SIDAN | Waffle - Hong Kong Cardano Community

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Sidan Lab

[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)

Hosting a series of events, both technical and non-technical in Hong Kong to spin up the community, enhancing ecosystem engagement and exposure.

[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

Key outputs of the Hong Kong Cardano Community, including educational materials, workshop content, and collaborative project results, will be made publicly available under appropriate open-source licenses.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG 4: Quality Education - Our hub's focus on providing educational workshops and resources aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - By empowering individuals with new skills in blockchain and Cardano ecosystem, your project contributes to sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - Your initiative supports building resilient infrastructure, promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fosters innovation in the field of blockchain technology.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - By establishing this hub in Hong Kong, we contribute to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, fostering a community around innovative and sustainable technologies.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Working with various partners and the community aligns with the goal of revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Hong Kong Cardano Community initiative is structured as a hub, integrating educational programs, community interaction, and joint innovation. Collaborations with Waffle Capital, 0xU, Blockchain Academy, Gimbalabs and Cardano Spot are key to enhancing the depth and diversity of our services.

Communication Hubs: 

We will establish a Telegram group. They will serve as Cardano ecosystem information sharing, discussion, and collaborative projects. Also, a designated space in the Hong Kong community would also be created in Gimbalabs discord.

Non-Technical Community Events

• Offline Events (6 Events per year): We will organize offline events centered on introducing and exploring the Cardano ecosystem. These events aim to engage newcomers and provide general networking opportunities to people.
• Virtual Events(6 Events per year): Virtual meetings will focus on discussing developments in the Cardano ecosystem and the latest updates in Hong Kong's web3 industry.

Business Workshops: (6 Workshop per year)

These workshops will cover a range of topics essential for aspiring entrepreneurs and established professionals alike.

University Tour - Cardano Ecosystem Series: 

Through partnerships with 0xU and the Hong Kong Blockchain Academy, we will conduct 2 university tours. These tours, targeting both technical and non-technical students, aim to deepen blockchain understanding and foster community engagement within the academic sphere.

HK Cardano Starter PBL Course: 

This course is crafted and built on Andamio – a Cardano DApp empowering decentralized learning. Students could gain hands-on experience of using and building very simple DApps, sparking their interest in starting to build on Cardano.

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

Our project will amplify Cardano's presence in Hong Kong. By establishing a dedicated hub and collaborating with key partners like Gimbalabs, 0xU, and Blockchain Academy, we're set to achieve the following impacts:

1. Educational Outreach: Our educational programs will onboard a new wave of Cardano users. This growth in knowledgeable participants will contribute to the development of more robust, innovative solutions on the Cardano blockchain, enhancing the talent pool of the ecosystem.
2. Innovation and Collaboration: Our hub will become a place where developers and enthusiasts can collaborate on projects, share ideas, and create new applications within the Cardano ecosystem. This environment will accelerate the development of real-world solutions that can benefit the wider community.
3. Increased Visibility: Through events, AMAs, and online engagement facilitated by our partners, we will increase Cardano's visibility not only in Hong Kong but globally. This heightened exposure will attract more users and developers to the platform, contributing to the overall growth and decentralization of the Cardano ecosystem.

In essence, our project will act as a catalyst for growth, education, and innovation within the Cardano community, driving both local and global expansion and engagement.

[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 team brings together a diverse mix of skills and experience, ensuring the successful delivery of this project with high levels of trust and accountability. Key capabilities include:

1. Expertise in Blockchain and Education: Our collaboration with Gimbalabs provides us access to top-notch educational content and teaching expertise in blockchain technology. Our team members also have a background in blockchain development and community engagement, crucial for delivering quality education and fostering a robust community.
2. Established Community Connections: Our partnerships with Blockchain Academy and 0xU provides us with a direct link to the existing blockchain enthusiast community in Hong Kong. These collaborations validate our approach by connecting us with a network of eager learners and contributors.
3. Proven Track Record: We have successfully organized events and educational sessions, demonstrating our ability to execute and manage projects effectively. This experience ensures we can deliver on our promises with accountability.
4. Feedback and Iteration: We will implement a feedback mechanism to continually assess and improve our offerings. This will include participant surveys after each event or course and regular community meetups for direct feedback, ensuring our approach remains aligned with community needs and industry trends.
5. Transparent Reporting: We are committed to transparent and regular reporting of our progress. This will include updates on event outcomes, participant testimonials, and metrics on community growth and engagement.

Our approach's feasibility is validated by our existing engagements and the enthusiastic response from the community. We are well-positioned to expand our impact and deliver this project with the expected outcomes.

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

Milestone 1: Establishment of the Cardano Hub

• Timeframe: 2024 Feb - Mar
• Activities:
• Finalize partnership agreements with Gimbalabs, 0xU, Blockchain Academy, and Cardano Spot.
• Setting up Project Lead: fully onboarded and operational Proposal Team and Collaborators
• Setting up Project Management: Installed and fully operational Project Management and social accounts
• Proposal Onboarding: completed proposal onboarding and administration
• Deliverables: Signed partnership agreements, full documentation on project setup.
• Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 2: Launch of Cardano Ecosystem Series Campaign

• Timeframe: 2024 Apr - May
• Activities
• Design a set of materials with Andamio instance for Cardano Ecosystem Series, which is a condensed version of Cardano ecosystem and development overview.
• Schedule and run the campaign at local universities.
• Deliverables: Course materials and schedules, event summaries, participant feedback.
• Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 3: Community Building and Engagement

• Timeframe: 2024 Jun - Jul
• Activities: 
• Increase outreach efforts by expanding social media presence with Twitter, Discord and Telegram.
• Host additional leisure events, such as Cardano Happy Hour, to introduce Cardano to new web3 audiences.
• Deliverables: Growth in community membership, social media metrics, event reports.
• Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 4: Evaluation and Expansion of Course Offering / Community Building

• Timeframe: 2024 Aug - Sep
• Activities: 
• Evaluate the engagement of current courses, events and community.
• Further efforts to boost engagement (activities similar to milestone 3’s) for existing audiences who are non-technical.
• Expand and refine course offerings with Cardano Start PBL for existing audiences who are technical.
• Deliverables: Report on course effectiveness, updated course materials, new course launch schedule.
• Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 5: Strategic Growth and Planning for the Cardano HK Hub

• Timeframe: 2024 Oct - Nov
• Activities: Formalize new partnerships to drive growth and explore the development of advanced projects and impactful community initiatives. Create a detailed future roadmap for the hub, ensuring continuous support and evolution for both the community and developers.
• Deliverables: A portfolio of new partnership agreements. Plans for collaborative projects and initiatives. A clearly defined future roadmap, outlining strategic directions and objectives.
• Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 6: Sustaining Hong Kong Community

• Timeframe: 2024 Dec - 2025 Jan
• Activities: To support the necessary operating costs of maintenance. To host more offline events to keep the engagement. 
• Deliverables: The report on spending and evaluation form.
• Budget: ADA 35,000

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

SIDAN Lab

• A Hong Kong based technical solution provider, specializing in Cardano development. SIDAN Lab builds open source toolings for the community, and operates the SIDAN stake pool under its brand.
• SIDAN Lab is composed of professional expertise from outside the ecosystem. The team is assembled of mixed skills and Interdisciplinary experts.
• SIDAN Lab would provide technical support, local network and execution.

Waffle Capital

• A Cardano DeFi investment fund based in Hong Kong (registered in BVI), educating local investors and helping them navigate the Cardano DeFi ecosystem.
• Team includes SPO of Waffle Pool, a prominent pool in the ecosystem that has minted over 8000 blocks since 2021.
• Waffle Capital would provide direct investment opportunities and investor networks, also help with local execution.

Gimbalabs

• Gimbalabs creates scaffolding for a robust and resilient global network of leaders, devOps pioneers, builders, and educators because we know that in the hands of many, Cardano will help to solve real problems.
• Gimbalabs builds education materials for Cardano development and infrastructure toolings, hosting regular sessions for technical sharing, ideas curation and product demos.
• Gimbalabs would provide free license on the existing education content, knowledge and commitment to deliver a Hong Kong oriented PBL course, alongside with the Andamio platform to help with the project delivery.

Strategic Partner:

0xU, Gimbalabs HK

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

Milestone 1: Establishment of the Cardano Hub

• Finalize partnership agreements with Gimbalabs, 0xU, Blockchain Academy, and Cardano Spot.
• Budget: ADA 3,000
• Setting up Project Lead: fully onboarded and operational Proposal Team and Collaborators
• Budget: ADA 10,000
• Setting up Project Management: Installed and fully operational Project Management and social accounts
• Budget: ADA 10,000
• Proposal Onboarding: completed proposal onboarding and administration
• Budget: ADA 10,000
• Total Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 2: Launch of Cardano Ecosystem Series Campaign

• Design a set of materials with Andamio instance for Cardano Ecosystem Series, which is a condensed version of Cardano ecosystem and development overview.
• Budget: ADA 16,500
• Schedule and run the campaign at local universities.
• Budget: ADA 16,500
• Total Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 3: Community Building and Engagement

• Increase outreach efforts by expanding social media presence with Twitter, Discord and Telegram.
• Budget: ADA 3,000
• Host additional leisure events, such as Cardano Happy Hour, to introduce Cardano to new web3 audiences.
• Budget: ADA 30,000
• Total Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 4: Evaluation and Expansion of Course Offering / Community Building

• Evaluate the engagement of current courses, events and community.
• Budget: ADA 3,000
• Further efforts to boost engagement (activities similar to milestone 3’s) for existing audiences who are non-technical.
• Budget: ADA 15,000
• Expand and refine course offerings with Cardano Start PBL for existing audiences who are technical
• Budget: ADA 15,000
• Total Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 5: Strategic Growth and Planning for the Cardano HK Hub

• Formalize new partnerships to drive growth and explore the development of advanced projects and impactful community initiatives. 
• Budget: ADA 20,000
• Create a detailed future roadmap for the hub, ensuring continuous support and evolution for both the community and developers.
• Budget: ADA 13,000
• Total Budget: ADA 33,000

Milestone 6: Sustaining Hong Kong Community

• To support the necessary operating costs of maintenance.
• Budget: ADA 5,000
• To host more offline events to keep the engagement. 
• Budget: ADA 30,000
• Total Budget: ADA 35,000

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

The budget allocation is designed to maximize impact in several key areas:

1. Education and Skill Development: By funding educational initiatives, including courses and workshops in partnership with Gimbalabs, 0xU, and Blockchain Academy, we're directly investing in the development of skilled professionals and enthusiasts in the blockchain space. This enhances the overall quality and capability of the Cardano ecosystem, fostering a pool of talent that can contribute to and leverage Cardano's technology.
2. Community Growth and Engagement: Our project is a catalyst for expanding the Cardano community in a key financial hub. The budget for events, meetups, and social media campaigns is an investment in building a strong, engaged, and informed community. This not only raises awareness and adoption of Cardano but also creates a network of advocates and users who can propel Cardano's visibility and relevance in the broader blockchain market.
3. Sustainability and Scalability: Our approach ensures that the hub and its activities are sustainable and can be scaled up. This means the benefits of the initial investment will continue to accrue over time, offering ongoing returns to the Cardano community.

Strategic Location: Leveraging Hong Kong's position as a global financial and technological hub, the project is poised to significantly enhance Cardano's presence in Asia, a key market for blockchain technologies.

[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