Next Trend Labs: Cardano Governance Bi-Weekly X Space Workshop with 50K ADA Prizes

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Adigun

[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

100000

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

12

[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)

Bi-weekly workshops on X Space will educate the community on Cardano governance, CIP-1964, DRep roles, and trends, increasing engagement and informed decision-making in governance actions.

[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

All activities will be publicly available through medium posts and across social media channels

[METADATA] Horizons

Governance

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem

Cardano’s governance system is growing in complexity, with the implementation of CIP-1964 and the Cardano Interim Constitution, yet participation and awareness remain insufficient. The low turnout in the ICC election reflects this gap, where many stakeholders lacked the necessary information to make informed decisions by participating in governance. Cardano governance is intricate, with many participants unaware of key governance principles and trends, including the significance of CIP-1964. To address this, we must educate the community and DReps to drive better engagement and informed participation.

Solution

We propose organizing a Cardano Governance Bi-Weekly X Space Workshop, held every two weeks for 10 months, resulting in 20 workshops. These sessions will focus on educating the community and DReps on governance topics, providing updates on governance trends, and simplifying complex concepts like CIP-1964. Each workshop will feature quizzes with 2,500 ADA in rewards per session, totaling 50,000 ADA in prizes throughout the 10 months. This will not only incentivize participation but also reinforce learning. The workshops will cover essential governance topics and provide a platform for discussions, fostering a well-informed, active governance community.

This solution was informed by our simple studies and analysis of community members activeness in Clarity DAO Monthly RAID, DYOR Monthly Contest by SCATDAO, and the recent AdaLink Bounty that rewards writers to tell a story about their experience in Cardano to produce an animated movie. In three of these experiences, we were able to conclude that people tend to be actives where there is an incentive, and of course that will make our community learn the knowledge of governance conditionally.

Objectives;

Increase DRep Participation: Boost active Delegated Representative (DRep) involvement in governance discussions and decision-making by at least 30% over 12 months.

Governance Knowledge Growth: Ensure that at least 70% of workshop participants demonstrate improved knowledge of CIP-1964, Cardano's governance principles, and the DRep's role through pre- and post-event assessments.

Community Engagement: Achieve consistent attendance of over 50 participants per bi-weekly workshop, including active participation in quizzes and discussions.

Informed Voting: Improve the informed voting rate in Cardano governance decisions by providing actionable insights and updates, with at least 50% of participants citing the workshops as helpful in making voting decisions.

Content Dissemination: Produce and distribute 24 detailed governance update reports and 12 video summaries, reaching at least 500 unique community members across social platforms and governance forums.

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

The success of this project will significantly increase participation and awareness within the Cardano community, especially around governance. By conducting bi-weekly virtual workshops focused on Cardano governance, CIP-1964, and the Cardano Interim Constitution, we will bridge the knowledge gap that currently limits active engagement. Delegated Representatives (DReps) and community members will become better equipped to make informed governance decisions, fostering a stronger, more informed voting population. The workshops will promote deeper understanding of governance roles, thereby enabling higher turnout and better-prepared participants in future governance elections.

We will measure impact both quantitatively and qualitatively. On a quantitative level, we will track the number of workshop participants, DReps engaged, and community members who complete our post-workshop quizzes. We will also monitor the increase in voter turnout and governance discussions after each session. Qualitatively, feedback surveys will help us gauge how well participants grasped key governance concepts and whether they feel more confident in their roles. These measures will provide a well-rounded view of the project's effectiveness.

Outputs and opportunities will be shared through multiple channels. We will publish summaries of each workshop on social media platforms like X and through Cardano community forums. Key insights and learning materials will be made publicly accessible to ensure the broader Cardano community benefits from the project. This will also serve as a resource hub for ongoing education in Cardano governance, allowing future DReps and community members to reference the materials at any time.

[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?

Next Trend Labs is well-positioned to successfully deliver this project, drawing from our extensive experience in organizing both virtual and in-person events such as the DRep workshop in Lagos, the Discuss Cardano Governance Over Lunch event in Lagos without funding support from the Cardanl ecosystem, and our active participation in Cardano governance discussions on X. Our involvement in these initiatives, along with my candidacy for the Intersect Committee and Board 2024 and my contribution to the Intersect Marketing Working Group, showcases our commitment to understanding and improving the governance structure of the Cardano ecosystem. We are driven to ensure full transparency and accountability in every aspect of this project, leveraging our deep understanding of the governance gaps within the ecosystem.

For productive sessions, we would have Cardano Governance Experts targeted to be the main speakers on each of the 10 sessions, and we will be flexible to allow any Cardano community members who's versed with the Cardano Governance Knowledge to request to educate the community in their area of expertise as regards the Cardano Governance; this will also may increase the knowledge growth for many to want to be one of our facilitators.

Our target main speakers/facilitators would be Hosky, AdamRush, AdamDean, and some other experts in the community.

For promotion to get more participants, we will collaborate with Clarity DAO, established marketing communities like the Frenchies Club by AdaLink and the Intersect Marketing Working Group to engage the community in marketing the bi-weekly workshops on social media.

Also, our participation in Intersect activities will enhance our collaboration with the Intersect Civics committee to leverage the existing materials and resources for the CIP-1964 and DReps Works to develop more simplified educational contents and resources for the 10 workshops in modules.

Our Understanding about DRep roles and responsibility when we organized a DRep workshop in Lagos is a another strength to our understanding of CIP-1964 and the Cardano constitution.

Our feasibility in handling the quizzes with exceptional brilliance is evident in the just concluded event where participants were asked related questions to the workshops

To ensure the transparency of reward distribution for quiz winners, we will collect wallet addresses via Google Forms or similar tools as part of the quiz questions. All reward distributions will be manually processed and publicly documented, making them accessible for scrutiny. The quiz will be designed with a timeout feature to prevent multiple entries, and our team will establish a fair mechanism to determine reward distribution based on quiz scores.

With these strategies in place, our proposal ensures the highest standards of transparency, community engagement, and effective delivery.

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

Project Planning, Resource Development, and Launch Preparations (Months 1-3)

Goal: Prepare and launch the Cardano Governance Bi-Weekly Workshop series.

Month 1-2: Development and Onboarding Phase

Resource and Materials Development:

• Create governance content, educational modules, and workshop structures based on CIP-1964 and other relevant governance topics.
• Prepare quizzes, assessments, and reward mechanisms that reinforce learning and ensure fairness.
• Draft clear and accessible workshop materials, presentation slides, and governance update summaries for each bi-weekly session.

Onboarding of Facilitators:

• Identify, onboard, and finalize agreements with targeted main speakers and facilitators such as Hosky, Adam Rush, Adam Dean, and other community experts.
• Conduct preliminary meetings with onboarded facilitators to align on expectations, responsibilities, and scheduling.

Collaboration Setup:

• Finalize collaboration agreements with Clarity DAO, Frenchies Club by AdaLink, Intersect Marketing Working Group, and other marketing partners to assist with promotions and logistics.
• Establish partnership with Intersect Civics Committee to validate workshop content and governance educational materials, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Cardano principles.

Workshop Structure Finalization:

• Develop the full structure of the bi-weekly workshops, including speaker rosters, topics per session, and schedules.
• Prepare materials for quiz reward distribution and finalize logistics for collecting wallet addresses and processing rewards.

Month 3: Marketing and Launch Preparation

Marketing Strategy and Campaign Launch:

• Begin marketing efforts with Clarity DAO and Intersect partners, promoting the first workshop through social media and community forums.
• Kick off targeted outreach campaigns to onboard DReps and general community members into the workshops.

Finalizing Materials and Validation:

• Complete the validation process for all governance modules and materials by the Intersect Civics Committee.
• Finalize the quiz content for the first 5 sessions and ensure transparency in the reward distribution process using Google Forms or other tools.

Workshop Launch:

• Host the first Cardano Governance Bi-Weekly X Space Workshop by the mid of the third month, featuring a key speaker and introductory content about CIP-1964 and governance updates.
• Implement marketing tactics to drive high engagement and ensure attendance of at least 50 participants.

Acceptance Criteria: The project will be considered successfully launched when all workshop materials, facilitators, partnerships, and marketing campaigns are finalized, and the first bi-weekly workshop is held with at least 50 participants.

Implementation of Workshops and Monitoring Engagement (Months 4-6)

Goal: Execute bi-weekly workshops, monitor participation, and optimize engagement.

Month 4-6: Workshop Implementation and Continuous Improvement

Workshop Execution:

• Host bi-weekly workshops with continued focus on governance education and engagement, covering topics such as CIP-1964, DRep roles, and Cardano governance updates.
• Incorporate post-event quizzes to assess participant learning and track progress on governance knowledge.

Speaker Engagement and Feedback Collection:

• Maintain ongoing communication with speakers and facilitators to ensure content is fresh, relevant, and adapted to the community's needs.
• Use feedback from participants after each workshop to optimize content delivery and adjust future sessions for greater impact.

Monitor Quiz and Reward Distribution:

• Ensure the quiz reward system remains transparent by documenting quiz scores and manually distributing rewards to winners. Publicly share details of the wallet addresses and amounts distributed.
• Regularly review the fairness of the quiz mechanism to avoid multiple entries and maintain the integrity of the rewards process.

Marketing and Community Engagement:

• Continue bi-weekly promotion campaigns with partners like Clarity DAO, Frenchies Club by AdaLink, and Intersect Working Groups to maintain high participation rates.
• Track social media engagement metrics to optimize the outreach campaigns, ensuring consistent growth in attendance and engagement.

Impact Measurement:

• Start tracking key metrics such as the number of participants, quiz completions, and the level of knowledge improvement as shown by quiz scores.
• Begin preparing preliminary impact reports to track how well participants are grasping key governance concepts.

Acceptance Criteria: This milestone is complete when bi-weekly workshops are consistently held with a minimum of 50 participants, rewards distributed transparently, and workshop content adjusted based on participant feedback.

Continued Workshop Series and Governance Insights Sharing (Months 7-9)

Goal: Deepen governance education, scale impact, and share workshop insights.

Month 7-9: Scaling Workshops and Expanding Impact

Workshop Continuation:

• Continue delivering bi-weekly workshops with an emphasis on governance trends, CIP-1964 updates, and informed participation in Cardano governance.
• Feature additional governance experts as guest speakers to bring diverse perspectives and foster deeper community engagement.

Quizzes and Reward Distribution:

• Continue with bi-weekly quiz sessions, distributing rewards transparently and publicly documenting the distribution process.
• Adapt quizzes based on feedback, ensuring that they effectively reinforce the workshop content and encourage informed voting.

Governance Update Reports

• Begin producing and distributing detailed governance update reports after each workshop, covering key insights, trends, and outcomes from the discussions.
• Release 10 video summaries (1 per month) summarizing the most important takeaways from the workshops to a wider audience, including those who could not attend the live sessions.

Community Engagement and Feedback:

• Conduct regular surveys and feedback forms to measure how well participants are understanding governance topics.
• Implement any necessary changes to the workshop format to keep content fresh and engaging as community needs evolve.

Measure Mid-Term Impact:

• Evaluate mid-term objectives such as the percentage of participants demonstrating improved knowledge of Cardano governance principles and DRep roles through quiz assessments.
• Prepare interim reports based on attendance, quiz performance, and feedback surveys.

Acceptance Criteria: The milestone is successful when all workshops are delivered on schedule, governance update reports and video summaries are produced and distributed, and mid-term project impact is assessed.

Final Workshop Sessions, Reporting, and Project Closeout (Months 10-12)

Goal: Finalize workshop series, assess impact, and deliver final project reports.

Month 10-12: Project Conclusion and Reporting

Final Bi-Weekly Workshops:

• Deliver the last few workshops of the series, ensuring that all remaining governance topics are covered and revisiting key concepts from previous sessions to solidify learning.
• Focus on reinforcing informed voting, community governance participation, and DRep responsibilities as the series concludes.

Final Quizzes and Reward Distribution:

• Execute the last quizzes, distribute rewards, and publicly share the final summary of wallet addresses and reward distributions for transparency.
• Gather final feedback on the quiz mechanism and overall impact of the workshops on governance knowledge.

Project Closeout and Reporting:

• Compile all data and metrics from the workshops, including participant numbers, quiz performance, and improvements in governance knowledge.
• Prepare the final project report summarizing the achievements of the project, lessons learned, and areas for future improvement.
• Publish the final governance update reports and video summaries for the entire workshop series, ensuring that the community has access to all materials and insights generated throughout the project.

Post-Workshop Follow-Up:

• Publish a comprehensive report on social media and Cardano forums detailing the outcomes, impact, and suggestions for further community-driven governance education efforts.
• Provide recommendations for the continuation or expansion of similar projects, based on feedback and success metrics from this initiative.

Acceptance Criteria: The milestone is complete when the final workshop is conducted, the full project report is published, and all rewards and workshop materials are made publicly available for review.

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

Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Adigun - Project Lead

Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Adigun is the founder/CEO of Next Trend LAB, a visionary entrepreneur with a passion for blockchain and AI innovation. With over 7 years of experience in graphic and product design, Abdulrahman has led numerous successful projects in the tech industry. As a remote collaboration advocate, he champions the use of technology to bridge distances and foster global connections. His leadership skills, coupled with his expertise in design and technology, make him the ideal project lead for driving forward the Next Trend LAB initiative.

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Mubarak Oladimeji - Content Writer and Discord Moderator

Mubarak Oladimeji is the COO of Next Trend Labs and a seasoned freelance content writer and experienced Discord moderator. With a knack for crafting engaging and informative content, Mubarak brings creativity and professionalism to every project he undertakes. His expertise in community moderation ensures smooth and constructive interactions within online communities. As a valuable member of the team, Mubarak plays a crucial role in content creation and community management for Next Trend LAB. His role extends to content management and distribution across our social media platforms and all .

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Alawode Usman - Graphic and Product Designer

Alawode Usman is a highly skilled graphic and product designer with over 8 years of experience in the industry. As a freelancer, he has worked on various projects, creating branded materials and promotional flyers to enhance brand visibility and engagement. Alawode's creative flair and attention to detail make him a valuable asset to the Next Trend LAB team, where he focuses on designing visually appealing and impactful assets to support brand promotion efforts. His will be responsible for design and development of the Modules for the Workshops. With a promotional design featuring speakers for each workshop (10 promotional flyers) and graphic contents.

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Gbadegesin Daud Omotoyosi (Quiz & Rewards Coordinator)

Gbadegesin Daud Omotoyosi serves as the Quiz & Rewards Coordinator at Next Trend Labs, bringing his expertise in organizing engaging quiz sessions to the team. With a background in security and cybersecurity, Daud is also pursuing further studies in the field.

At Next Trend Labs, Daud has proven his proficiency in managing quizzes using tools like Google Forms and Kahoot, creating a fun and competitive atmosphere for participants. His coordination skills were particularly highlighted during an in-person event in Lagos, "Discuss Cardano's Governance over Lunch," where his interactive quiz sessions added an enjoyable element to the gathering. In addition to his role as Quiz & Rewards Coordinator, Daud manages the treasury at Next Trend Labs, ensuring efficient oversight of resources. His combined expertise in event engagement and financial management makes him a key contributor to the team's success.

Martin Marinov (Facilitator 1)

Martin Marinov is the founder of the Bulgarian Cardano community and CEO of Andromeda Way, a digital marketing and consulting agency specializing in Web3 and the Cardano ecosystem. He is a member of the Marketing Working Group within the Intersect MBO, a stake pool operator, and a Cardano Constitution delegate. Additionally, Martin serves as a Blockchain Technology Instructor at Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna and frequently speaks on topics related to the Cardano ecosystem.

Christian (Financial Manager)

Christian is a seasoned financial expert with 5 years of experience in project cost management, specializing in the real estate sector.

He has a proven track record of safeguarding clients' financial interests while optimizing project profitability without compromising quality. With a strong background in cost management, finance forecasting and understanding market economics, Christian has successfully adapted his expertise to drive efficient cost execution within Nextrend Labs' innovalive project framework, bridging traditional finance acumen with cutting-edge blockchain technology.

Role: Oversee budget and manage project funds.

Responsibilities: Ensure funds are allocated efficiently, track expenditures, and provide transparent financial reporting, including paper and on-chain receipts.

Michael Ojo (Data Analysis Expert)

Michael Ojo is the founder of Octave Incorporations, a community-led digital solutions company aimed at advancing digitization in Nigeria and Africa at large. He is also the founder of Octave Melody AI and Octave Talents. He is a data analyst, Digital strategist, and business intelligence consultant. He studied Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Lagos and has an advanced diploma in Business administration from Tekedia Institute and a Professional Diploma in Business Analysis from the European Open University. He has worked in 7 startups for over 10 years where he got the required experience to manage a group of tech companies. He is also currently the Training Coordinator at the Institute of Information Management and Programs Director at the International University of Information Management, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.

His goal is to own a Digital University where graduates will compulsorily become Entrepreneurs rather than job seekers.

His role is to analyze participant engagement, quiz results, and overall workshop impact. He will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data from workshop participants, track engagement trends, and assess the effectiveness of the governance education efforts.

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning, Resource Development, and Launch Preparations (Months 1-3)

Allocated Budget: 24,300 ADA

Resource and Materials Development (4,000 ADA)

• Creating governance content, educational modules, quizzes, assessments, and workshop materials.

Marketing Strategy and Campaign Launch (1,000 ADA)

• Initial marketing efforts, including promotional content, social media outreach, and community forums through bounty on Clarity DAO, invite the target audience to the workshop.

Workshop Structure Finalization and Launch Preparations (5,000 ADA)

• Finalizing workshop logistics, quiz/reward distribution plans, and aligning all materials for the first workshop.

9 Team Incentives for Three months at 400 ADA each per month (10,800 ADA)

     6 team and 3 onboarded facilitators will be paid 417 ADA per month

 Premium Tools Subscription (Kahoot, Clarity DAO, etc.) 3,500 ADA

• Ensures access to premium tools for quizzes, content creation, and community engagement.

Milestone 2: Implementation of Workshops and Monitoring Engagement (Months 4-6)

Allocated Budget: 28,800 ADA

Quiz Rewards (15,000 ADA) for 6 biweekly workshop

• Hosting the biweekly workshops, covering topics like CIP-1964, and ensuring continuous improvement through participant feedback.

Marketing and Community Engagement 1000 ADA each month (3,000 ADA) 

• Continued promotion of workshops to boost attendance and maintain engagement.

9 Team Incentives for Three months at 400 ADA each per month (10,800 ADA)

     6 team and 3 onboarded facilitators will be paid 417 ADA per month

Milestone 3: Continued Workshop Series and Governance Insights Sharing (Months 7-9)

Allocated Budget: 28,800 ADA

Quiz Rewards (15,000 ADA) for 6 biweekly workshop

• Hosting the biweekly workshops, covering topics like CIP-1964, and ensuring continuous improvement through participant feedback.

Marketing and Community Engagement 1000 ADA each month (3,000 ADA) 

• Continued promotion of workshops to boost attendance and maintain engagement.

9 Team Incentives for Three months at 400 ADA each per month (10,800 ADA)

     6 team and 3 onboarded facilitators will be paid 400 ADA per month

Milestone 4: Final Workshop Sessions, Reporting, and Project Closeout (Months 10-12)

Allocated Budget: 19,200 ADA

Final Quizzes and Reward Distribution (10,000 ADA)

• Conducting the last quiz sessions, distributing rewards, and publicly sharing final reward distribution details.

Marketing and Community Engagement 1000 ADA each month (2,000 ADA) 

• Continued promotion of workshops to boost attendance and maintain engagement.

9 Team Incentives for Two months at 400 ADA each per month (7,200 ADA)

     6 team and 3 onboarded facilitators will be paid 400 ADA per month.

Total: 101,100 $ADA

Note: The additional 1100 $ADA will be provided by the Organization

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

The project offers exceptional value for money by focusing on delivering high-quality governance education, community engagement, and rewarding active participation within the Cardano ecosystem. With a budget of 140,000 ADA, the project will support 12 months of bi-weekly governance workshops, engage expert speakers, distribute rewards for quizzes, and deliver governance insights through reports and video summaries. This comprehensive approach not only educates participants on critical governance topics such as CIP-1964 but also reinforces learning through quizzes and rewards, ensuring a solid return on investment by enhancing informed participation and decision-making in the community.

By strategically allocating funds across project planning, marketing, rewards, team compensation, and premium tools, we maximize impact while ensuring cost-efficiency. The project’s structured budget allows for continuous improvement based on feedback, while partnerships with established groups add further value by amplifying outreach efforts and leveraging existing networks. This ensures that the project achieves wide-reaching and sustainable outcomes, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools needed to contribute effectively to Cardano’s evolving governance framework.