cases.
• Exploring Collaboration consensus, including multiSig implementation, before finalization ensures transparency and collective decision-making.
• Cardano Payment Features: Transactions for public finalized records are stored on-chain, with users paying a service small fee (i.e 1 ADA) to confirm storage.
• Fiat Payments: Integrate Fiat -> ADA -> Credits purchase for non-crypto natives, exploring liquidity pooling.
• Alpha Testers: Define Acceptance Tests for M3 and run bug bounty

Acceptance Criteria

• Roadmap on GitHub publicly available
• All corresponding miles roadmap issues are marked with DONE or IMPEDIMENT, with a documented plan for mitigation or adjustment.
• All of the above is implemented at MVP level
• Transactions on Testnet have been made
• Exploring Collaboration consensus is evaluated and possibly implemented
• User feedback from Alpha tester group is generated

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to public report on GitHub
• Link to corresponding milestone issues on GitHub
• All of the above functioning or reported
• user feedback from Alpha group is generated

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Version 1 - MVP: Close out & Preparation

Output / Explorations / Close-out

• Preparation for Preview and Mainnet: Testing basic reporting features on next stages.
• Alpha Testers: Define Acceptance Tests for Final Milestone and distribute final bug bounty
• Marketing: Improving Marketing Campaign, joining public Spaces i.e. X Spaces and Fireside Chat of the European Cardano Community
• Close out: Report and Video

Acceptance Criteria

• Roadmap on GitHub publicly available
• All corresponding miles roadmap issues are marked with DONE or IMPEDIMENT, with a documented plan for mitigation or adjustment
• All of the above is implemented at MVP level
• Transactions on Preview have been made
• User feedback from Alpha tester group is generated

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to public report on GitHub
• Link to public video on GitHub
• Link to corresponding milestone issues on GitHub
• All of the above functioning or reported
• user feedback from Alpha group is generated

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

Marcus Ubani:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-m-ubani/
• https://twitter.com/marcusubani
• https://twitter.com/eucardano
• https://larissa.health

• Development
• Design
• Marketing
• Research

Potential community outreach partners will be paid from Marketing Budget.

Additionally will the European Cardano Community team support as Alpha Testers, too.

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

In Germany, ADA and other cryptocurrency payouts fall under a progressive tax of up to 40%, which will significantly reduce my net funds available for the project.

With ADA currently at around 0.30€, and given the recent economic downturn as Germany announced a recession for Q4 2024, I expect other countries to follow due to the emerging trade war between Europe and China.

These economic conditions are challenging, but they also highlight the need for innovative solutions like DaoCounting, which can offer efficient resource management and enhance accountability for decentralized teams.

And although the compensation may be below the typical professional rate in Northern or Western Europe, I believe this balance is a fair trade between learning investment and economic output for DaoCounting and the broader Cardano ecosystem.

Outlining these challenges, I remain committed to delivering the project within the requested budget.

The Bug Bounty aims to provide fair compensation for our Alpha Testers and the Community, recognizing their valuable contribution to improving DaoCounting during the development phase.

Ultimately, DaoCounting will not only contribute to enhanced resource management for decentralized teams but will also drive further adoption of Cardano, increasing its utility in both professional and community-driven contexts.

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

The requested funds are aligned with typical freelance rates and software costs in the industry, ensuring a balance between quality and sustainability. 

DaoCounting will support the growth of decentralized work and collaboration by providing an efficient, blockchain-enhanced tool for managing time, project contributions, and payments.

Using Cardano as confirmation ledger, DaoCounting will enhance transparency, reduce administrative burdens, and empower decentralized communities to work more effectively.

The integration of Larissa.Health and the involvement of the European Cardano Community as Alpha Testers also demonstrate our commitment to community collaboration and real-world application.

In addition, the knowledge gained through developing DaoCounting will be shared with the broader Cardano community, through blogposts and in events, contributing to collective growth and best practices in decentralized collaboration.

Ultimately it will increase transactions on the Cardano blockchain and drive adoption that can be marketed to the broader freelance and open-source communities that are not yet familiar with blockchain technology.

These funds will be used to develop features that are specifically designed to support the growth of decentralized work and collaboration.

As the adoption of DaoCounting grows, the platform can be further expanded to support additional use cases across industries, broadening the Cardano ecosystem’s reach.