SPOs are critical to the successful growth of the Cardano project, but they often lack the business skills and processes necessary to reach viability through organic growth alone.
This is the total amount allocated to SPO Online Business Academy.
NB: Monthly reporting was deprecated from January 2024 and replaced fully by the Milestones Program framework. Learn more here
Deliver our proven SPO incubator at scale, via a blockchain enabled, project based learning platform. Equipping SPO’s with tools & frameworks to help them build sustainable stakepool operations.
We will use the Andamio platform by Gimbalabs. This supports the roadmap and growth of all organisations. Gimbalabs is the perfect team to support us as they have a strong track record in the ecosystem and their goals are aligned with ours.
Many portions of the services needed are already developed by Andamio which we will make use of. Specific features we build will also add value to the other projects using Andamio in the Cardano community. Andamio is a proprietary "platform-as-a-service" project and contributions from Fluid7 and our partners will supplement this codebase so other projects can learn from and use these features.
Andamio have now released a Pro version of their LMS build which means that much of the LMS system can now be modularised and so implemented by our own development team
Fluid7 and Edify will open source all the code produced by this proposal. 3rd party code such as that provided by the Andamio platform will remain under their content licensing.
The coaching, consultancy and mentoring frameworks (the content IP) are owned by Edify. They will be delivered under license to Edify Colabs.
The packaging of the content - any IP around how it is delivered will be open source
SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Why supporting Cardano SPO’s is important
SPO’s are mission critical to the successful growth and development of the Cardano ecosystem. As a single stakepool operator ourselves at Fluid7 we know that to be viable as a long term sustainable operatation, small SPOs need to develop the business, commercial and cultural knowledge necessary to support their stakepool’s growth and maturity.
Background
Business coaching and mentoring for SPO’s
Since F7 we and other stakepool operators have been working with Edify Colabs as participants and contributors to their Catalyst funded SPO incubator programmes.
Leveraging existing Assets to build Value
SPO Business Growth Support
In Funds 7 and 8, Edify proposed and was successfully funded by Catalyst to build an Integrated set of educational materials and resources for SPOs. This set of coaching and mentoring modules enable SPO teams to step change up into building viable, scalable business operations.
Edify Colabs SPO programme development to date:
These coaching and mentoring resources have been built, deployed and tested successfully; with around 30 individuals and 17 organisations having completed the programmes so far, with great results and outstanding feedback.
Link to Miro board containing feedback
However, although these programmes and the learnings shared added great value to the participants, the process is manual: they are at present provided primarily synchronously with live mentors and coaches, with limited time slots, and restricted participant numbers available - with programmes maybe 80% live, 20% automated.
We would like to change that, we would like to dramatically increase the number of SPO’s who can access our programmes, enabling them to get access whenever they want, and work on them at their own pace and level of interaction.
The opportunity - Automating coaching and mentorship for SPO’s
Edify and Fluid7 (and other stakepool operators) have developed a large amount of content through the SPO development programs and our work over the last 2 years on Cardano. The Edify programmes in particular are based upon Exponential Organisation growth (ExO) principles - focussed around how companies can solve ‘wicked challenges’ to harness ‘exponential opportunities’. Whilst Fluid7 have developed practical experience in areas such as pledge bootstrapping and delegation boosting programmes.
With blockchain technology and AI, there is a great opportunity to take our programmes delivery to the next level: by automating the process, while providing personalised high service as appropriate to teams and companies.
Our vision is to build an online SPO Academy that will overtime automate 80% of the coaching and mentorship process and keep 20% for specific areas where SPO’s need help.
With Web 3. there is also the opportunity to build out our solution to create a distributed, generative, SPO Academy and community supported by a dynamic learning environment - one where Alumni of the courses become tutors and course creators for the next generation of learners.
Our Solution for this proposal - An online development programme for SPO’s, based on the Andamio Project Based Learning platform
The main objective of this proposal is to build and deliver an SPO tailored, high value mentorship and coaching programme, aimed at supporting SPO’s on their journey from technology solution builders through to successful sustainable businesses. Where the programme itself, being delivered from the Andamio project based learning enabled platform, can be delivered asynchronusily, but with a rich learning experience and is both easily accessible, interactive, affordable and scalable.
The programme will be comprised of two Catalyst proven strands: the Edify, coaching and mentoring suite - that forms the basis of the Edify Exponential Organisation Growth platform, and the Fluid7 Funding and Operations Programme.
Edify Coaching and Mentoring programme overview:
SPO online business academy Programme details
There will be a series of SPO Tailored, PBL Modules to create for this project, covering the following subject areas:
Link to miro board for full programme overview of modules and sessions:
https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVM0q6Vlc=/?share_link_id=608975303642
Partnership details
About Fluid7
Fluid7, a proud member of the xSPO and CSPA stakepool alliances within the Cardano ecosystem, has been actively transitioning its small development agency from Web2 to Web3. By operating as a producer for the Cardano network, Fluid7 has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to this transition and has gained valuable insights into the underlying technology and decentralized services.
About Edify Collabs
Edify Collabs is the on-chain expression of The Edify Ecosystem (Edify) - an impact, innovation, investment-focused consultancy, coaching practice and partner Ecosystem. Edify Colabs was formed to work within the Catalyst community - and are proud to have been proactive members since Nov 21.
https://linktr.ee/edify_collabs
The Andamio platform (by Gimbalabs)
Edify Collabs is leveraging the Andamio platform to provide the core technology required.
The Andamio Platform:
The Andamio MVP was built and tested around the Plutus PBL - for more info check https://plutuspbl.io/
You can find an introductory overview of the Andamio platform here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12VLfrZVaqLqzRCv_4ME78t4JERxeCLN8/view?usp=sharing
As a result of the work Gimbalabs has done over the past years through the Plutus Project-Based Learning (PBL) program, Gimbalabs Playground, and Gimbalabs Live Coding, the Gimbalabs team created Andamio which provides an LMS platform for any organization to onboard and reward contributors. Contributors can earn skills that enable them to contribute to projects. Our Plutus PBL (https://plutuspbl.io/) is a good example.
Link to example Plutus PBL course, which is the Andamio MVP:
Fig 1. The PBL Framework. A high overview description of a PBL module.
Project based learning courses (PBL):
Edify Collabs will use the Andamio platform to develop the following courses:
Andamio features to be used by SPO Online Business Academy:
Relationship between Fluid7, Edify Collabs and Andamio:
SPO Online Business Academy leverages the Andamio platform to enhance our capabilities in delivering educational content and managing contributions effectively. As a platform-as-a-service provider, Andamio offers us tools for content management, skill registration, and secure transaction handling, which are critical to our project's success. This integration ensures robust infrastructure support without involving Andamio as a subcontractor.
Future plans
This programme is the foundation (MVP) of our online digital PBL offering for SPO’s.
We plan to use this platform and programme to expand out delivery of our service offerings, both in terms of depth and breadth of programmes offered and our business model offerings - through more courses based upon our proven Exponential Organisatonal growth offerings - such as programmes focussed more tightly on SPO's gaining scalability, effective leadership, effective asset growth and community build and management.
Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge of supporting the SPO ecosystem and community in the Cardano ecosystem. By delivering the SPO Academy and incubator program, we provide comprehensive support and resources to SPOs, enabling them to develop the necessary business skills, commercial knowledge, and cultural understanding to succeed.
Benefits to the Cardano Ecosystem
The benefits of our solution to the Cardano ecosystem are multifold. Firstly, it enhances the overall reliability, security, and performance of the Cardano network by supporting SPOs in building viable and sustainable stake pool operations. Strong and successful SPOs attract more delegators, increase decentralisation, and contribute to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Fostering Innovation and Collaboration within the SPO Community
Our solution promotes innovation and collaboration within the SPO community. Through the online SPO Academy and its interactive learning environment, SPOs can connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. This fosters a sense of community and facilitates conversations among SPOs, leading to the development of new solutions, standards, and initiatives.
Measurable Success Indicators
This will include indicators such as the number of SPO's who stay engaged with the Cardano platform as they grow their passion into sustainable operations, and grow their stakepools over time by attracting the type of validators that share their purpose. These metrics demonstrate the growth and engagement within the SPO ecosystem.
Contributing to the Long-Term Sustainability of Cardano
Our solution contributes to the long-term sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem. By providing SPOs with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate successful stake pools as businesses, we increase their chances of viability and growth. This, in turn, enhances the overall resilience and continuity of the Cardano network.
In summary, empowering SPOs through the SPO Online Business Academy addresses the challenge by supporting effective and impactful SPO projects and initiatives. Over time the benefits include improved network reliability, increased decentralisation, community collaboration, innovation, and the long-term sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem.
About Fluid7
Over the last 15 years Fluid7 has delivered strategic support and provided the latest innovations in technology to bring success to 200+ clients. We offer a full suite of digital services from software solution specification and product development through to enterprise hosting. Our loyal clients have trusted us with hosting the infrastructure, ensuring the cyber security and protecting the online revenues of their SAAS, eCommerce and applications.
Fluid7, a proud member of the xSPO and CSPA stakepool alliances within the Cardano ecosystem, has been actively transitioning its small development agency from Web2 to Web3. By operating as a producer for the Cardano network, Fluid7 has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to this transition and has gained valuable insights into the underlying technology and decentralized services.
Throughout its time in the Cardano ecosystem, Fluid7 and its members, have actively engaged with various stakeholders, explored numerous options, and collaborated with industry experts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the technology build and operations, delegator relations, and finance and funding aspects. As experienced web2 and web3 developers, Fluid7 recognises the immense potential for growth in this new market while also acknowledging the challenges that come with it. In addition to serving on two Catalyst challenge teams, Fluid7 has leveraged its role as a stakepool operator to cultivate expertise and foster collaboration among fellow small stakepool operators.
About Edify Colabs
Edify Colabs is the on-chain expression of The Edify Business Ecosystem (Edify Business) - an impact, innovation, investment-focused consultancy, coaching practice and partner Ecosystem.
The team behind Edify Business have been successfully working to help clients scale up their teams and businesses for twenty years. In that time they have worked with hundreds of small and medium sized clients to help them grow businesses and organisations that are successful both commercially and culturally - helping smart people spin up assets to scalable successful enterprises from their work in innovation and technology.
Edify Colabs was formed in 2021 to work within the Catalyst community - and have been proactive members since then. They have been winning and delivering and integrated programme of funded projects in the SPO, and Dev accelerator and Impact space since F7 - with a total of 8 projects that are either now ongoing or successfully closed out. https://linktr.ee/edify_collabs
As part of the Catalyst community the Edify team have had the pleasure of working on multiple projects and successful community initiatives with several partners, and programme clients including: WADA, SWARM, Treasury Guild, Sanada, Fluid7, CNC and the Catalyst Coordinator team.
Fund 7 and Fund 8 results: Our completed Fund 7 and Fund 8 programmes - both funded and Pro Bono, have proven to be highly successful. Our three closed-out programmes: Innovation Accelerator and 2x Small SPO incubators received highly positive reviews, with all 17 reviewers stating that they would recommend the programme to other community members.
Tried and Trusted Business Coaching Solutions
Fluid7 and Edify have been working together as participants both within the Catalyst Community directly and also as coaches and members of the Edify Accelerator programmes - and so they are familiar both with the programme and its delivery, and the successful outcomes it produces.
Objectives
The main goal of this project is to augment the capabilities of our already existing and proven coaching and mentoring system programme and modules by enabling it to be delivered via the Andamio Learning Management System.
This will allow it to be delivered as an asynchronous project-based learning programme, that can then be scaled for mass provision, resulting in a significant cost reduction for delivery. Whilst also acting as the foundation for the development of a wider community for SPO support and education.
Accountability
As with our previous F7 and F8 projects all KPI’s and reviews are included in our project close out reports and the community will have access to it. We will also provide monthly updates on the technical and non technical aspects or the project in arenas such as the Catalyst monthly townhall meetings and Gimbal labs Playground sessions.
Also as this is an MVP, and we have used online Learning Management Systems before we understand how complex and time consuming this process can be. Therefore we plan to compile a brief set of 'train the trainer' videos explaining the main elements of the programme development, initially as a guide for use by online SPO academy team members and partners. We plan to make this open access as well, to support subsequent members of the Catalyst community that may wish to use the Andamio platform.
We also plan to run multiple taster sessions during the programme development and delivery period to both build on the MVP and also build awareness of the programme within the community.
Validation
We have a tried and tested system of content and content delivery, and technical support in loading this onto a Learning Management System, and we have a pragmatic set of milestones and implementation programme both for building the system and testing it as an MVP with the first cohort of SPO's - meaning that we will be able to validate our programme progress and pivot as required if necessary to ensure programme success.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Customer Avatar Defined: Identifying and defining the target audience for the course.
- Learning Objectives Defined: Setting clear learning objectives for participants.
- Course Structure Defined: Outlining the course structure including modules and topics.
- PBL Structure Design: Developing a Problem-Based Learning structure.
- Site Structure Developed: Creating the site structure for the online learning platform.
- Payment Method Integration: Implementing payment processing capabilities.
- Pricing Model Implementation: Establishing a pricing strategy for the course.
- On-chain Asset Creation: Developing on-chain assets like NFTs.
Intended Outcomes:
- Establish a comprehensive understanding of the target audience.
- Develop a well-structured and engaging course layout.
- Ensure seamless user experience and financial transactions on the platform.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Content Structuring and Creation: Developing text and graphic content.
- Video Scripting and Storyboarding: Crafting scripts and storyboards for video content.
Intended Outcomes:
- Create engaging and informative course content.
- Develop well-planned and visually appealing video materials.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Front-end Development: Enhancing the user interface and experience.
- Assessments and Evaluations Developed: Creating tools to evaluate participant understanding and progress.
- Artifact Design from Assessment Input: Structuring participant responses into meaningful outputs.
- Video Production and Editing: Finalizing video content for the course.
Intended Outcomes:
- Ensure an interactive and user-friendly online platform.
- Develop effective assessment tools for participant evaluation.
- Create high-quality, engaging video content for the course.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Continued Front-end Development: Further enhancements to the platform's user interface.
- Treasury Established: Setting up a treasury system for financial management.
- Treasury Smart Contract Development: Creating smart contracts for the treasury system.
- Andamio Blockchain Development: Developing blockchain functionalities for Andamio.
- Interactive Elements Developed: Creating interactive course elements.
Intended Outcomes:
- Provide a robust and intuitive online learning environment.
- Implement a secure and efficient treasury system.
- Integrate blockchain technology for enhanced course functionality.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Continued Andamio Blockchain Development: Advancing the blockchain functionalities.
- Testing Completed: Conducting thorough testing of all platform components.
Intended Outcomes:
- Ensure a fully functional and secure blockchain-integrated platform.
- Confirm the platform's readiness and reliability through comprehensive testing.
Deliverables and Outputs:
- Funding for First Live Cohort of 20 SPOs: Securing resources for the initial group of participants.
- Course Promoted to Catalyst Ecosystem: Marketing the course within the Catalyst ecosystem.
- Close-out Report Produced: Compiling a report detailing project achievements and confirming MVP success.
Intended Outcomes:
- Successfully launch the course with a funded first cohort.
- Increase course visibility and engagement within the Catalyst community.
- Provide a comprehensive summary of the project's journey and achievements, setting the stage for future expansion.
Jonathan Adjei, Content Expert Project Lead
Jonathan is an accomplished entrepreneur and the driving force behind FLUID7 Ltd., a UK - based web development agency and the operator of FLUID Stake pool. With a deep-rooted passion for blockchain technology and its potential for transformative change, Jonathan found himself immersed in Project Catalyst early in 2021, igniting his commitment to the Cardano ecosystem. Recognising the importance of decentralisation, on-chain governance, financial autonomy, and self-sovereign identity, he launched FLUID Stake pool during the final stages of the Shelley era.
As he transitions FLUID7 from being a Web2 agency to Web3, Jonathan embraces the principles of decentralisation and individual empowerment through the mission-based FLUID stakepool. Jonathan and his team actively contribute to real-world impact by donating a portion of their proceeds to charitable causes, all while driving adoption and promoting the growth of the Cardano blockchain.
Harry Hellyer Course Expert, Content Expert Project lead
Harry specialises in helping enterprises and organisations of all sizes and flavours, deliver scalable growth based around full-value based, impact innovation. He believes that Education should be delivered debt free - as a basic human right. And his focus is to support people to appreciate, attain and realise their full value. He has coached and mentored hundreds of leadership team members from small tech firms to global organisations, including Fellows at Cambridge University, and Imperial College London’s Education dept. For the last 24 months he has been actively involved in the Catalyst community, working with the Edify Colab team to deliver funded proposals around scalable exponential growth, in F7, F8 and F9.
Link to more Andamio team members’ doc: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y5HKPa-45H6pLtu--xljNXcmkUteHxTY/view
Item - Qty/Hours - ₳ - SubTotal
Milestone 1
Weeks 1-6
Customer Avatar Defined 2 222 444
Learning Objectives Defined 2 222 444
Course Structure Defined 20 222 4,440
Andamio PBL structure design consultation 20 222 4,440
Site Structure Developed 15 222 3,330
Payment method integration 20 222 4,440
Pricing model implementation 10 222 2,220
On-chain Asset Creation (NFT…) 10 222 2,220
SubTotal 21,978
Milestone 2
Weeks 7-12
Content structuring and creation. Text, Graphics 40 222 8,880
Video scripting, story boarding 40 222 8,880
SubTotal 17,760
Milestone 3
Weeks 13-18
Andamio Front-end Support 40 222 8,880
Assessments and Evaluations Developed 15 222 3,330
Artifact design from assessment input (their answers structured) 15 222 3,330
Video production and editing 40 222 8,880
SubTotal 24,420
Milestone 4
Weeks 19-24
Front-end dev 20 222 4,440
Treasury established 8 222 1,776
Andamio Treasury Smart Contract Support 21 222 4,662
Andamio Blockchain Support 21 222 4,662
Interactive Elements Developed as appropriate 15 222 3,330
SubTotal 18,870
Milestone 5
Weeks 25-30
Andamio Blockchain Support 21 222 4,662
Testing completed 15 222 3,330
SubTotal 7,992
Milestone 6
Weeks 31-36
Funding for first live cohort of 20 SPOs 15 167 2,505
Course promoted to Catalyst Ecosystem 24 222 5,328
Close-out report produced 5 222 1,110
SubTotal 8,943
Total 99,963
The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:
Leveraging the successful investment in business coaching and mentoring for SPO’s
Since F7 we and other stakepool operators have been working with Edify Colabs as participants and contributors to their Catalyst funded SPO incubator programmes.
SPO Business Growth Support in Funds 7, 8 and 9
Edify proposed and was successfully funded by Catalyst to build an Integrated set of educational materials and resources for SPOs.- This set of coaching and mentoring modules enable SPO teams to step change up into building viable, scalable business operations.
Edify Colabs SPO programme development to date:
These coaching and mentoring resources have been built, deployed and tested successfully; with around 30 individuals and 15 organisations having completed the programmes so far, with great results and outstanding feedback.
Link to feedback on Miro board:
https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVM0q6Vlc=/
The opportunity - Automating coaching and mentorship for SPO’s
Edify and Fluid7 (and other stakepool operators) have developed a large amount of content through the SPO development programs and our work over the last 2 years on Cardano. The Edify programmes in particular are based upon Exponential Organisation growth (ExO) principles - focussed around how companies can solve ‘wicked challenges’ to harness ‘exponential opportunities’. Whilst Fluid7 have developed practical experience in areas such as pledge bootstrapping and delegation boosting programmes.
With blockchain technology and AI, there is a great opportunity to take our programmes delivery to the next level: by automating the process, while providing personalised high service as appropriate to teams and companies.
Our vision is to build an online SPO Academy that will overtime automate 80% of the coaching and mentorship process and keep 20% for specific areas where SPO’s need help.
Benefits of the Programme
In conclusion, the cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by building upon the already delivered funded catalyst proposals in F7, F8 and F9 driving long-term impact, improving network health, fostering innovation and collaboration, ensuring cost-effectiveness, and enhancing resilience and continuity. These benefits contribute to the growth and success of Cardano as a decentralised blockchain platform.