A Cardano Resource Directory for Ecosystem Improvement

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Abigail Ayisi Duodu

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

Individual

[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)

An onboarding tool - Beginner-friendly resource directory website, with structured content. Each informational content follows inter-related topics and themes, designed for new leads and enthusiasts.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[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.”

Yes! The project has quite a few dependencies that are vital to its success;

• Technical aspects in the project development stage are text segmentation and automated content moderation tools supporting the basis of our open source, end user contributions – on the platform. 
• Community partnerships are necessary during general research, focus groups interactions, and for running end product usability tests.

[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! The website development stage and technical content will be made open to the community. Also, after a successful product launch, members of the Cardano community can contribute relevant information to the website.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

• Cardano has several informational blogs and resources run by its expert community members affiliated to the organization. The nature of these websites are typically an all-in-one application.
• Available resources and published content about Cardano are heavily focused on Cardano governance and tech updates, community events, market trends etc.
• Content displayed in various online resources have a scattered layout. And not particularly structured as content with inter-related topics and themes. 

For an ecosystem focused on recording high levels of adoption, this weakens the positioning of Cardano if the barrier to entry is small. And the sense of community is missing, in the first few days a lead shows interest in Cardano activities. Rather approving an educational onboarding tool into the greater Cardano ecosystem creates ease and structure for leads seeking to transition.

What we propose

• We propose a Cardano niche website functioning ONLY as a resource directory for new leads introduced into the vast Cardano ecosystem. A tool built to enforce readability and focus, content will be displayed in a structured layout – with content blocks interlinked with related topics and themes 
• On the website, users can access quality bite-sized information due to the integration of text segmentation features for indexing and to aid reader focus and automated content moderation tools to accept or reject content submissions from contributing users on the website.  
• The end goal is to successfully onboard leads by prioritizing accessible information for beginners.

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

The fundamentals of the project can serve as evidence based research for Cardano. Since the ecosystem relies heavily on research and quality education, the use of this resource directory strategy to attract leads will improve user experience, inform and preserve its active participants for Cardano. An onboarding tool is a needed strategy the community must use to sell its value and proposition to everyone. Cardano benefits in various ways - high adoption rates, wider talent pool, better community engagement and reliable integration within the ecosystem.

Education & adoption: Our solution to provide a central, user-friendly platform for new leads everywhere will create an urgency for Cardano's goal of increasing adoption - which means successfully nurturing new leads into impactful community members with introductory knowledge on Cardano. 

Wider talent pool: Knowing more means doing more. Since Cardano is community centered, attracting more talents into the ecosystem is required. Therefore leads transitioning into the system can contribute to improving the blockchain in matters of governance, technological advancements and market growth. Because a talent enriched ecosystem gives space for ideas and innovation to flourish. 

Community engagement: This offers an increased engagement within the Cardano community, having successfully transitioned leads into enthusiasts. A surge in adoption should equally account for more knowledgeable and engaged community members. With leads from all over, the ecosystem can deepen its hold in various regions in the world. A growth in quality community members will foster diverse innovations and global solutions led by Cardano.  

Networking and integration: The basis of the resource is to educate and onboard leads into Cardano. Since the project relies on some community partnerships, users entering the ecosystem can have access to this resource or other vital learning and onboarding materials from our partners. Further, integrating this tool with projects dedicated to education and adoption fosters that networking amongst native Cardano projects.  

[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?

The team behind the project is well versed in Cardano blockchain, website content writing, and product development. With our combined experience would be elaborate in running a successful project from the ideation stage to launch. 

Feasibility will be validated through user engagement metrics, content contribution, and feedback from usability testing and partner outreach programs. After a successful milestone five(5), the team would also share a quantifiable report on the project.

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

First Milestone: Website design, development and tool integration (Months 1-2)

Assigned Tasks and Timeline:

Month 1:

· Define the website's scope and requirements.

· Create a wireframe or prototype of the website.

· Information architecture

Month 2:

· Begin development of the website's front-end and back-end code.

· Integrate tools needed for website functionality 

· Testing

Second Milestone: Content collection and moderation (Months 3-4)

Assigned Tasks and Timeline:

Month 3:

· Collect content for publishing

· Create a process for collecting user-generated content.

· Promote the website to users and encourage them to submit user-generated content.

Month 4:

· Indexing and automated content moderation 

Third Milestone: Partial Product Deployment (Month 5)

Assigned Tasks and Timeline:

Month 5:

· Deploy a partial version of the website to a staging environment for testing.

Forth Milestone: Usability Testing and Outreach Program (Months 6-7)

Assigned Tasks and Timeline

Month 6:

· Conduct usability testing of the website.

· Partner with active outreach programs to promote the website.

Month 7:

· Begin implementation of usability test feedback

Fifth Milestone: Project Evaluation and Final Reporting (Month 8)

Month 8:

· Evaluate the success of the project

· Create a final report on the project

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

Abigail Ayisi Duodu is a team lead with experience in the tech industry. She is a proficient technical writer with a BA in Linguistics, and her skills go beyond strategizing content and writing. As a former team lead of a tech and waste management startup, she understands the entire content creation process, from ideation, design, documentation to product launch. 

Role: Team Lead

nefua24@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailayisi/

Christopher Pokoo-Aikins: Christopher is a highly experienced accountant and finance professional with over 12 years of experience in the field. holds a Master's degree in Computer Application from Amity University (India), an MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from KNUST (Ghana), and a BSc in Business Administration from KNUST (Ghana).

He is passionate about blockchain technology and believes that it has the potential to solve many problems. He has been a community advisor and voter in the Project Catalyst funding cycle since Fund 5, and was also a member of the Catalyst Challenge Team for the "Scale-UP Cardano's Community Hubs" challenge in Fund 8. Christopher is a strong leader with a proven track record of success and also a highly ethical individual who is committed to implementing change in a positive way.

Role: Content Curator

Email: chrisaiks@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Samuel Amui is a proficient front-end developer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He is experienced in all aspects of front-end development, from designing and coding user interfaces to developing and debugging JavaScript applications. He is also proficient in HTML, CSS, and a variety of JavaScript frameworks.

Samuel is passionate about creating user-friendly and engaging web experiences. He is always up-to-date on the latest trends in front-end development and is always looking for new ways to improve the user experience. He is also a strong team player and is able to work effectively with both designers and back-end developers.

Role: Front-end Developer

samniiamu@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Eugene Aikins: An experienced software engineer with extensive expertise in designing, installing, testing and maintenance of software systems. As a proficient backend developer, Eugene is experienced in various programming languages and development tools, platforms and systems. He can independently oversee projects and perform as a productive team member. 

Role: Backend Developer

LinkedIn

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

• Website design, development and tool integration 

· Web design - ADA 5,000

· Web development ADA front-end - ADA 10,000

· Web development ADA back-end - ADA 10,000

· Domain name registration - ADA 1,000

· Web hosting - ADA 1,200

· Tool integration - ADA 2500

· SSL certificate - ADA 1000

. Miscellaneous expense - ADA 1400

• Website Generated Content 

Process for collecting content, a database for storing index content and a moderation system to remove inappropriate content or spam.

· Generating website content - ADA 5000

· Database for generated content - ADA 10,000

· Automated moderation system - ADA 5000

· Miscellaneous expense - ADA 2000

 

• Partial Product Deployment

Partial deployment of the website to a staging environment, feedback from users on the website's content and design 

· Testing of the website on the staging environment - ADA 5000

  

• Usability Testing and Outreach Programs

 Results of usability tests on the website, reports on the effectiveness of outreach programs  

· Conducting usability tests - ADA 5,000

· Partner outreach programs: Souvenirs - ADA 5,000

. Miscellaneous expense ADA 1000

5. Project Evaluation and Final Reporting

· Final report on project - ADA 1000

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

• The proposed project represents value for money for the Cardano as it -

• Addresses the observed challenge of scattered information in various Cardano resources

• Creates structure and ease for leads aiding in a an increased global adoption

• Encourages active participation and knowledge sharing within the community with a wider talent acquisition into the ecosystem. 

• The 8-month duration allows for a comprehensive and refined approach to ensure the project's effectiveness and long-term impact. 

• The cost estimation for the project also covers the major aspects to get the website running. Design and development costs, testing and evaluation phase as well moderation and outreach. The project budget accounted for also includes all administrative costs.