Global Revolution: Recipe NFT Minting and Rewards on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

DataSciencePLC.com

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Mahlet Duressa

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

8

[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 integrate Cardano blockchain to enable recipe NFT minting and a token reward system, empowering creators with ownership and monetization.

[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

Our project will utilize the MIT License for all blockchain integration code, ensuring transparency, free access, and broad usage potential. This includes smart contracts for NFT minting and the token reward system, fostering community contributions and improvements.

[METADATA] Horizons

NFT

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution leverages the Cardano blockchain to revolutionize the digital culinary space by introducing NFT-based recipe ownership and a token reward system. Here’s an outline of our approach:

Traditional digital cooking platforms do not offer creators tangible ownership or ways to monetize their contributions effectively. This limitation stifles innovation and reduces engagement from potentially creative individuals who could contribute to diverse culinary experiences. 

Our proposed solution features

1. NFT Recipe Minting

• Feature: Users can mint their original recipes into NFTs on the Cardano blockchain, establishing irrefutable ownership and authenticity.
• Impact: This empowers culinary creators by providing them with a unique way to protect their intellectual property and potentially profit from their creativity through a transparent and secure digital ledger.

2. Token Tip System:

• Feature: We’ll utilize ADA to tip users for their contributions to the platform, such as submitting recipes, providing valuable feedback, or participating in community events.
• Impact: Enhances user engagement by incentivizing participation, which not only boosts platform activity but also fosters a more vibrant and collaborative community.

3. Blockchain-Verified Dietary Achievements:

• Feature: Record and verify users’ dietary milestones and achievements using blockchain technology, ensuring they are tamper-proof and verifiable.
• Impact: Builds trust with the platform, as users can reliably share their dietary accomplishments with health professionals or within their social circles, enhancing the app's utility and personal value.

4. Decentralized Voting on Content Quality:

• Feature: Implement a decentralized system where users can vote on content quality using tokens, influencing which content gets promoted or featured.
• Impact: Encourages high-quality submissions and active community involvement, ensuring that the best content is recognized and rewarded, thereby continuously improving the platform's content standard.

5. Recipe Trading and Auctioning Platform:

• Feature: Create a marketplace where users can buy, sell, or trade their recipe NFTs using Cardano's secure and scalable blockchain technology.
• Impact: Opens up new economic opportunities for users, allowing them to monetize their culinary skills and creations in a dynamic market environment.

6. Smart Contract-Managed Subscriptions:

• Feature: Utilize Cardano smart contracts for handling subscriptions to premium content, ensuring an automated, transparent, and fair process.
• Impact: Reduces administrative overhead while providing a seamless and trustless experience for premium content access, making the platform more attractive and easy to use.

We will initially launch our platform with four foundational features, focusing on core functionalities to ensure robustness and user engagement. The advanced features, including NFT Recipe Minting and Token Reward System, will be seamlessly integrated once the platform reaches production level, guaranteeing scalability and enhanced value to our users as we expand.

Benefits to Cardano:

By integrating these features, the project not only enhances the real-world utility of the Cardano blockchain in new and innovative ways by diversifying its application beyond typical financial transactions but also promotes broader adoption by demonstrating practical use cases in everyday activities like cooking. This initiative aligns with Cardano's vision of fostering blockchain use beyond traditional financial applications, supporting small economies, and enhancing user engagement through technology, will also highlight Cardano's adaptability and scalability, serving as a valuable case study in the application of blockchain technology in everyday life.

Our Unique Approach:

We chose the Cardano blockchain for its robust capabilities in handling smart contracts and its commitment to sustainability, making it an ideal platform for our solution. By enabling users to mint their recipes as NFTs, we provide them with undeniable proof of ownership and the potential for monetization through trade or exclusive access mechanisms.

Demonstrating Impact:

We will measure our impact through user engagement metrics such as the number of recipes minted as NFTs, the volume of transactions involving our tokens, and user feedback on the platform. Success will also be demonstrated by the adoption rate of the platform among the target audience and the active participation in the token economy.

Why This Matters:

By providing a platform that enhances visibility, ownership, and profitability for culinary creators, we encourage more high-quality content production and engagement. This aligns with Cardano’s mission of promoting economic empowerment and driving the adoption of blockchain technology through practical, innovative solutions.

Great! It sounds like you've made significant progress with your app. Given this current status, here's how we can incorporate this information into your proposal, especially in the sections discussing the project's current state and readiness for the next steps:

Current Status

1. Backend Development

   - We have already developed most of the backend APIs necessary for the app's functionality.

   - A comprehensive Postman collection is prepared, facilitating easy testing and integration for further development.

2. Design

   - The app's design is fully laid out in Figma, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly interface across all features. Link - click here 

3. App availability 

• Google Play Deployment: The app is currently available for public testing on Google Play. This availability allows us to gather real-world feedback from users, which is critical for ongoing improvements and ensuring that the app meets the needs of a diverse user base. Interested users can download and test the app, providing valuable insights that will inform the integration of blockchain functionalities. Click here to access the app on Google Play.
• Code Availability on GitHub: The source code is openly available on GitHub. This transparency not only fosters a community of developers who can contribute to and enhance the app but also ensures that our development processes are accessible for review and collaboration. This open-source approach aligns with the values of transparency and community-driven development within the Cardano ecosystem. Click here to view the repository on GitHub.

4. Implemented Features

   - Authentication System: Allows users to sign in as guests or through an authentication process, enhancing user experience and security.

   - Ingredient Input: Users can enter ingredients by categories such as vegetables, dairy, fruits, and meat, optimizing the recipe search process.

   - User Configuration: Includes options for gender, age, height, and weight, integrating personal health management into the culinary experience.

   - Recipe Management: Features for creating, saving, and interacting with recipes are fully functional, including detailed pages for each recipe that provide comprehensive cooking guides.

   - User Interaction: Users can comment on recipes, reply to comments, and manage their profile settings, enhancing community engagement.

   - Additional Features: Includes onboarding, settings, and social features like forums and inviting friends.

5. Pending Features

   - Personalized User Experience: Still to implement features like diet selection, cooking time preferences, allergy information, fitness goals, and ideal water intake.

   - Health and Management Tools: BMI summary, notifications, and user-centric features such as "My Fridge", "My Health", "My Meal Planner", and "My Goals" are under development.

This detail of the app’s current features and pending developments provides a clear picture of our project's progress and preparedness for integrating blockchain technology. This groundwork ensures that we can effectively implement the proposed blockchain functionalities with minimal disruption and maximum leverage of existing capabilities.

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

Our project showcases the versatility of Cardano blockchain beyond finance by integrating NFT minting and a token reward system within the culinary field. This highlights how Cardano can be used in everyday activities, promoting broader adoption and understanding of blockchain technology in non-traditional sectors.

We will open-source all blockchain-related code, including smart contracts for NFT minting and token operations, under an MIT License on GitHub. This ensures transparency and encourages collaboration within the Cardano developer community. Regular updates on project milestones and tutorials will be shared, with workshops and webinars aimed at culinary and tech audiences. We will also explore collaborations with other Cardano ecosystem projects to enhance interoperability and cross-promotion.

To measure impact, we’ll track user adoption, transaction volume, and community growth through app engagement metrics. Qualitative feedback will assess user satisfaction, while we will also evaluate market innovation, identifying new business models or practices inspired by our platform.

By implementing these strategies, we aim to contribute to Cardano's growth, driving innovation and expanding blockchain applications into new industries.

[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?

Capability to Deliver the Project

Our team, developers of the "Millions Recipes" app, possesses a unique combination of expertise in software development, culinary content, and blockchain technology. This blend of skills uniquely positions us to deliver the project with high levels of trust and accountability:

1. Experienced Development Team: Our developers have extensive experience in mobile and web application development, including prior projects that integrate blockchain technologies. This technical prowess ensures robust and secure implementation of blockchain features within the app.

2. Proven Track Record: The "Millions Recipes" app already enjoys a user base interested in culinary innovation, and we have successfully managed and scaled the app's features. This history demonstrates our ability to manage projects effectively and adapt to user needs.

We have a successful history of developing and deploying mobile applications, including the existing ExpertsWay app on Google Play. This demonstrates our technical expertise and project management capabilities. Link to design click here

Our previous experience with blockchain integration projects funded by Catalyst, including the "Cardano for 100,000+ students" and “Universal DevTools for Real-time Tracking for 45%+ of Global Websites Support” projects, highlights our commitment and proven ability to deliver impactful projects.

“Cardano for 100,000+ students” project with over 100,000 downloaded on google play. Project closeout report document Click here

“Universal DevTools for Real-time Tracking for 45%+ of Global Websites Support” A comprehensive closeout document covering project objectives, scope, milestones, challenges, impact, and future recommendations. Click here

“Enhancing cardano developer ecosystem with open source tooling” user-friendly tools and standardized solutions to streamline Cardano development, optimizing the workflow for a more efficient and enjoyable developer experience.

3. Blockchain Expertise: We have in-house blockchain experts who have previously worked on several successful Cardano-based projects. Their deep understanding of Cardano's architecture and smart contract programming ensures that our blockchain integration is both innovative and aligned with best practices.

4. Partnerships and Support:

• We have established relationships with educational institutions and industry experts who can provide valuable feedback and support for the NFT certification feature.
• Collaborations with the Cardano community and other stakeholders will be leveraged to ensure the project aligns with industry standards and user expectations.
• Microsoft collaboration: Our project has joined Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub. We have access to a mix of technical benefits and business resources. (38 microsoft services benefits)

Feasibility and Validation

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will conduct the following steps:

1. Prototype Development: Before full-scale implementation, we will develop a prototype to test the NFT minting process and token tip system. This will allow us to gather early feedback and make necessary adjustments.

2. Beta Testing: Engage with a select group of users from our existing app community to test the new features. Their feedback will be crucial in refining our approach and ensuring the platform is user-friendly and meets the community's needs.

3. Continuous Monitoring and Iteration: Post-launch, we will monitor the system's performance continuously, using data analytics to track engagement and transaction metrics. This will help us quickly identify and resolve any issues.

Trust and Accountability in Managing Funds

1. Transparent Budgeting: All budgeting details will be openly shared with the community through regular updates. We will provide breakdowns of how funds are being allocated and spent.

2. Regular Reporting: We commit to regular progress reports that include financial accounting, which will be shared with our backers and the broader Cardano community through our project's website and Cardano forums.

By implementing these measures, we aim to establish a high level of trust and accountability, ensuring that we manage both the project and its funds with integrity and in alignment with our community's expectations.

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

Finalization of Non-Blockchain Mobile App Features

Description: Complete the development and refinement of all non-blockchain mobile app features, ensuring a solid foundation for subsequent blockchain integrations.

Outputs: Fully functional mobile app with all non-blockchain features completed.

Acceptance Criteria: User acceptance testing confirms all non-blockchain features are operational and meet specified user requirements.

NFT Recipe Minting

Description: Develop and integrate the NFT minting functionality, allowing users to create and own NFTs of their recipes on the Cardano blockchain.

Outputs: NFT minting feature integrated into the app, with backend and frontend support.

Acceptance Criteria: Successful minting of recipe NFTs demonstrated in a test environment; feedback from beta testers confirms the feature's usability and functionality.

Token Tip System Implementation

Description: Implement a token reward system that enables users to earn and spend tokens within the app for contributing content and participating in community activities.

Outputs: Token reward system fully integrated into the app, with functionalities for earning and spending tokens.

Acceptance Criteria: Completion of token transactions in a test environment confirms system functionality and security; user feedback indicates satisfaction with the usability of the token system.

Blockchain-Verified Dietary Achievements

Description: Develop a feature to record and verify users’ dietary achievements using blockchain technology, enhancing the app’s value in health and wellness tracking.

Outputs: Blockchain-verified dietary achievements feature implemented, with appropriate UI components and backend logic.

Acceptance Criteria: Accurate recording and verification of dietary achievements using blockchain; positive user feedback on the feature's reliability and usefulness.

Project Completion Report and Video

Description: Compile and produce a comprehensive project report and a video detailing the project’s development, impact, and future prospects.

Outputs: Project completion report and a documentary-style video highlighting key features and user testimonials.

Acceptance Criteria: Approval of the report and video by the project steering committee, and positive reception from the Cardano community upon release.

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

Core Team Members

1.Esubalew Amenu - Tech Lead & Blockchain Strategist

   - LinkedIn: click here

   - Role: Oversees the entire project, ensuring alignment with the Cardano blockchain's capabilities and the project's objectives.

   - Experience:

• Over 8+ years of project management in blockchain and fintech industries.
• Successfully led multiple projects from conception to implementation, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction.
• Expertise in coordinating diverse teams and fostering effective communication.
• Currently working at SingularityNet.io
• Email: esubalew.amenu@singularitynet.io
• Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) - Certificate ID 64a11f630d345a3a7c07d6cb
• BSc in Computer Science, MSc in Software Engineering, BA in Management
• Founder of DataScience computing plc
• Member of Microsoft for startups founders hub

2.Senay Fenta - Lead Developer

   - LinkedIn:  click here

   - Role: Heads the technical development, focusing on integrating blockchain technology into the Millions Recipes app.

   - Experience: 

• Over 8+ years of software related experience in blockchain and fintech industries.
• Contributed on previously funded projects
• Expertise in development and devops
• Certified in Oracle logo Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations 2021 Certified Associate, Associate - Information Storage and Management Version 4.0
• Founder and CEO of Awura plc

3.Ermiyas G.Egziabher - GitHub click here

• Role: Developer
• Email: ermi12b@gmail.com
• Experience: Proficient in server-side programming languages, database management and API integration.
• Responsibility: Handles the backend development and integration of the platform.

4.Amanuel Gulelat- click here

• Role: Lead Mobile App Developer
• Experience:
• 6+ years of experience in mobile app development with a focus on Flutter.
• Contributed to the development of prominent Flutter-based projects within the blockchain space.
• Proven expertise in creating cross-platform applications with a strong emphasis on user experience.

5.Mahlet Duressa - click here

• Role: Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist
• Experience in software testing and QA processes, ensuring the reliability and functionality of the plugin

6.Tadesse D. - Telegram click here

• Project Manager/Technical Lead
• Role: Oversees the project's execution, manages resources, and ensures timely delivery.
• Experience: Funded proposer on previous fund. Contributed to 3 Fund11 funded projects, demonstrating a proven track record of successful project management and delivery.
• Co-founder of Herma apps
• Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) - Certificate Number 5353074

7. Markos Muche - Content Research and Curation Specialist

• LinkedIn: click here
• Conducting research, curating educational resources, and organizing content.
• Experience - SingularityNet, iCog Labs, iCardio.io
• Certifications - 
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, Azure Data Scientist Associate, 
• Google Certified: Perform Foundational Infrastructure Tasks in Google Cloud, Migrating MySQL data to Cloud SQL using Database Migration Service, Introduction to AI and Machine Learning on Google Cloud, Google Cloud Essentials, Develop your Google Cloud Network, Create and Manage Cloud Resources, Build Infrastructure with Terraform on Google Cloud, Reliable Google Cloud Infrastructure: Design and Process, Essential Google Cloud Infrastructure: Foundation, Essential Google Cloud Infrastructure: Core Services

8.Samuel Birhanu Wada - Developer

• GitHub: click here
• Contributed on previously funded projects.
• Handles the backend development and integration of the platform.
• Proficient in server-side programming languages.
• Experience in database management and API integration.

Engagement and Verification

• Team Engagement: All listed team members have been engaged and have confirmed their roles and commitment to the project timelines.
• Community and Technical Engagement: We have active communications with Cardano technical groups on Telegram and in person, ensuring that we stay updated with the latest Cardano developments and community feedback.

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

Milestone 1: Finalization of Non-Blockchain Mobile App Features - 20,000ADA

Development Costs

  - Includes finalizing user interface, user experience enhancements, and backend optimizations.

Quality Assurance and Testing

  - Testing all features to ensure they meet functional and performance standards.

Milestone 2: NFT Recipe Minting - 25,000ADA

Blockchain Integration Development

  - Development of NFT minting feature and integration with the platform.

Minting testing

  - External testers of features to ensure compliance.

Milestone 3: Token Tip System Implementation - 25,000ADA

System Development

  - Development of the token earning and spending tokens feature.

Security Testing

  - Comprehensive security checks to ensure the safety and integrity of token transactions.

Milestone 4: Blockchain-Verified Dietary Achievements - 25,000ADA

Feature Development

  - Development of blockchain-backed features to record and verify dietary achievements.

Testing and Validation

  - Rigorous testing to ensure accurate tracking and blockchain verification.

Final Milestone: Project Completion Report and Video - 5,000

Documentation and Reporting based on Catalyst guideline

  - Compilation of a detailed project report and production of a video.

- Marketing and Dissemination

  - Costs for marketing the completed project and distributing the final video to maximize reach and impact.

Total Requested Funds: 100,000 ADA

Explanation of Budget Allocation

• Development Costs: These are allocated towards both blockchain and non-blockchain development efforts, ensuring robust app functionality and integration of new features.
• Quality Assurance: Ensures that all app features function correctly and meet user expectations before release.
• Documentation and Marketing: Essential for effective communication of the project's achievements and engaging the broader community.

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

The cost of our project has been carefully calculated to ensure it represents strong value for money for the Cardano ecosystem. Each expense is based on standard industry rates, aligned with the average wages and typical freelance costs in the blockchain development and culinary technology sectors. By leveraging local talent and optimizing resource allocation, we've ensured that every ADA spent directly contributes to the successful realization of the project's objectives. This approach not only keeps costs reasonable but also maximizes the impact and efficiency of the budget, ensuring a robust proof of concept is delivered within the financial parameters set by the Catalyst fund.

Furthermore, the innovative nature of this project—integrating blockchain with the culinary industry—positions it to deliver significant long-term value for Cardano. By pioneering a new use case for Cardano, the project will attract a diverse, global audience to the ecosystem, fostering adoption and creating potential for future revenue streams. The project's success could pave the way for similar initiatives, multiplying the initial investment's impact and driving further innovation within the Cardano community.