MAYZ: Indexing Vending Machine

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Federico Ledesma

[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)

6

[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)

MAYZ Protocol: A decentralized, permissionless platform for creating and managing Cardano investment funds. Enhancing ecosystem liquidity through innovative fund tokenization and swap mechanisms.

[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

MAYZ is fully open-source. The code will be available on GitHub. All our smart contracts to develop indexes in Cardano are Open Source.

https://github.com/MAYZGitHub/

MAYZ Protocol builds open-source projects to foster transparency, collaboration, and community involvement in the development of its decentralized finance solutions.

By adopting an open-source approach, MAYZ Protocol encourages innovation, improves security, and promotes widespread adoption of its permissionless platform for creating and managing investment funds on the Cardano blockchain.

This approach aligns with the decentralized and community-driven nature of blockchain technology, ensuring that MAYZ Protocol remains accessible and adaptable to the evolving needs of the Cardano ecosystem.

[METADATA] Horizons

DeFi

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

MAYZ Protocol addresses a critical need in the Cardano ecosystem, as highlighted by Charles Hoskinson, Cardano's creator:

"One of the ways that Cardano has is to develop decentralized Index protocols. Indexes can bring value to Cardano Native tokens, creating demand for Cardano Native Tokens. According to his vision, a Cardano Vending Machine is necessary. Users of all networks can deposit Ada and other tokens in one or multiple smart contracts, and they will be automatically converted to Cardano tokens."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu3eiX7lJyA

MAYZ Protocol fulfills this vision by providing a decentralized, permissionless platform for creating and managing investment funds on Cardano. Our solution includes:

1. Decentralized Fund Creation
2. Permissionless Trading via Swap Offers
3. Smart Contract Infrastructure
4. Community Governance
5. Scalable Multi-UTXO Architecture

For a detailed technical overview, please refer to our comprehensive whitepaper: https://mayz.gitbook.io/mayz-whitepaper-v2/mayz-protocol/technical-document

Recent Achievements:

• Successful development and open-sourcing of smart contracts (https://github.com/MAYZGitHub/mayz-contracts)
• Thorough code review conducted by third-party experts at TxPipe
• Public incentivized Testnet launch (https://testnet.mayz.io/) with almost 2,000 users and 50,000 transactions
• Open-source codebase available on GitHub

Mainnet Launch Plans:

1) Smart Contract and Protocol Enhancements:

• Implement user feedback to optimize smart contracts
• Develop and integrate delegation and commission distribution mechanisms
• Implement commission collection and distribution system for protocol, fund managers, and delegators

2) Website and User Interface Improvements:

• Develop a comprehensive delegation interface for users to:
• Stake MAYZ tokens in funds
• View delegation history and earned commissions
• Claim their share of commissions
• Create dashboards displaying:
• Fund performance and TVL
• Protocol-wide statistics
• User portfolio overview
• Implement interfaces for commission collection by core team and fund managers

3) User Experience and Documentation:

• Develop comprehensive documentation with interactive tutorials
• Implement an intuitive onboarding process with step-by-step guidance
• Add in-app tooltips and explanations for complex features, including the commission structure

4) Marketing and Community Engagement:

• Host webinars and AMAs to educate users about MAYZ Protocol and its commission model
• Organize Twitter Spaces and Discord events for community engagement
• Create educational content series on our Medium channel, explaining DeFi concepts, MAYZ Protocol features, and the commission distribution system
• Collaborate with Cardano influencers and projects for cross-promotion
• Launch targeted social media campaigns to attract users from other ecosystems
• Organize virtual launch events and competitions to drive initial adoption
• Develop partnerships with other Cardano projects for ecosystem integration

5) Analytics and Reporting:

• Implement a real-time analytics dashboard showing:
• Total Value Locked (TVL) in the protocol and individual funds
• Number of active users, funds, and delegators
• Transaction volumes and commission generation
• Develop fund performance tracking tools, including:
• Historical price charts
• Comparison tools between funds
• Commission generation metrics per fund
• Create user portfolio management features:
• Overview of user's holdings across multiple funds
• Personal performance tracking
• Commission projection tools based on delegation amount and fund performance

These improvements aim to create a user-friendly, transparent, and feature-rich platform that will attract both retail and institutional investors to the Cardano ecosystem through MAYZ Protocol. The commission-based model ensures that all participants - the protocol, fund managers, and delegators - are incentivized to contribute to the growth and success of the ecosystem.

With the funds we are requesting, we will be able to:

1. Implement necessary improvements based on Testnet feedback
2. Prepare for and execute a successful Mainnet launch
3. Expand our reach beyond the current Cardano investor base, attracting a broader range of users to the ecosystem

By bringing MAYZ Protocol to Mainnet, we're not just launching a product; we're introducing a new financial paradigm to Cardano that aligns with Charles Hoskinson's vision for decentralized index protocols and vending machines for native tokens.

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

We are a team of experienced Haskell developers and members with a university degree in economics. Our core smart contracts are live on Testnet and have been successfully reviewed by Tx Pipe engineers. 

Our team's diverse expertise, combined with a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and thorough validation processes, ensures that we can deliver with a high level of trust and accountability.

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community

The MAYZ Protocol aims to significantly enhance liquidity within the Cardano ecosystem by providing a decentralized, permissionless platform for creating and managing investment funds. By introducing financial vehicles for Cardano native tokens, MAYZ will unlock opportunities for both retail and institutional investors to engage with the ecosystem more easily, fostering greater activity across decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and driving demand for Cardano assets.

This increase in liquidity and token demand will not only benefit the immediate participants in the protocol but will also contribute to the broader growth and adoption of Cardano as a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. By lowering the barriers to entry, MAYZ will attract a new wave of investors who may have previously been deterred by the lack of structured investment tools on Cardano.

Measuring Impact

The success of the MAYZ Protocol will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively through the following key indicators:

• Liquidity Growth: We will track the increase in liquidity for Cardano native tokens across DEXs, comparing pre- and post-launch activity.
• Participation: Metrics will include the number of funds created, the total value locked (TVL) in these funds, and the number of active investors.
• Ecosystem Engagement: Monitoring the increase in institutional investor interest and participation through partnerships, collaborations, and media exposure.
• Protocol Utilization: We will monitor user interactions with the smart contracts, including fund management activities and swaps service usage.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities

We will openly share our findings and progress with the Cardano community through various channels:

• GitHub Repository: All smart contracts and code will be fully open-source and publicly available. Regular updates will be shared via our GitHub repository to ensure transparency and encourage collaboration.
• Community Updates: Progress reports, milestones, and results will be shared through blog posts, social media, and community forums (such as the Cardano Catalyst platform).
• Partnerships: We will actively collaborate with other projects in the Cardano ecosystem, sharing lessons learned and offering opportunities for integration with the MAYZ Protocol.
• Education: We plan to create educational content such as technical documentation, tutorials, and workshops to onboard new users and developers, ensuring the long-term sustainability and scalability of the project.

By measuring these key impact areas and maintaining a commitment to transparency and community engagement, MAYZ Protocol will drive meaningful progress in Cardano's DeFi ecosystem, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders and promoting the long-term growth of the network.

[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?

Our development team is composed of experienced Haskell developers who have extensive knowledge in building decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain. We have successfully launched a fully functional Testnet of the MAYZ Protocol, with almost 2,000 wallets actively participating. The core functionality of fund management, swaps services, and liquidity provisioning has been tested in a live environment, demonstrating our technical capability to execute and deliver complex blockchain solutions.

Our smart contracts have undergone a thorough code review by respected third-party engineers at TxPipe, ensuring that they are secure and stable. This audit process demonstrates our commitment to building a secure platform and reinforces the trustworthiness of our solution.

The entire MAYZ Protocol is open-source, with the code readily available on GitHub. This ensures full transparency in our development process, allowing for community engagement and third-party oversight.

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

Milestone 1: Smart Contract Refinement and Feature Enhancement 

Duration: 4 weeks

A: Milestone outputs

• Analysis report of user feedback from testnet identifying areas for improvement
• Optimized smart contract codebase based on review and user feedback
• New smart contract features for swaps, delegation and commission distribution mechanisms
• Implemented commission collection and distribution system for protocol, fund managers, and delegators
• Technical documentation detailing all changes and new features
• Expanded test suite for new and modified smart contract functions

B: Acceptance criteria

• All new and modified smart contract functions pass internal testing
• New features (delegation, commission distribution) function as intended in a test environment
• Resource usage is analyzed and documented for all contract operations

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Comprehensive report including:
• Analysis of user feedback and resulting improvements
• Detailed explanation of smart contract optimizations
• Documentation of new swaps, delegation and commission distribution features
• Resource usage analysis for contract operations
• Updated GitHub repository showing all code changes
• Video demonstration of new smart contract features and their functionality tested

Milestone 2: Website and User Interface Enhancements 

Duration: 8 weeks

A: Milestone outputs

• Detailed analysis report of user feedback from testnet and proposed improvements
• Updated website with enhanced UI for existing and new features (fund creation, delegation, swap offers, commission collection)
• Improved website responsiveness and cross-device compatibility
• Optimized website performance and loading times

B: Acceptance criteria

• Features show measurable improvements based on user feedback
• New features (delegation, commission collection) are fully functional
• Website demonstrates improved responsiveness across devices
• Page load times and overall performance are analyzed and documented

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Comprehensive report including:
• Detailed analysis of user feedback and resulting UI improvements
• Before/after comparisons of enhanced features
• Documentation of new delegation and commission collection interfaces
• Updated website link showcasing all improvements
• Video walkthrough of enhanced website features and UI improvements

Milestone 3: User Experience Enhancement and Documentation 

Duration: 4 weeks

A: Milestone outputs

• Updated and expanded user documentation covering all aspects of the application
• New intuitive onboarding process for users
• Implemented contextual help and tooltips for complex features
• 5 educational blog posts published on Medium
• Improved inline comments and README files in source code repositories

B: Acceptance criteria

• User documentation comprehensively covers all features, including recent updates
• New user onboarding process successfully guides users through key features
• 5 educational blog posts are published on Medium
• Source code documentation facilitates easier maintenance and future development

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Comprehensive report including:
• Link to updated user documentation
• Explanation of new onboarding process with screenshots
• Examples of contextual help and tooltips
• Links to published Medium articles
• Examples of improved source code documentation
• Video demonstration of new user onboarding process and in-app help system

Milestone 4: Analytics and Reporting System Implementation 

Duration: 4 weeks

A: Milestone outputs

• Functional analytics dashboard with real-time protocol statistics, including:
• Total Value Locked (TVL) across all funds
• Number of active funds
• Total number of unique users
• Total commissions collected (protocol-wide)
• Fund performance tracking and analysis system, showing:
• Individual fund TVL over time
• Number of deposits and withdrawals per fund
• Commission collection history for each fund
• Fund Token (FT) price history
• User portfolio management interface with analysis features, including:
• User's current holdings across all funds
• Personal deposit and withdrawal history
• Commissions earned through delegation
• Swap offer analytics and reporting tools, displaying:
• Total number of active swap offers
• TVL in swap offers
• Volume of ADA x FT and FT x ADA swaps over time
• Most active swap offers (by volume or transaction count)
• Data visualization components for key metrics, such as:
• TVL trends over time
• User activity patterns
• Commission generation and distribution

B: Acceptance criteria

• Analytics dashboard accurately displays real-time protocol statistics
• Fund performance tools provide comprehensive data and analysis
• User portfolio features correctly display holdings and performance data
• Swap offer analytics offer insights into liquidity and usage patterns
• Data visualizations effectively communicate key protocol metrics

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Comprehensive report including:
• Detailed description of all implemented analytics features
• Screenshots of each dashboard and reporting tool
• Explanation of data sources and calculation methodologies
• User guide for interpreting analytics and reports
• Video demonstration of the entire analytics and reporting system

Milestone 5: Mainnet Launch Preparation and Initial Marketing 

Duration: 4 weeks

A: Milestone outputs

• Finalized mainnet deployment plan and checklist
• Created initial marketing campaign materials
• Planned and executed community engagement activities (Twitter Spaces, Discord updates)
• Written and published Incentivized Campaign Article on Medium
• Prepared Project Close-out Report and Video

B: Acceptance criteria

• All components are thoroughly tested and ready for mainnet deployment
• Marketing materials are created and approved
• At least 3 community engagement events are planned (e.g., Twitter Spaces, AMAs)
• Discord channel is updated with launch information and engagement activities
• Incentivized Campaign Article is published on Medium
• Project Close-out Report and Video are completed

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Comprehensive report including:
• Detailed mainnet deployment plan and checklist
• Examples of marketing campaign materials
• Schedule and summaries of community engagement events
• Link to published Incentivized Campaign Article
• Screenshots of updated Discord channel
• Project Close-out Report
• Video presentation summarizing the mainnet launch preparation, marketing strategy, and overall project achievements

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

Our team consists of experienced professionals with diverse expertise in blockchain, smart contract development, project management, and technical writing. Below are the key members of the team, along with their roles and qualifications:

Diego Macchi – Team Lead

Diego Mac is a truly Cardano OG with vast DeFi experience. As the team lead, Diego will provide strategic guidance for the project and ensure alignment between the project’s technical and operational goals. His experience in leading Cardano-based projects will help streamline decision-making and collaboration across teams.

Manuel Padilla – Smart Contracts Architect

Manuel is a highly skilled computer scientist specializing in Plutus smart contract development on the Cardano blockchain. As a versatile Smart Contracts Architect, Manuel has been a funded proposer in Cardano Catalyst rounds F10, F11, and F12. He will be responsible for the design, development, and optimization of the protocol’s smart contracts, ensuring they meet the highest standards of security and functionality. 

Alfred Vilsmeier - Development Team 

Alfred is a highly skilled tech enthusiast with over 22 years of experience in the IT field. Alfred is well-versed in various areas, including scripting, Database Administration, Networking, Security, and Cardano node management. With his extensive experience, proficiency in various domains, and a keen interest in blockchain development, Alfred is well-equipped to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the advancement of technology in the ever-evolving landscape of the IT industry. He is a true OG of the Cardano community and operates the TOPO stake pool.

Luis Restrepo - Developer Team

Luis Restrepo has 20 years of experience working in multi-cultural environments and in several initiatives in technology and in Cardano Blockchain. Started as a Stake Pool Operator (Ticker: Moxie), his journey in Cardano has been full of initiatives and projects from DeFi protocols to educational platforms focused on the Latin American community. Cardano Developer Professional instructor at Emurgo Academy. Instructor of the Cardano deep dive concepts and Plutus Smart Contracts developing. Known programming languages: SQL, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Haskell, Plutus. 

Elio Esis - Web Developer

Web developer with experience in vanilla JS, REACT, Angular, NextJs, and TypeScript. Knowledge of Node ExpressJS and Java Spring backend. Development of static and dynamic responsive pages. Web developer with vast experience on Cardano.

Federico Ledesma Calatayud – Project Manager

Federico is a Cardano Stake Pool Operator [MAYZ] and a funded proposer in F12. As the project manager, he will lead the overall project execution, ensuring that the team stays on track to deliver the Cardano-based Haskell smart contract prototype. Federico will oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate between the development and integration teams, and ensure that the project meets all critical milestones on time and within budget.

Diego Torres - Integrations.

Diego is a Cardano Ambassador and organizer of the Patagonia CIP1694 Workshop. He has also been a funded proposer in F11 and F12. Diego leads the development of the project’s documentation and educational resources, ensuring that the solution’s concept, architecture, and potential applications are communicated clearly and effectively. He will collaborate closely with technical experts to ensure the accuracy and accessibility of the project's documentation and onboarding materials for users and investors.

Cinthia Caraballo – Technical Writer

Cinthia is an experienced technical writer with deep knowledge of blockchain technology, particularly Cardano and Plutus. She will be responsible for creating detailed technical documentation, whitepapers, and educational content. Her work will ensure that complex concepts are communicated in a way that is understandable to both technical and non-technical users

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

Budget Breakdown

Total Budget Requested: 200,000 ADA

1) Team Lead – 15,000 ADA

• The Team Lead will oversee all aspects of the project, ensuring alignment across teams and driving strategic decisions. This role will be part-time over 5 months.

2) Project Management – 15,000 ADA

• The Project Manager will coordinate the daily operations of the project, ensure that milestones are met on time, and manage communication between developers, stakeholders, and the community.

3) User Documentation and Content Creation – 10,000 ADA

• This will cover the creation of comprehensive user guides, technical documentation, and educational content to ensure clear understanding and proper usage of the protocol by both developers and end-users.

4) Smart Contracts & Full Stack Development – 60,000 ADA

• The core of the development team, focused on building, refining, and optimizing the Plutus smart contracts, as well as handling back-end development for the MAYZ protocol.

5) UX/UI & Front End Development – 40,000 ADA

• Ensures a smooth and user-friendly interface for the platform. This budget covers the hiring of front-end developers and UX/UI designers to design and implement the platform's user interface.

6) Quality Assurance – 20,000 ADA

• Quality Assurance will involve rigorous testing of all features, smart contracts, and user interfaces to ensure a bug-free and smooth experience for users, focusing on functionality, security, and performance.

7) Marketing and Promotions – 30,000 ADA

• This budget covers targeted marketing campaigns to drive awareness and adoption of the MAYZ Protocol. This will include social media campaigns, partnerships, and outreach to potential investors and users within the blockchain space.

8) Infrastructure – 10,000 ADA

• Covers the operational costs for servers, hosting, and tools required to maintain the development and testing environments for the protocol.

Total 200,000 ADA

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

The successful deployment of the MAYZ Protocol will enhance liquidity within Cardano’s ecosystem, opening new avenues for investment and driving more activity on decentralized exchanges (DEXs). By lowering barriers to entry for institutional investors and providing tools for the creation of Cardano-native financial products, this project has the potential to generate lasting value for the community. The return on investment will be realized through increased token activity, improved liquidity, and stronger adoption of Cardano’s DeFi infrastructure, making the proposed costs justifiable and worthwhile.

The total requested budget of 200,000 ADA is carefully structured to ensure that every ADA is used efficiently, delivering high-impact outcomes for the Cardano ecosystem. The project focuses on building a decentralized indexing vending machine that will increase liquidity, drive new investment opportunities, and foster ecosystem growth. This aligns with the long-term goals of Cardano, and our approach ensures that the cost of delivering this solution represents excellent value for money.