Interchain Developer Bridge: Polkadot to Cardano Partner Chains

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

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

Create an extensive online platform offering tools and courses for a seamless shift from SDK on Polkadot to SDK on Cardano Partner Chains.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

[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?

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

At Dot2Ada, we are dedicated to upholding the principles of open source. Our commitment extends to all aspects of our project, from the software powering our platform to the educational resources we provide. By embracing an open-source philosophy, we empower the entire community to freely examine, modify, and improve upon our work.

We firmly believe in fostering collaboration and transparency between the Polkadot Parachain and the Cardano Partner Chain ecosystem, and making our project open source is a natural extension of these values. It not only encourages participation but also enables the community to collectively enhance and expand the impact of Dot2Ada.

We welcome contributions from developers, educators, and enthusiasts alike, as we work together to realize the full potential of Dot2Ada and advance the growth and innovation of the Cardano Partner Chain ecosystem.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG goals

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG subgoals

Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2030

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution in Dot2Ada closely aligns with the recent announcement regarding Cardano's utilization of Substrate for Partner Chain projects such as Midnight. Also the on-going development of a Cardano full node in Rust is very beneficial from a security standpoint by increasing code diversity within the Cardano ecosystem. This partnership signifies a significant opportunity to bridge developers from the Polkadot ecosystem to Cardano, leveraging the interoperability, security and versatility of Substrate.

The problem we aim to address is the lack of awareness and engagement among Polkadot developers regarding the potential benefits of transitioning to Cardano to work on dapps and Partner Chains. Our approach involves creating a comprehensive platform offering educational resources, tutorials, and collaborative opportunities tailored to assist developers in making this transition seamlessly.

By engaging Polkadot developers through targeted outreach efforts and providing them with the necessary tools and support, our project aims to demonstrate the value proposition of Cardano's partner chains. We will showcase how developers can leverage Cardano's security, liquidity, and reliability while utilizing Substrate's modular framework to build optimized partner chains.

Our project will primarily engage developers from the Polkadot ecosystem who are interested in exploring new opportunities within the Cardano ecosystem. By providing them with the knowledge and resources needed to transition smoothly, we aim to attract a significant number of developers to Cardano's Partner Chains, such as Midnight, the recently unveiled IOG data protection-focused blockchain, which will be the first to deploy this new framework.

To demonstrate our impact, we will measure metrics such as the number of developers engaged, projects initiated, and collaborations formed through our platform. Additionally, we will collect qualitative feedback from participants to assess the effectiveness of our educational resources and support initiatives.

What sets our solution apart is its focus on empowering developers to leverage the unique features of Cardano's Partner Chains, particularly the integration of Substrate. Developers who make the transition stand to benefit from enhanced collaboration opportunities, access to Cardano's robust infrastructure, and the potential to transform how new blockchains are built and operated.

This initiative is crucial for Cardano as it not only expands its developer base but also strengthens its position as a leading blockchain platform. By fostering collaboration between Cardano and Polkadot developers, we aim to drive innovation, accelerate the development of new blockchain solutions, and contribute to the maturation and diversification of the crypto sector.

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

Dot2Ada will significantly benefit the broader Cardano community by fostering increased developer adoption, facilitating enhanced collaboration, and raising awareness of Substrate's potential within the ecosystem.

The success of our project will bring value to the Cardano community in several ways. Firstly, it will attract a diverse array of developers from the Polkadot ecosystem, enriching the talent pool and injecting fresh perspectives into Cardano's development landscape. Secondly, by facilitating collaboration between developers from different blockchain ecosystems, Dot2Ada will stimulate innovation and drive the creation of new decentralized applications and solutions on the Cardano platform. Lastly, by raising awareness of Substrate's integration within Cardano, our project will contribute to the overall growth, evolution and security of the ecosystem.

We will measure the impact of Dot2Ada through both quantitative and qualitative metrics. Quantitatively, we will track metrics such as the number of developers engaged with our platform, the number of projects initiated as a result of our initiatives, and the number of collaborations formed between developers from Polkadot and Cardano ecosystems. Qualitatively, we will collect feedback from participants to assess the perceived value and effectiveness of our educational resources, support initiatives, and collaborative opportunities.

To share our outputs and opportunities resulting from the project, we will employ a multi-faceted approach. We will publish reports and presentations detailing our findings, insights, and success stories within the Cardano community. Additionally, we will actively engage with community members through forums, social media channels, and developer communities to disseminate knowledge and foster dialogue. Furthermore, we will collaborate with relevant stakeholders within the Cardano ecosystem to amplify our impact and ensure that our outputs reach a wide audience. Through these efforts, we aim to catalyze positive change and contribute to the continued growth and success of the Cardano community.

[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?

With a proven track record, we've successfully executed and closed out a Catalyst project from Fund 9, and we're currently nearing completion of milestone one of a Fund 11 project, a funded continuation of Eth2Ada. Our operational website, https://eth2ada.com, stands as evidence of our capabilities. We have already acquired https://dot2ada.com and foresee the "2Ada" brand to continue expanding in the near future as mass adoption continues. Beyond our toolsets our team has actively engaged in panel discussions alongside industry leaders at the Cardano Summit in Dubai last year. This track record underscores our proficiency in managing funds responsibly and delivering on intricate projects within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Milestone 1

A: Development and Launch of Dot2Ada Platform

B: Acceptance Criteria:

1. Functional Dot2Ada platform developed
2. Platform includes educational resources, tutorials, and collaborative features
3. Platform undergoes internal testing to ensure usability and functionality
4. Feedback collected from internal testing and adjustments made accordingly

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

1. Demonstration of the fully functional Dot2Ada platform
2. Documentation outlining the features and functionalities implemented
3. Internal testing reports highlighting any issues encountered and resolutions applied
4. Feedback collection records and summaries detailing adjustments made based on feedback

Milestone 2

A: Community Engagement and Feedback Gathering

B: Acceptance Criteria:

1. Launch of outreach campaigns targeting Polkadot developers
2. Active participation and engagement from Polkadot developers in the Dot2Ada platform
3. Collection of feedback from Polkadot developers regarding platform usability and effectiveness
4. Analysis of feedback to identify areas for improvement and optimization

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

1. Documentation of outreach campaigns launched and engagement metrics
2. Records of active participation from Polkadot developers on the Dot2Ada platform
3. Comprehensive feedback collection reports, including qualitative and quantitative data
4. Analysis report outlining key insights and proposed adjustments based on feedback received

Completion Report & Close Out Video

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

Clint Alexander // Chief Technology Officer

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-a-049742233
• Email: calexander@tangent.art
• Responsibilities: Overview, decision-making, development, coding

Bio:

Serial entrepreneur and cryptocurrency enthusiast since 2013. Clint has a background in mining, investment, and digital asset fund management. His expertise includes Solidity back-end smart contract development, and he has served as CEO and manufacturer of Bitcoin SHA256 ASIC miners. Clint has collaborated with prominent Bitcoin mining hardware companies such as Bitmain, Rockminer, and Gekkoscience.

Ben Gordon // Creative Director

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gordon-352b37232/
• Email: bgordon@tangent.art
• Responsibilities: Overview, decision-making, marketing, development

Bio:

Ben has been a cryptocurrency enthusiast since 2017 and brings diverse experience to the team. His background includes serving as a freelance marketing executive for leading international educational establishments in Asia. Ben was a previous owner of a retail company before transitioning to blockchain project development in 2017. His expertise spans all stages of project development, from brand creation and overall strategy to research, analysis and token creation.

Recruitment Plan

No additional team members are planned at this stage. The current team combines technical expertise and creative direction, covering key aspects required for the successful execution of the project.

Engagement with Technical Groups

The team has engaged with the Cardano community on Discord and other technical group channels, establishing a direct line of communication with relevant individuals and resources required for the project.

Proof of Life Verifications

Consent has been obtained from team members for public disclosure of information, and the team is prepared for any required 'proof of life' verifications.

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

Development and Design: 25,000 ADA

• Costs for developers and designers for platform development
• Software licenses and tools required for development

Educational Content Creation: 10,000 ADA

• Compensation for subject matter experts and educators
• Creation of educational materials, webinars, and tutorials

Marketing and Community Engagement: 15,000 ADA

• Promotional campaigns to raise awareness
• Community engagement events, AMAs, and social media promotion

Infrastructure and Hosting: 8,000 ADA

• Server costs and hosting fees
• Security measures to protect user data

Project Management: 5,000 ADA

• Project management tools and software
• Compensation for project managers overseeing development

Contingency: 5,000 ADA

• Buffer for unexpected expenses or changes in project scope

Total Budget: 68,000 ADA

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

The cost of the Dot2Ada project reflects value for the Cardano ecosystem by strategically allocating resources to address the specific needs of developers transitioning from Polkadot to Cardano and its partner chains.

The budget allocated to development and design ensures the creation of a robust platform tailored to the intricacies of Substrate integration, providing developers with a seamless transition experience. Likewise, the educational content creation budget emphasizes the importance of offering targeted resources and tutorials focused on Substrate-to-Cardano migration, akin to providing a specialized training program tailored to the needs of the audience.

Moreover, the investment in marketing and community engagement serves to raise awareness among Polkadot developers about the benefits of transitioning to Cardano, leveraging Substrate's potential within the Cardano ecosystem. This targeted outreach ensures that developers are well-informed about the opportunities available, fostering a vibrant community around Substrate-to-Cardano migration.

Infrastructure and hosting costs are crucial for maintaining a secure and reliable platform, essential for attracting and retaining developers from the Polkadot ecosystem. By investing in robust infrastructure, the project ensures that developers have access to a stable environment for building and deploying their applications on Cardano's partner chains.

Overall, the costs associated with the Dot2Ada project are justified by the value they bring to the Cardano ecosystem, particularly in facilitating the transition of developers from Polkadot. This targeted approach ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of the Cardano ecosystem in the context of cross-chain collaboration.