Connecting Milan with Cardano: A New Community for Growth and Learning

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Alberto Fanton

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

80267

[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)

Create a vibrant Cardano meetup in Milan, fostering community growth, developer engagement, and educational initiatives through regular events and university outreach.

[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 educational materials, event recordings, and any developed tools or resources will be made freely available under an open-source license.

[METADATA] Horizons

Community

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

How do you perceive the problem you are solving?

We perceive the problem as a multifaceted challenge: Milan, despite being a significant financial and technological hub, lacks a dedicated Cardano community. This absence results in limited local adoption, underutilized academic and developer talent, missed business opportunities, and a fragmented community. Without a centralized platform for collaboration and engagement, Cardano struggles to gain traction among Milan's tech-savvy population, hindering its growth potential in a key European market.

What are your reasons for approaching it in the way that you have?

Our approach focuses on community-building through engagement, education, and collaboration. By organizing regular meetups, we create opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing, fostering a sense of belonging among enthusiasts. Outreach to universities introduces Cardano to students, ensuring a new wave of talent is trained in blockchain technology. Developer workshops provide practical skills for local developers, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem. Engaging businesses helps uncover real-world applications for Cardano, driving integration and partnerships. This comprehensive strategy addresses the interconnected challenges faced by the community and leverages existing networks for maximum impact.

Who will your project engage?

Our project will engage various stakeholders in Milan, including:

• Cardano Enthusiasts: Individuals interested in learning and contributing to the ecosystem.
• Students and Academia: University students and faculty who can bring fresh ideas and research to the community.
• Developers: Local tech professionals eager to learn about Cardano and build applications on the platform.
• Businesses: Local startups and established companies interested in exploring blockchain solutions.

By fostering connections among these groups, we aim to create a dynamic and supportive Cardano community.

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

Our project will significantly impact the Cardano ecosystem by leveraging Milan's strategic position as a major European city:

1. Expanding Adoption: Introducing Cardano to Milan's tech-savvy population, potentially onboarding thousands of new users. Milan's status as a major financial and technological hub in Europe provides access to a large, influential user base.
2. Developer Growth: Nurturing a pool of Cardano-skilled developers, contributing to the ecosystem's technical advancement. Milan boasts several prestigious universities with strong computer science and engineering programs, providing a rich talent pool.
3. Business Integration: Facilitating partnerships between Cardano projects and Milan's robust business sector, driving real-world adoption. As a major economic center, Milan hosts numerous international companies and startups, offering significant opportunities for blockchain integration.
4. Innovation Hub: Positioning Milan as a Cardano innovation center, attracting talent and projects to the ecosystem. The city's existing crypto-friendly environment, with many blockchain and crypto companies already present, creates a fertile ground for Cardano's growth.
5. Academic Collaboration: Engaging with Milan's high-level universities to foster research and innovation in blockchain technology, potentially leading to groundbreaking advancements in the Cardano ecosystem.
6. European Gateway: Establishing Milan as a key Cardano hub can serve as a gateway to expand influence across other major European cities, leveraging Milan's international connections and reputation.

We'll measure impact through:

• Meetup attendance and growth rates
• University students reached and academic partnerships formed
• Business partnerships and integration projects initiated
• Online engagement metrics (website visits, social media growth)
• Surveys to assess community knowledge and adoption rates
• Number of Cardano-based projects or startups emerging from the Milan ecosystem

By focusing on Milan, we're not just building a local community, but positioning Cardano strategically in one of Europe's most influential cities, with potential ripple effects across the continent's tech and financial sectors.

[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?

1. Proven Track Record: Successfully established and grown the Nix Milano meetup, demonstrating our community-building capabilities a: Nix Milano Meetup
2. Technical Expertise: Both proposers are actively developing Cardano-based projects, ensuring deep ecosystem knowledge.
3. Professional Network: Extensive connections in Milan's tech and business sectors, facilitating partnerships and growth.
4. Event Management: Experience in organizing tech meetups, ensuring smooth execution of planned activities.
5. Local Knowledge: Deep understanding of Milan's tech landscape and cultural nuances, crucial for community engagement.

To validate our approach:

• Start with a pilot event to gauge interest and gather feedback.
• Implement an agile methodology, regularly assessing and adjusting our strategy.
• Establish clear KPIs for each aspect of the project (attendance, engagement, educational impact).
• Conduct regular surveys among participants to measure satisfaction and impact.
• Maintain transparent communication with the Cardano community, sharing progress and challenges.

Our approach combines our proven capabilities with a commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.

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

Project Setup

• Outputs:
• Venue booked for the first meetup.
• Website and social media established.
• Marketing materials created.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Venue confirmed and contract signed.
• Website is live and functional with social media links.
• Marketing materials printed and/or designed digitally.
• Evidence:
• Booking confirmation email from the venue.
• Link to the live website.
• Screenshots of social media accounts.
• Copies or digital versions of marketing materials.
• Report of expenses.

Launch Event

• Outputs:
• Launch event held.
• Food & beverages provided.
• Speaker presentations delivered.
• Marketing for the launch event.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful execution of the launch event.
• Collection of feedback from attendees.
• Availability of speaker materials for participants.
• Evidence:
• Feedback results (survey or forms).
• Presentation materials shared by speakers.
• Report of expenses.

Regular Meetup

• Outputs:
• Regular meetup conducted.
• Food & beverages provided.
• Speaker presentations delivered.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful execution of the regular meetup.
• Engagement with attendees confirmed.
• Evidence:
• Feedback results (survey or forms).
• Presentation materials shared by speakers.
• Report of expenses.

Developer Workshop

• Outputs:
• Developer workshop conducted.
• Food & beverages provided.
• Speaker presentations delivered.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful execution of the developer workshop.
• Evidence:
• Feedback compilation from participants.
• Workshop presentations and materials shared.
• Report of expenses.

Business Engagement Event

• Outputs:
• Business engagement event conducted.
• Food & beverages provided.
• Speaker presentations delivered.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful execution of the business engagement event.
• Collection of feedback from attendees.
• Evidence:
• Feedback results from participants.
• Presentation materials shared by speakers.
• Report of expenses.

Community Evaluation and Future Planning

• Outputs:
• Final presentation conducted.
• Impact assessment report generated.
• Sustainability roadmap developed.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Successful execution of the final presentation.
• Delivery of a comprehensive sustainability roadmap.
• Evidence:
• Feedback results compiled from attendees.
• Copy of the sustainability roadmap.
• Report of expenses.

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

Andrea and Alberto make up a dynamic team with a proven track record in the tech community. They successfully founded the first Nix meetup in Milan, showcasing their ability to foster engagement around open-source projects. Their commitment to innovation and community-building has already made a significant impact locally, positioning them well to lead the growth of the Cardano community in Milan.

Alberto Fanton

https://github.com/albertodvp (all the contacts can be founds from here)

Alberto is a blockchain engineer with 7 years of professional experience working in both national and international contexts. Currently, he is working as a freelancer, dedicating his expertise to developing Cardano-based projects with a focus on distributed systems and blockchain development. His experience in various companies in Milan has given him deep familiarity with the local tech ecosystem and allowed him to build an extensive professional network.

An active member of the Milan tech community, Alberto co-founded the Nix Milano meetup, is a frequent attendee of the Open Source Saturday events and regularly participates in the Haskell Milano meetup. His involvement in these communities has helped foster a thriving developer environment in Milan, with a focus on functional programming, open-source contributions, and blockchain innovation.

In addition to his professional work, Alberto is a dedicated contributor to the open-source ecosystem. His notable contributions include:

• ytxp-lib
• sc-tools
• Cardanow
• Cabal

He is also a Nixpkgs maintainer, contributing to the development of one of the most advanced package management systems. Alberto’s strong presence in the open-source community, combined with his extensive network and local expertise, positions him well to support the growth of the Cardano ecosystem in Milan.

Andrea Ciceri

https://github.com/aciceri

Andrea has over 5 years of experience in blockchain technology, primarily focused on Cardano, with earlier work in Ethereum. For the past 3 years, he has worked as a DevOps Engineer and Nix expert, crafting solutions for the Cardano ecosystem. His passion for Nix led him to co-found the Nix Milano meetup, the first recurring Nix-focused community event in Italy.

Andrea has contributed to and led several open-source Cardano projects, including:

• cardano.nix: A set of NixOS modules for deploying Cardano services, featuring autogenerated documentation and VM-based tests.
• spo-anywhere: A tool for deploying NixOS machines running a stake pool on any Linux server.
• cardanow: A service that generates recurring snapshots for various Cardano-related applications, including cardano-node, cardano-db-sync, and Kupo.

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

Project Setup

• Venue booked for the first meetup: ~€300
• Website and social media established: ~€1000
• Marketing materials created: ~€700
• Organizational Time (30 hours): ~€1500
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€3500 (11666.67 ADA)

Launch Event

• Venue for launch event: ~€500
• Food & beverages for meetup: ~€600
• Speaker presentations: ~€800
• Marketing for the launch event: ~€500
• Organizational Time (30 hours): ~€1500
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€3900 (13000.00 ADA)

Month 3: Regular Meetup

• Venue for regular meetup: ~€600
• Food & beverages for meetup: ~€600
• Speaker fees for meetup: ~€600
• Organizational Time (30 hours): ~€1500
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€3300 (11000.00 ADA)

Month 4: Developer Workshop

• Venue for developer workshop: ~€600
• Food & beverages for meetup: ~€600
• Speaker fees for workshop: ~€600
• Organizational Time (40 hours): ~€2000
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€3800 (12666.67 ADA)

Month 5: Business Engagement Event

• Venue for business engagement event: ~€600
• Food & beverages for meetup: ~€600
• Speaker fees for the business event: ~€600
• Organizational Time (30 hours): ~€1500
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€3300 (11000.00 ADA)

Month 6: Community Evaluation and Future Planning

• Venue for final presentation: ~€600
• Food & beverages for meetup: ~€600
• Impact assessment report: ~€400
• Sustainability roadmap (60 hours): ~€3000
• Total Estimated Budget: ~€4600 (15333.33 ADA)

Team hourly rate: €50/hour, the conversion rate we use is @0.30€/ADA.

Note: we request 5600 ADA extra as contingency found (7.5% of the estimated budget).

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

The cost of this project represents exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by fostering long-term growth, community engagement, and developer development in a strategic European city.

Impact on the Cardano Ecosystem:

By establishing a dedicated Cardano community in Milan, we are positioning Cardano in one of Europe’s major financial and technological hubs. Milan is home to a vibrant tech scene, several top-tier universities, and a thriving business environment. The events we’re organizing will introduce hundreds of professionals, developers, and students to Cardano’s technology and potential use cases. This will directly expand Cardano’s user base and increase the likelihood of new partnerships, startups, and developer projects emerging from the city. The potential ripple effect across other European regions makes this investment strategically valuable.

Sustainability:

Our focus on creating open-source educational materials and establishing a long-term online presence ensures that the project’s impact will extend far beyond the initial events. The developer workshops, university outreach, and business engagement activities are designed not just as one-time events but as foundational steps to build an ongoing Cardano ecosystem in Milan. The creation of a sustainability roadmap also shows our commitment to ensuring the community can continue to thrive independently, securing future partnerships and sponsorships to maintain momentum.

Community Growth and Engagement:

Building a thriving community around Cardano in Milan will have a compounding effect over time. By regularly hosting meetups, workshops, and engagement events, we will establish a local network of Cardano advocates who will help spread awareness, share knowledge, and contribute to the ecosystem. Engaging with universities introduces Cardano to a new generation of developers, ensuring that the ecosystem benefits from fresh ideas and innovation. Additionally, our outreach to local businesses will create real-world applications for Cardano, fostering its adoption in a commercial context.

Return on Investment:

The return on this investment will be seen in the form of:

• Increased Cardano adoption in one of Europe’s most influential tech and business hubs.
• A growing community of developers trained in Cardano technologies.
• New business and academic partnerships that drive innovation on the Cardano blockchain.
• Sustainable community growth supported by open-source materials and ongoing events.

In summary, this project is designed to be high-impact, sustainable, and cost-effective, delivering significant value for the Cardano ecosystem through strategic community building, developer engagement, and business integration in Milan.