Plaza. A Cardano-focused Marketplace for Tokenized Services by NMKR

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Phil Isenmann

[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)

12

[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)

Plaza. is a Cardano-native marketplace with a robust trust system. It will connect Web3 professionals and projects, featuring an affiliate network to boost service discovery and growth.

[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

The platform is already operational and open source as an MVP.

Further development commits will be made open source.

Infrastructure components of NMKR will not be open-source.

[METADATA] Horizons

Marketplace

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Plaza: A Comprehensive Web3 Marketplace Solution for Cardano

Problem Description

The Cardano ecosystem, while rapidly growing, lacks a centralized, trusted platform for Web3 services. This absence creates several challenges:

1. Difficulty in discovering quality service providers
2. Lack of standardized processes for service agreements and dispute resolution
3. Limited opportunities for professionals to showcase their skills within the ecosystem
4. Inefficient collaboration between projects and skilled individuals

These issues collectively hinder the growth and innovation potential of the Cardano ecosystem.

Our Approach

Plaza addresses these challenges through a multi-faceted approach:

1. Cardano-Native Marketplace: We're building a platform specifically focused on the Cardano ecosystem.

1. Robust Trust System: Our Plaza.Trust feature implements a sophisticated multi-signature wallet system for secure transactions and fair dispute resolution

1. Tokenized Services: Professionals can tokenize their services, creating a new paradigm for service offering and delivery in the Web3 space

1. Affiliate Network: The Plaza.Agents system incentivizes community members to connect service providers with potential clients, accelerating ecosystem growth

1. Community-Driven Governance: The Plaza.Circle feature mainly empowers the community to participate in dispute resolution

Target Engagement

Plaza will engage with several key groups within the Cardano ecosystem:

1. Web3 Professionals: Developers, designers, marketers, and consultants specializing in Cardano and Web3 Technology
2. Cardano Projects: Both established projects and startups looking for skilled professionals
3. Cardano Enthusiasts: Community members interested in contributing to projects or learning new skills

Demonstrating Impact

We will measure and demonstrate our impact through several key performance indicators:

1. Number of successfully completed Service Sales
2. Total value of services exchanged on the platform
3. Offer Portfolio Growth
4. Diversity of services offered
5. Time-to-hire metrics for projects seeking professionals
6. Community engagement in governance and dispute resolution

We will regularly publish these metrics to ensure transparency and showcase the platform's growth and impact on the Cardano ecosystem.

Unique Value Proposition

Plaza stands out in several ways:

1. Cardano-Specific Focus: Unlike general freelance platforms, Plaza is built specifically for the Cardano ecosystem, ensuring relevance and specialization

1. Blockchain-Based Trust: Our use of multi-signature wallets and on-chain agreements provides a level of security and transparency unmatched by traditional platforms

1. Community Governance: By involving the community in dispute resolution and platform governance, we create a self-regulating ecosystem that can adapt to the community's needs

1. Tokenized Services: This innovative approach to service offering opens up new possibilities for offerand find Web3 based Services

1. Affiliate System: Our Plaza.Agents feature creates additional economic opportunities within the ecosystem and accelerates platform growth

In conclusion, Plaza is not just a marketplace; it's a vital piece of infrastructure for the Cardano ecosystem. By solving the critical challenge of connecting talent with opportunities, we're laying the groundwork for Cardano's next phase of growth and innovation.

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

Benefits to Cardano

Plaza will deliver several key benefits to the Cardano ecosystem:

1. Accelerated Development: By connecting projects with skilled professionals more efficiently, we'll speed up the development of new Cardano-based applications and services

1. Talent Retention: Providing a dedicated marketplace for Cardano-related services will incentivize professionals to specialize in and stay committed to the Cardano ecosystem

1. Economic Growth: The platform will facilitate more economic activity within the Cardano ecosystem

1. Innovation Catalyst: By lowering the barriers to collaboration, Plaza will foster innovation and collaboration within the ecosystem

1. Community Empowerment: Through features like Plaza.Circle, we'll strengthen the Cardano community's sense of ownership and participation in the ecosystem's growth

[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?

Plaza: Capability and Feasibility Statement

Proven Track Record

As NMKR, we bring a long and successful history as a critical infrastructure provider on Cardano:

1. Established Presence: We've been a key player in the Cardano ecosystem, delivering reliable and innovative solutions
2. Technical Expertise: Our team has deep experience in blockchain technology, smart contract development, and Cardano-specific implementations
3. Existing Infrastructure: We leverage our established infrastructure to ensure Plaza's robustness and scalability

Demonstrated Capability

1. Functional MVP: We've already developed and demo-launched a fully functional MVP for Plaza (https://slfmr1.github.io/Plaza.Main/), showcasing our ability to execute
2. Community Engagement: Our active participation in the Cardano ecosystem ensures Plaza addresses real community needs

Our track record as NMKR, combined with our existing MVP and thorough approach to development and risk management, positions us strongly to deliver Plaza successfully and contribute significantly to the Cardano ecosystem's growth.

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

Milestone 1: Launch Preparations and Beta-Launch

A: Milestone Outputs

• Convert the current MVP to use the Shadcn/T3 stack for dynamic content management.
• Launch a community-driven outreach campaign targeting potential service providers and strategic partners within the Cardano ecosystem.
• List the first batch of curated services on the platform.
• Initiate marketing campaigns to promote both the platform and the initial service offerings.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Platform is live with basic functionalities operational.
• At least 5 initial service listings are live on the platform.
• The Campaign and Outreach program is well planned and documented

C: Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repository with updates and commits showing the conversion to the Shadcn/T3 stack.
• Live version of the Platform on final domain
• Marketing materials and campaign schedule

Milestone 2: Improve Platform

A: Milestone Outputs

• Implement a simple backend for efficient listing management.
• Introduce advanced search and filtering options for better user experience.
• Optimize Plaza. for mobile view

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Backend is operational with listing management available.
• Users can search and filter services with the extended filtering options
• Works flawless on mobile

C: Evidence of Completion

• Backend code repository showing the implemented features.
• Live demonstration of new search and filter capabilities and mobile view version.

Milestone 3: Dispute Resolving System

A: Milestone Outputs

• Develop Plaza.Circle, a community governance system for dispute resolution.
• Integrate Plaza.Trust, an on-chain system to support Plaza Circle's operations.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Functional dispute resolution process involving community voting.

C: Evidence of Completion

• Demonstration of an Example Dispute Resolving Workaround

Final Milestone: Boost UX and Support Sales and Trust

A: Milestone Outputs

• Launch Plaza.Agents, an affiliate marketing system.
• Implement KYC'd User profiles with analytics dashboard for sellers.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• At least 2 active Plaza.Agents generating referrals.
• All sellers have completed KYC, and each has access to an analytics dashboard.

C: Evidence of Completion

• Screenshots or access to live dashboards showing KYC process and analytics for sellers.

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

Phil Isenmann - Project Lead and technical development

The whole NMKR team for development, improvements, marketing and networking

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

Total Budget Summary:

• Development Costs: 55,000 ADA
• Milestone 1: Launch Preparations - 6,000 ADA
• Milestone 2: Platform Improvement - 9,000 ADA
• Milestone 3: Dispute Resolution System - 10,500 ADA
• Final Milestone: UX and Support - 13,000 ADA
• Additional Development for Enhancements and Scaling - 17,000 ADA

• Marketing and Community Engagement: 50,500 ADA
• Milestone 1 Launch Campaign - 7,000 ADA
• Platform Improvement Awareness - 4,500 ADA
• Ongoing Marketing (6 months) - 24,000 ADA
• Scaling and Global Marketing - 15,000 ADA

• Operational Costs: 10,500 ADA
• Legal for KYC Compliance - 2,000 ADA
• Project Management - 5,000 ADA
• Documentation & Reporting - 1,500 ADA
• Infrastructure (Hosting) - 2,000 ADA

• Grand Total: 125,000 ADA

Notes on Allocation:

• Development: The majority of the budget is allocated to development, reflecting the importance of robust, feature-rich platform development across all milestones.
• Marketing: A significant portion is also allocated to marketing to ensure effective promotion, user acquisition, and engagement throughout the development lifecycle and beyond.
• Operational Costs: Includes necessary expenses for compliance, management, documentation, and basic infrastructure, ensuring smooth operations and accountability.

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

Value for Money:

• Cost Efficiency in Development:
• At 50 ADA per hour, the development cost is set below the market standard for blockchain developers, particularly those with Cardano ecosystem expertise. This rate provides a cost-effective opportunity to leverage Cardano's capabilities for sophisticated feature development.

• High Impact vs. Low Cost:
• Despite the lower development cost, the project intends to implement significant features like Plaza.Circle for dispute resolution, Plaza.Trust for on-chain trust, alongside comprehensive marketing efforts. These initiatives typically require higher investments but are being pursued here at a reduced cost, aiming for substantial impact within Cardano's ecosystem.

• Scalability and Accessibility:
• By reducing development costs, more funds can be allocated towards marketing, user acquisition, and enhancing user experience. This approach could lead to faster adoption and scalability, making advanced services more accessible to Cardano users at a lower cost.

• Community Benefits:
• The savings on development could be redirected towards community initiatives, possibly increasing the funds available for Plaza.Circle's operations or other community engagement efforts, directly benefiting the Cardano community.