Optim DAO Stack -- Next-Gen DAO Software -- Open Source, Modular, Plutus V2/3 + Aiken.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ethan Protas

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

200000

[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)

We are building a modular DAO toolkit written in the latest Plutus version, supporting flexible, efficient, and transparent governance operations for both protocol deployment and treasury management.

[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

MIT Open Source License on all DAO tooling

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our project will engage DAOs on Cardano, specifically DeFi protocols and other projects with software deployments and treasury management needs from their DAOs.

There are currently a few closed, source paid options that lack in a number of areas. While open source options are underfunded, developed with old tech, and a number of key design shortfalls. Teams should not be burdened financially by having to pay for basic software that is customizable for fundamental functions to be able to function as a DAO and gain legal compliance.

Our solution is to develop a comprehensive suite of DAO tools for Cardano, utilizing the latest Plutus V3 for enhanced performance and security. The toolkit will include modules for Treasury Management, Snapshot Voting, and Proposal Execution, each customizable for specific DAO needs. This modular approach not only ensures adaptability to various governance models but also allows DAOs to implement and upgrade functionalities seamlessly. The use of Aiken as the development language promotes cleaner and more maintainable code, which is crucial for open-source projects.

An example of an improvement over current DAO tooling is a Snapshot Voting Module that is customizable to project specifications. The best current open-source option, Agora, does not have a way to customize a randomized snapshot to be sure that voters can't simply buy up governance tokens prior to a vote, stake them quickly for a vote, then sell them right after.

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

This DAO toolkit will empower the Cardano community with tools to implement sophisticated governance structures easily. It will enhance participation and engagement in DAOs by making governance more accessible and efficient. With flexible snapshotting and modular components, DAOs can tailor their governance to fit their unique needs, promoting a more vibrant and participatory ecosystem.Our team consists of seasoned developers who have contributed to major blockchain projects, including Minswap and Cardano itself. We have a proven track record in delivering complex software solutions. Feasibility will be validated through iterative testing with community feedback, ensuring our tools meet the real-world demands of DAOs on Cardano.

[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 consists of seasoned developers, biz dev, and operations personal who have contributed to major blockchain projects, including Minswap, Optim, and Cardano itself.

We have a proven track record in delivering complex software solutions. Feasibility will be validated through iterative testing with community feedback, ensuring our tools meet the real-world demands of DAOs on Cardano.

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

DAO Stack Design phase where each modular component is defined with individual functions, modular composability, parameters that can be customized.

Output:

Gitbook documentation on design

Medium Article on design

Software specification where the components are architected in Aiken and each component has natural language descriptions mapped to it. This is an initial design sketch of software and not functional.

Output:

Basic open-source code repo in Github

Full codebase where each modular component is able to be deployed in testnet environment using CLI.

A basic user interface for at least one of the three modular components.

Output: Public testnet with working UI of at least one of the three modular components

Final UI for the rest of the components with a full testnet deployment of the full software suite

Output: Link to working testnet of system

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

Ethan - Product lead

Zygomeb - Tech lead

Experience - Minswap, MLabs, IOHK

Consistently delivered/shipped high quality DeFi protocols to mainnet

Clear track record of successfully delivering dApps that are widely adopted

Website: https://www.optim.finance/ 

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

System design spec: 40K ADA

UX/UI for system: 30K ADA

Software engineering: 130K ADA

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

Our DAO toolkit proposal offers significant value by providing the necessary tools for efficient, flexible DAO governance on Cardano. This investment will foster a robust and dynamic ecosystem, encouraging more projects and users to participate actively in governance. With our project, we aim to greatly enhance the quality and effectiveness of DAO operations on Cardano, making it a more attractive platform for developers and investors alike.