Blockchain-Powered Community Hub for Local Economy & Sustainability

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Utpal Nath

[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

150000

[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)

We create tech-driven community spaces blending gastronomy, marketplace, sports, culture, empowering local businesses, building connections and promoting sustainability to address urban challenges

[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?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

We aim to make a positive social impact by combining advanced technologies like IoT, AI/ML and blockchain in community spaces. To achieve this, we’re using a hybrid approach that blends open-source and proprietary elements to balance innovation, transparency and control.

Our Hybrid Approach:

• Open Source Key Components:
• Community collaboration: Parts of the system that benefit from global innovation and transparency.
• Encourage input: These components invite developers to contribute and enhance the project.
• Proprietary Elements:
• Maintain control: Sensitive and critical parts that are essential to protect intellectual property and revenue.
• Competitive advantage: These components give us a unique edge in the market.

Benefits of this Approach:

• Balancing Innovation and Control:
• Collaboration: Open-source parts encourage global input, innovation and enhancements.
• Protection: Proprietary parts help retain our competitive advantage and protect key technologies.
• Enhancing Trust and Transparency:
• Open tools: By open-sourcing community-facing applications, users can verify security practices.
• Controlled security: Proprietary systems manage security-sensitive operations to avoid exposing vulnerabilities.
• Cost Efficiency and Scalability:
• Lower costs: Open-source contributions reduce development costs.
• Scalability: Open-source components can be easily adapted and scaled globally.
• Revenue Generation:
• Monetization: Proprietary systems can be licensed or sold to partners.
• IP protection: Maintaining control over apps and content allows strategic partnerships without losing ownership.

How We Apply the Hybrid Approach:

A- Open Source Components:

• Core Infrastructure:
• Blockchain tools: Open-source tools for interacting with the Cardano blockchain, such as APIs and smart contract templates.
• IoT protocols: Communication protocols for IoT devices, enabling other developers to create compatible applications.
• Community Applications:
• Visitor Platforms: Open-source mobile/web apps for maps, schedules and feedback, encouraging community contributions.
• Vendor Tools: Basic vendor management platforms that invite third-party developers to add new features for local businesses.
• Sustainability Tools:
• Environmental Systems: Open-source tools for tracking energy usage and waste management.
• Educational Modules: Open-source software used in workshops and training programs to encourage learning.

B- Proprietary Components:

• Business Logic:
• AI/ML Personalization: Advanced algorithms for personalized visitor experiences, such as recommendation engines, remain proprietary.
• Operational Optimization: Proprietary tools for crowd management and dynamic pricing.
• Security Systems:
• Access Control: Systems that secure park facilities and data remain proprietary to ensure safety.
• Payment Systems: Unique payment gateways tailored to the park stay proprietary for security and regulatory reasons.
• Unique IP:
• Brand Experiences: Proprietary technology that delivers unique branded experiences within the park.
• Licensed Content: Third-party licensed software and media remain proprietary to honor contractual agreements.

[METADATA] Horizons

Sustainability

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Project exit addresses key challenges in urban areas—social isolation, economic inequality and environmental degradation—by creating inclusive, tech-enabled community spaces. These spaces integrate food, culture, sports and sustainability, providing local businesses with a platform for growth and fostering human connections.

Challenges & Solutions:

 

Social Isolation:

• Problem: In cities, people often feel disconnected due to the overuse of digital platforms and the lack of communal spaces.
• Solution: Project exit builds physical spaces where people can engage in real-world social, cultural and recreational activities. Technology (AI/ML, IoT) enhances these interactions, breaking barriers between different communities.

 

Economic Inequality:

• Problem: Small businesses and artisans struggle to compete against large corporations, often lacking resources and visibility.
• Solution: The project empowers local entrepreneurs by providing a platform for vendors, farmers and artisans to showcase their products. Business incubation programs offer training and mentorship to help them scale.

 

Environmental Degradation:

• Problem: Urban development leads to increased energy consumption and waste, without a focus on sustainability.
• Solution: Project exit incorporates green technologies, such as solar energy and waste reduction systems. It also hosts workshops on sustainable living, engaging visitors in eco-friendly practices.

 

 

Core Features of Project _exit_:

 

Inclusive Community Spaces:

• Accessible areas for everyone to engage in festivals, sports and cultural activities with tech-enhanced personalization.

  

Economic Empowerment:

• Tools and platforms to help local vendors grow their businesses, supported by training programs and infrastructure.

 

Sustainable Development:

• The park uses solar power and eco-friendly designs, alongside educational workshops to promote sustainability.

 

 

Engagement and Impact:

 

Local Communities: Farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs gain new economic opportunities

Visitors: Enjoy a vibrant, inclusive space for social interaction and cultural exchange

Governments & NGOs: Collaborate on policies for sustainability and economic empowerment

Cardano Developers: Contribute to integrating blockchain solutions, ensuring transparency and accountability through Cardano's on-chain technology

 

 

Unique Approach:

Project exit stands out by integrating technology, sustainability and community building into a single cohesive model. It leverages IoT, AI/ML and blockchain to deliver personalized visitor experiences, ensure transparent financial transactions and enable decentralized governance.

By converging systems engineering, platform engineering, feature engineering and emerging technologies, the project results in:

• Mobile apps for tickets, reservations and online shopping
• Loyalty and payment apps with integrated wallets
• Operational systems and real-time reporting platforms
• Vendor management systems
• Smart contracts to automate payments and governance

This approach ensures seamless integration between technology and community engagement, making Project exit a comprehensive solution for modern urban challenges.

 

Why This Matters to Cardano:

 

• Economic Growth: Empowers local communities by providing platforms for small businesses and artisan
• Real-World Blockchain Use Cases: Implements Cardano’s blockchain for on-chain transactions, tokenized rewards and decentralized governance
• Sustainability: Aligns with Cardano’s mission of using technology to build sustainable, inclusive solutions for global communities

 

Project exit is a scalable model that can be replicated globally, addressing key urban challenges while showcasing the real-world applications of Cardano technology.

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

Key Benefits for the Cardano Community:

• Real-world adoption of Cardano: Project Exit will use Cardano's blockchain for on-chain transactions, decentralized governance (DAOs) and tokenized rewards, showing how Cardano can work in everyday life.
• Increased Cardano participation: ADA will be used for real-world payments in the park, including tokenized loyalty programs and DAO-based governance, attracting vendors, visitors and developers.
• Promoting decentralized governance: By using DAOs for decision-making, Project Exit will demonstrate the power of community-driven governance, making it a model for other projects globally.
• Focus on sustainability: The park will use blockchain-powered systems for energy monitoring, waste management and carbon tracking, aligning with Cardano’s vision of using technology for societal good.

Impact Measurement Metrics:

• On-chain transaction volume: Track ADA transactions in loyalty tokens and DAO voting to show blockchain activity and user engagement.
• DAO participation: Measure the number of stakeholders involved in on-chain voting to show how effective decentralized governance is.
• Economic growth: Assess the increase in local business success (revenue, sales, job creation) to illustrate how Cardano supports economic empowerment.
• Sustainability outcomes: Monitor energy use, waste reduction and carbon credits via blockchain to track the project’s environmental impact.
• Developer engagement: Measure open-source contributions and developer participation in creating tools and dApps for the project.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Open-source contributions: Tools like payment systems, loyalty programs and governance dApps will be shared on platforms like GitHub, allowing developers to build on them.
• Regular updates: Reports on progress, milestones and the impact of on-chain transactions, DAOs and sustainability efforts will be shared on the Cardano Forum and Project Catalyst channels.
• Workshops and hackathons: Collaboration with the Cardano Foundation will foster innovation through developer workshops and hackathons to create new Cardano use cases.
• Partnerships and media content: Case studies, success stories and video content will highlight how the Cardano blockchain benefits urban and community development. Partnerships with Cardano-based projects will open up collaboration and expansion opportunities.

[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?

Expertise and Technology Integration

• The combined team of project EXIT (inhouse) brings together expertise in systems engineering, IoT, AI/ML and Cardano’s blockchain technology.
• This allows us to design scalable, resilient systems that integrate key technologies for real-time monitoring, automation and decentralized governance.

 

Blockchain Development and Integration

• The team is experienced in Cardano’s blockchain development, including smart contracts and dApps.

 

IoT and AI/ML Expertise

• The team is skilled in IoT deployment for real-time data collection and AI-powered optimization of park operations. This includes personalized visitor experiences and sustainable management systems.

 

Sustainability and Urban Development

• EXIT specializes in sustainable urban design with a focus on renewable energy and eco-friendly infrastructure, aligning with Cardano’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

 

Proven Track Record in Project Delivery - Successfully Managing Complex Projects

• The team has delivered large-scale projects that involve systems integration, community engagement and financial management.
• EXIT has designed and implemented green urban spaces that foster economic growth and social impact.
• Few members of the in-house team have built Cardano-based blockchain solutions, demonstrating their expertise in decentralized payment systems and governance models.

 

Alignment with Cardano’s Mission

• EXIT shares Cardano’s vision for decentralization, sustainability and social impact.
• The project will empower local entrepreneurs, vendors and artisans by creating blockchain-based economic systems and community-driven governance.

 

Capabilities to Manage Funds Responsibly

 

Financial Management Framework

• We will create a detailed budget plan covering all phases: technology development, infrastructure and community engagement.
• Funds will be released in phases, based on milestone completion, ensuring accountability and preventing overspending.

 

Transparent Reporting and Auditing

• We will provide regular financial reports to all stakeholders, including the Cardano community.
• Independent financial audits will ensure full compliance and transparency.

 

Blockchain-Based Accountability

• All transactions will be recorded on Cardano’s blockchain, providing transparent, immutable records.
• DAO governance will involve the community in financial decision-making, ensuring stakeholder involvement.

 

Proven History of Managing Funds

• Team members has successfully managed grant-based projects, adhering to transparency, timely delivery and budget management.

 

Governance and Internal Controls

• We have an experienced financial management team with strong internal controls and a structured process for fund disbursement.

 

Ongoing Communication with Cardano Community

• We will keep the Cardano community updated through Project Catalyst, blogs and forums, sharing progress reports and financial updates throughout the project.

 

This combination of expertise, transparency and financial control ensures that EXIT can deliver Project exit responsibly, aligning with Cardano’s mission to foster sustainability, inclusivity and decentralization.

 

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

This project will be delivered across four milestones that demonstrate the integration of systems engineering, platform engineering, IoT, AI/ML and decentralized technologies, with a focus on delivering mobile apps, wallets, IoT systems and smart contracts. The project will use a phased approach, allocating the budget according to the timeline and critical project activities.

Milestone 1: System Architecture, UI/UX Design and Development

• Duration: 1.5 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Deliverables:
• System architecture blueprint.
• UI/UX design for visitor mobile apps, vendor management systems and reporting dashboards.
• Resources: System architects, UI/UX designers, project managers.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Finalized system architecture and 
• UI/UX design for Stakeholder 

Milestone 2: Backend Development, IoT Integration and Smart Contracts

• Duration: 1.5 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Deliverables:
• Backend systems development for apps, vendor systems and reporting.
• Integration of IoT devices 
• Smart contract deployment on Cardano for payments, loyalty and governance.
• Resources: Backend developers, blockchain developers, IoT/AI engineers.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Functional backend systems 
• Smart contracts deployed and operational on Cardano.

Milestone 3: Testing, QA and Beta Deployment

• Duration: 2 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Deliverables:
• End-to-end testing across platforms (mobile apps, IoT, blockchain).
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and quality assurance.
• Beta deployment with used cases
• Resources: QA engineers, testers and deployment specialists.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful functional, integration and UAT testing.
• System ready for deployment.

Milestone 4: Project Close-Out and Reporting

• Duration: 1 month
• Budget: 15,000 ADA (10%)
• Deliverables:
• Final deployment of systems.
• Comprehensive project close-out and financial reporting.
• User training and final report to the Cardano community.
• Resources: Project managers, financial auditors, trainers.

Acceptance Criteria:

1. Systems are live and operational.
2. Financial reports and project close-out documentation shared with stakeholders.
3. User training complete and results published to the Cardano community.

 

Timeline and Budget Summary:

• Milestone 1 (1.5 months): 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Milestone 2 (1.5 months): 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Milestone 3 (2 months): 45,000 ADA (30%)
• Milestone 4 (1 month): 15,000 ADA (10%)

The total project duration is 6 months with each milestone contributing to a structured and phased delivery of Project exit. Each milestone ensures that core systems and technologies are developed, integrated, tested and deployed efficiently.

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

Utpal Nath - Project Lead

Anwesha Nath - Sustainability Advisor

Dr. Barnali Hazarika - Community Lead

Sangeet (0xgitgat) Muralidhar - Solution Architecture

Vedant Jha - Full Stack Developer

Faizan Shaikh - Cardano Developer

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

The total budget for Project exit is 150,000 ADA, allocated across four milestones over 6 months. Each milestone involves specific tasks, requiring different skill sets, resources, and durations. Below is a detailed cost breakdown for the required resources and tasks, reflecting how the budget and workload are distributed.

Milestone 1: System Architecture, UI/UX Design, and Stakeholder Alignment

• Duration: 1.5 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)

Resources:

• System Architect (1 person) – 1.5 months, 10,000 ADA
• UI/UX Designers (2 people) – 1.5 months, 12,000 ADA
• Project Manager (1 person) – 1.5 months, 6,000 ADA
• Stakeholder Engagement and Workshops (facilitators, materials) – 5,000 ADA
• Miscellaneous Costs (tools, software, admin support) – 4,000 ADA
• Contingency (5%) – 3,000 ADA
• Overhead and administrative costs – 5,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 1: 45,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Backend Development, IoT Integration, and Smart Contracts

• Duration: 1.5 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)

Resources:

• Backend Developers (2 people) – 1.5 months, 15,000 ADA
• Blockchain Developer (1 person) – 1.5 months, 10,000 ADA
• IoT/AI Engineers (2 people) – 1.5 months, 12,000 ADA
• Project Manager (1 person) – 1.5 months, 6,000 ADA
• Tools and Infrastructure (cloud hosting, API integration, IoT hardware) – 2,000 ADA
• Contingency (5%) – 3,000 ADA
• Overhead and administrative costs – 2,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 2: 45,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Testing, QA, and Full System Deployment

• Duration: 2 months
• Budget: 45,000 ADA (30%)

Resources:

• QA Engineers/Testers (2 people) – 2 months, 16,000 ADA
• Deployment Specialists (2 people) – 2 months, 10,000 ADA
• Project Manager (1 person) – 2 months, 8,000 ADA
• Testing and Deployment Infrastructure (test environments, deployment tools) – 3,000 ADA
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sessions and feedback collection – 4,000 ADA
• Contingency (5%) – 3,000 ADA
• Overhead and administrative costs – 1,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 3: 45,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Project Close-Out, Reporting, and Final Deployment

• Duration: 1 month
• Budget: 15,000 ADA (10%)

Resources:

• Project Manager (1 person) – 1 month, 5,000 ADA
• Financial Auditor (1 person) – 1 month, 2,000 ADA
• Stakeholder Training and Handover Sessions – 3,000 ADA
• Project Close-Out Reporting and Cardano Community Publication – 2,000 ADA
• Contingency (5%) – 1,000 ADA
• Overhead and administrative costs – 2,000 ADA

Total for Milestone 4: 15,000 ADA

the above budget allocation and resource breakdown ensure that each milestone is adequately funded and staffed, providing a clear path to delivering Project exit with the necessary tools, systems, and expertise to achieve the project’s objectives.

Total Project Duration: 6 months

Total Budget: 150,000 ADA

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

The total budget of 150,000 ADA represents high value for money by delivering real-world blockchain use cases, increasing Cardano adoption and showcasing the scalability of decentralized technologies in urban environments. The costs are aligned with regional wage standards in India, where development costs are significantly lower, allowing for high-quality outputs at competitive rates.

1. Industry and Regional Standard Rates

• System architects, developers and blockchain engineers in India earn between 2,500–5,000 ADA per month, significantly lower than in higher-cost regions, where similar roles command 8,000–15,000 ADA per month.
• This regional wage advantage allows us to hire top talent for roles such as UI/UX designers, backend developers and IoT engineers at a competitive cost while maintaining high standards.

2. High Impact for the Cardano Ecosystem

• Real-world blockchain use: The project will drive on-chain transactions through Cardano-based payments, loyalty programs and decentralized governance, increasing network activity.
• Scalable and replicable: The project provides a blueprint for future Cardano-based smart city initiatives globally.
• DAO governance: Implementation of decentralized governance (DAOs) will demonstrate Cardano's potential for community-driven decision-making.

3. Efficient Budget Allocation

The budget is allocated across four key milestones:

• Milestone 1 (1.5 months, 45,000 ADA) – System architecture and UI/UX design.
• Milestone 2 (1.5 months, 45,000 ADA) – Backend development, IoT integration and smart contracts.
• Milestone 3 (2 months, 45,000 ADA) – Testing, QA and full system deployment.
• Milestone 4 (1 month, 15,000 ADA) – Project close-out, financial reporting and training.

4. Return on Investment for Cardano

The 150,000 ADA investment ensures:

• Increased on-chain transactions and Cardano adoption.
• Demonstration of decentralized governance, IoT and AI/ML integration.
• A replicable model that can drive Cardano’s global adoption in future projects.

The 150,000 ADA budget delivers significant value by leveraging regional wage advantages and aligning with Cardano’s mission. The project will drive real-world blockchain adoption, promote decentralized governance and provide a scalable framework for future global initiatives—all at a highly competitive cost.