[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ian McCullough

[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)

8

[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)

Develop a smart contract and platform for transparent and localizing direct ticket sales with capped fees, thwarting scalping and ensuring fair prices.

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

Yes

[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.”

Yes, this project is dependent on NMKR

[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

The code generated from this grant will be released as open source under the MIT license.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Perception of the Problem:

The prevalent issue of inflated ticket fees and scalping on major ticket-selling platforms poses a significant barrier. These practices not only deter potential attendees but also unfairly compensate key stakeholders in events, including performers, venues, and promoters.

Approach Rationale:

We're approaching this problem by proposing a proof of concept for a smart contract and a platform to enable transparent, and local platform for ticket sales. This method leverages blockchain technology to enable direct sales, cap fees, and eradicate scalping, ensuring fairness for all involved.

Stakeholders and Users

Our project aims to engage local communities seeking fair and accessible event experiences. By removing intermediaries and offering direct interactions, our platform caters to those involved in creating and attending events.

For example:

• Artists/Performers
• Event Organizers & Promoters
• Ticket Buyers

Impact Demonstration:

The impact of our solution will be demonstrated by showcasing reduced ticket prices, increased event attendance, and equitable compensation for event stakeholders. Transparently recorded transaction data on the blockchain will serve as proof of fair pricing and positive influence within the ticketing ecosystem.

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

The success of our project within the Cardano community will bring substantial value by showcasing the practical use case and efficacy of blockchain technology, particularly within the realm of event ticketing. By demonstrating a Web3-enabled ticketing platform built on Cardano, we contribute to the ecosystem's expansion, highlighting its capabilities beyond financial applications.

Measuring Impact:

We'll quantify impact through several key metrics, such as:

1. Ticket Price Comparison: Analyzing ticket prices pre- and post-implementation to demonstrate reduced costs.
2. Transaction Transparency: Tracking and sharing the number of transactions and records maintained on the blockchain.
3. User Engagement: Measuring the number of active users and engagement levels on the platform.
4. Feedback and Testimonials: Gathering qualitative feedback from stakeholders regarding improved experiences.

Sharing Outputs:

We'll disseminate our findings and outcomes through various channels:

1. Community Forums: Engaging with the Cardano community via forums, such as Discord, Github, Reddit and official Cardano platforms, to share progress updates, success stories, and lessons learned.
2. Publications and Reports: Publishing reports detailing our project's impact, technological insights, and the broader implications for blockchain in event ticketing.
3. Conferences and Presentations: Participating in Cardano-related events, conferences, and meetups to present our project, share insights, and connect with stakeholders.
4. Social Media and Outreach: Leveraging social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, to communicate project milestones, success stories, and opportunities for involvement or collaboration within the Cardano ecosystem.

Through these measures, we aim to demonstrate the tangible benefits of our project for the Cardano community, illustrating how blockchain technology can revolutionize and improve various industries, starting with event ticketing.

[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?

Transparency

To ensure trust and accountability, we maintain a transparent and collaborative approach with clear deliverables and financial reports (including cost breakdowns and on-chain transaction history) for each project milestone. 

For each milestone, we will include regular communication, sharing project updates, and actively soliciting feedback. This open line of communication fosters trust and ensures that all parties are engaged throughout the integration process.

Web2 Proof of Concept

Our project already has working Web2 Proof of Concept (tikit.live) with successful ticket sales stored in a mysql database and using stripe. This has provided the team with valuable insights by providing feedback and validation from users and insights already gathered.

Main Goals

• Establish a ticketing platform for listing, selling, and distributing event tickets through smart contracts.
• Write a smart contract that splits payments and automates different ticketing revenue models
• Explore various uses of NFTs for enhancing ticketing experiences

Validation

Ticketing Platform Establishment:

• Track the number of events listed, tickets sold, and distribution efficiency.
• Collect user feedback on platform usability and overall satisfaction.

Smart Contract Payment Splitting:

• Execute test transactions to validate payment splitting accuracy.
• Obtain feedback on the effectiveness of payment automation.

NFT Integration for Enhanced Experiences:

• Introduce NFT-backed tickets and assess user engagement.
• Conduct surveys to gather opinions on NFTs for ticketing experiences.

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

Initialization

Cost: 25,000 ADA (25%)

Length: 1 month

Description

Establish foundational elements for the proof-of-concept (PoC)

Milestone Output(s)

1. Agile framework board set up in Notion with user stories and tasks
2. Infrastructure setup completed.
3. Key functionality initialized.
4. Initial administrative and miscellaneous tasks addressed.

Acceptance Criteria

• Approval of the Research and Planning Document.
• Successful completion of infrastructure setup, including NMKR
• Confirmation of initial administrative and miscellaneous tasks, including task and story boards

Smart Contract Development

Cost: 25,000 ADA (25%)

Length: 1 month

Description

Develop smart contracts, integrate ADA payment gateway

Milestone Outputs

• Aiken smart contracts for ticket issuance, sale splits, and validation
• Integration of payment gateway for ADA transactions
• Test transactions and validate on-chain ticketing functionalities.

Acceptance Criteria

• Demonstrable aiken on testnet.
• Documentation in place.

Prototype Development

Cost: 27,500 ADA (27.5%)

Length: 2 months

Description

Design user-friendly ticket purchase interface, integrate smart contracts, and deploy to testnet.

Milestone Outputs

• User-friendly ticket purchase interface
• Smart contract integration with the interface
• Deploy to testnet

Acceptance Criteria

• Approved user interface
• Successful smart contract integration
• Positive feedback from testnet

Launch

Cost: 27,500 ADA (27.5%)

Length: 2 months

Description

Deploy tikit.live to mainnet, announce platform launch, and initiate marketing and outreach.

Milestone Outputs

• Full deployment
• Public launch announcement
• Initial marketing and outreach

Acceptance Criteria

• Successful deployment without major issues
• Wide public awareness of the launch
• Positive initial user adoption metrics

Finalization and Documentation

Cost: 30,000 ADA (30%)

Length: 2 months

Description:

Finalize the PoC, prepare comprehensive documentation, and conclude administrative tasks.

Milestone Output(s)

• Comprehensive evaluation report.
• Marketing & user success reports completed.
• Final bug fixes and documentation.
• Final administrative and miscellaneous tasks addressed.

Acceptance Criteria

• Approval of the comprehensive evaluation report.
• Completion of marketing and user success reports.
• Final bug fixes and documentation verified.
• Confirmation of final administrative and miscellaneous tasks.

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

Ian McCullough (Cullah)

LinkedIn

Role: Full Stack Developer

Relevant Experience:

• Award-winning musician composed and licensed 10,000+ syncs of 16 years of open-source music in video games, films, tv shows, and advertisements.
• Senior level developer with a 10+ years of full-stack web development and scripting languages.
• MPhil in Music & Media Technology from Trinity College, Dublin.
• BS in Computer Engineering from Marquette University.

Maggie Schmidt

Milwaukee, USA

LinkedIn

Role: Project Manager / Quality Assurance

Relevant Experience:

• 5 years of project management & quality assurance with companies like Universal Audio, Audiophile, and Wisconsin Music Ventures
• 10 years of entertainment industry experience
• BA Music Performance from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Associate Degree, Audio Engineering from MATC

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

The costs for this concept will be mostly work hours for administration, project management and full stack development and design. The costs include service and hosting fees.

Assuming a $0.3 USD to 1 ADA exchange rate and average cost per team work hour:

Full-stack developer : 250 ada per hour

Project Manager/QA : 150 ada per hour

Milestone 1: Project Initiation (20,000 ADA - Approximately 20%):

• Full-Stack Developer: 40 hours x 250 ADA/hour = 10,000 ADA
• Project Manager/QA: 67 hours x 150 ADA/hour = 10,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Smart Contract Development (25,000 ADA - Approximately 25%):

• Full-Stack Developer: 70 hours x 250 ADA/hour = 17,500 ADA
• Project Manager/QA: 50 hours x 150 ADA/hour = 7,500 ADA

Milestone 3: Prototype Development(27,500 ADA - Approximately 27.5%):

• Full-Stack Developer: 65 hours x 250 ADA/hour = 15,000 ADA
• Project Manager/QA: 75 hours x 150 ADA/hour = 10,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Launch (27,500 ADA - Approximately 27.5%):

• Full-Stack Developer: 69 hours x 250 ADA/hour = 15,000 ADA
• Project Manager/QA: 68 hours x 150 ADA/hour = 6,250 ADA

Milestone 5: Finalization and Documentation (30,000 ADA - Approximately 30%):

• Full-Stack Developer: 55 hours x 250 ADA/hour = 13,125 ADA
• Project Manager/QA: 108 hours x 150 ADA/hour = 16,875 ADA

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

The project costs have been diligently considered, taking into account industry standards, market-driven rates, and the comprehensive skill sets required.

This ensures that every ADA spent contributes to the successful execution of the project, aligning with Cardano's vision for a decentralized and informed community.

The budget reflects not only the project's immediate needs but also its enduring impact on the Cardano ecosystem.

[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