Cardano DeFi Side Event at Consensus 2025 in Toronto (14-16 May 2025)

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Zug Software Solutions

[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

57000

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

3

[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)

Hosting a Cardano Side Event at Consensus 2025 in Toronto to showcase its technology, attract developers, enthusiasts, and newcomers, and boost Cardano's presence and engagement.

[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

We aim to share as much information as possible with attendees and the general Cardano Community. However, we don't know if some details, like rental contracts can be shared/are available for disclosure.

[METADATA] Horizons

Events

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This Catalyst Proposal aims to address the lack of visibility and representation of Cardano’s DeFi sector within the wider blockchain community. We propose hosting a Cardano DeFi Side Event at Consensus 2025 in Toronto to make it possible for people to learn more about Cardano's DeFi Ecosystem and to encourage meaningful interactions. The event will address a diverse audience, including industry experts, developers, investors, and enthusiasts, highlighting Cardano DeFi's unique products and advantages. By providing a free platform for Cardano DeFi projects too, we aim to boost awareness and interest, fostering the growth and development of the broader Cardano ecosystem.

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

The Positive Impact of this Proposal is making Cardano more known to people new to the Blockchain Space and Blockchain Enthusiasts that are currently outside of Cardano. The Community and its Interest in the Cardano Space is vital and a backbone for a successful Blockchain. The success of our project will enhance awareness and engagement in Cardano's DeFi ecosystem, contributing to community growth and development. The problem of Cardano not being properly represented at many conferences can be solved with this proposal and therefore improve the representation in the whole Cryptocurrency Space. We will measure this impact through attendee participation, feedback collection, and post-event assessments.

[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?

Our team's expertise in both Cardano development and event organization enables us to organise a high quality side-event with an interesting schedule. One of our team members has organised over 500 large-scale events across Europe, showcasing our deep expertise in event organisation. Our proposal will increase awareness and engagement within Cardano's DeFi ecosystem, enabling community growth and awareness of the Cardano ecosystem. We are aiming for various different groups of attendees including developers, investors, and enthusiasts, to stimulate interest in Cardano's innovations. We are aiming to measure success by attendee participation, feedback collection, and post-event analysis. Through our careful planning we ensure that funds are managed responsibly and service costs reflect industry standards.

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

A: Milestone Outputs

We will create thorough documentation for event planning that details all logistical needs, vendor contracts, and venue confirmations. A finalized agenda and schedule will be shared to ensure that every component of the Cardano Side Event at Consensus 2025 in Toronto is systematically organized and executed. 

Specifically, we will provide:

• Comprehensive event planning documentation
• Confirmation of the venue
• A detailed event agenda

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The acceptance criteria for Milestone 1 will involve the following:
• Event planning documentation (will be in PDF format) 
• All details regarding the vendor contract Venue confirmation for the Side Event

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

Evidence of milestone completion will be provided through documented: 

• Link to booking confirmation (via Google Drive) 
• Link to booking agreement (via Google Drive) 
• Link to finalized event schedule (via Google Drive

Promotion and Information about the Event

A: Milestone Outputs

• The Side Event will be promoted on different Social Media platforms (like Telegram, Twitter (X), Medium and Discord) 
• Making information (like date and time) about the Event public and easily available/accesible for everyone in the Community and for those who plan to join.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The Promotion of the Side Event will take place on major social media platforms, including Twitter (X), Telegram, Discord, and Medium. 
• We will aim to create tweets and articles to generate interest. Additionally, reminders will be posted prior to the event to ensure attendees don’t forget.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Evidence of milestone completion will be shown through social media announcements. 
• This will include articles and messages that share information about the Event.

The Event and Outcome Evaluation

A: Milestone Outputs

• The hosting of the Event
• A detailed report with an extensive outcome evaluation with additional information about the Event

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The actual hosting of the Event
•  Event report including an analysis of the results of the Event and the event outcome evaluation.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• The hosting of the Event with proof through documents of the venue rental contract etc. 
• Link showing the final event outcome evaluation

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

Event Manager: The Event Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the event's organization, from logistics to budget management. They create a comprehensive agenda, lead the event team, and ensure that every detail is executed effectively to guarantee a successful experience for attendees.

Partnership Manager: The Partnership Manager focuses on building and maintaining relationships with other projects and organizations interested in participating in the event. He coordinates potential collaborations, to enrich the event's offerings and reach.

Cardano Blockchain Developer: The Cardano Blockchain Developer advises the event manager on technical matters related to Cardano's development, smart contracts, and architecture. This ensures that upcoming questions are addressed promptly.

Furthermore we plan to hire additional employees at the venue site for ticket scanning, serving guests and general organization.

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

• Event venue rental: 24,000 ADA
• Marketing and promotion: 11,000 ADA
• Catering at the event: 11,000 ADA
• Project management, marketing salaries, and onboarding costs: 6,000 ADA
• Travel costs for team members: 5,000 ADA

Total: 57,000 ADA

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

The estimated budget has been calculated in accordance with industry standards, considering all essential aspects of organizing the side event. We evaluated standard costs for venue rentals, marketing, event supplies, and catering specific to the venue. Additionally, we factored in the unique needs for effectively conducting a side event at Consensus 2025 in Toronto, aligning with local pricing and anticipated industry practices.