RideChain: Decentralized Carpooling for a Sustainable Future on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Accra Resource Center

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

Entity (Not 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)

Build a decentralized, blockchain-based carpool platform that offer transparent pricing, user autonomy, and flexibility, making ride-sharing more affordable and suited to local preferences in Ghana.

[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

The codebase is proprietary and involves already existing IP that the team has worked on. While a part of the code e.g. the Blockchain integration can be made open, the entire project cannot.

[METADATA] Horizons

Marketplace

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Decentralized Carpooling Platform:

• We will develop a ride-sharing platform using Cardano's blockchain, eliminating intermediaries and allowing direct interactions between drivers and passengers.
• The platform will leverage Web3 technology to ensure transparency and security in all transactions.

Driver Autonomy:

• Drivers will have full control over their trips. They can set their own:
• Routes: Specify starting points, stops, and destinations.
• Pricing: Set prices based on distance, time, or demand, providing flexibility to suit various passenger needs.
• Schedules: Choose trip times according to their availability.

Passenger Flexibility:

• Passengers can browse a variety of trip options and select those that best fit their schedule and budget.
• The platform will recommend trips based on proximity and convenience, ensuring passengers have more choices than traditional ride-sharing apps offer.

Transparent Pricing and Payments:

• Smart contracts will be used to automate payments, with funds held in escrow until the trip is completed.
• This ensures fairness and trust between drivers and passengers, eliminating issues such as price hikes and hidden fees common in traditional ride-sharing services.

Blockchain-Powered Security and Trust:

• The platform will integrate Decentralized Identity (DID) solutions for secure and private user verification.
• Both drivers and passengers will build reputation scores based on completed trips, stored on the blockchain for immutable and transparent trust ratings.

Low-Cost, Fast Transactions Using ADA:

• All payments will be made in Cardano’s native ADA token, benefiting users with:
• Low transaction fees, making rides more affordable.
• Fast payment processing, ensuring smooth financial interactions without delays.

Tailored to Africa’s Economy:

• The solution is designed specifically for cost-conscious markets like Ghana and Nigeria, where users prefer affordable and flexible transportation options.
• By giving drivers and passengers more control, we aim to create a system that is well-suited to local needs and preferences.

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

1. Adoption and Usage of Cardano’s Ecosystem:

• Increased Transactions: The platform will encourage daily transactions on the Cardano blockchain by using ADA for ride payments, contributing to the ecosystem's activity and liquidity.
• Broader Reach: By deploying a real-world application like ride-sharing on the Cardano blockchain, we can introduce blockchain technology to users who may not be familiar with it, expanding the user base beyond just developers and investors.

2. Promoting Decentralization:

• This carpooling service decentralizes control over transportation, aligning with Cardano's mission to provide decentralized solutions across industries. It also showcases how blockchain can disrupt traditionally centralized industries like ride-sharing.
• As more decentralized apps (dApps) emerge, they will demonstrate Cardano’s capacity to provide scalable and efficient platforms, thus boosting confidence in Cardano’s infrastructure.

3. Strengthening Community Engagement:

• The use of reputation systems and Decentralized Identity (DID) will showcase Cardano’s advanced features, encouraging developers to leverage these tools in their own projects. It fosters an engaged community that contributes to the platform's overall growth and adoption.

4. Economic Empowerment:

• For drivers, especially in developing economies like Ghana, the platform offers a way to increase income autonomously, improving livelihoods. This helps Cardano become part of the social solution to economic challenges.

Impact Measurement:

We will measure the impact of the project using the following key metrics:

• Number of Daily Active Users (DAUs): Tracking the number of drivers and passengers actively using the platform to evaluate adoption.
• Volume of Transactions: Monitoring the amount of ADA used within the platform will give insight into the economic impact on Cardano's ecosystem.
• User Retention Rates: Measuring how often users return to the platform will show the long-term utility and satisfaction provided by the service.
• Community Participation: Engaging with Cardano community members through governance tokens or voting on platform changes will serve as a marker of decentralized governance success.
• Driver and Passenger Ratings: Tracking the growth of reputations on the blockchain will measure trust and transparency within the platform.

This system will not only benefit users but also enhance the reputation and functionality of the Cardano ecosystem as a whole, helping position it as a leading blockchain for real-world decentralized applications.

[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?

1. Experienced Team:

• Our team consists of individuals with deep expertise in blockchain technology, full-stack development, and decentralized applications. Specifically, we have experience working with FastAPI/Django Rest Framework for backend development and Cardano-based libraries for blockchain integration.
• Our development team is already teaching young developers to integrate the Cardano Blockchain in their existing stack, meaning we have the technical knowledge to navigate its unique requirements. We also have a dedicated operations and project management team to ensure smooth delivery.

1. Strong Understanding of Web3 and Decentralized Identity:

• Our team has hands-on experience with Web3 technologies, including Decentralized Identity (DID) solutions. These technologies will be integrated into the platform to ensure user privacy, security, and trust.
• We are also familiar with Cardano's Plutus and Marlowe platforms for smart contract development, ensuring the technical backbone is robust.

1. Track Record of Transparency and Accountability:

• Our operations are guided by transparent communication and regular reporting. We intend to publish all milestones and key updates to the community, ensuring accountability at every stage of the project.
• All payments, transactions, and project developments will be recorded immutably on the blockchain, ensuring that stakeholders and the community can audit progress in real-time.

Validating Feasibility

1. Prototype Development and Testing:

• We will initially focus on developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test core functionalities, including trip scheduling, smart contract-based payments, and user reputation systems.
• This MVP will be released to a small user base in Ghana to gather feedback, allowing us to adjust the platform's usability and functionality based on real-world data.

1. User Research and Pilot Testing:

• We plan to conduct user research and interviews with potential drivers and passengers to understand their specific needs and validate our assumptions regarding pricing, trip selection, and user behavior.
• Pilot programs will be launched in select cities in Ghana to test both the technical infrastructure and the acceptance of the decentralized carpooling model. This will help us identify any scalability issues or user experience challenges before a broader launch.

1. Blockchain Feasibility:

• Given the scalability and low transaction costs of the Cardano blockchain, we have confidence that the platform will handle the anticipated volume of transactions without bottlenecks. We will conduct extensive load testing to ensure that the blockchain-based transaction system can scale with increased usage.

1. Community Feedback and Iteration:

• Throughout the development process, we will actively engage with the Cardano community for feedback, leveraging the Catalyst platform to gather insights and suggestions for improvement. This ensures our solution stays aligned with the needs of both the users and the wider Cardano ecosystem.

By combining our team’s expertise with a clear validation and testing process, we are well-positioned to deliver this project with a high degree of trust and feasibility.

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

Milestone 1: Platform Architecture and Prototype Design

Timeline: Month 1 - 2

A. Milestone Outputs

• Design the platform’s architecture including the decentralized backend using FastAPI/Django Rest Framework.
• Create a basic clickable prototype demonstrating core functionalities like trip creation, booking interface, and decentralized identity (DID) integration.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Finalized architecture documentation detailing the backend setup, APIs, database, and blockchain integration.
• Basic working prototype with UI showcasing trip creation and browsing, tested in a simulated environment.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Technical documentation of the architecture.
• A functional prototype demonstrating key features, accessible in a development environment.

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development and Testing

Timeline: Month 2 - 4

A. Milestone Outputs

• Develop and deploy smart contracts to manage booking, payments, and driver-passenger agreements.
• Conduct unit tests and security audits on smart contracts to ensure robustness.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Successfully deploy smart contracts on the Cardano testnet, ensuring functionality for trip bookings, payment escrows, and trip completions.
• All smart contracts pass security audits.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Security audit reports from third-party evaluators.
• Testnet transaction logs demonstrating the successful execution of core smart contract functions.

Milestone 3: MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Development

Timeline: Month 4 - 6

A. Milestone Outputs

• Build the MVP that integrates smart contracts, decentralized identity (DID), trip creation, booking, and payments into a user-friendly interface.
• Implement a basic reputation system for drivers and passengers.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• A publicly accessible MVP where drivers can create trips, and passengers can book and pay for trips using ADA.
• A functioning reputation system that logs feedback on the blockchain.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Deployed MVP on the mainnet or testnet for public use with documented user interactions.
• Blockchain-based reputation data from initial user activity.

Milestone 4: Pilot Testing and User Feedback

Timeline: Month 6 - 8

A. Milestone Outputs

• Roll out the MVP in a controlled pilot within a select community of controlled environment e.g. a University in Ghana.
• Collect and analyze feedback from real users (drivers and passengers) regarding the platform’s usability, functionality, and performance.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• Active participation from at least 100 users, with a minimum of 200 trips booked and completed during the pilot phase.
• Collect feedback on user experience and system performance to identify improvements.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• User feedback reports based on surveys, interviews, and platform analytics.
• Performance data showcasing transaction completion rates and user interactions (e.g., trip bookings, feedback logs).

Final Milestone: Launch and Expand

Timeline: Month 8 - 9

A. Milestone Outputs

• Expand the platform to additional Universities and Communities, focusing on scaling user adoption.
• Implement a loyalty and reward program to incentivize frequent users, using ADA tokens.

B. Acceptance Criteria

• The platform is accessible to a broader user base, showing a 50% increase in active users and trips.
• Fully functioning rewards and loyalty system integrated, with users able to earn and redeem rewards.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Analytics showing increased user adoption and activity, including trip bookings and completion rates.
• Data showcasing the usage of the loyalty system, including the number of rewards issued and redeemed.

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

1. Front-End Developer

Role:

• Develops the user-facing interface, providing an intuitive and user-friendly experience for both drivers and passengers.
• Ensures that all features such as trip creation, booking, and payments are easily accessible via mobile and web platforms.
• Continuously improves the user experience based on feedback from the pilot program and operations team.

2. Operations & Community Manager

Role:

• Manages the day-to-day operations, including user testing, feedback collection, and user onboarding in collaboration with the Accra Resource Center.
• Leads community engagement, marketing, and outreach efforts to promote the platform within Ghana and ensure strong user adoption.
• Oversees partnerships and collaborations with local entities to ensure the platform's successful integration into the local economy.

Accra Resource Center

Accra Resource Center (ARC) aims to train Africa's future tech leaders through hands-on learning and mentorship from experts. They focus on areas like data science, software development, and blockchain technology, offering programs in app development, data analytics, and decentralized applications (dApps). ARC's goal is to become a top tech education hub in Africa, helping students gain practical skills for the future.

Role:

• Provides local operational support for onboarding drivers and passengers, offering training and user support.
• Assists with logistics, recruitment, and promotional efforts in Ghana, ensuring the platform resonates with local needs.
• Acts as a liaison for gathering real-time insights, helping adapt the platform to the cultural and economic context.

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

Development Costs:

• Backend & Blockchain Integration: 30,000 ADA
• Full-stack developer for backend development (FastAPI/Django) and Cardano blockchain integration.
• Front-End Development: 20,000 ADA
• Development of the user interface for mobile and web, including features for trip creation, booking, and payments.

Smart Contract Audits: 10,000 ADA

• Third-party security audits to ensure the integrity of smart contracts used for payments and bookings.

Accra Resource Center:

• Local Support & Recruitment: 15,000 ADA
• Logistical support for recruiting drivers and passengers, offering training, and marketing in Ghana.

Operations & Marketing:

• Community Engagement & Outreach: 10,000 ADA
• Marketing efforts, local events, and partnerships to promote the platform within Ghana.
• Operations Management: 10,000 ADA
• Daily operations, pilot testing, and feedback collection.

Testing & Pilot Program:

• MVP Pilot Testing: 12,000 ADA
• User testing in Ghana, including incentives for participation and gathering feedback.

Infrastructure & Maintenance:

• Hosting & Maintenance: 8,000 ADA
• Costs for hosting, server maintenance, and scaling as the user base grows.

Contingency: 5,000 ADA

• Reserve for unforeseen expenses or additional development needs.

Total: 120,000 ADA

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

The cost of this project represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, as it will drive adoption, innovation, and showcase blockchain technology in real-world applications.

1. Increased ADA Usage and On-Chain Transactions:

• By using ADA as the primary currency for booking and paying for rides, the platform will generate regular on-chain transactions, enhancing ADA’s utility. This will encourage more users to adopt and transact with ADA, increasing the demand for Cardano’s native token.

2. Demonstrating Cardano’s Blockchain Capabilities in Everyday Services:

• This project will demonstrate the potential of blockchain technology to be seamlessly integrated into everyday services like ride-sharing. By providing transparent pricing, smart contract-based payments, and a decentralized reputation system, the project will serve as a powerful proof-of-concept for how blockchain can improve traditional services.
• Cardano will be positioned at the forefront of this revolution, showcasing its unique capabilities in securely and efficiently managing peer-to-peer services. This strengthens Cardano's position as a leader in decentralized applications (dApps), moving beyond financial transactions into broader real-world uses.

3. Cost Efficiency and Scalability:

• The project’s modest initial budget (120,000 ADA) is efficiently allocated to critical areas such as development, security, and operations, making it a cost-effective initiative. The lean structure ensures that each ADA spent delivers tangible progress toward user adoption and platform scalability.
• The platform is designed to scale beyond Ghana, with the potential to expand into other regions, driving further adoption of the Cardano blockchain and ADA tokens, which will amplify the return on this initial investment.

4. Promoting Cardano’s Vision of Decentralization and Financial Inclusion:

• This platform aligns with Cardano’s mission of fostering financial inclusion by empowering drivers and passengers to interact directly without intermediaries. In developing economies like Ghana, this is especially important, as it offers more affordable transportation solutions while providing drivers with greater autonomy and income opportunities.

5. Advancing Cardano’s Technological Leadership:

• By integrating smart contracts, decentralized identity (DID), and blockchain-powered reputation systems, this project highlights the technological prowess of Cardano in decentralized applications. It showcases how Cardano’s ecosystem can provide innovative solutions for real-world problems, placing it at the cutting edge of blockchain adoption.