Blockchain Entrepreneurship Incubation– A focus on Startups & students

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

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

To organize an educational workshop that will bridge the knowledge gap and foster awareness of Cardano Web 3 blockchain among student startups and enhance the onboarding of students into the ecosystem

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

[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.”

This is an event. Therefore the report on the event will be completely open sourced

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

N/A

[METADATA] SDG rating

Relevant UN SDGs goals:

Quality Education (SDG 4)

 Sub-goal: 4.4 - By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

 Sub-goal: 8.3 - Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.

Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9)

 Sub-goal: 9.3 - Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.

Relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Number of students trained in Cardano blockchain technology.

 Number of student startups supported through mentorship and funding.

 Increase in the awareness and knowledge of Cardano blockchain among student entrepreneurs.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

PROJECT OUTLOOK

The concept of Web 3.0 has gained significant attention in the blockchain ecosystem in recent months, largely because of its potential and opportunities it presents. In order to advance and increase the awareness of the blockchain technology, and the onboarding of student communities in Ghana, Gateway to Digital Technology Limited – a non-governmental institution, and a cardano catalyst community funded project that was successfully implemented by our team, has pursued several initiatives in bridging the knowledge gap that exist on blockchain technology among the student community in Ghana. In furtherance of our work on education and advocacy on blockchain technology among the youth in Ghana, we’ll advance our education and advocacy drive a step further into the field of student entrepreneur startups, where most young people with innovative ideas are centered. This fit the central theme of the startup and student onboarding category. The objective of the Startup and Student Onboarding challenge opines that, proposals must focus on " activities that foster student Catalyst proposers and blockchain engineers, Increasing the number of student Catalyst proposers and blockchain engineers will lead to the development of the Cardano ecosystem in the future. Specific examples for educating them include holding seminars, creating and translating content, forming a community hub, and so on. Let's make use of your experience and position to promote student onboarding”.

In light of the framework of the objective of the challenge setting, we’re convinced that the end goal of our project makes it suitable for the Startup and Student Onboarding challenge. Aside the blockchain entrepreneurship incubation summit providing education, the central theme of proposal focuses on increasing awareness through mentorship on Cardano blockchain and Web 3.0 technology among student startup businesses in Ghana, and scaling up the onboarding of students startup businesses in Ghana into the catalyst ecosystem as catalyst proposers. The main objectives of this project can be categorized into twofold:

• Awareness creation on cardano Web 3 technology, and
• facilitating the onboarding of students into the cardano blockchain ecosystem as proposers.

Building on the foundation we’ve already laid in terms on our education and advocacy on blockchain technology, the introduction of Web3 technology to students and student entrepreneur startups seeks to educate students, and give them the leverage to scale up their operations. The summit will be a partnership between a leading student entrepreneurship advocacy association in the University of professional studies called Idea Factor and Gateway to Digital Technology Limited. By this partnership, we plan to offer a more strategic and practical approach to engaging student entrepreneur startup businesses. The conference will not only provide a platform for education and advocacy but also offer an avenue for mentorship, and onboarding student entrepreneurs who are yet to grasp the concept of the Web 3.0 technology, its potential, opportunities and how to incorporate it into their business operations.

Since Africa is still relatively new to the blockchain ecosystem, including the Cardano blockchain ecosystem, our team is determined to position the Cardano network as a pioneer and center of attraction for the use of Web 3.0 related products by entrepreneurs and developers in Africa, starting with students. Africa, ideally presents a unique opportunity for not only increasing the community base of the Cardano blockchain technology but also serves as a ready market for the Web 3.0 ecosystem. Our main objective is to introduce students and student entrepreneurs to the concept of web 3.0 technology, its relevance, potential, and opportunities it presents to our generation, while onboarding them into the catalyst ecosystem. By extension, we seek to also enlighten young student startups and businesses on Web 3.0 infrastructure in the Cardano network ecosystem in this digital age. Admittedly, the Web 3 technology is still in its infancy in terms of the technology cycle, hence this summit will ultimately present a unique opportunity to onboard more young student startup businesses into the cardano ecosystem. However, considering the potential of the Web 3 infrastructure network in the Cardano ecosystem, we are yet to experience a full optimization of its potential, especially in Africa where financial inclusion is still a challenge. It's our determination to facilitate this process of growth and expansion of the Cardano network in Africa. Our team has been at the forefront of spearheading advocacy and education for young students on digital technologies, especially the blockchain innovation. The transformative nature of Web 3.0 technology is well designed to revolutionize industries. Therefore, this event is designed to inspire and educate students on the Web 3.0 Revolution, its opportunities and potential, guiding them to explore decentralized applications, enable them to appreciate how the concept of Web 3 will impact on various industries, and also learn about career prospects emerging in the Web 3.0 ecosystem. Ultimately, the idea is to onboard students into the catalyst ecosystem via training and mentorship, with the aim of participating in the various roles in the ecosystem, and also empower student entrepreneurs with the required knowledge and skills that will put them at the forefront to thrive in this new age of the internet. The event will assemble relevant experts in the ecosystem with practical knowledge and skills, focusing on specific areas of interest, not only for the students but also for the attending entrepreneurs that will be present. Despite the vast potential and limitless possibilities that Web 3.0 brings to the digital space, we’ll narrow our presentation on the following;

• Introduction to the future of blockchain technology

• Exploring the fundamental concepts and principles behind Web 3.0

• Understanding the development and deployment of cardano-related dapps on Web 3.0 platforms.

TARGET AUDIENCE

PROGRAM OUTLINE

UNIVERSITY OF PROOFESSIONAL STUDIES - ACCRA – GHANA

The first part of the event will kick off at the University of Professional Studies. The University of Professional studies hosts a population of around 14000 students, providing them with both academic and professional higher education in Ghana. It remains the only public institution with the mandate to offer both academic degrees and provide tuition for business professional qualification. Therefore, this summit will be a first step among many strategies to fully facilitate the introduction of blockchain technology to the whole student populace and also onboard them into the Cardano community. Considering the business-oriented nature of this University, we anticipate a target student audience of 75. We expect the event to come off somewhere round November, 2023. However, given the uncertainty on the release of funding for proposal as seen in the just ended funding round, this date is subject to change.

PROPOSED DATE: APIRIL, 24 OR MAY, 24

TIME: 9AM - 3PM GMT

TARGET: 100 students

BARRIERS

Getting students and businesses owners to Attend: To address this challenge, we’ll collaborate with departments, clubs and associations in the University of Professional studies to promote event through their social media channels. 

Lack of incentive could affect participation: We have decided to provide snacks and small amount of Cardano coin at our in-person event, as an incentive to attract more audience. 

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

BENEFITS/IMPACTS TO THE CARDANO ECOSYSTEM

The project's objectives align well with the Cardano ecosystem and bring several benefits to its development and expansion. Here's an expanded development of each objective and how it positively impacts the Cardano ecosystem:

 Awareness and Onboarding

Increasing awareness about Web 3.0 technology and the benefits of the Cardano blockchain ecosystem is crucial for its growth and adoption. By creating awareness among young student entrepreneurs and businesses in Ghana, the project helps educate a key demographic about the potential of decentralized technologies and the opportunities available within the Cardano ecosystem. This increased awareness can lead to a greater understanding of the value proposition of Cardano, attracting more users and developers to the platform. Onboarding a large number of students into the ecosystem also contributes to a diverse and vibrant community that can drive innovation and contribute to the growth of Cardano.

Drive Adoption and Mentorship

Facilitating adoption and integration of the Cardano Web 3.0 infrastructure through mentorship programs is an effective strategy to drive usage and expansion. By providing mentorship to individuals and entrepreneurs in Ghana, the project empowers them to explore and leverage the capabilities of Cardano for their own ventures. This mentorship can include technical guidance, best practices, and knowledge sharing on building decentralized applications (dApps) on Cardano. By fostering adoption among entrepreneurs, the project contributes to the overall growth of the Cardano ecosystem, expanding its user base and encouraging the development of innovative solutions on the platform. Furthermore, by specifically highlighting Project Catalyst, the initiative encourages student entrepreneurs to actively participate in the democratic governance of Cardano and contribute their ideas for improving the ecosystem.

 Expand the Cardano Community in Africa

Fostering the onboarding of young student entrepreneurs into the Cardano ecosystem in Africa has significant long-term benefits for both the region and Cardano itself. By actively engaging with the student community in Ghana, the project aims to expand the Cardano community in Africa, tapping into a pool of talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. This expansion helps create a more diverse and inclusive ecosystem, with different perspectives and expertise contributing to the development and growth of Cardano. Additionally, as the Cardano community expands in Africa, it opens up opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and localized solutions tailored to the needs of the continent. The increased presence and participation in Africa also align with Cardano's mission of promoting financial inclusion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development in emerging markets.

KEY METRICS

The success of the project can be measured using various key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with the objectives and goals. Here are some potential metrics to assess the project's success:

Awareness and Onboarding:

Number of participants: Measure the number of students, entrepreneurs, and businesses that attended the awareness events or onboarding sessions.

Feedback and engagement: Collect feedback from participants to gauge their understanding of Web 3.0 technology and the benefits of the Cardano ecosystem.

Social media reach: Track the project's online presence and engagement on social media platforms, such as the number of followers, likes, comments, and shares.

Adoption and Mentorship:

Number of new community members: Track the growth in the number of individuals joining the Cardano community from Ghana and other African countries.

Given these specific metrics it's important to establish specific targets or benchmarks for each KPI and track progress over time. By evaluating and analyzing the data collected will provide insights into the project's impact and help identify the success of the program and areas for improvement. Additionally, qualitative feedback and testimonials from participants can provide valuable anecdotal evidence of the project's success in achieving its objectives. The end goal here is that, after a successful implementation of this project, we seek to achieve the following milestone targets after the event;

• To secure minimum of 150 student for the event.
• Provide training, guidance and mentorship to a minimum of 3 student startups on how to access funding for their projects from the catalyst community.  
• Collect feedback from at least 60% students to evaluate the impact of the event on their knowledge, skills, and motivation.
• Establish an online community or forum for at least 50% students to connect with peers and industry professionals after the event (via social media platform)

[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?

ROADMAP

There are several factors that justifies the feasibility of the project. The first of those is our well structured roadmap. Upon receiving funding for the project, we plan to carry out this project by referencing the roadmap below; 

Planning phase – 1 week 

• Team Setup 
• Drafting of detailed plan and activities.
• Choose a date and location
• Assigning roles and responsibilities

Speaker Selection Phase – 3 week

• Identify and invite relevant experts in the blockchain ecosystem, with expertise in Web 3.0, decentralized applications (dApps), and the Cardano blockchain ecosystem.
• Consider experts who can provide practical knowledge and skills, focusing on specific areas of interest to students and entrepreneurs.
• Confirm speaker availability and coordinate their participation.

 Reservation Phase — 3 weeks

• Event space
• Snacks and catering service
• Event logistics

Event Promotion Phase — 1 month

• Deploy social media platforms, email marketing, and targeted advertising to reach the target audience 
• Leverage partnerships with educational departments to create awareness
• Student outreach marketing within the various Associations in the universities.

Post event Review Phase 1 month

After a successful event execution, our team will undertake an online survey to gather feedback from event participants regarding areas of interest and improvement for future events and their plans for applying the knowledge acquired.

PARTNERSHIP AND CREDEIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Again, the feasibility of our approach will also depend on two legs:

• Partnership and
• community accountability.

PARTNERSHIP

Our team will establish a Partnership with Gateway to digital technology. Gateway to digital technology, organization is a Non governmental organization which focuses on providing education and mentorship on digital technology to deprived groups. Again, all things equal, our team will also establish a partnership with IdeaFactor–leading student entrepreneurship advocacy association in the University of professional studies, an institution that focuses on the mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. With these partners onboard, we'll leverage on their vast experience and expertise to advance the cardano dream in Africa.

COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY

Our team have been active in the catalyst ecosystem since fund 7. As a project lead, our team member has been engaged as challenge team members in the development and infrastructure. since fund 7, we’ve been active community Advisors, voters and proponent with three community funded and executed project. From these credentials, it’s worth noting that our contribution to the ecosystem has been immerse especially in spearheading the community goal of catalyst. 

Apart from our active involvement in the catalyst space, our team brings not only extensive experience but also a profound level of engagement in the Cardano Catalyst space, specifically in terms of project implementation. We have led several initiatives that received funding from the Catalyst community. Through our active involvement in the Catalyst community, we have successfully executed three major projects, all of which are open source and available for community verification. By making these projects transparent, the community can verify our capacity to deliver on the current project. For reference, below are links to our projects:

https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/64358

https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/64441

Again, our milestones provide specific quantity-based targets to measure the impact of the event on students and ensure that a significant number of students are reached, educated, and empowered through the Web 3.0 summit. In ensuring our team’s accountability and transparency to the cardano ecosystem, all the needed documentation from start to finish of the event will be presented to the community including video recordings where necessary. These documentations will be presented, in addition to our monthly report to the catalyst community. The documents will be posted on all catalyst affiliate social media platforms.

finally, In accordance with the project completion procedures for Project Catalyst, we always submit a report for community verification, allowing the community to validate the outcomes of our projects. We are dedicated to scaling up the advancement of the Catalyst goal, and our commitment to credibility has consistently been paramount throughout our past project completions. Our ultimate aim is to create a meaningful impact within the Catalyst space.

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

• Reservation of Auditorium for event

Milestone Outcome

• To have event auditorium secured
• A clear event date

Criteria for Acceptance

• Evidence of confirmed event venue secured
• Defined event date that aligns with the target audience's availability

• To have participants registered
• To have flyers designed for the event
• To form partnerships and collaborations for event promotion
• To document event activities (Pictures/images of event)

Milestones Outcomes

• To have participant registered
• Obtain flyers for publicity
• To establish partnerships and collaborations
• Document events execution (Pictures/images of event)

Milestones Acceptance Criteria

• To have at least 60 participants
• The availability of flyers
• To provide links to partnership agreement letter
• To have pictures/images of event execution

• Host an online event for engagement and collection of feedback from participants
• Provide a close out report
• Provide a close out report video

Milestones outcomes

• Provide a close out report
• Provide a close out report video

Milestone acceptance Criteria

• To provide close out report
• To provide close out video

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

Team members and Roles for the project

Our team members have varied level of experience across various field which is well-cut out for the project. Based on the expertise the team presents, we’re convinced that our team have the capacity to implement the project. However, there will be a few areas where we’ll outsource the services of expertise via collaboration. Below are our team members with their accompanying roles:

IDEA FACTOR UPSA – Partners

Gateway to digital technology –Partner

David Mensah – organizing Officer

Innocent Norvinu - Project Manager

Asare Emmanuel - Student

Background of team members

PARTNERSHIP

IDEA FACTOR UNIVERSITY OF PROOFESSIONAL STUDIES

IDEA FACTOR UPSA (IFU) is a dynamic campus-based organization dedicated to nurturing and empowering students and young individuals in the fields of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Governance. With a passion for cultivating the potential within each student, IFU provides a supportive platform for personal and professional development, equipping young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their chosen paths. Driven by the belief that the future belongs to those who actively engage in shaping it, IFU fosters a vibrant community that encourages active participation and innovative thinking. Through various programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives, IFU strives to instill a strong entrepreneurial mindset, promoting creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among its members.

David Mensah

David Mensah is a highly motivated professional with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies and Economics Education from the university of Education, Winneba. He has worked as a social studies teacher, research assistant, enumerator, and cocoa purchasing clerk at PBC Ltd. This diverse experience, along with the extensive knowledge of blockchain technology have shaped the foundation of my professional framework and allowed me to approach blockchain advocacy from a holistic perspective. Additionally, I am a member of WADA, an NGO spearheading innovative digital technology and blockchain advocacy in Africa. He is currently the Co-founder of Gateway to Blockchain, an online incentivized learning platform for blockchain technology. My passion lies in advocating for blockchain technology and its potential impact on various industries. My strong background in education and social services has provided me with the necessary skills to effectively communicate and educate others about the benefits of blockchain.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-mensah-42684822

Innocent Norvinu 

A marketing expect with over 4 years of experience as a marketing and communication director at Young Africans for Opportunities (YAFO), a nonprofit organization. is a cryptocurrency enthusiast with a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Professional Studies in Ghana. He is the Cofounder of gateway to blockchain. A former marketing specialist at Tech markets solutions. His over 7 years of experience within the finance industry as a risk and compliance officer has been key in ensuring that Unique Step Microfinance survive financial sanctions emanating from lack of regulatory compliance and also helping banks and micro-finance institutions survive various financial clean-up exercise in Ghana. He is a fund 7, 8 and 9 community Advisor, a voter and a proponent with two community funded and executed project. He also a fund 10 challenge team member.

Email: jessejunior6448@gmail.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/innocent-norvinu-a096931a9

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

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Here's a breakdown of the budget for the event:

Venue Rental and Setup:

• - Venue rental: 1000
• - Audiovisual equipment setup: 400

Speaker Expenses (Two speakers):

• - Travel expenses for speakers: 500
• - Accommodation for speakers: 1000
• - Incentives for Speakers: 3000

Event Promotion:

• - Printing of flyers and posters: 1500
• - Social media advertising: 1500

Catering and Refreshments:

• - Snacks and beverages 50(ADA)*75: 3750
• Event Materials and Supplies:
• - T shirts printing for participants – 50(ADA)*75– 3750
• - Stationery and printing materials: 225

Incentives for Team and participants

• - Organization –475
• - incentive for participants – 25(ADA)*75– 1835
• Miscellaneous:
• - Unexpected expenses contingency: 1000

Total Event Subtotal: 19935 ADA.

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

COST OF THE PROJECT

Ensuring cost-effectiveness and maximizing value for the Cardano ecosystem is at the forefront of our project proposal. With meticulous consideration of prevailing market prices, our budget breakdown reflects an accurate representation of the resources required. We understand the inherent volatility of ADA prices and have factored in this fluctuation when devising our budget, guaranteeing its adaptability to changes in the price levels of ADA. By incorporating strategies that are mindful of cryptocurrency market dynamics, we have pegged our allocated budget amount to a price between 0.15 and 0.2. Therefore, we believe the budget remains resilient and capable of supporting the successful implementation of our project, regardless of any variations in the price levels of the Cardano coin. 

Beyond financial considerations, our project offers substantial value to the Cardano ecosystem. By harnessing the transformative potential of blockchain technology and the Cardano platform, our project aims to deliver sustainable and long-lasting benefits, creating a positive ripple effect for the Cardano community and its stakeholders. We are confident that the value generated by our project surpasses the allocated budget, representing a compelling proposition for the Cardano ecosystem."

INHERENT VALUE ADDITION TO THE CARDANO ECOSYSTEM

Overall, the cost of the project represents value for money by promoting education, awareness, and active participation in the Cardano ecosystem. It aims to create a knowledgeable and engaged community that can contribute to the ecosystem's growth and long-term success. The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in the following ways:

The cost of the project allocated in the proposal represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in the following ways:

- It will increase awareness of Cardano blockchain technology among students and student entrepreneurs in Ghana. 

This is a key goal of the project, and it is essential for the long-term growth of the Cardano ecosystem. By educating students about Cardano, the project will help to create a new generation of Cardano users and developers.

- It will help to onboard student entrepreneurs into the Cardano community. 

The project will provide students with the knowledge and resources they need to start and grow their businesses on Cardano. This will help to create a more vibrant and sustainable Cardano ecosystem.

- It will foster collaboration between students and Cardano experts. 

The project will bring together students and Cardano experts to share knowledge and ideas. This will help to accelerate the development of new Cardano applications and services.

- It will help to attract new users to the Cardano catalyst space

By educating students about Cardano, the project will help to create a new generation of Cardano users. This will help to increase the size and activity of the Cardano community.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agrees to Fund Rules and also that data in the submission form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.