Onboarding women entrepreneurs in the Ivory Coast with Seedstars and Project Catalyst

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Seedstars.com

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[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 will create a program to onboard Seedstars’ women entrepreneurs to Cardano by providing learning resources about its blockchain technology and Project Catalyst.

[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

Yes, all content will be provided under a CC BY-SA license

[METADATA] SDG rating

1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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

5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

About DigiFemmes Academy

DigiFemmes is a project created by a consortium of leading global and local actors, including EmpowHer, 01Edu, the Swiss Association for Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets, and Seedstars. 

DigiFemmes Academy is a two-year tech and entrepreneurship educational program for women eager to acquire 21st-century skills through a fully gamified, peer-to-peer, and challenge-based approach. The objective of the educational journey is not to produce tens of viable ventures; it is more so to utilize entrepreneurship as an educational tool and engage with entrepreneurial education practices.

In fact, during the last semester, the learners engaged in building a project or venture for the sake of acquiring a wide array of skills. That portion of the program aims to improve the capacity of Ivorian women to develop a set of soft and hard skills while solving an issue they observe in their community locally. Seedstars catalyzes the efforts of entrepreneurs in emerging markets, solving problems like access to water, electricity, education, health, and other basic needs. 

DigiFemmes is an ecosystem comprised of 7000 women acquiring digital skills, leading small and medium enterprises as well as tech ventures. 

About Seedstars

The leading proposer is Seedstars, a Swiss organization that fosters sustainable and inclusive economic growth in emerging markets by leveraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology as catalysts for change. The group has activities around three main pillars: 1) entrepreneurial capacity building, 2) tech and entrepreneurial education as well as 3) early-stage investment.

The focus of this proposal:

This proposal will create a Cardano track in DigiFemmes Academy program, onboarding women entrepreneurs in Africa to our ecosystem. 

The scope will include:

Course process:

• Seedstars will collaborate with Cardano Foundation Academy and community mentors
• Seedstars will evaluate how to best include the Cardano into the last 6 months of education when the learners focus on working on a project that will have an impact in their community. Seedstars will promote the collaboration with Cardano to the learners
• Learners will receive mentorship

Post course

• The best ideas from the program will be invited to submit proposals in future funds of Project Catalyst. If the ventures are eligible and selected for one of Seedstars’ capacity housing programs or funds, Seedstars will continue to support selected ventures through its programs and will evaluate further investments.

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

Introducing Cardano to DigiFemmes will expose hundreds of women learners in Africa to blockchain, Cardano, and its ecosystem. Our action aims to get a few of the latter active in the ecosystem by bringing new, innovative ideas to Project Catalyst. 

Other benefits include collaborating with Seedstars, an organization with a worldwide presence and extensive experience in promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets.

For eligible projects that apply and are selected for other Seedstars capacity-building programs, Seedstars will accelerate them and prepare them for investment readiness.

[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?

Seedstars is a globally recognized organization with a network and activities across 90 countries, a track record of working with close to 6000 entrepreneurs, and investing in tens of companies yearly across 35 countries. The Group partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, Facebook, and Google amongst hundreds of others.

Cardano Foundation has developed a course and resources to educate about Blockchain and Cardano Blockchain Course (cardanofoundation.org) 

Seedstars is in contact with the multiple communities in Cardano including WADA, Gimbalabs, Andamio and ODIN and will use it as a base for mentors to support the learning program if no mentors are available in Abidjan. 

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

This milestone focuses on building a solid foundation for the advertising of Cardano within the target DigiFemmes Academy program. This step includes creating the project structure, aligning team goals, and preparing for the upcoming activities. These activities involve organizing the learning sessions implementation, finding qualified mentors, and reaching out to potential students interested in the program. 

Milestone output(s):

• Project Setup and Team Alignment: Establish a clear project structure and ensure all team members are aligned with the project goals.
• Planning the Implementation Process of the Support provided to Learners  within the DigiFemmes Academy: Develop a detailed plan for how the support activities by tutors and entrepreneurs in residence will be structured, delivered, and evaluated.
• Reach Out and Select Mentors in Catalyst Proposal Creation: Identify and select experienced mentors who can guide and support the learners in creating practical Catalyst proposals.
• Reach Out to Learners to Join the Program: Implement a targeted outreach strategy to attract and enroll students interested in the DigiFemmes program.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Present a Course Playbook: A comprehensive course playbook that outlines the curriculum, schedule, and resources needed, which is ready for implementation.
• Selection of Mentors: This is a list of mentors who have agreed to participate and support the students throughout the course.
• List of Learners Interested in Taking Part in the Course: Compile a list of learners who have expressed interest and meet the criteria for participation in the program.

Timeline: 4 weeks

It will encompass partnering with the Cardano Foundation, adapting their educational materials to the Digifemme model

Milestone Output(s):

• Partnership with Content Provider: Formalize an alliance with the Cardano Foundation to utilize their subject matter expertise and educational resources.'
• Adaptation of content to the needs of the program
• Adding content by mentors regarding project catalyst applications 

Acceptance Criteria:

• Collaboration Agreement Signed: A signed agreement with the Cardano Foundation that details the scope of collaboration, content usage rights, and support structures.
• Education program ready for Launch: The course is ready for student enrollment.

Timeline: 4 weeks

This milestone is about introducing entrepreneurs to the basics of the Cardano blockchain and how to get involved in Project Catalyst. The aim is to help entrepreneurs learn about blockchain technology and connect with the Cardano community to fund and support their ventures. The training will equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop businesses in the Cardano ecosystem.

Milestone Output(s):

1. Learning Journey Development: Create a comprehensive training journey following peer-to-peer ad challenge-based methodologies covering Cardano technology basics, its applications, and detailed Project Catalyst proposal process guidance.
2. Recruitment of Mentors and Experts: Engage knowledgeable mentors and Cardano experts who can deliver the curriculum effectively and provide real-world insights.
3. Training Workshops and Webinars: Organize interactive workshops and webinars to facilitate hands-on learning and practical experiences.
4. Creation of Support Materials: Develop various support materials, including guides, FAQs, and online resources, to assist participants beyond the classroom sessions.

Acceptance Criteria:

1. Curriculum Approval: Stakeholders must review and approve the training curriculum to ensure relevance and comprehensiveness.
2. Participant Enrollment: Successfully enroll a targeted number of entrepreneurs into the training program, meeting predefined diversity and inclusion criteria.
3. Completion Rate: At least 50% of participants complete the course, demonstrating understanding through assessments or practical projects.
4. Participant Satisfaction: Achieve a participant satisfaction rate of 70% based on post-training surveys focusing on content relevance and instructor effectiveness.

Timeline: 12 weeks

This milestone focuses on the program's evaluation and conclusion phase. The objective is to gather feedback from students and mentors and produce a detailed closing report and video that encapsulates the outcomes and next steps. This step will enable the assessment of the program's effectiveness and inform the planning of future iterations.

Milestone Output(s):

1. Collection of Feedback from Students and Process Evaluation: Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather detailed feedback on various aspects of the training program, such as content relevance, delivery quality, and overall experience.
2. Feedback and Next Steps from Seedstars: Obtain structured feedback from Seedstars, including evaluations of the program's impact and suggestions for future improvements or expansions.
3. Closing Reports and Video Including Next Steps: Compile a comprehensive closing report summarizing the training program, feedback received, outcomes achieved, and future directions. Additionally, produce a summary video highlighting key moments from the program and outlining the next steps.

Acceptance Criteria:

1. Feedback Report from Students: A comprehensive report containing synthesized feedback from students, illustrating their experiences and the perceived value of the training. This report should include quantifiable data such as satisfaction ratings and qualitative comments.
2. Feedback Report from Seedstars: A formal report from Seedstars that assesses the program's overall effectiveness, impact on participants, and suggestions for future improvements. This report should align with predefined program objectives and include measurable insights.
3. Closing Report: This report should compile all feedback and provide a detailed review of the program's execution, achievements, and shortcomings. It should also include actionable next steps based on the feedback received.
4. Video Summary: A professionally produced video that provides a visual summary of the program, includes testimonials from participants and organizers, and outlines the following steps as suggested in the closing report.

Timeline: 4 weeks

• Report on learnings
• Report on milestones

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

Bernard Okpattah, Head of Tech DigiFemmes

Agnimel Attes, Tech Support DigiFemmes

Tiziana Bombassei, Partnerships Seedstars

Daria Khoplova, Operations Lead Seedstars

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

• DigiFemmes - project lead 30% role - 2400 ADA / month = ADA 14,400 for 6 months
• Digifemmes - project support team x 1 person - 4000 ADA / month = ADA 24,000 for 6 months
• Seedstars - project lead 15% role - 2,400 ADA/ month = ADA 14,400 for 6 months
• Mentors lead - 2,000 ADA / month = ADA 12,000 for 6 months
• Content Development for project catalyst process = ADA 10,000
• Travels for content development and mentorship of partners = ADA 4,000
• 10 Sessions (in-person or webinars) - 500 ADA per session = ADA 5,000 
• 10 Office hours - 300 ADA/hr = ADA 3,000 
• 10 hours/ milestone Reporting and admin = 10 x 4 milestones x ADA 300 = 12,000

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

The DigiFemmes Cardano ventures program is aimed at African women entrepreneurs who want to learn more about the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes foundational blockchain education and hands-on Project Catalyst proposal creation. The program maximizes resource utilization and ensures impactful learning outcomes by partnering with established entities like the Cardano Foundation and using expert instructors and digital platforms. The program's effectiveness is highlighted by the expected increase in high-quality project proposals and the expansion of the engaged entrepreneurial base within the Cardano ecosystem. This, in turn, underscores the program's alignment with the community's long-term strategic goals and makes it a cost-effective investment that promises to multiply the community's developmental and innovative capacity. Overall, the program offers excellent value for money by leveraging a modest budget to significantly enhance the Cardano blockchain literacy and practical engagement of women entrepreneurs in Africa within the ecosystem.