Yepple - Full-Stack Token (CNT) & NFT Sale Platform & SDK

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Nicholas Fekete

[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)

8

[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 open source a Cardano token & NFT sales platform with an SDK to elevate the buying experience on Cardano and allow project owners to reduce expenses and maximize investor value.

[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

This project and all associated deliverables will be open sourced with an MIT License.

Our modular open source developer tooling will be open source and free to use with a focus on portability, transparency, and community collaboration within all components of the solution. Our goal is for the deliverables of this project to serve as a backbone to the current and future needs of many Cardano developers as it evolves during and after the scope of this proposal.

[METADATA] Horizons

Developer Tools

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our solution will vastly improve the DX (developer experience) and UX (user experience) for token and NFT sales on Cardano. This will allow innovation for projects and increase investor comfort and volume on Cardano for NFTs, DeFi, DePin, and any other native token launch.

On the developer side, this will be done with our out-of-the-box API, SDK, and web server, which together will provide a full-stack turnkey implementation. The API will provide all of the logic required for managing sale configurations, processing sale transactions, tracking sale inventory and statistics, and generating sales reports. It will be a Fastify API written in TypeScript that can be run on any machine supporting the NodeJS runtime environment (i.e. any modern machine). The SDK will also be written in TypeScript, and it will contain all necessary logic for integrating the API to extract and manipulate the sale data as needed. Not only will this be used as a core component of the web server, but it can also be used in external applications to track and report sales data, such as Discord and Twitter bots. As mentioned, the web server will also utilize the SDK for populating the website with all the necessary static and dynamic content related to the sale. It will be a modern Next.js web server fully supporting a reactive CIP-30 implementation to allow users to submit payment transactions and to provide feedback to the user in situations where the wallet cannot submit payment (e.g. insufficient funds).

On the user side, we have been refining our sales UX for years over hundreds of different NFT mints and token presales for projects such as House of Titans, $BANK, Walkers, Inmates, Ape Nation, Salty Seagulls, Fren, Neo Vikings, BeezHive, Sports Alpha Club, and of course many more. We have dealt with collections of different standards such as CIP-25 and CIP-68, we have enabled custom per-wallet pricing across various whitelist phases, we have supported multiple payment options to bring attention and demand to Cardano tokens, and we have themed every sales page to the branding of the project that we are working with. This branded, unique, customizable, and user-friendly platform is our flagship product, and we believe that the Cardano ecosystem as a whole would benefit from all projects being able to utilize and build on top of it without any cost in order to give the community the best sales experiences possible.

Diving into the logistics, the backend portion of our solution offers a robust and tested foundation that prevents common issues such as double mints, invalid metadata, and incorrect payment processing. By open-sourcing our minting solution, we will enable these developers and project founders to avoid the costs and lack of customization imposed by current service providers and bypass the steep learning curve and risks associated with building new minting solutions. Our platform adheres to Cardano Improvement Proposal (CIP) standards for both NFT and token sales, and ensures fair transaction ordering, reliable and verbose error handling, automated refunds, and correct mint quantities—common pitfalls for those new to minting. The frontend portion of our solution offers phase schedule display, payment currency selection, payment quantity selection (NFT quantity for NFT sales, or a custom “smart integer input” for token sales), a payment summary showing total cost and the amount of purchased token(s), a responsive payment submission process, and the ability to add a stake pool delegation as part of the payment transaction.

This full-stack solution will be usable from the moment it is launched, and it will be built in a modular way such that improvements and open-sourced growth is not only possible but guaranteed – by our team, but also by other developers by allowing changes and feature additions that will not be jumbled with any mission critical code such as payment processing.

Impact Demonstration:

We will measure our impact through the usage of our platform by new projects, reduction in common minting errors, and feedback from the community. Success stories and case studies will be documented and shared through our regular community updates and workshops. In particular, we are confident that putting this power in the hands of projects will allow them to divert their funds in a more efficient way, unlocking new economic opportunities with never-before-seen margins and maximizing the value that they can deliver to their community.

This initiative not only accelerates project development times but also enhances the overall integrity and user trust in Cardano-based projects. It's crucial for fostering a vibrant, innovative community where technology lowers barriers rather than creating them.

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

Our project will significantly enhance the Cardano ecosystem’s reputation and set a new baseline for user experience on Cardano dApps. By democratizing project launches, both NFT collections and tokens, we are reducing dependency on costly centralized platforms and promoting a culture of transparency and collaboration. By open-sourcing our advanced sales solution, we empower creators across the globe to launch and manage their NFT and token projects independently in a secure, scalable, and free manner. This not only drives innovation within the Cardano community but also attracts new users and developers to the platform, strengthening its position in the competitive blockchain space. The nature of the solution, being a sales platform, will also help in driving Cardano transaction volume as well as volume across several key sectors such as DeFi, DePin, and NFTs with each successful launch.

We will measure the impact of our project through several key metrics:

1. Adoption Rate: Tracking the number of projects and users adopting our full-stack solution.
2. Community Contributions: Monitoring updates and enhancements made by the community to the open-source code.
3. Cost Savings: Calculating the average cost savings for projects using our platform compared to traditional centralized services, as these cost savings are now going directly back to the community in the form of increased project success and contributions.

To ensure wide distribution and engagement, our outputs will consist of:

• A GitHub repository hosting the complete source code
• Comprehensive documentation of how to build, configure, and launch an NFT or token sale using the platform
• Advice, insights, and guides on the best practices for running an NFT or token sale, gained from several years of experience doing just that

These efforts will not only showcase the practical benefits of our solution but also reinforce Cardano's reputation as an inclusive and innovative blockchain 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?

Yepple has a strong track record of delivering high-quality blockchain solutions since February 2021. Having successfully managed over 200 projects on the Cardano platform over the past three years, we have not only mastered the technology relevant to this proposal but also gained countless invaluable insights into the specific needs of creators of NFT projects and fungible tokens (CNTs). Our team is composed of seasoned blockchain developers, project managers, and strategists who are deeply knowledgeable about the Cardano ecosystem. This experience positions us uniquely to deliver this project with high levels of expertise, trust, and accountability. Several of the projects we have worked with, and the work that we performed for them, can be found on the “contributions” link attached to this proposal. We are also registered as a DRep for Cardano, further showcasing our commitment and dedication to this blockchain.

Of all the solutions Yepple has deployed on Cardano (token generation, airdrops, metadata updates, staking, NFT customizers, storefronts, custom dApps, etc.), sales for NFTs and tokens have always been our flagship solution and represent our highest level of quality and innovation. After facilitating sales for House of Titans, $BANK, Walkers, Inmates, Ape Nation, Salty Seagulls, Fren, Neo Vikings, BeezHive, Sports Alpha Club, and of course many more, and processing 10s of millions of ADA in volume without any funds being handled improperly, our track record speaks for itself when it comes to security and reliability. We are excited to share these tools, which are fundamental to any NFT or token project building on Cardano, with the community as part of this proposal. Building our solution into a community-facing, full-stack, turnkey solution with the API, SDK, and Next.js web server will allow any project to instantly harness the benefits that most projects either currently can’t find or must pay a significant cost to obtain. We are confident that we can provide sufficient support and guidance to drive adoption of this solution in the pursuit of a less intimidating project launch process for newcomers.

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

Milestone 1 (Planning & Technical Design): 

• Outputs: Scope of work, design, and other associated planning documents for all technical aspects of the proposal. Importantly, this includes documentation on the setup, configurations, and usability of the API, SDK, and web server from the perspective of our target audience: projects and businesses on Cardano.
• Acceptance Criteria: The designs and documentation provide a clear preliminary understanding of how a project owner can set up and run their own token or NFT sale. The documentation elaborates on the solution to all high-level technical requirements in this proposal and aligns with the future milestones of this proposal.
• Evidence: Documentation in a public GitHub repository (alongside the future codebase) detailing the planned method of interacting with the finished product.

Milestone 2 (API - MVP Development): 

• Outputs: A minimum viable product for the Fastify API portion of this proposal, encompassing every technical feature and all functionality detailed. This includes transaction processing capabilities, configuration for sale setups, and data extraction such as remaining inventory and sales reports. As an open-source product, it will have a heavy focus on ease of use, modularity, and customization. Includes a fully-functional demonstration video of the API being used to facilitate the setup and processing of a sale.
• Acceptance Criteria: MVP development meets all technical requirements described in this proposal for the API. The feature-complete API will have high-level documentation for each route to enable initial understanding prior to the core documentation milestone. A video will be publicly hosted and available for viewing the API usage and logging throughout the sale setup and operational process.
• Evidence: The GitHub repository codebase and associated demonstration video will serve as evidence of the completed MVP development of the API and its effectiveness as a deployed solution.

Milestone 3 (SDK & Next.js Web Server - MVP Development): 

• Outputs: A minimum viable product encompassing all remaining technical features and all functionality detailed in this proposal, specifically for the SDK & Next.js Web Server that will constitute a full-stack solution in tandem with the API. This includes the feature-complete standalone SDK that can be used to integrate all features of the API from any application as well as a feature-complete Next.js Web Server that utilizes that SDK to facilitate a full sale process for an NFT collection or a token. Includes two fully-functional demonstrations (one for NFTs and one for tokens) at two websites hosted by Yepple.
• Acceptance Criteria: MVP development meets all technical requirements described in this proposal. The demonstration websites hosted by Yepple are using the open source codebase and support buying an NFT or token through CIP-30 wallet connect.
• Evidence: The GitHub repository codebase and associated demonstration websites will serve as evidence of the completed MVP development and its effectiveness as a deployed solution.

Milestone 4 (Technical Documentation, Community Support, Demonstrations): 

• Outputs: Codebase documentation and enhanced user documentation. The codebase documentation will increase the ability for developers to understand and contribute to future versions of the codebase, increasing long-term sustainability. With the MVP in place, the enhanced user documentation will provide project owners with a complete instruction manual for hosting their own token or NFT sale using the current version of the codebase at this stage. This documentation will also be refined as we receive feedback while offering community support for sale setups. This stage will be community-focused, with GitHub and Discord being used to answer any questions that arise. We will also provide a series of additional example configurations and their corresponding website demonstrations (at least 2).
• Acceptance Criteria: There is sufficient documentation within the code and alongside the GitHub repository to meet open source best practices and assist in the community’s ability to build and iterate on the solution. At least 2 demonstrations (in addition to Milestone 3) will be produced demonstrating customization options.
• Evidence: The project structure and modules have their purposes all clearly explained in the repository documentation. All critical components of the code have appropriate documentation for classes, methods, and other key logic. Example code is available in the repository with links to their associated hosted demonstration websites. Responses to GitHub Issues within the repository. A channel in Yepple’s official Discord dedicated to feedback on our open source development where the Yepple team is responsive to questions and comments.

Milestone 5 (Close-Out Report & Video): 

• Outputs: Comprehensive project report detailing the development process, community impact, and future directions. A professional video showcasing the project's journey and final product.
• Acceptance Criteria: The report and video must comprehensively cover all aspects of the project, demonstrating the success and community benefit.
• Evidence: Final project close-out report and a video link shared with the community through Discord, social media, and potentially additional locations.

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

Nicholas Fekete - CEO/Management - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-fekete/

Since founding Yepple and leading the team from day 1, Nicholas has driven progress and overseen project management across all internal and external projects that we have completed within Cardano and for our clients. With more than 5 years of experience as a startup founder, Nicholas has a fundamental understanding of how to run a cost-efficient company with values and quality that his team and our clients can be proud of.

Jake Shearman - CTO/Fullstack Blockchain Developer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-shearman/

Handling the trinity of design, development, and documentation, Jake has led Yepple’s development team across the finish line for all development projects. With a formal computer science education, a work history in FinTech, and many years as a hobby blockchain developer that eventually turned into a career, Jake has been learning about and building on Cardano since before the very first Plutus Pioneer Program that he was a part of. He has remained committed to Cardano ever since, and is looking forward to improving and open sourcing many of the developer tools that he has built.

Dominic Monette - Developer/Quality Assurance

We take great pride in our quality, and we owe much of that quality to Dominic’s contributions as a developer, operations manager, and product quality assurance engineer.

Tyler McVety - DevOps/Blockchain Developer

Working behind the scenes, the server infrastructure set up by Tyler is what has allowed Yepple’s hosted solutions (stake pools, mints, CNT/NFT staking, and custom dApp transaction processing) to remain reliable and efficient.

Campurean Alexandru (Sic) - Marketing

As one of our most valuable connections to the Cardano community, Sic is a core community member of countless CNT/CNFT projects. Not only is he crucial in spreading awareness of the solutions and tools that our team has created, but he also ensures that we are constantly aware and deeply considerate of the types of user experience and functionality Cardano community members are looking for. 

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

Design:

Initial planning and technical design, including setup and configuration documentation, aimed at empowering token and  NFT project owners.

Cost: 20k ADA

Development:

Development of the API supporting sales configuration, transaction processing, data and inventory management, and report generation.

Cost: 95k ADA

Development of the SDK integrating into the API. This standalone SDK will be well-suited for any external usage, including common requests such as Discord and Twitter bot configuration. This SDK will also feature additional utilities for practical data manipulation.

Cost: 15k ADA

Development of a modern, responsive Next.js Web Server incorporating the SDK to facilitate feature-complete token and NFT sales. The web server will have a heavy focus on user experience and intuitive wallet interactions.

Cost: 25k ADA

Documentation: 

Comprehensive technical documentation and user instructions to ensure community understanding and ease of adaptation for future development.

Cost: 20k ADA

Management: 

Ongoing project oversight, including resource allocation, timeline management, and ensuring deliverables meet proposal goals.

Cost: 10k ADA

Marketing & Support: 

Engagement initiatives and support mechanisms, including community outreach, promotional activities, and user support via digital platforms.

Cost: 5k ADA

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

Our proposed budget represents exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem, reflecting more than three years of intensive development by our experienced team. The investment of 190k ADA in open-sourcing these token and NFT sale solutions in a highly practical and accessible package is significantly lower than the industry costs of building a similar robust, secure, and fully-functional sales platform from scratch. In particular, when it comes to processing potentially millions of ADA in payment and distributing high-value assets in return, it is essential to utilize technology that has been tested relentlessly as our sales have been with the hundreds of launches and 10s of millions of ADA processed. US-based (we are a US company) industry costs associated with such extensive software development and testing could reach several hundred thousand dollars, given the specialized nature of blockchain technology. We are not only offering the Cardano community access to our refined, bulletproof technology but also providing comprehensive documentation. This ensures that even those new to the space can quickly leverage our platform to efficiently sell fungible tokens (CNTs) and NFTs, thereby enhancing innovation and participation within the Cardano ecosystem. In essence, we are equipping the community with a high-caliber turnkey platform that accelerates development timelines, reduces upfront costs, and fosters greater creativity on the blockchain. The solutions we have provided for House of Titans, $BANK, Walkers, Inmates, Ape Nation, Salty Seagulls, Fren, Neo Vikings, BeezHive, Sports Alpha Club, and many others have showcased the adoption, engagement, influx of investment funds, and community morale that can be obtained through successful and trusted token and NFT sales, which directly translates into value for the projects using the technology as well as the ecosystem and community as a whole.