dApp Web3 Freelancer Service Marketplace on Cardano - PRO39

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ha Nguyen

[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.

Yes

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

Establish a dApp Web3 Service marketplace to offer affordable Blockchain services, connecting project owners and freelancers, thereby accelerating the growth of Catalyst and Blockchain startups.

[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?

No

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

Not yet at the moment, as per the published Privacy Policy of our platforms with the relevant stakeholders: freelancers, Job seekers, and other partners. We cannot disclose the entire source code.

However, In the future, we will consider public partially the codes under the auditing process from 3rd party auditors.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG rating:

Our proposal focuses on Sustainable Development Goal #8, which promotes sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. It addresses post-pandemic, and Ukraine Crisis impacts, aiming to improve unemployment rates and support freelancers. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of a remote work environment and enhanced worker productivity, crucial for success in online service marketplaces with timely and punctual delivery requirements.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Our solution

Establish a freelancers' platform, offering affordable Blockchain and technology services, facilitating the connection between project owners and freelancers, and assisting Catalyst-Cardano projects and Blockchain start-ups growing faster.

Reasons for approaching:

1. The demand for talent in the field of Blockchain, web3, and IT is high.

Talent recruitment salary for Blockchain, web3, IT industry is high. This proves the shortage of human resources and the high demand for recruitment.

Demand for talent in crypto is less dependent on the market as the industry matures.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/demand-for-talent-in-crypto-less-dependent-on-market-as-industry-matures 

https://cryptojobslist.com/blog/2022-crypto-jobs-report

2. Most of the skilled human resources are looking due to job cuts in many large companies.

https://news.crunchbase.com/startups/tech-layoffs/

3. Project owners in Cardano, Catalyst, and Blockchain have difficulty finding talent that fits within the budget. That affects the progress and completion of the project.

• 48%(~642 Incompleted proposals) of 1349 funded proposals are still PENDING,
• and the average completion ay is only <40% in the previous funds in 2022 (Fund 7,8,9 which are 1 year old already.)

LINK SOURCE:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10IPEA1JNkcSKYivKa4FfhxRvbYUae_WDEYqvzrs1ptU/edit#gid=1960419401

There could be some challenges for this for more than 1 year incompletion rates

1. The financial management of the proposal team due to the fluctuation of ADAUSD
2. The skillsgap between qualify Freelancers vs. Business demands.
3. The lack of particular hub for freelancers especially in Cardano blockchain, Plustus, Haskell programing languges, etc... while Cardano are more and more coming to Smart Contract and heading to Voltaire era.
4. dRep delaying: this also poses a thread on the quality and highly-skilled proposers to have capacity to manage project ontime.

However, positively we see a slight decreases around 5% in incompletion rates vs. first half of 2023. And we see a better rule for Proposers with max cap of number of Proposals and the latest deadline completion for past funded proposals. This will also help the Catalyst Cardano community become better.

Project end-users aim: 

The proposed platform would enable to engage the following users.

1. Project Owner
2. Company
3. Freelancer
4. IT, Web3, Blockchain Talent (enthusiasts)
5. Service Provider

Project demonstrate outcomes

(*See the part [CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] for further data and information)

1. Help start-up projects in the fast-moving and emerging blockchain technologies and the Cardano ecosystem possibly find suitable talent sources.
2. Provide a large and feasible amount of work and tasks for those who are seeking extra income to cover job layoffs from tech companies and increase the chance to explore new job opportunities in the blockchain domain based on the existing skillsets.
3. Increased number of projects completed in Catalyst - Cardano.

The uniqueness of this solution and why this is important to Cardano.

1. Integrate the five most recognized Cardano light wallets: Lace, Eternl, Typhon, Flint, and Nami, onto our platform as the primary payment methods between involved parties.
2. Apply smart-contract to ensure the final payment of the involved parties fairly and transparently.
3. Automatically categorize freelancers into different levels based on the available criteria.

Our improvement on the current MVP of the dApp Web3 service marketplace.

• Business Model

As we taking input from the community, we adding the new thing on our business model (although we were funded by Project Catalyst since Fund 8, 9) but our Business model does not vulnerably rely on Project Catatlyst.

In order to be breakeven we need a monthly transaction of 1200 job done, and we charge the Freelancers 10% , Businesses 3% (compared to other Market Place platforms like Fiverr Upwork with 20% for Freelancers, 5-10% for PRO businesses, plus platform fee

This made us more competive and utilized thepower of Blockchain and Smartcontract for Automation while provide the reasonable services for the Cardano community.

• We have Payment options.

In order to be suitable with Payment gateways, we have offer both

-Cardano -based wallet transations and Pay Pal for market which are not legally viable for cryptocurrency transation.

• Community is key

We have freequent community activities to bond with freelancers and understand businesses so that we can offer them not only jobs, but coaching on-the jobs, lifestyles and educations/tips for a thriving community customized based on languages speaking.

• New UX/UI

We are also taking feedbacks from community for a more User centric UX/UI experience with a 3rd Dev partner.

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

This Proposal targets the goal of the Challenge:

Integrations with other existing services, products, and protocols that improve the end-user experience. This could mean giving the user more options or making something more accessible to use that benefits the broader ecosystem.

Impact of our Proposal on the Cardano Ecosystem

1. Increasing the number of products available for community use enriches the ecosystem with new use cases: Freelancer Connecting Platform.
2. Helping projects in Catalyst and Cardano start up smoothly.
3. Attract and focus highly skilled human resources to support the development of the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Increase the number of transactions using ADA through transaction settlement.
5. Increase the number of newly registered wallets from new users.

The value our proposal brings to the Cardano ecosystem

1. Create a new product, an exciting and valuable platform.
2. Attract users from other blockchains and fields to use the services and experience the blockchain technology that Cardano provides.
3. Through transactions, users interact more with the Cardano Blockchain, driving even more adoption, feedback, and innovation. 

These contribute to the strong growth of the Cardano ecosystem.

1. Number of website visits: 40.000

2. Number of new registered users: 2000

3. Number of Freelancers posting services: 500

In which number of freelancers providing Cardano, Blockchain-related services: 200 people

4. Number of service orders (number of transactions): 700

In which number of projects funds by Catalyst to order services: 30

5. Number of completed contracts: 200

In which the number of contracts related to Catalyst, Cardano: 20 contracts.

6. Number of ADA payment transactions: Over 100 transactions

7. Number of newly registered wallets related to ADA payments: Over 100 wallets.

8. Number of Telegram community members: Over 8000 members

9. Number of Cardano-based Wallets integrated: 5

[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?

Ability and experience suitable to implement the project:

Our team possesses the necessary skills and expertise to implement this project effectively. We have amassed considerable experience in the following areas:

1. Business administration, including the setup, management, and operation of platforms.
2. Proficiency in programming technology products, platforms, and banking payment systems.
3. Financial management and cash flow management expertise.
4. In-depth knowledge in the field of Blockchain, with a particular focus on Cardano.

Financial management process:

1. Our team consists of a seasoned Financial Manager with 20 years of experience in finance and banking
2. Accountant with over ten years of expertise in revenue, expenditure management, financial reporting, and business operations.

Transparent Workflow:

1. The Financial Manager is responsible for budget planning, allocation, and management.
2. The Accountant handles revenue and expenditure operations and maintains payment vouchers.
3. The Financial Manager and Accountant present the budget management sheet, receipts, and expenditures to the Project Manager every month.

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

Master Project Dev plan and Marketing SOM

We will have detailed master plan here for 8 months, all the milestones will be updated following this Master Timeline for 2 seperate work sprint: for Dev and for Marketing Innitiatives.

Product Development Plan in 8 months:

Marketing Plan in 8 months:

Milestone 1

• Integrate 5 Cardano light walletsConnect Nami Wallet
• Connect Eternl Wallet
• Connect Flint Wallet
• Connect Other Wallet 1 (Lace Wallet (beta))
• Connect Other Wallet (Typhon/Yoroi Wallet (beta))TBU (by challenge team)
• Direct update on our web dApp: https://proskills39.com/

Month 1-2

% budget request: 20%

% Accumulated of Project Completion: 25%

Statement of Milestones (SOM) built in advance: With the assistance of Cardano Ambassador, Mr. Yuta, we present the SOM in advance:

• to align with Catalyst Fund 10's guidelines for plan transparency and clarity (same application in Fund 11, as per checking with Mr. Daniel Ribbar of IOHK)
• to facilitate easy reviewing for Community Reviewers (CR),
• to illustrate that our completion percentage consistently surpasses the budget percentage required for each milestone.
• Final Milestones meet the MIN threshold of 20% > min level: 15%.

SOM Link:

https://docs.projectcatalyst.io/fund-documentation/fund10-docs/how-to-submit-project-milestones/what-milestones-should-be-included-in-the-statement-of-milestones 

Handover products

Our final handover products (detailed will be break-downed by SOM (Statement of Milestones) table:

1. Integrate Cardano light wallets (5 Wallets)
2. New User interface (using for Smart Contract Cardano and Freelancer Level)
3. Smart Contract on Cardano
4. Automatically categorize freelancers' Level

Work results / desired results achieved.

1. Users can connect and make payments through Cardano lightweight wallets.
2. Transactions are automated and securely handled by Smart Contracts.
3. Freelancer rankings are decentralized and determined automatically based on predetermined criteria.

How to track project progress and measure progress

1. Our programming team will submit weekly and monthly progress reports and release notes to the Project Manager.
2. The Project Manager will compile and deliver a comprehensive monthly progress report to Catalyst.
3. After each milestone, the Project Manager will consolidate and submit Proof of Achievement (POA) and Statement of Milestones (SOM) to Catalyst.

Month 3-4

% budget request: 20%

% Acc of Project Completion: 50%

• Automatically categorize freelancers Level
• Database and module design for Freelancer hierarchical rule
• User interface design
• Direct update on our web: https://proskills39.com/

Month 5-6

% budget request: 20%

% Accumulated of Project Completion: 75%

• Finalizing smart contract
• Test the Smart Contract (Preview Network)
• Deploy the Smart Contract
• Direct update on our web: https://proskills39.com/

Month 7-8

% budget request: 20%

% Accumulate of Project Completion: 95%

• Project Go Live
• All KPI Dev and KPI Marketing mentioned at the Website: https://proskills39.com/

Final closing report to Catalyst

End of Month 8

% budget request: 20%

% Accumulated of Project Completion: 100%

How to track project progress and measure progress

1. Our programming team will submit weekly and monthly progress reports and release notes to the Project Manager.
2. The Project Manager will compile and deliver a comprehensive monthly progress report to Catalyst.
3. After each milestone, the Project Manager will consolidate and submit Proof of Achievement (POA) and Statement of Milestones (SOM) to Catalyst.

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

Project Management Team (Executive team)

1.Ms. Hà Nguyễn – Project Manager

• An experienced businessman in the field of e-commerce business, exchanging goods and services on Marketplaces.
• Five years of experience in business management and project management.
• Deputy head of the corporate planning department, new business model development department in the Japanese companies
• Gained Blockchain Business Consultant certificate issued by Emurgo Academy.
• Joined Catalyst as PA (Good: 91%, Excellent: 6%), vPA, Sponsored Proposer.
• Connecting the Vietnamese and Japanese communities and the international community.
• Be an active member of the Vietnamese and Japanese communities
• Moderators of the following Facebook groups:

1."Vietnam ADA Cardano Community": >5000 members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ada.holder

2."Cardano ADA Vietnam": >47,000 members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cardanoviet

• Telegram: https://t.me/hanguyen122009
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyen-thi-ha-45b108233/

Financial Management team

1. Mr.Iga - Finance Manager

• More than 20 years of experience in finance and credit-related companies
• Twenty years of experience in investing in financial markets: securities, forex, cryptocurrencies…
• Currently working in finance, commerce, and real estate at a Japanese corporation.

2. Ms.Dien - Accountant

• More than 12 years of experience as a financial-tax accountant
• More than 04 years of experience holding the position of chief accountant at the company
• Currently working as a chief accountant at 01 company and as an accounting-tax consultant for more than eight other companies
• Join Catalyst as a PA at Fund 9
• Have basic knowledge of Blockchain and Cardano
• Telegram: https://t.me/Dienlynguyen
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyen-dien-27a320265/

Product development Team (Programming team)

ProSkills39's programming team comes from Vknight.io - a large and professional company with extensive experience in developing software for large banks in Vietnam and extensive domestic and foreign organizations.

1. Mr.Luu Nguyen - Product Manager

• CEO of Vknight.io
• Software Engineer - Specialization:

-Analysis & Database Design.

-Data structure.

-Database Programming, Analysis & Design.

• Master of Business Administration, with full knowledge of banking, accounting, statistics, ...
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyen-mau-luu-0999a6238/
• Email: nguyenmauluu@gmail.com 

*Vknight.io's developer team

Vknight.io is a large and professional team. Nearly 200 members, under the close supervision and management by Mr. Luu- CEO of Vknight.

Vknight.io has successfully implemented many projects for all domestic and foreign banks such as:

Domestic banks: Viet A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, VinaSiam Bank, Lao-Viet Bank, Saigon Bank, SACOMBANK,...

Foreign banks: Far East National Bank (Vietnam), Huanan Bank (Vietnam), HSBC (Vietnam), Cambodia Public Bank (Cambodia) ), Vattanac Bank (Cambodia), Angkor Capital Bank Plc., Phongsavanh Bank ( Laos), Ayeyarwady Bank (Myanmar)…

Vknight.io is in charge of foreign markets for JITS company such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar...

Besides, Vknight.io is a co-developer and co-owner of software such as Optimal9 core banking software, Flex reporting system, software connecting peripheral channels with core banking system (HUB)...

Below are experienced leaders in charge of managing programming teams, ensuring project progress.

2. Mr. Hoang Nguyen - Technology Consultant (Tech-lead)

• Software Engineer & Information System - Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry: 

-Thematic Oracle 

-Artificial Intelligence 

-E-government 

-Computer Science

• Design and develop Autosar-based embedded software components. 
• Had participated in many projects for the company and have over six years of experience in core banking system consulting. 
• And now, he is in charge of project management for many major projects in the market Cambodia and collaborates with many clients in the field of Microfinance.
• Github: https://github.com/nguyenvuhoang
• Email: nguyenvuhoangz@gmail.com

3. Mr.Dang Ngo

• Education of Technology Can Tho University, focus on: 

-Analyze & Design Database. 

-Structure of Data. 

-Programming, Analyze & Database Design.

• Two and a half years of experience working with Oracle DB, Java, VB.Net 
•  Programming with ReactJs, C#, and MS SQL server.
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ngo-dang-kane-33b917195
• Email: ngodangdt@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing Team

1. Mr.Buck Nguyen - Project Marketing & Partner Lead

• Founder of Cardano Asia TikTok (Funded Project Fund 9, Fund 10) with more than 100,000 interactions/followers https://www.tiktok.com/cardano.asia 
• Vietnamese Admin of the CNFT community: https://twitter.com/AsiaCnft 
• Long-term experience in community building and online marketing.
• Joined Catalyst as PA, vPA, Funded Proposer, CR CR LV1, LV2, Challenge Team since Fund 9, Fund 10.
• Five years of research experience in Cardano blockchain.
• Telegram: https://t.me/Buck_Nguyen

2. Ms. Ly Na - Social Marketing Specialist.

• Six months in Blockchain Content Creator at Cardano.asia

and Deepfunding_AI funding on Tik Tok

• Researched topics related to Cardano, blockchain, and crypto.
• Created a script and recorded videos on these topics according to a plan.

*Participated in seeding on the same field's community platforms (Telegram, Facebook, and Twitter).

• Eight months as Growth Marketer at Belle Lab (Beauty Distributor)
• Managed sales and marketing on commercial channels for Belle Lab (Website, Lazada, Shopee) with over 70 beauty brands (>1000 SKUs).
• Promoted sales campaigns by proposing sale prices and redesigning the homepage and product catalog images.
• Plan the concept for filming and working directly with agencies and talent to produce advertising materials (public papers, advertisements) for the RevitaLash brand.
• Created ideas for activities, content, and landing pages to promote pop-up events, which combine with local brands from various fields (fashion, accessories, candles, etc.)
• Ten months as Copywriter and content designer at OOO Lab (E-Learning Providers)
• Plan a monthly strategy to increase followers and the interaction of the company website and fan page.
• Posted content and responding to customers' messages.
• Support for Virtual Classroom- Flatform looks like Zoom for teaching English. 
• Designed posters and banners for Facebook posts.
• Telegram: @AlyssaSweeten

3. Ms. Quynh Anh

- 3 years of experience in Social Media, PR, and SEO Content.

- 2 years of experience in a freelancing agency. Role: Copywriter in various fields

(entertainment, traveling, finance, furniture, food & beverage, etc)

- 1 year of experience in the Cosmetics Industry.

- Email: quynhanhduongdoan@gmail.com

Operation Team

1.Nguyen Thi Hong Cam - Operation Lead

- Five years of experience in Operation Manager of Retail, Market Place and Farm Stay.

- Five years of experience in Customer Experience Manager and Business Development of

Logistics company and Fashion company.

- Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cam-totto-nguyen-47903577/

2. Ms. Hanh Nguyen- Admin

• - 2 years of experience in HR - Union. Role: -Recruit;Tracking attendance, leave, resign, leave early, leave work,...; Perform duties on social insurance and health insurance.
• - 2 years of experience in the field of state management of trade unions, labor - employment, and social evils prevention. Gmail: hanhnguyennnn2412@gmail.

3. Ms. Bella Pham:

• 6 years of experience in HR. Role: -Recruit;Tracking attendance, leave, resign, leave early, leave work, operational control, administrative work in real state 
• Email: pthaomic@gmail.com

4. Ms.Niem - Customer Support Specialist

• Two years of experience working in the operation and customer care department of an e-commerce platform.
• Communication in foreign languages, especially French.
• Three years of experience in support, community building.

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

We plan to build the features of this project on a platform that we have funded by Catalyst fund before. The aim is to take advantage of the infrastructure and save the budget.

Total budget proposed in this proposal: 265.580 ADA

This already considers the risk of price fluctuation of ADA for the duration of project delivery.

Budgeting basis

1. Exchange rate:

52 week rate ADA USD

low: 0.23. high: 0.46 ave: 0.345 ADAUSD

Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/cardano/

2. Programming cost:

With the desire to have the opportunity to contribute to supporting Cardano, Catalyst to grow stronger, we will strive to work with a salary 40-50% lower than the average salary in the market.

3. Personnel expenses:

Our team will strive to complete the project with a 40-50% remuneration lower than our country's average salary.

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

VALUE FOR MONEY- SALARY BENCHMARKING

The cost of the project is also considered low compared to the cost of the seniority of the engineers in the team. 

1. Salary benchmarking in the local country: We keep 40-50% savings on personnel cost for the team member's hourly rate: Salary Benchmarking
2. Our budget Allocation mainly focused on Product development (40%) and Commercial (~30%)
3. Consider the team allocation at different levels of the project org chart
4. Cardano Ecosystem is an emerging industry, and we need to have the proper induction and training for the new members.

VALUE FOR THE CARDANO ECOSYSTEM:

The cost of the ProSkills39 project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem through several factors:

1.  Alignment with Strategic Goals: The project's objectives and deliverables align with the strategic goals of the Cardano ecosystem and challenge setting
2. Impactful Deliverables: The project aims to deliver tangible outcomes that benefit the Cardano ecosystem, including solving the unemployment of freelancers and connecting talents for Catalyst-funded proposers.
3.  Measurement of Progress and Success: The project team has established transparent success criteria and performance indicators for each milestone. These metrics will be used to track progress, evaluate the project's success, and update the Catalyst Community. We walk the talk with the Catalyst Core Values.

[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