wowTalkies - Revolutionizing Fan Engagement on the Cardano Blockchain

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Himanshu Sachan

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co proposers and Additional applicants

Sivasethu Sarvanan

Immanuel Aaron

[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)

wowTalkies, is a comprehensive user-friendly fan engagement platform that leverages AI/ML, blockchain and AR/VR to revolutionize how fans interact with movies, artists, and communities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBz7XT4a7Vc

[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

All smart contracts will be open source and AL/ML , AR/VR IP is not open source

[METADATA] SDG rating

 SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

wowTalkies, our revolutionary fan engagement platform, has successfully launched its proof of concept (PoC) on the Polygon chain, marking a significant step towards transforming the way fans interact with movies and artists. The current live implementation on the Polygon testnet serves as a testament to the platform's capabilities and its potential to revolutionize the fan engagement landscape.

The core challenge we address is the disjointed nature of existing fan engagement platforms, and with the live deployment on the Polygon testnet , we have demonstrated a tangible solution to this problem. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI/ML, Blockchain, and AR/VR, wowTalkies on Polygon offers an immersive and comprehensive fan engagement experience. Fans can enjoy features like interactive discussions, personalized content recommendations, digital collectibles, and community building, all within a seamless and engaging environment.

As we look to the future, our strategic vision involves deploying wowTalkies on the Cardano blockchain. This transition aligns with Cardano's principles of decentralization, security, and sustainability. The transparent and immutable nature of the Cardano blockchain ensures the integrity of digital assets, including NFTs, providing fans with a secure and verifiable ownership experience.

Smart contracts on Cardano play a crucial role in facilitating secure and automated transactions, enhancing the overall functionality and efficiency of wowTalkies. The scalability and interoperability of Cardano further expand the horizons of possibility, enabling seamless integration with other platforms and services, and opening new avenues for collaboration and growth.

By deploying wowTalkies on Cardano, we aim to elevate the platform to new heights, taking advantage of the robust features and principles that Cardano embodies. This transition signifies our commitment to providing a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem for fans, artists, studios, and communities alike. As we continue to drive innovation and foster meaningful connections, wowTalkies on Cardano is poised to contribute significantly to the blockchain revolution and Cardano's mission of empowering individuals and transforming industries. Stay tuned for the exciting journey ahead as we bring wowTalkies to the Cardano blockchain.

The existing mobile app on the polygon testnet is available at : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wowtalkies.web3 

the wowTalkies NFT Marketplace is available at : https://nft.wowtalkies.com/

Highlights from the current version:

We launched our mobile application on the Polygon testnet just one month ago, achieving impressive milestones: 15k+ on-chain transactions, 2600+ claimed NFTs, 112K+ points distributed as rewards, and over 500 app downloads completed.

Download the mobile app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wowtalkies.web3

Explore the wowTalkies NFT Marketplace: https://nft.wowtalkies.com/

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

Our proposed solution, wowTalkies, addresses the challenge of enhancing fan engagement and creating a comprehensive platform for movie enthusiasts within the Cardano ecosystem. By leveraging the unique features of Cardano, wowTalkies brings several benefits to the Cardano ecosystem:

Increased Adoption and User Engagement: wowTalkies will attract a diverse range of movie fans to the Cardano ecosystem, driving increased adoption and user engagement. The immersive and interactive features of wowTalkies, such as interactive discussions, personalized recommendations, and digital collectibles, will captivate users and incentivize them to actively participate in the ecosystem.

Expansion of Cardano's Use Cases: wowTalkies broadens the use cases for the Cardano blockchain by demonstrating its applicability in the entertainment industry. It showcases the versatility and scalability of Cardano, attracting new industries and stakeholders to explore the potential of blockchain technology.

Strengthened Community Building: wowTalkies provides a platform for fan communities to connect, collaborate, and grow within the Cardano ecosystem. By fostering a sense of belonging and recognition, it strengthens the community fabric of Cardano, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among users.

Economic Growth and Value Creation: wowTalkies introduces a vibrant marketplace for digital collectibles, enabling artists, studios, and fans to participate in the emerging NFT economy. This generates economic growth and value creation within the Cardano ecosystem, attracting artists, creators, and investors to leverage Cardano's secure and scalable infrastructure.

Positive Network Effects: The success of wowTalkies will generate positive network effects within the Cardano ecosystem. As more users join the platform, the demand for ADA, Cardano's native cryptocurrency, increases, leading to a broader circulation and utilization of ADA within the ecosystem.

Inspiration for Future Projects: wowTalkies serves as a pioneering example of how blockchain technology can revolutionize fan engagement and create immersive experiences. It inspires and encourages other projects within the Cardano ecosystem to explore innovative solutions and applications, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous growth.

While it is challenging to predict precise quantitative impacts, we anticipate wowTalkies to attract a significant user base, with thousands of active users engaging in discussions, participating in marketplace transactions, and contributing to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem. These users will bring fresh perspectives, ideas, and collaborations, strengthening the community and stimulating further development within Cardano.

In summary, wowTalkies not only addresses the challenge of fan engagement but also brings tangible value to the Cardano ecosystem through increased adoption, expanded use cases, community building, economic growth, positive network effects, and inspiration for future projects.

[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?

We are committed to delivering the wowTalkies project with high levels of trust and accountability. Our existing capabilities and demonstrated track record position us as the best-suited team to execute this project. Here are the key aspects that showcase our capability:

Experience and Expertise: Our team possesses a diverse range of expertise in blockchain technology, fan engagement platforms, and project management. Our experience in successfully delivering previous projects further strengthens our ability to execute wowTalkies effectively.

Transparency and Communication: We believe in open and transparent communication with the Cardano community and all stakeholders. We will provide regular updates on project progress, milestones achieved, and challenges faced. Clear and timely communication ensures accountability and builds trust among the community.

Governance and Financial Management: We have a well-defined governance structure in place to ensure proper management of funds. We will establish transparent processes for budget allocation, expense tracking, and financial reporting. These processes will be subject to periodic audits to ensure accountability and adherence to financial best practices.

Timely Delivery and Milestone-based Approach: We will adopt a milestone-based approach to project execution, breaking down the deliverables into manageable phases. Each milestone will be clearly defined, with realistic timelines and measurable outcomes. This approach enables us to ensure timely delivery and enables stakeholders to track progress at each stage.

Partnerships and Collaboration: We have established strong partnerships and collaborations within the Cardano ecosystem. These partnerships provide access to valuable resources, industry insights, and technical support, enhancing our ability to deliver the project successfully.

Risk Management: We have a comprehensive risk management strategy in place to identify and mitigate potential risks and challenges. We will regularly assess and monitor risks throughout the project lifecycle, implementing appropriate measures to minimize their impact on project delivery.

Community Engagement and Feedback: We value community input and actively seek feedback from users and stakeholders. We will incorporate user feedback and suggestions into the project's development, ensuring that the platform meets the needs and expectations of the Cardano community.

By leveraging our experience, ensuring transparency, adopting sound financial practices, following a milestone-based approach, and actively engaging with the community, we have built a strong foundation of trust and accountability. We are committed to upholding these principles throughout the project's execution, instilling confidence in our ability to deliver wowTalkies successfully within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Product Migration planning on the Cardano chain

• Crystallise the architectural changes to build an MVP on Caradano 
• Identify the required tools and infra  required to build the product on the Cardano
• Identify user flow and user experience changes, if any
• Decide additional use cases that will form a part of the MVP on Cardano 
• Formulate a detailed project plan, timeline, and budget.

Success Criteria: Approved project plan and timeline, tools identification & MVP scope 

Platform Development - Core Features

• Develop the back-end infrastructure of wowTalkies on the Cardano blockchain.
• Implement core features such as user registration, community creation, community networks, points distribution, airdrops, community voting, referrals, non custodial wallet, account abstraction etc related functionalities.

Success Criteria: Core features developed and tested and functional, back-end infrastructure deployed.

Marketplace and Digital Collectibles

• Build the marketplace functionality for digital collectibles and NFTs on wowTalkies.
• Enable secure transactions using Cardano's blockchain technology.
• Allow users to create, buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles.
• Launch a dummy collection to test and validate the functionality

Success Criteria: Marketplace functionality developed and tested, secure transactions enabled, digital collectibles trading available.

AI/ML Integration and Personalization

• Integrate the wowTalkies existing AI models for face swaps and “become the celebrity” use cases
• Extend the AI and ML functionality for training data and output model verification 

Success Criteria: AI/ML integration completed, 

AR Integration and Community Building

• Incorporate AR  technologies for immersive fan experiences.
• Develop AR filters, virtual premieres, and interactive AR  content.
• Implement features for community building, rewards, and gamification.

Success Criteria: AR integration completed, community-building features implemented, interactive experiences available.

Integration testing, user acceptance testing and limited beta release 

• User acceptance testing with community volunteers and collaborators 
• Deploy the composite product on the Cardano chain and for invite only beta testing
• Stress and performance testing
• Smart contract auditing and modifications, if any 
• Incorporate feedback that is important and significant. Repeat user acceptance testing

Success Criteria: Smart contract audit completed and passed. MVP ready and deployed

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

• Sai Natarajan - solution architecture and mobile app development
• Karikalan G - Quality assurance and smart contract development
• Immanuel Aaron - smart contract development
• Sivasethu S - mobile and web app development
• Ritesh Kant - CEO WowTalkies

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

Here is a detailed budget breakdown for the proposed work with a total of 178,000 ADA:

Product Migration planning on the Cardano chain (10000 ADA)

1. Crystallise the architectural changes to build an MVP on Caradano 
2. Identify the required tools and infra  required to build the product on the Cardano- 5000 ADA for activities 1 and 2 
3. Identify user flow and user experience changes, if any
4. Decide additional use cases that will form a part of the MVP on Cardano 
5. Formulate a detailed project plan, timeline, and budget- 5000 ADA for activities 3,4 and 5 

Milestone 2: Platform Development - Core Features (28000 ADA) 

1. Develop the back-end infrastructure of wowTalkies on the Cardano blockchain.
2. Implement core features such as user registration, community creation, community networks, points distribution, airdrops, community voting, referrals, non custodial wallet, account abstraction etc related functionalities.- 28000 ADA for activities 1 and 2 

Milestone 3: Marketplace and Digital Collectibles (20000 ADA) 

1. Build the marketplace functionality for digital collectibles and NFTs on wowTalkies.
2. Enable secure transactions using Cardano's blockchain technology.
3. Allow users to create, buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles.- 12000 ADA for activities 1,2 and 3 
4. Launch a dummy collection to test and validate the functionality- 8000 ADA for activity 4 

Milestone 4: AI/ML Integration and Personalization (10000 ADA)

1. Integrate the wowTalkies existing AI models for face swaps and “become the celebrity” use cases
2. Extend the AI and ML functionality for training data and output model verification - 14000 ADA for activities 1 and 2 

Milestone 5: AR Integration and Community Building (18000 ADA) 

1. Incorporate AR  technologies for immersive fan experiences - 2000 ADA
2. Develop AR filters, virtual premieres, and interactive AR  content- 6000 ADA 
3. Implement features for community building, rewards, and gamification- 10000 ADA 

Final Milestone:

Integration testing, user acceptance testing and limited beta release (30000 ADA) 

User acceptance testing with community volunteers and collaborators - 6000 ADA

Deploy the composite product on the Cardano chain and for invite only beta testing- 6000 ADA

Stress and performance testing- 6000 ADA 

Smart contract auditing and modifications, if any - 12000 ADA

The project team will be responsible for managing the funds provided. They will ensure that the allocated budget is utilized effectively and efficiently to achieve the project's objectives. Regular financial tracking, expense management, and reporting will be carried out to maintain transparency and accountability in fund utilization.

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

The cost of the WowTalkies project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem based on several factors:

Scope and Impact: The project aims to deliver a comprehensive fan engagement platform on the Cardano blockchain, integrating IoT, AI/ML, Blockchain, and AR/VR technologies. The proposed features and functionalities will provide a unique and immersive experience for movie enthusiasts, fostering community engagement, and facilitating digital collectible transactions. The scope and impact of the project justify the costs involved in developing a robust and innovative platform.

Market and Industry Standards: The costs of the project are aligned with market and industry standards for similar software development projects. The budget breakdown takes into account the complexity of the platform, the resources required, and the expertise needed to deliver a high-quality solution. By adhering to industry standards, the project ensures that the costs are proportional to the level of effort and expertise required to develop a cutting-edge platform.

Resource Allocation and Market Competitiveness: The budget considers the allocation of resources, including development teams, designers, testers, and project management. The costs associated with these resources are in line with market competitiveness, ensuring that the project can attract and retain top talent to deliver the desired outcomes. By investing in skilled professionals, the project aims to achieve the best results and maximize value for money.

Value Creation and User Adoption: The wowTalkies platform has the potential to create value within the Cardano ecosystem. It will attract movie enthusiasts, artists, studios, and users interested in digital collectibles, contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the community. The costs incurred in developing and launching the platform are justified by the value created through increased user adoption, economic activity, and the overall enhancement of the Cardano ecosystem.

Long-Term Sustainability: The project's budget takes into account the long-term sustainability of the platform. It includes provisions for ongoing maintenance, updates, and future iterations to ensure the platform remains relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of fan engagement and blockchain technology. By considering long-term sustainability, the project maximizes the value for money by ensuring the platform's longevity and continuous improvement.

In determining the costs of the project, factors such as the complexity of development, market rates, resource requirements, and industry standards were considered. The budget breakdown reflects a balance between achieving the desired outcomes, attracting skilled resources, and maintaining a sustainable and scalable platform.

The costs of the project are justified by the value created, the potential impact on the Cardano ecosystem, and the long-term benefits it will bring to users, artists, studios, and the wider community. The project team is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudent financial management to optimize the value for money and deliver a successful and impactful WowTalkies platform.

[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