Cardano Intersect Campus Tour

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ese Williams

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

Individual

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

42857

[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)

The solution is a campus tour across 6 top crypto-adopting schools, hosting interactive sessions to educate students on Intersect, onboard 200+ new members, and achieve 30% paid active participation.

[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

[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 project deliverables will be fully open source, available on social media, and thoroughly documented and shared with the community. Annual reports on the community state, activities, and progress will be published on open repositories.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The crypto-adopting population is proliferating, with research estimating that at least 30% of these adopters are still on campuses. Notably, younger individuals aged 18 to 45 represent a significant portion of this group, as surveys indicate that about 31% of those aged 18 to 29 have engaged with cryptocurrencies ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10907656/, https://www.triple-a.io/blog/crypto-ownership-report#:~:text=Key%20Statistics,the%20highest%20crypto%20ownership%20rate. https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-global-crypto-adoption-index/)

However, in the last couple of events and hubs have been hosted off-campus, unintentionally excluding this crucial segment of the population how then do we intend to secure the future of this great ecosystem we have tirelessly built over time with the right community to extend our legacies and ensures the vision and the mission of Cardano is not tinted or misrepresented in the long run. This disconnect limits these demographics' awareness and involvement in the Intersect community and Cardano ecosystem as a whole, despite their enthusiasm and potential to drive future growth. It's essential to inculcate our values into the grassroots so they catch it with their burning passion and run with it fiercely with you our esteemed contributors trailblazing and showing these new members the directives to take and how to uphold the Cardano banner regardless.

Our proposed solution is to launch an Intersect Campus Tour, specifically targeting top crypto-adopting universities in Nigeria. According to the research by chain analysis here https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-global-crypto-adoption-index/ shows that Nigeria is among the top 20 crypto-adopting nations. Over the years as a Head of Marketing with Remostart, we have organised Governance workshops, Drep workshops, Cardano events and initiatives to drive adoption and increase Cardano global footprints as we believe Cardano infrastructure has the potential to solve most of the problems we face in this region. However, it's time to go mainstream, go all out and ensure the full participation and engagement of these demographics in the decision-making in Cardano. We have several testimonials of students who are now active members in the Intersect community of which are contributing who were onboarded through the Unified Cardano Student Club Initiative here

The tour will visit six thoroughly researched areas with the highest engagement with crypto and blockchain technologies. Each stop will feature informal, interactive meet-and-greet sessions where we engage directly with students, educating them about Intersect and its opportunities for involvement in the blockchain space.

These sessions will cover:

1. Intersect's Important Role in Shaping the Future of Cardano
2. The Voltaire Era and How All These Elements Are Interlinked
3. DREP and Its Crucial Role in Cardano
4. Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) and Their Impact on the Ecosystem

We will visually represent these significant segments of Cardano through slides, placards, and interactive games, driving home the core values and vision of the Cardano ecosystem.

In addition to providing valuable information, these sessions will foster meaningful connections, allowing students to ask questions, voice ideas, and gain deeper insight into how Intersect fits into the evolving crypto landscape. Each participant will gain a comprehensive understanding of Cardano's voting process, proposal submission, and stake pool delegation, ensuring a 30% conversion ratio from the overall targeted attendance per tour.

Through this engagement, we aim to onboard at least 200+ new members into the Intersect community, with a target of 30% becoming paid members actively participating in Intersect's initiatives and the broader Cardano ecosystem.

By reconnecting these campuses, we ensure no group is left behind, empowering students to take ownership of their involvement in Intersect and become key contributors to its future. All content and deliverables from the campus tour will be open source, available on social media, and thoroughly documented for the community to access and engage with, ensuring transparency and long-term impact.

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

The Intersect Campus Tour has the potential to deliver several key benefits to the broader Cardano ecosystem, driving not only awareness but also long-term community engagement and innovation.

Here’s how the project will achieve this, along with a plan to measure and share the results:

Increased Awareness and Engagement: The Campus Tour will boost student awareness of Cardano’s values, governance, technologies, contributions frameworks and opportunities by hosting direct, interactive sessions. This will increase engagement in key areas such as governance, proposal submission, delegation and also advocacy.

• Impact Measurement: The number of students attending sessions, interactions via post-event surveys, and social media mentions of Cardano and Intersect will be tracked to measure awareness growth. we aim to achieve a minimum of 40% of participants to become ardent advocates of Cardano

  

• Sharing Outputs: Key insights, event highlights, and resources will be shared with the wider Cardano community through blog posts, social media, and video recordings, allowing everyone to benefit from the sessions.

Diverse Participation and Community Growth: By targeting universities with high rates of crypto adoption, the tour will tap into a demographic aged 18 to 45, a critical group for Cardano’s future growth. This will introduce diverse voices and perspectives to the community, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative ecosystem.

• Impact Measurement: We will track the demographics of new members onboarded through the tour, including gender, age, and regional diversity. This will help us understand the diversity of participants and ensure inclusion.

• Sharing Outputs: The diversity metrics and participant stories will be shared via reports, interviews, and case studies, inspiring others to join the Cardano ecosystem.

Talent Development and Onboarding Active Participants: Educating students on Cardano’s governance, Voltaire era, DREP, and stake pool operators (SPOs) will empower them to take active roles within the ecosystem. This will help nurture the next generation of contributors and innovators, potentially leading to new projects, governance contributions, and other initiatives.

• Impact Measurement: The number of students submitting Cardano proposals, running SPOs, or actively contributing to Intersect after the tour will be a key metric for success. We aim for a 30% conversion rate from participants to active community members.

• Sharing Outputs: We will publish case studies highlighting individual journeys from tour attendees to Cardano contributors. This will be shared across Intersect’s communication channels and the wider Cardano community.

Strengthened Community Connections: By facilitating in-person interactions through meet-and-greet sessions, we aim to establish lasting connections among students, community leaders, and blockchain experts. These connections can foster future collaborations and projects that will strengthen the Cardano ecosystem.

• Impact Measurement: We will measure the number of partnerships and projects initiated after the tour through ongoing communication with attendees. Networking outcomes and feedback will be tracked to assess long-term collaboration. We aim to achieve a 30% conversion rate in this regard.

• Sharing Outputs: Stories of collaborations and partnerships will be documented and shared through newsletters, blog posts, and social media, promoting further engagement.

Open Source Knowledge Sharing: All educational content—slides, learning modules, and interactive tools—will be open-source and available for free. This promotes a transparent and inclusive culture, aligning with Cardano’s broader principles of decentralized knowledge sharing.

• Impact Measurement: The number of downloads and interactions with the open-source materials will be tracked, along with the community’s feedback and suggestions for improvement.

• Sharing Outputs: Educational resources and materials will be uploaded to accessible platforms, ensuring they are widely available to the Cardano community.

Integration with Intersect’s Goals: The tour directly supports Intersect’s mission of fostering an informed and engaged community, aligning with its vision of Building Together to Drive Cardano Forward cultivating a strong ecosystem backed by the people and ensuring every voice is heard, seen and appreciated. By onboarding new members into Intersect, the tour helps to sustain and grow this initiative.

• Impact Measurement: The number of students who become Intersect members and the percentage of these members who take active roles in governance, projects, or discussions will be tracked. We aim to onboard 200 participants and have a 30% conversion ratio becoming paid members

• Sharing Outputs: Monthly updates on Intersect’s growth will be shared with the community through detailed reports, ensuring transparency and continued accountability.

[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?

As the Head of Marketing at Remostart, A Successfully Funded Projects with the goal to onboard over 10,000 students in the next five years, each with a Cardano wallet, ensuring every member is an ADA holder. These experiences underscore my capacity to manage resources effectively and deliver impactful results.

 I have played a pivotal role in promoting Cardano’s presence in Africa through significant initiatives, including:

 

Event Organization & Community Building:

• Cardano Intersect Event: Organized and coordinated the event in Lagos, a key highlight in Cardano’s journey in Africa.
• Cardano DREP Event: Also organized in Lagos, focusing on decentralized representation and governance, further demonstrating my event management expertise.
• Various Governance Meetups: These meetups were designed to onboard and educate a diverse audience, enhancing the Cardano ecosystem in Africa.

The Unified Cardano Student Club another Remostart project that was funded in Fund 10 I was part of the team that spearheaded the establishment of this club, which is now successfully operational in **six Nigerian universities*

Also, as part of project support in the ecosystem, i am a proud contributor to the Olympus Insight Learn to earn platform. Actively onboarding users to learn about the Atos of the ecosystem showing my passion for educational outreach.

You can see proof of some events here https://forum.cardano.org/u/ese_williams/summary

Team Capabilities:

Clement Umoh – Project Researcher

Clement Umoh is a Health care, AI and blockchain researcher specialising in AI prediction, telemedicine and Zero-knowledge cryptography. He is also active within the Cardano community as a research assistant on the team currently researching Zero-knowledge proofs in Blockchain Ecosystems for enhanced voting transparency in the Catalyst Voting process from fund 11. He is also the lead researcher for the Artificial Intelligence for Malaria Project on the SingularityNET Deepfunding program which was funded in DFR4.

Duke Peter – Community Engagement Manager:

Duke is the founder of Zebra AI. With robust experience in community engagement and communications, Duke leverages his vast network to drive initiatives that are beneficial to future-thinking individuals. Duke is the African Community lead of SingularityNET. A role he has utilized to pioneer the regional expansion of SingualarityNET into Africa through conferences, meet and greets, roundtables, town halls, research, partnerships and integration, and most recently, the development of ethical and Afrocentric AI tools. In the recently concluded funding round, Duke was awarded $20,000 as a launchpad for the expansion of SNET's initiative on the continent. He is also the convener of “Transitions”, an annual hybrid conference that enables entrepreneurs, business owners and career professionals to transition into tech by focusing on grey areas, emerging trends, products and technologies bound to change the way we live, work and do business in the future. These events have reached audiences of up to 15,000 persons since inception in 2023.

Ima-Abasi Pius – Web3 Writer & Designer:

Ima-Abasi Pius - Web3 Writer & Designer Ima-Abasi Pius is a seasoned web3 marketer with a track record of over four years, contributing to the success of notable web3 projects. Specializing in effective communication, he excels in crafting compelling articles, micro content, and designs to connect web3 companies with their target audiences.

Louis Dike – Marketing Director:

Louis Dike is a skilled and experienced Marketing Director with 7 years of experience in product marketing, product introduction, performance marketing, business development, and the overall management of a product's life from conception to fruition. Experienced in assessing customer desires and requirements and generating a product that meets those standards, bringing forth the ability to determine product specifications, production timelines, and in-depth plans for product development.

He has a proven track record of success in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns that drive leads, sales, and ROI. I am passionate about using data and analytics to optimize campaigns and achieve results.

He is an analytical thinker who works collaboratively to get the job done. Familiar with Google Workspace, Google Site Kit, Zendesk, Hubspot, Aweber, Keyhole, Meltwater, AppsFlyer, Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, and Atlassian

He is also an expert in the African market and have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that it presents. I am able to develop and execute campaigns that are tailored to the specific needs of African consumers. In my most recent Web3 years, I’ve had speaking engagements across Africa.

Our team bring together a collective of over 20+ years of experience in Event organization, marketing, Research, Content Creation, Community Engagement and growth.

Strategic Approach and Feasibility

Detailed Budget Planning:

• Our budget covers travel, logistics, event materials, and marketing, ensuring that all project needs are accounted for with clear justification for resource allocation.

  

Milestone-Based Funding:

• The project is broken into clear milestones, with funds released as each milestone is achieved. This structured approach guarantees responsible use of financial resources.

  

Community Engagement & Transparency:

• Regular updates will be provided to both the Cardano community and key stakeholders, showcasing financial transparency and project progress.

Pilot Engagement Sessions:

• A pilot session will be conducted at one of the identified campuses to validate our approach before launching the full-scale tour.

Feedback Mechanisms & KPIs:

• We will implement feedback surveys to gather insights and adjust strategies as needed.
• Key performance indicators (KPIs) will include metrics such as attendance numbers, conversion rates to paid memberships, and student engagement.

Long-Term Vision: By having Remostart as our partners we are aligning with its 5-Year Plan for Student Onboarding in the Cardano ecosystem

• The goal is to onboard over 10,000 students in the next five years, each with a Cardano wallet, ensuring every member is an ADA holder.
• The project will also nurture the next generation of Cardano Contributors and active community members, contributing to the growth of Cardano in Africa and beyond.

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

Milestone 1: Research, Campus Selection, and Partnership Development (Months 1-2)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Finalized list of six campuses identified as having high engagement with crypto and blockchain technologies.
• Established partnerships with at least two local organizations per campus.
• A research report summarizing the findings, methodologies, and partnership agreements.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Selection based on demographics indicating at least 30% crypto adoption among students.
• Evidence of interest from local crypto clubs or organizations at each selected campus.
• At least 12 partnerships developed across the six campuses.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Documentation of research findings and criteria used for selection.
• Copies of signed agreements or letters of support from partner organizations.
• Final versions of educational materials saved in a shared drive for review.

Milestone 2: Marketing and Session Planning (Months 3-4)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Launched a marketing campaign to promote the campus tour.
• Educational materials (slides, placards, interactive games) prepared for the sessions.
• Conducted a pilot engagement session at one of the campuses, including feedback collection.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Reach out to at least 600 potential attendees through promotional efforts.
• Materials reviewed and approved by the Intersect team.
• At least 30 participants in the pilot session, with feedback from 80% of attendees.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Analytics reports from marketing efforts showing engagement metrics.
• Attendance records and feedback summaries from the pilot session.

Milestone 3: Campus Tour Execution and Evaluation (Months 5-6)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Successfully conducted interactive sessions at all six campuses.
• A comprehensive report detailing outcomes, metrics from the tour, and social media outputs from each campus.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Engage at least 100 participants at each campus, with a target of onboarding at least 200+ into the intersect community and ensuring 30% of new paid members across all sessions.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Attendance records and onboarding forms from each campus.
• Published report on the Cardano Forum summarizing the tour’s impact and shared on social media and also properly documented and shared with the community

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

Project Team for the Intersect Campus Tour

Ese Williams

• Role: Project Lead
• Responsibilities: Overseeing the project’s execution, leading marketing efforts, coordinating with team members and partners, and ensuring successful student engagement. Managing the logistics for campus visits, including scheduling sessions, coordinating travel arrangements, and ensuring that all materials are prepared for each event.
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ese-williams-758ba8198/
• https://forum.cardano.org/u/ese_williams/summary

Clement Umoh

• Role: Research Analyst /Partnerships Coordinator
• Responsibilities: Conducting research to identify potential campuses, analyzing demographics of crypto adopters, and compiling data to support project initiatives. Establishing partnerships with local organizations and crypto clubs at each campus, fostering collaboration and support for the tour.
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clement-umoh-500133241?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Ima Abasi Pius

• Role: Educational Content Developer
• Responsibilities: Creating educational materials (slides, placards, interactive games) for the campus sessions, ensuring content is engaging and informative about Intersect and Cardano.
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ima-abasi-pius-5b70a2159/

Duke Peter

• Role: Community Engagement Specialist
• Responsibilities: Facilitating discussions during the sessions, gathering feedback from participants, and promoting ongoing engagement with the Intersect community post-tour.
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dukepeter/

Louis Dike:

• Role: Marketing Lead
• Responsibilities: Responsible for Leading Marketing efforts, penetration and strategic partnerships to ensure a smooth and highly successful event achieving our set metrics.
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisdike/

With this diverse team, we are bringing together expertise in marketing, research, education, partnerships, logistics, and community engagement, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the Intersect Campus Tour. Each member's contributions are critical to the project's success, aiming to enhance awareness and participation within the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Total Project Duration: 6 months  

Total Number of Campus Visits: 6  

Number of Key Milestones: 4  

The proposed budget includes costs for travel, logistics, marketing, content creation, and community engagement to support the project's objectives.

Here is a detailed breakdown:

Travel and Logistics:

• Objective: Facilitating the team’s visits to six campuses
• Includes:
• Airfare/Transportation: For the project team to travel to each campus
• Accommodation: For team members for 4 days at each campus
• Local transportation: On-ground movement at each location

Cost Estimate:

• Airfare/Transportation (estimating we use air to 4 campuses x $500 per visit): $2,000
• Accommodation (4 visits x 4 nights per visit x $100/night): $800
• Local Transportation (12 visits x $50 per visit): $600  
• 
  

It's showing 12 visits because 2 days before the event, the team would converge at schools to take pre-engagement shots and also ensure the venue and every other thing is set

Total: $3400

Event Logistics:

• Objective: Organizing and managing on-campus events
• Includes:
• Venue booking
• AV equipment rental (projectors, speakers, microphones)
• Marketing materials (banners, branded shirts, handouts, placards and other branded merchandise i.e. pens, notebooks, water bottles, tote bags)
• Refreshments for participants

Cost Estimate:

• Venue booking (6 campuses x $200 per venue): $1,200
• AV equipment rental (6 campuses x $50 per visit): $300
• Marketing materials (6 campuses x $300): $1,800
• Refreshments (6 visits x $200): $1,200  

Total: $4,500

Marketing and Promotion:

• Objective: Publicizing the campus tour, both digitally and locally
• Includes:
• Social media campaigns (targeted ads, influencers, etc.)
• Campus-specific digital promotion
• Printing posters, and flyers for on-campus promotion
• Partnerships with Campus Communities and Hubs

Cost Estimate:

• Social Media Marketing (General and campus-specific): $500
• Printed Materials (posters, flyers, etc.): $500  
• Partnerships with Campus Communities and Hubs: 600

Total: $1,600

Educational Content Creation:

• Objective: Develop materials to educate students on Intersect, Cardano, and blockchain technologies
• Includes:
• Designing and printing slides and placards for sessions
• Custom learning modules on Cardano topics (Voltaire era, DREP, SPOs)
• Gaming Card development that enables interactive learning with Cardano terms, ecosystems and featured projects.

Cost Estimate:

Going by the standard rate of $20 per hour, assuming the content creator and graphics designer put in 50 hours of work that would be

• Graphic design / Content Creator services for educational materials and gaining cards: $1,000
• Printing placards and handouts: $300 

Total: $1,300

Community Engagement and Reporting:

• Objective: Onboarding students to the Intersect community, tracking engagement, and reporting back
• Includes:
• Development of reporting mechanisms and tactics to track and ensure student onboarding and participation
• Content creation for post-event reporting (videos, social media posts, etc.)
• Regular updates and documentation for the community

Cost Estimate: assuming the community manager puts in 40 hours of work and gets paid $20 per hour

• Content creation/reporting mechanism development (videos, reports, social media posts): $800  

Total: $800

Third-Party Services:

• we would be making use of our already existing tools that may be required

Project Manager: on an estimate the project manager puts in 100 hours for the 6 months and gets paid $20 per hour that's $2,000

Researcher: On an estimate the Researcher puts in 25 hours for the 6 months and gets paid $20 per hour that's $500

Marketing and Partnership Lead: On an estimate the Marketing lead puts in 45 hours of work

and he gets paid $20 per hour $900

Miscellaneous and Contingency: 5% of total budget

• Objective: Covering unforeseen expenses during the project
• Includes:
• Unanticipated costs for venue changes, last-minute travel adjustments, or additional materials

Cost Estimate:  Making use of 5% of the total budget needed to execute

Miscellaneous and contingency: $750

Total budget request without Miscellaneous $15000

Total Budget Request with Miscellaneous $15,750

Total Budget Request in ADA 42,857.1429 rounding it up to 42,857

All outputs would be shared with the community for transparency and accountability purposes.

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

The Intersect Campus Tour represents significant value for money, not only in the direct impact on student engagement in the Intersect community but also in the long-term benefits it provides for the Cardano ecosystem.

• Proportional Costs to Average Wage: The project relies on modest hourly rates for key roles such as the project manager, content creator, and researcher, all budgeted at $20/hour. This rate is reflective of average wages for skilled work within the African context and globally for comparable roles in the blockchain and educational sectors.

• Cost Efficiency in Deliverables: The Travel and Event Logistics budget is calculated with a clear intent to optimize resources. For instance, $3,400 for travel over 6 campuses (airfare, accommodation, local transport) ensures efficiency by covering only necessary movements and taking pre-event shots to maximize campus engagement. By focusing on localized and cost-effective solutions, we ensure that every dollar spent reaches its target audience.

Direct Impact and ROI:

• Onboarding Students: With an estimated 30% conversion rate (targeting 200+ new members and 30% paid participants), the project creates immediate returns in the form of active community members for Intersect and the broader Cardano ecosystem.
• Community Contributions: The learning modules, placards, and gamified education tools will be open-source, and freely available for the Cardano community to use, ensuring long-term benefits beyond the initial investment.
• Visibility for projects in the Cardano ecosystem

Sustainability and Long-term Engagement:

• The project focuses not just on onboarding but also on long-term engagement. The content, videos, and reporting mechanisms we develop will allow us to continuously engage with the students, track their contributions, and involve them actively in Intersect's and Cardano's initiatives.
• We are targeting high-value campuses with active crypto adopters, ensuring that funds are used where the impact is greatest.

Third-Party Services and Existing Tools:

• We are leveraging existing tools for community reporting, reducing costs associated with third-party software.

Conclusion:

By focusing on proportional wages, efficient logistics, and sustainable community engagement, this project is not only cost-effective but represents substantial value for the Cardano ecosystem. It will bring in new active participants, foster community-driven initiatives, and provide long-term educational content that will be open to all. All milestones and outputs will be shared with the community for transparency, ensuring that every dollar spent delivers measurable outcomes.