Awen - CreaDAO | Creative Decentralized Autonomous Organization

[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] Requested funds in ada

100000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

7

[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 CreaDAO on Cardano, a specialized DAO for creators to govern and monetize their intellectual property collectively and transparently.

[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.”

NMKR, Summon

[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 License

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Understanding the Problem:

The creative industries often grapple with the challenge of transparent and equitable governance and monetization of intellectual property. The absence of effective decentralized tools limits creators' abilities to collaborate, share, and profit from their work without succumbing to the pitfalls of centralized systems. Our project targets this gap by introducing a decentralized framework where governance and profits are managed equitably and transparently.

Our Approach:

CreaDAO is designed as a specialized DAO on the Cardano blockchain, specifically tailored for creators who need to govern and monetize their intellectual property collaboratively. By leveraging Cardano’s advanced smart contract capabilities and its proof-of-stake consensus, we aim to provide a secure, scalable, and environmentally sustainable platform for creators. This approach not only promotes fairness and transparency but also reduces the barriers that often prevent creatives from accessing the full value of their work.

Engagement and Beneficiaries:

CreaDAO will engage a broad spectrum of the creative community, including artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and digital content creators. These individuals and groups will benefit from a platform that simplifies the complexities of copyright management and profit sharing. By enabling creators to retain more control and ownership over their works, CreaDAO will foster a more vibrant and equitable creative economy.

Proving Impact:

The success and impact of CreaDAO will be measurable through:

• The number of creators adopting and actively using the platform.
• The diversity and volume of creative works managed on the DAO.
• User testimonials and case studies demonstrating improved governance, transparency, and profitability.
• Engagement metrics from community governance, reflecting active participation and satisfaction among members.

Uniqueness and Importance to Cardano:

CreaDAO introduces a unique application of decentralized autonomous organizations for the creative sector on the Cardano network. This initiative not only broadens the use case of Cardano’s blockchain but also aligns with its goals of promoting innovation and inclusivity across different sectors. By pioneering such a platform, CreaDAO serves as a critical step toward integrating the creative industries with blockchain technology, offering a model that could be replicated or adapted across other sectors and blockchains. The project highlights Cardano’s capability to support complex, real-world applications beyond financial transactions, strengthening its position as a versatile and powerful blockchain ecosystem.

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

Value to the Cardano Community:

CreaDAO will significantly enhance the Cardano ecosystem by demonstrating the blockchain's capability to handle complex, decentralized governance and monetization systems tailored for the creative industries. This initiative not only diversifies the applications running on Cardano but also attracts a new demographic of users—creatives—who may not typically engage with blockchain technology. By providing a practical, real-world application, CreaDAO will help to solidify Cardano’s reputation as a versatile and robust platform suitable for a wide range of decentralized applications beyond finance. Furthermore, CreaDAO will contribute to the growth of Cardano's network effect by bringing in new stakeholders and potentially increasing the usage of ADA for transaction and smart contract execution within the platform.

Measuring Impact:

1. Adoption Rate: Tracking the number of creators and creative entities who register and actively use CreaDA
2. Transaction Volume: Monitoring the volume and value of transactions processed through CreaDAO, including smart contract interaction
3. Community Engagement: Assessing the level of community involvement in governance processes, decision-making, and platform feedbac
4. Creator Satisfaction: Conducting surveys and collecting testimonials from users regarding their experiences and the benefits received from using CreaDA

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Community Reports: We will publish regular updates and comprehensive reports on the Awen website and through X channels. These reports will detail development progress, adoption metrics, and case studies of successful use cases.
• Open Workshops and Webinars: Organizing educational sessions that not only showcase the capabilities of CreaDAO but also teach potential users and other interested parties about the benefits of decentralized creative management on the Cardano blockchain.
• Collaborations and Partnerships: Engaging with other projects within the Cardano ecosystem to explore synergies, share insights, and foster a collaborative environment.
• Documentation and Resources: Providing open access to a comprehensive set of resources, including technical documentation, user guides, and development kits, to enable other developers to build on or integrate with CreaDAO, thereby fostering innovation and supporting the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.

By focusing on these strategies, CreaDAO aims not only to succeed as a project but also to contribute substantially to the broader Cardano community, enhancing its utility, accessibility, and appeal.

[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 capability to deliver the 'CreatDAO' project with high levels of trust and accountability is underpinned by our established track record, transparent processes, and commitment to community engagement. Here's how we ensure and validate our project's feasibility and trustworthiness:

Proven Track Record: Our team has successfully implemented several projects within the Cardano ecosystem and the greater creator economy industry, consistently meeting milestones and delivering value for our clients and for our users. Our experience in managing complex projects and navigating the challenges of the decentralized space showcases our reliability.

Technical Expertise: We have in-depth knowledge and technical proficiency in blockchain technology, NFTs, and the music industry. This expertise ensures that we are not only envisioning a feasible project but are also capable of executing it with precision.

Transparent Processes: We commit to full transparency in our operation

• Regular, detailed updates on project progress and fund usage.
• Open-source components of our project, allowing community verification and contributions.

Validation of Feasibility:

• Prototyping: Early development of prototypes to test core functionalities and gather initial feedback.
• Pilot Testing: Running a pilot version of the platform with a select group of users to refine our approach and validate the technical and market assumptions.
• Feedback Loops: Incorporating user and community feedback continuously to adjust and improve our project delivery.

Community-Centric Approach: By involving the community in key decisions, seeking feedback, and providing real value, we ensure a project that is not only accountable but also aligns with the community's interests and need

These capabilities and processes not only demonstrate our ability to manage funds properly but also ensure that we deliver the 'Stem Mixer' project with a high degree of accountability and in alignment with community expectations.

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

Initialization

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 2 months

Milestone Outputs

• Setup of the initial community infrastructure for CreaDAO using Summon Protocol (or a comparable DAO Tooling System).
• Development of legal framework design for IP rights management.
• GitHub initial commit

Acceptance Criteria

• Initial Agora DAO infrastructure is created
• Legal framework design is developed.
• The GitHub repository is created

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Governance documentation available on GitHub.
• Setup report available on GitHub.
• Legal framework design available on GitHub.

Governance Development

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 2 months

Milestone Outputs

• Formalization of governance structure for CreaDAO including roles and responsibilities.
• Implementation of an Agora DAO voting system for governance decisions, including any subcommunities

Acceptance Criteria

• Voting system is functional with a successful simulation involving DAO members.
• Governance structure is documented and approved by initial DAO members.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• User testing feedback and screenshots of the dApp interface.
• Report on voting system simulation with participation metrics.

DAO Launch

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 2 months

Milestone Output(s)

• Initial marketing campaign using digital platforms to attract a small group of creators.
• Conduct a simplified general assembly using the manual voting system to decide on initial proposals.

Acceptance Criteria

• CreaDAO is live with basic functionalities and the first batch of creators on-boarded.
• Marketing reaches potential creators with documented engagements.
• First general assembly is held

Evidence of milestone

• Transaction records and user registration logs on GitHub.
• Marketing outreach report with engagement metrics available on GitHub.
• Minutes and decisions from the first general assembly on GitHub.

Finalization

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 1 month

Milestone Output(s)

• Produce a closeout report
• Produce a closeout video
• All final tasks and bug fixes are completed

Acceptance Criteria

• The closeout report and video will thoroughly document the results and outcomes of the project
• All final tasks and bugfixes are documented

Evidence of milestone completion

• A closeout video and report is on GitHub, including all final tasks and bugfixes

[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

Milestone 1: Initiation (25,000 ADA)

• Legal and Compliance (30%): 7,500 ADA
• Developing IP registration protocols and legal frameworks.
• Consulting fees for blockchain legal experts.
• Technical and Infrastructure Setup (40%): 10,000 ADA
• Setup costs for using Summon Protocol or a similar DAO tooling system.
• Initial blockchain transaction fees and testing.
• Administrative and Project Management (20%): 5,000 ADA
• Coordination of project startup.
• Documentation and initial project planning.
• Governance Development (10%): 2,500 ADA
• Early drafting and feedback collection on governance structures.

Milestone 2: Governance Development (25,000 ADA)

• Governance Systems (50%): 12,500 ADA
• Implementation and testing of the Agora DAO voting system.
• Development of detailed governance structure including roles and responsibilities.
• Legal and Compliance (20%): 5,000 ADA
• Further refinement of legal frameworks tailored to governance structures.
• Project Management (20%): 5,000 ADA
• Oversight and management of governance system implementations.
• Coordination among various stakeholders.
• Administrative (10%): 2,500 ADA
• General administrative tasks and support.

Milestone 3: DAO Launch(25,000 ADA)

• Marketing and Community Engagement (40%): 10,000 ADA
• Digital marketing campaigns to attract creators.
• Community outreach and engagement initiatives.
• Technical Operations (30%): 7,500 ADA
• Operational costs for running and maintaining the DAO during launch.
• Costs associated with conducting the general assembly using manual systems.
• Project Management (20%): 5,000 ADA
• Management of the launch phase.
• Coordination of marketing and operational activities.
• Administrative (10%): 2,500 ADA
• Final administrative support during the launch.

Milestone 4: Finalization (25,000 ADA)

• Documentation and Reporting (50%): 12,500 ADA
• Production of a detailed closeout report and video.
• Documentation of all final tasks and bug fixes.
• Project Management (30%): 7,500 ADA
• Final project wrap-up activities.
• Coordination of closeout activities and dissemination of results.
• Marketing and Publicity (10%): 2,500 ADA
• Promotion of the closeout video and final reports to the community.
• Administrative (10%): 2,500 ADA
• Final administrative tasks.

This structured approach aligns with our goal of maintaining high levels of accountability and delivering value to the Cardano community.

[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.