"GitHub" for Marketers and Influencers

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ayo Olu-Ayoola

[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

64000

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

4

[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)

Create a platform to verify, document, showcase and prove the journey and achievements of individual marketing specialists or influencers

[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

With any of the following licences, we will accept everyone who wants to join us to make this solution even more significant, better and more inclusive.

1. MIT License
2. Apache License 2.0
3. BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License
4. BSD 2-Clause "Simplified" LicenseLow

Thank you.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Meeting professionals in various fields often involves different approaches to understand their skills and capabilities. For developers, requesting their GitHub profile has become a standard practice. GitHub profiles serve as a comprehensive repository of their work, showcasing their coding skills, project contributions, and collaborations. This allows employers or collaborators to assess the developer's expertise, coding style, and the quality of their work.

On the other hand, when interacting with product designers, graphics designers, or video editors, asking for a portfolio is more common. Portfolios are a collection of their best work, demonstrating their creativity, design skills, and the range of projects they have worked on. A well-curated portfolio can provide valuable insights into the designer's aesthetics, design process, and the ability to deliver high-quality work.

However, when it comes to freelance marketers, the scenario is different. Unlike developers who have GitHub and designers with portfolios, freelance marketers often lack a centralized platform to showcase their work. This poses a challenge for both marketers looking to showcase their skills and for businesses or individuals looking to hire marketers based on their past performance.

To address this gap, there is a growing interest in developing decentralized applications (dApps) on the Cardano blockchain. Cardano's web3 infrastructure offers a decentralized and secure environment, making it an ideal platform for building applications that require transparency, security, and immutability.

By leveraging Cardano's web3 capabilities, it is possible to create a decentralized platform specifically tailored for freelance marketers. This platform could allow marketers to showcase their past campaigns, strategies, and results in a transparent and verifiable manner. Potential clients could then assess the marketer's performance based on real data, leading to more informed hiring decisions.

Moreover, a decentralized platform for freelance marketers could also offer additional features such as smart contracts for secure payment transactions, reputation systems for rating marketers based on their performance, and a decentralized marketplace for connecting marketers with potential clients.

In conclusion, while developers and designers have established platforms like GitHub and portfolios to showcase their work, freelance marketers often lack a centralized platform to demonstrate their skills. By exploring the potential of decentralized applications on the Cardano blockchain, we can create a platform that addresses this gap and provides a transparent and secure environment for freelance marketers to showcase their work and proof of talent.

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

According to Statista, there exists a vast population of over 65 million freelance marketers globally as of the year 2021.

These demographics are grossly underrepresented, misrepresented, and unrepresented and lack a sense of community.

These marketers are seeking a place they can call home, a community where they can showcase the value of their skills and experience.

They require a system to verify and document their achievements, allowing their next employer or client to appreciate their worth fully. Imagine the profound impact of a Cardano-based solution becoming the home for these over 65 million marketers. It would be akin to Cardano signing a free lifetime contract with the world's largest marketing company or even becoming the most giant monopoly of the world's marketing efforts and systems.

[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?

To deliver our project, we prioritize trust and accountability at every stage. We intend to validate the feasibility of our approach through thorough planning, transparent communication, and a commitment to deliverables.

Our existing capabilities demonstrate why we are best suited to deliver this project:

Experience: Our team has a strong background in entrepreneurship, technology, and marketing

Technical Expertise: We have a deep understanding of blockchain technology, particularly the Cardano blockchain

Community Engagement: We have already engaged with freelance marketers and received positive feedback about the concept of a decentralized platform

Partnerships: We have established partnerships with organizations that share our vision and can provide support in terms of funding, expertise, and resources

Transparency: We are committed to transparency in our operations, including fund management

In terms of managing funds, we will follow these steps:

Establishment of a Dedicated Fund Management Team: We will appoint a team responsible for managing funds, including handling incoming funds, budgeting, and disbursing funds for project expense

Budgeting and Financial Planning: We will create a detailed budget that outlines expected expenses for the project, including development costs, marketing, and operational expense

Regular Audits: We will conduct regular audits of our financial records to ensure that funds are being used appropriately and following the budge

Reporting: We will provide regular reports to stakeholders, including funders, partners, and the community, detailing how funds are being used and the progress of the project

Feedback and Accountability: We will actively seek input from stakeholders and the community to ensure that funds are being used effectively and in line with the project's goal

Overall, our approach to managing funds is based on transparency, accountability, and a commitment to delivering value to the freelance marketing community. These principles, combined with our experience and expertise, make us the best team to deliver this project successfully.

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

Planning and Research

Market Research: 

Conduct in-depth research on the freelance marketing industry, including identifying key pain points and needs of freelance marketers. (Duration: 1 week)

   

Competitor Analysis:

 Analyze existing platforms and solutions catering to freelance marketers to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

   

Technology Assessment

Evaluate the feasibility of using the Cardano blockchain for the project, including assessing its scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

   

Community Engagement

 Engage with freelance marketers to gather feedback and insights on their preferences and requirements for a decentralized platform.

Acceptance criteria and Proof of Milestone Completion:

Shared Project Charter and Feasibility Study.

Prototype Ui/Ux Design and Development

Platform Architecture Design

 Design the architecture of the decentralized platform, including the user interface, smart contract functionality, and backend infrastructure.    

Smart Contract Development

Develop smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain to facilitate transactions and record-keeping for freelance marketers.

   

Frontend Development

Develop the frontend of the platform, including the user interface for freelance marketers to interact with the platform.

   

Backend Development

Develop the backend infrastructure to support the platform's functionality, including database management and integration with the Cardano blockchain.

   

Testing and Quality Assurance

Conduct extensive platform testing to ensure its functionality, security, and usability.

Acceptance criteria and Proof of Milestone Completion: A web App ready to be tested

Launch and Deployment

Beta Testing

Launch a beta version of the platform for testing and feedback to a limited audience of freelance marketers.

   

Feedback Implementation

Implement feedback from beta testing to improve the platform's functionality and user experience.

   

Public Launch

Officially launch the platform to the public, allowing freelance marketers to create accounts and start using the platform.

Acceptance Criteria and proof of Milestone completion: App in the market

Post-Launch Optimization and Growth

User Acquisition and Marketing

Implement marketing strategies to attract freelance marketers to the platform and increase user adoption.

   

Community Building

Continue to engage with the freelance marketing community to gather feedback, address issues, and foster a sense of community on the platform.

   

Continuous Improvement

Regularly update and improve the platform based on user feedback, technological advancements, and changes in the freelance marketing industry.

Acceptance Criteria and proof of Milestone completion: Admin Dashboard download for reviewers.

Proof of Market Evaluation and Scaling

Performance Evaluation

Evaluate the platform's performance based on key metrics such as user engagement, transaction volume, and user satisfaction.

Evaluate Proof of Market

By how many companies have onboarded?

Freelancers enthusiasm.

   

Scalability Assessment

Assess the platform's scalability and identify areas for improvement to support future growth.

Acceptance Criteria and proof of Milestone completion

Project Close-Out Video and full report on the outcome of the concept ideation.

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

Ayo Olu-Ayoola

Project Lead/Founder

Experience/Results: 14+ years in entrepreneurship, business management, leadership and business development. 

Skills: Leadership, strategic thinking, business acumen

Responsibilities on this Project: Overall project management, vision setting, and decision making.

https://x.com/oluayoola7d/ 

‘Yemi Adetayo

Product Manager

Experience/Previous Results: 7 years in product management and business development. Sectors: Tech, E-commerce, and IT.

Skills: Product management, market research, communication.

Responsibilities on this project: Defines product features, sets priorities, and ensures product meets business goals.

https://linkedin.com/in/yemisolvesadetayo/ 

 

Anthony Aliduh

Software Developer 1

Experience/Previous Results: E-commerce, Travel, EduTech

Skills: Full Stack Developer, PHP (Laravel) Expert, Bootstrap, Jquery

Responsibilities: Build and maintain the web application and API

https://github.com/tonymandated 

Femi Adewunmi

Software Developer 2

Experience/Previous Results: KIMPACT NGO

Skills: Python, HTML, CSS, Javascript, FrontEnd Development

Responsibilities: Build and maintain the front end point of the web application interface

Abiodun Adekanmi

Product UX/UI Designer

Experience/Previous Results: Real Estate, FinTech

Skills: User experience design, user interface design, prototyping tools.

Responsibilities: Design user interfaces and user experiences for the web application.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiodun-adekanmi-889928ba/ 

Ayo Olu-Ayoola

Marketing/Sales Specialist

Responsibilities: Develop marketing strategies, promotes the product, and acquires customers.

Skills: Digital marketing, social media management, customer acquisition.

Peter Oyamenda

Business Development/Partnerships**

Experience/Previous Results: travel in, real estate, and agriculture.

Responsibilities: Identifies and establishes partnerships that can benefit the business.

Skills: Networking, negotiation, strategic planning, Sales.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/okosun-peter-7b96a3167/ 

Happiness Johnson

Finance/Administration

Experience/Previous Results:  Financial Account Officer at Jumia, MBA in FinTech 

Responsibilities: Manages finances, budgets, and administrative tasks.

Skills: Financial planning, budgeting, organizational skills.

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

Budget Breakdown for Decentralized Platform for Freelance Marketers

Phase 1: Planning and Research

1. Market Research: ₳3,000

Phase 2: Platform Design and Development

1. Platform Architecture Design: ₳3,000
2. Smart Contract Development: ₳3,000
3. Frontend Development: ₳7,000
4. Backend Development: ₳7,000
5. Testing and Quality Assurance: ₳2,000

Phase 3: Launch and Deployment

1. Ad Campaign for Public Launch: ₳5,000

Phase 4: Post-Launch Optimization and Growth (Duration: Ongoing)

1. User Acquisition, Marketing and Community Building: ₳3,000

Phase 5: Evaluation and Scaling (Duration: 1 month)

1. External Audit and Performance Evaluation: ₳3,000

Additional Budget Elements

1. Publicity Props/ Marketing / Promotion / Community Engagement: ₳6,000
2. Project Management: ₳7,000
3. Documentation: ₳2,000

Third Party Products or Services

1. Hardware: None
2. Software Licenses: ₳4,000 (for development tools and platforms)
3. Professional Services: Legal consultation for smart contract development and compliance - ₳2,000; Code auditing - ₳3,000

Contigencies: ₳4,000

Total Budget: ₳64,000

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

In a broad sense, it should cost around $50B annually to retain the loyalty or bias of 1OM marketers and influencers.

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to several factors:

Cost Justification: The costs were determined based on industry standards and the specific requirements of the project

Proportionality: The costs are proportional to the scope and complexity of the project

Value Proposition: The project aims to create a decentralized platform that addresses the needs of over 65 million freelance marketers worldwide

Economic Impact: The project could have a positive economic impact by creating opportunities for freelance marketers to earn a living wage, which aligns with Cardano's vision of promoting financial inclusion and empowerment

Long-Term Value: While the initial costs may seem significant, the long-term value of the project lies in its ability to create a sustainable ecosystem for freelance marketers on the Cardano blockchain

Overall, the project's cost represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by addressing a significant market need, providing economic opportunities, and aligning with Cardano's vision and values.