LATAM: The Land of the Builders

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Maximiliano Rios

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

Individual

[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)

We will host a series of six impactful events in LatinAmerica, with the objective of onboarding a new wave of builders into the Cardano Ecosystem

[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

All project outputs, including information, analytics, and processes, will be made public to the Cardano community. We are committed to ensuring transparency and sharing our project's resources with the community.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

The core problem we aim to address revolves around the lack of localized onboarding resources and knowledge about Cardano in the Latin American region. Latin America, one of the world's largest developer hubs, is yet to fully embrace the possibilities that the Cardano ecosystem offers. This issue is primarily rooted in the absence of accessible guidance, educational materials, and engagement opportunities tailored to the region.

Our solution is to create a comprehensive and dynamic six-month initiative designed to empower builders and innovators within Latin America to seamlessly onboard into the Cardano community. We believe that by focusing on builders, we can stimulate innovation and foster a thriving ecosystem within the region. This Effort will be carried out in 2 LATAM countries simultaneously, Argentina and Colombia.

Here's how we plan to achieve this:

• Cardano Builders Bootcamp: We will conduct an Intro to Cardano Bootcamp. This intensive program will provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed to understand the basics of Cardano and the benefits of building on it.

• Building on Cardano Workshops: To delve deeper into Cardano's capabilities, we will organize a 2nd workshop that focus on building within the Cardano ecosystem. These workshops will provide practical insights, allowing builders to explore and create using Cardano's technology and tools.

• Catayst Builders Competition: As the culmination of our initiative, we will host a Builders Idea competition. This event will encourage participants to collaborate, innovate, and develop projects within the Cardano ecosystem. All participants will write their own Catalyst Proposal and the best ones will receive prizes.

What makes our solution unique is its concentrated effort on localizing the onboarding process for Latin American builders. By addressing the specific needs of this region, we aim to create a self-sustaining ecosystem of builders who can contribute to Cardano's growth and development. The project's beneficiaries include aspiring builders, developers, and innovators in Latin America who will gain the knowledge and resources needed to actively participate in the Cardano community.

This initiative is crucial to Cardano because it unlocks the immense potential of Latin America, tapping into a pool of talent and creativity that can drive innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. By fostering a strong, informed, and engaged community of builders, we not only enrich the Cardano ecosystem but also strengthen its global presence and impact. This initiative aligns with Cardano's mission of creating a decentralized and inclusive future and extends its reach into a region ripe with untapped potential.

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

The positive impact of our project on the wider Cardano community is multifaceted and significant. By focusing on localized onboarding and engagement in Latin America, our initiative contributes to the broader Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

• Expanded Developer Base: Our project aims to attract and onboard new builders and developers from Latin America into the Cardano community. This influx of fresh talent and innovative perspectives strengthens the overall developer base, increasing the capacity for building and improving Cardano's ecosystem.

• Increased Innovation: With a more diverse and geographically distributed community, Cardano can expect to see a surge in innovation. Latin American builders bring unique experiences and ideas that can lead to the creation of novel projects, applications, and solutions within the Cardano ecosystem.

• Global Reach: Latin America is a significant region with a vast population of +600 Million People. Engaging builders from this region enhances Cardano's global reach, diversifying its user and developer base and broadening its influence in emerging markets.

• Demonstrable Impact: By measuring metrics such as increased participation in events, the number of projects developed, and engagement in the Latin American region, we can provide evidence of the impact generated by our project. Also, if succesfull, this can be replicated in other LATAM countries or in other regions of the world.

• Ecosystem Resilience: A more geographically diverse community can help enhance the resilience and decentralization of the Cardano ecosystem. This aligns with Cardano's core principles of decentralization and inclusivity.

In summary, our project's positive impact on the wider Cardano community is manifested through a larger, more diverse, and engaged developer base, increased innovation, a broader global reach. It contributes to Cardano's vision of a decentralized, inclusive, and innovative blockchain platform with a global presence.

Key Success Indicators:

• Number of Attendees at Events: We expect to achieve 100 attendees, through-out all events. Creating a new cohort of builders on Cardano

• Catalyst Proposals and Projects: We aim to directly contribute to the initiation of at least 10 Catalyst proposals or Cardano projects as a result of our project's outreach and developer onboarding efforts.

[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 capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability is founded on the extensive experience and proven track records of our team members, Maximiliano Rios and Lucas Machiavelli. They have a demonstrated history of successfully managing and executing community-building initiatives and blockchain-related projects.

Both Maximiliano and Lucas have held key leadership roles in blockchain organizations, Maximiliano as an Ambassador for the Algorand Foundation and Lucas as a Cardano Ambassador, Cofounder of Token Allies and the LATAM Cardano Community. Their leadership experiences reflect their capacity to lead and execute projects with integrity and accountability.

• Community Engagement: Their involvement in organizing numerous events, workshops, and conferences within the blockchain space highlights their commitment to fostering transparent and inclusive communities.

• Metrics and Impact Measurement: Throughout the project, we will implement key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess progress and impact. Metrics such as event attendance, participant engagement, social media reach, and developer onboarding will be monitored and reported regularly to validate the project's effectiveness.

In summary, our team's extensive experience, leadership roles, past successes, and commitment to transparency, along with a focus on measurable metrics and community feedback, provide strong foundations for delivering this project with high levels of trust and accountability. We are dedicated to validating the feasibility of our approach through transparent reporting and ongoing community engagement.

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

Milestone 1: Organizing, Content Creation and Promotion (Month 1-2)

• Objective: 1st Milestone includes Securing Venues & dates, Creation of Educational Content, creating promotional content, securing speakers and sponsors.

• Acceptance: Locations secured with respectives dates, Promotion started on social media, Initial Draft, Educational Content, Agenda and Speakers.

Milestone 2: Cardano Builder Bootcamp (Month 3-4)

• Objective: Host the Cardano Builder Bootcamp in both of the countries to attract people interested in the Cardano Ecosystem.

• Acceptance Criteria: Execution of the Cardano Builder Bootcamp, with evidence that the event took place, pictures and videos of the event properly published on Social Media. People that participated will be documented an invited to participate on the next workshop

Milestone 3: Building on Cardano Workshops (Month 3-4)

• Objective: Conduct the 2 Building on Cardano workshops in both Countries.

• Acceptance Criteria:Host a minimum of two successful workshops, with evidence that the event took place, pictures and videos of the event properly published on Social Media. People that participated will be documented an invited to participate on final Catayst Builders Competition

Milestone 4: Catayst Builders Competition (Month 3-4)

• Objective: Organize a hackathon to encourage builders to create projects on Cardano.

• Acceptance Criteria: Successfully host the Builders Hackathon. Feedback and testimonials from participants. All participants in the competition will leave with a well crafted Catalyst proposal to present on Catalyst next fund.

Milestone 5: Project oboarding to Catalyst and Reporting (Month 5 - 6)

• Objective: Evaluate the project's impact and prepare a comprehensive report.

• Acceptance Criteria:Prepare a detailed report summarizing the project's achievements, challenges, and impact.

• Showcase at least 5 innovative projects originated from the competitions

• Share the report with the Cardano community.

These milestones provide a clear roadmap for project implementation and a basis for assessing its success. The achievement of each milestone will demonstrate our capability to deliver the project as proposed and contribute to the growth of the Cardano community in Latin America.

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

Lucas Macchiavelli

Cardano Ambassador, Co-founder of Token Allies, a Decentralized Venture Capital on Cardano, and the LATAM Cardano Community. F8 Proposal Assessor & F7, F8, F9, F10 funded proposer.

F7 Funded Proposer (https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/382611)

F8 Funded Proposer (https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/400427)

F9 Funded Proposer (https://cardano.ideascale.com/c/idea/64666)

As the Co-founder of the LATAM Cardano Community, Lucas had an impact both within and outside the Latin America region. Co-hosted over 60 LATAM Townhalls and Spaces aimed at lowering the barriers to adoption of Cardano in Latin America. Also helped organize 13 CIP 1694 Workshops held in LATAM and attended the Global CIP 1694 Workshop in Edinburgh.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmacchiavelli/

Maximiliano Rios

Community Champion Argentina at the Algorand Foundation (March 2023 - Present)

Lead the Algorand Foundation ecosystem growth in Argentina through in-person events and social media content. In 2023 organized two hackathons, one in April at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and another in November as part of LABITCONF 2023 (the most important blockchain event in Latin America). LABITCONF saw the participation of more than 35 teams of entrepreneurs and developers.

Business Developer at the National Technological University (April 2019 - Present)

Responsibilities: Establishing valuable relationships and agreements for the University. Organizing TEDx talks - UTN (in 2019 and 2023).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxirios/

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

Budget: TOTAL 35.000 USD = At 0,39 = 89,700 ADA

Project Management = 2 x $1300 for 6 Months = $15,600

Documentation & Assistant = 200 USD * 6 Months = $1,200

3 Events in Argentina = $5150

Photos: 200 USD

Video Record: 300 USD

Interviewer: 400 USD

Designer: 200 USD

Location: 2100 USD

Food & beverage: 350 USD

PRIZES: 1000 USD

Material: 100 USD

Merchandising: 500 USD

3 Events in Colombia = $13,050

Organizer = 1000 USD*2 = $2000

Project Management Travel Expenses = $1000 x 2 = $2000

Hotel: (2 weeks) = $1200 * 2 = $2400

Food: (2 weeks) = $750 * 2 = $1500

Photos: $200

Video Record: $300

Interviewer: $400

Designer: $200

Location: $2100

Food & beverage: $350

PRIZES: $1000

Material: $100

Merchandising: $500

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

The cost of the project represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem for the following reasons:

• Strategic Expansion: The project targets Latin America, a region with a growing interest in blockchain technology. By allocating resources to this region, the project aims to tap into a market with enormous potential for Cardano's growth and adoption. The costs are justified by the strategic importance of expanding into this region.

• High Impact: The project's activities, including organizing events, workshops, and hackathons, have the potential to attract a significant number of developers and builders to the Cardano ecosystem. The impact of bringing new talent and innovation to Cardano outweighs the costs associated with these initiatives.

• Proportional Budget: The budget has been carefully considered to ensure it aligns with the specific needs of the project. Costs are proportional to the objectives and expected outcomes, with a focus on achieving tangible results, such as developer onboarding, community growth and Cardano recognition as a whole.

• Skilled Team: The project team consists of experienced individuals with a proven track record in blockchain and community engagement. Their expertise and dedication enhance the likelihood of successful outcomes, making the costs a valuable investment.

• Potential Return: The investment in community growth, developer onboarding, and regional expansion can lead to the creation of new projects, partnerships, and use cases on Cardano. The potential return on investment in terms of ecosystem development and adoption justifies the costs.

[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.

I Accept