A user friendly nostr-powered communication solution for small-scale Brazilian entrepreneurs who face restrictions on offering their services within the country due to state censorship

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Giovanni Schimidt

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

Individual

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

189149

[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

Yes

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

WhatsApp-like platform using Nostr protocol for seamless, uncensored communication, catering to users' familiarity and needs.

[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.”

SMS providers like https://www.vonex.com.br/, to make transactional send of SMS's to users to recover access to their accounts like whatsapp do.

[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

Project will be fully open source. Distributed throw github repository.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

It's essential to acknowledge that any solution proposed for Brazilians must account for their unique socio-economic landscape. With an average IQ of 83 and a significant portion of the population struggling with functional illiteracy, simplicity and familiarity are paramount. Thus, any proposed solution must boast a user interface that is already widely adopted and management processes that are exceedingly streamlined and intuitive. In Brazil, the most ubiquitous communication platform, embraced by individuals of all ages, is WhatsApp. Notably, communication within these platforms predominantly occurs through short audio and video messages. Therefore, any effective solution must align with these communication habits, ensuring seamless integration into the daily lives of Brazilian entrepreneurs and their customers.

Additionally, the autocratic tendencies of the Brazilian government, characterized by the arbitrary arrest and intimidation of dissenters, as well as censorship of online content. Moreover, within the next few months, the government plans to enforce tax collection through instant payment splits via PIX. This move threatens to disrupt the informal sector, which represents the livelihood of over half of Brazil's active population. This informal economy sustains a significant portion of the population, and any disruption to its operation could have severe socio-economic repercussions, exacerbating financial insecurity and widening the socio-economic gap.

Given this context, the solution involves developing a communication platform akin to WhatsApp, integrated with the Nostr protocol. This ensures uncensored, familiar communication, aligning with Brazilians' habits. Additionally, it addresses looming tax collection challenges via PIX, safeguarding the informal sector vital for the nation's economic stability.

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

Why does this matter?

• Advancement towards inclusive communication solutions, tailored for diverse user needs.
• Integration of Nostr-powered WhatsApp alternative fosters decentralization and user privacy.

Measure the Impact:

• Real-time engagement metrics: Active users, message exchanges, and user retention.
• Social network sharing metrics: Amplifying reach and community engagement.
• New community relays (nodes of nostr): Adoption increase of specialize users.
• Adoption metrics: Number of users onboarded onto the Nostr-powered platform.
• Decentralization impact: Increased node participation and network resilience.
• Media coverage metrics: Coverage on specialized media sites, enhancing visibility.
• Validation and feedback process to drive platform enhancements and user satisfaction.

Outputs and Opportunities:

• Monthly progress reports highlighting adoption and engagement metrics.
• Platform usage: Targeting a significant increase in active users.
• Onboarding metrics: Targeting a specific number of users migrating to the Nostr-powered platform.
• Privacy impact: Demonstrating increased user privacy and data security.
• Decentralization impact: Increased node participation and network resilience.
• Enhanced communication experiences: Demonstrating improved user satisfaction and platform usability.

[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?

Capability:

• Over 15 years of software development experience for Brazilian entrepreneurs.
• Founder of Dia1 since 2019, dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs.
• Founded and scaled multiple businesses in Brazil.
• Active member of the Nostr community.
• Advanced expertise in embedded systems from a background in mechatronic engineering at USP, Brazil's leading university.
• Senior Developer with experience in multiple languages like c, C++, Java, Javascript, python, Go, rusty, etc.
• Professional relationship with Otávio Lima, founder of Cardano Feed, Brazil's largest disseminator of the Cardano community, aiding in marketing the solution.

Additional Points:

• Highly skilled team with expertise in frontend and backend development, Nostr protocol integration, product management, and UI/UX design.
• Established network of industry professionals and advisors providing guidance and support.
• Access and proficiency with resources and infrastructure necessary for project development and implementation.
• Commitment to transparency and accountability, ensuring stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout the process.

Feasibility Validation:

• Thorough market research to validate demand and identify potential challenges.
• Engagement with potential users and stakeholders to gather feedback and insights.
• Agile development methodologies to iterate and adapt based on real-world feedback.
• Regular assessment of project progress against key milestones and deliverables.
• Collaboration with the Nostr community to leverage collective knowledge and resources for successful implementation.

LinkedIn Profile for further insights

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

Hiring, Training, and Team Integration:

• Recruitment and selection of technical and design teams.
• Training in development tools and methodologies.
• Team integration to ensure effective collaboration.

Prototyping for Usability Testing:

• Utilization of Figma to create high-fidelity prototypes.
• Usability testing with real users to validate the user experience.

MVP Creation:

• Development of the MVP based on prototype feedback.
• Implementation of essential communication features.
• Internal testing to ensure stability and usability.

Creation of Official Accounts on App Store and Play Store:

• Preparation and submission of the application for review.
• Official launch on the App Store and Play Store for app distribution.

Implementation of Core Features:

• Development of functionality for sending recorded audio.
• Implementation of video sending capabilities.
• Integration with the Cardano network for payment link sending.

Marketing Actions to Increase Adoption:

• Creation of visually appealing marketing materials for social media.
• Development and publication of tutorial videos explaining app features.
• Targeted advertising campaigns to reach specific audiences.
• Engagement with influencers and opinion leaders to promote the solution.

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

Giovanni Schimidt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanni-schimidt

Founder & CEO at Dia 1

Mechatronic Engineer, expert in software architecture, development, deploy and security. A problem solver, business oriented, with an entrepreneur approach to build technology solutions. Experience with a large range of languages, in personal preference order: Python 3, C++, Kotlin, C, JavaScript and Java, and of course a lot of useful frameworks. Despite that, please, ask me about how technologies can bring the results you want, question me which AWS cloud solutions use to achieve your goals, challenge me with a real problem and I'll be glad to do my best to answer you.

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

Tech:

Developer Front-end mobile react native = $2,500 x 6 months = $15,000

Developer Back-end NodeJs = $2,500 x 6 months = $15,000

Developer Nostr Specialist = $3,000 x 6 months = $18,000

Product Owner = $900 x 6 months = $5,400

Scrum Master = $900 x 6 months = $5,400

Designer UX/UI =$1,200 x 6 months = $7,200

SUBTOTAL: $66,000

Marketing & Sales:

Marketing Assistant = $600 x 6 months = $3,600

Social Media = $800 x 6 months = $4,800

Marketing Budget = $6,000

SUBTOTAL: $14,400

Stack:

Amazon AWS Services Maintenance (1 year) = $3,000

External API's and Helpers (SMS providers and Seed run - CI/CD tool for example): $10,000

SUBTOTAL: $13,000

TOTAL: $93,400 / 0.47 $/₳ = ₳198723

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

The cost of the project, totaling $93,400, represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem. This investment facilitates the development of a robust communication platform powered by Nostr, aligning with Cardano's vision of fostering decentralized solutions. By integrating essential features like audio/video sharing and payment links, the project enhances user engagement and expands Cardano's utility. Moreover, the allocated budget for marketing ensures effective promotion and adoption, maximizing the project's impact. With the potential to reach a wide user base and contribute to Cardano's ecosystem growth, the project's cost demonstrates a compelling return on investment.