Creator Support Network: Facilitating Direct Funding for Innovators through Cardano Micro-donations

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We propose a Cardano dApp for creators to receive ADA donations. It supports microtransactions, recurring donations, enhanced privacy, and robust security, streamlining the donation process.

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

[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?

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

GPLv3

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

we propose creating a streamlined Cardano-based donation platform for content creators. The core functionalities are:

1. Simple Donation System:
2. One-time ADA donations
3. Basic smart contract for handling transactions
4. User-Friendly Interface:
5. Clean, straightforward design for creators and supporters
6. Mobile-responsive web application
7. Easy Integration:
8. Generate embeddable donation buttons for websites and blogs
9. Simple API for basic integrations
10. Wallet Connectivity:
11. Integration with popular Cardano wallets (e.g., Nami, Eternl)
12. Basic Reporting:
13. Transaction history for creators
14. Simple dashboard showing total donations received
15. Security:
16. Implement essential security best practices
17. Use audited smart contract templates when possible

Future Expansion (Post-MVP):

• Support for Cardano native tokens
• More detailed analytics
• Enhanced privacy features

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

Value to the Cardano Community

The Open Blockchain Contribution Platform will bring significant value to the Cardano Community in several ways:

• Practical Use Case: By providing a real-world application for ADA transactions, our platform will demonstrate Cardano's utility beyond speculative investmen
• User Adoption: The platform will attract content creators and their supporters to the Cardano ecosystem, potentially introducing blockchain technology to newcomer
• Ecosystem Growth: As more creators and supporters use the platform, it will stimulate economic activity within the Cardano network, potentially increasing ADA's utility and valu
• Technological Showcase: The project will serve as a practical demonstration of Cardano's smart contract capabilities, showcasing the blockchain's potential for developing user-friendly decentralized application
• Financial Inclusion: By enabling global, low-fee transactions, the platform will support Cardano's mission of providing financial services to underserved population

Measuring Impact

We will measure the impact of our project using both quantitative and qualitative metrics:

Quantitative Metrics:

1. Total number of users (creators and supporters)
2. Total transaction volume (in ADA)
3. Average donation amount
4. User growth rate (month-over-month)
5. Number of successful transactions

Qualitative Metrics:

1. User satisfaction (through periodic surveys)
2. Testimonials from content creators about the platform's impact on their work
3. Feedback from the Cardano community on the platform's contribution to the ecosystem

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities

As a one-person project, we will focus on efficient and manageable ways to share our outputs and opportunities:

• Project Website: 
• Regular updates on key metrics and milestones
• Annual project report summarizing achievements and future plans
• Community Engagement:
• Participation in relevant Cardano community forums and discussions
• Sharing insights and learnings from building on Cardano with the developer community
• User Spotlights:
• Periodic case studies highlighting successful creators using the platform (with their permission)
• Cardano Ecosystem Contribution:
• Providing feedback to Cardano developers about platform experiences, challenges, and improvement suggestions
• Potential collaboration with other Cardano projects to enhance the overall ecosystem
• Documentation:
• Maintaining comprehensive, up-to-date documentation for platform usage and integration

By focusing on these key areas, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to the Cardano ecosystem while maintaining a realistic workload. Our goal is to demonstrate the platform's value through its practical use and user experiences, fostering growth and innovation within the Cardano community.

[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?

Our team comprises three experienced developers with diverse backgrounds in full-stack development, blockchain technology, backend systems, and AI. This combination of skills provides us with a comprehensive foundation to tackle the challenges of building a Cardano-based donation platform.

Our capabilities include:

• Extensive experience in web development, blockchain applications, and scalable backend systems
• A track record of delivering complex projects from conception to deployment
• The potential to incorporate innovative features leveraging our collective expertise

To ensure trust and accountability:

1. We will implement transparent fund management using a multi-signature wallet
2. The project will follow a milestone-based development approach with phased fund releases
3. Regular updates to the Catalyst community

To validate feasibility:

1. We will develop a basic prototype to test core functionalities
2. Rigorous scalability testing will be performed on the Cardano testnet
3. We will conduct regular community surveys and implement a beta testing program
4. Our team will seek technical reviews from experienced Cardano developers
5. The project will follow an agile development cycle, allowing us to adapt quickly to challenges

Our team's combined expertise positions us well to deliver this project with high levels of trust, accountability, and technical excellence. We are committed to leveraging our diverse skills to overcome any obstacles and create a valuable addition to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Milestone 1: UI Design, Website Implementation, and Technical Documentation

Duration: 8 weeks

Budget Allocation: 22,500 ADA (25% of total budget)

Deliverables:

1. UI/UX design mockups for the entire platform
2. Basic website implementation with static pages
3. Technical documentation outlining the project architecture
4. Project roadmap and detailed development plan

Acceptance Criteria:

• UI/UX designs approved by stakeholders
• Basic website deployed and accessible online
• Technical documentation reviewed and approved by advisors
• Project roadmap clearly outlines subsequent development phases

Evidence of Completion:

• Design links to all UI/UX mockups
• Link for live URL of deployed website
• Technical documentation PDF and architecture diagrams

Milestone 2: Frontend Development and Initial Smart Contract Work

Duration: 10 weeks

Budget Allocation: 27,000 ADA (30% of total budget)

Deliverables:

1. Frontend application with basic features (user registration, wallet connection, donation processing)
2. Initial smart contract implementation for basic donation functionality
3. Integration of frontend with Cardano testnet for preliminary testing

Acceptance Criteria:

• Frontend application successfully demonstrates basic user flows
• Wallet connection and basic transaction simulation working on testnet
• Initial smart contract can process basic donations on testnet

Evidence of Completion:

• Deployed URL of the frontend application
• Screen recordings demonstrating key user flows (registration, wallet connection, donation processing)
• User guide for testing the application on testnet
• Technical Milestone Completion Report summarizing all deliverables and evidence

Milestone 3: Smart Contract Completion and Beta Launch

Duration: 12 weeks

Budget Allocation: 31,500 ADA (35% of total budget)

Deliverables:

1. Complete smart contract development with all planned features
2. Full feature set implementation on the platform
3. Beta version of the platform deployed on Cardano testnet
4. User documentation and guides

Acceptance Criteria:

• All planned smart contract features implemented and thoroughly tested
• Platform demonstrates full feature set functionality on testnet
• Beta version successfully processes various transaction types on testnet

Evidence of Completion:

• Deployed URL of the beta platform on Cardano testnet
• Screen recordings and transaction hashes demonstrating full feature functionality
• QA test results, including UAT from diverse testers

Final milestone: Project Closure

Duration: 6 weeks

Budget Allocation: 9,000 ADA (10% of total budget)

Deliverables:

1. Platform deployed on Cardano mainnet
2. Project Close-out Report
3. Project Demonstration Video

Acceptance Criteria:

• Platform successfully launched on Cardano mainnet with all features operational
• Close-out report provides comprehensive overview of project achievements, challenges, and lessons learned
• Demonstration video of the platform

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

1: Leul Mekonnen - Web Developer and Project Manager

• Fullstack developer | Node.js | React | svelte | Next.js | sveltekit | Postgress | Typescript | Docker
• LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn account
• GitHub: github account
• Role: Responsible for web development, focusing on Web-development, UI/UX design and implementation. Leul brings expertise in creating an intuitive and engaging user interface.

2: Emrakeb Ermias - Technical writer and advisor

• LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn account
• Role: Technical writer with a unique blend of legal expertise and development skills, specializing in creating clear, precise documentation for software and tech products. With a background in law and hands-on coding experience, I excel at bridging the gap between complex technical systems and compliance requirements. 

3: Yeabesera Derese - Web developer

• LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn account
• Role: An AI researcher and MERN stack developer, combining expertise in machine learning with full-stack development. I work on developing intelligent applications, leveraging AI models alongside the MERN stack to create scalable, data-driven solutions that push the boundaries of web and AI integration.

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

Milestone 1: UI Design, Website Implementation, and Technical Documentation

Total Budget: 22,500 ADA

• UI/UX Design and Wireframing (8,000 ADA)
• Justification: Creation of detailed UI/UX wireframes and interactive prototypes is crucial for visualizing the final product and streamlining development.
• Basic Website Implementation (7,500 ADA)
• Justification: Developing a functional website foundation is essential for early user engagement and testing. Costs cover frontend development and basic infrastructure setup.
• Technical Documentation and Architecture Planning (5,000 ADA)
• Justification: Comprehensive documentation and architectural planning are vital for guiding development and ensuring all team members are aligned.
• Project Management and Communication Setup (2,000 ADA)
• Justification: Effective project management and communication are critical for project success. Costs cover project management tools and initial setup of communication channels.

Milestone 2: Frontend Development and Initial Smart Contract Work

Total Budget: 27,000 ADA

• Frontend Application Development (12,000 ADA)
• Justification: Development of core frontend features requires skilled developers. Costs reflect the complexity of implementing user registration, wallet connection, and basic donation processing.
• Initial Smart Contract Development (10,000 ADA)
• Justification: Creating the foundation for smart contracts is a critical and complex task. Costs are based on the specialized skills required for Cardano smart contract development.
• Integration and Testing (5,000 ADA)
• Justification: Thorough testing of the integration between frontend and smart contracts is essential for ensuring functionality and identifying early issues.

Milestone 3: Smart Contract Completion and Beta Launch

Total Budget: 31,500 ADA

• Complete Smart Contract Development (14,000 ADA)
• Justification: Finalizing all smart contract features is the most complex and critical part of the project. Costs reflect the high level of expertise and time required.
• Feature Set Completion (10,000 ADA)
• Justification: Implementing the full feature set involves extensive development work across both frontend and backend systems.
• Beta Version Deployment and Testing (5,500 ADA)
• Justification: Deploying a beta version on the Cardano testnet and conducting thorough testing is crucial for identifying and resolving issues before mainnet launch.
• User Documentation (2,000 ADA)
• Justification: Comprehensive user guides are essential for adoption and proper use of the platform.

Milestone 4: Mainnet Launch and Project Closure

Total Budget: 9,000 ADA

• Security Audit (3,000 ADA)
• Justification: A final security audit is crucial to ensure the platform is secure and ready for mainnet deployment.
• Mainnet Deployment (2,000 ADA)
• Justification: The final deployment process requires careful execution and monitoring to ensure a smooth launch.
• Project Close-out Report (2,000 ADA)
• Justification: A comprehensive report documenting project achievements and insights is important for transparency and future reference.
• Project Demonstration Video (2,000 ADA)
• Justification: A professional video presentation effectively communicates the project's success and features to the Cardano community.

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

The cost of the Open Blockchain Contribution Platform represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to several compelling reasons:

1. Increased Adoption: By providing a user-friendly platform for contributions and donations, this project could significantly increase the usage of the Cardano blockchain for everyday transactions. It introduces Cardano to a broader audience, including content creators and their supporters who may not be familiar with blockchain technology.
2. Empowering Creators: The system will empower artists, writers, developers, and other creators by providing them with a direct, efficient, and low-cost method to receive support from their audience. This can foster a more vibrant and supportive community within the Cardano ecosystem, attracting more creative talents to the platform and showcasing Cardano's utility beyond financial speculation.
3. Enhanced Functionality: By addressing the limitations of current donation methods through features like smart contract automation, transparent fund management, and potential for recurring donations, the project adds significant functionality to the Cardano network. This functionality can serve as a model for future decentralized applications and financial services on the blockchain.
4. Financial Inclusivity: The platform aims to minimize transaction fees and simplify the donation process, making it easier for supporters across different regions to contribute, thus promoting financial inclusivity. This is particularly valuable for users in regions with less stable currencies or limited access to traditional banking, aligning with Cardano's mission of providing financial services to underserved populations.
5. Long-Term Value Creation: The project's focus on scalable architecture, security features, and compliance considerations means that it is built not just for immediate needs but also for future growth. This ensures long-term value creation as the Cardano ecosystem expands, potentially serving as a foundation for more complex decentralized finance (DeFi) applications in the future.
6. Network Effect and Ecosystem Growth: By providing a tool that enhances the interaction between creators and their communities, the contribution platform can stimulate more transactions on the Cardano network. Each transaction not only generates fee revenue but also contributes to the network's robustness and long-term viability. Moreover, it demonstrates Cardano's capability to support real-world applications, potentially attracting more developers and projects to the ecosystem.