Freelancer and Job Search Marketplace Platform on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Caleb Montiel

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

Individual

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

• Diego R.
• Steven M.
• Jonathan M.

[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)

We will build a decentralized platform on Cardano for freelance work and job listings, using smart contracts for instant ADA payments. It provides global access, low fees, security, and transparency.

[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

Our project will be entirely open source, allowing full transparency and collaboration throughout the development process. We will use an MIT license, ensuring that anyone can freely use, modify, and distribute the code. This open-source approach fosters innovation within the Cardano community and contributes to the broader ecosystem. All components related to smart contracts, job listings, and freelancer-employer interaction will be open source, with the exception of any third-party integrations or proprietary tools that may be necessary.

This approach ensures that the community can audit, contribute to, and build upon the project, promoting a decentralized and collaborative development process.

[METADATA] Horizons

Marketplace

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We aim to build a decentralized freelancer and job search marketplace on Cardano, addressing two core problems: the difficulty in finding talent or job opportunities in the blockchain/Cardano ecosystem and high fees of centralized platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Our solution leverages smart contracts for secure, instant payments in ADA, reducing costs and middleman fees. This allows employers and freelancers to engage directly and globally without traditional intermediaries.

We will integrate both freelance job listings and long-term employment opportunities, similar to Indeed, allowing employers to post openings and review resumes. The use of blockchain technology ensures the security and privacy of data, while Cardano's low fees and scalability make it an ideal choice for this solution.

By focusing on the Cardano ecosystem and utilizing decentralized storage, we aim to create an accessible, low-cost platform for crypto and blockchain jobs, ensuring transparency, trust, and ease of use.

This solution will engage employers, freelancers, and job seekers, particularly within the crypto and blockchain sectors, and will demonstrate its impact through adoption, completed contracts, and community feedback. The project will drive Cardano adoption by creating a unique, decentralized alternative to traditional job search platforms, making Cardano a go-to hub for blockchain-related job opportunities.

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

This proposal will positively impact the Cardano community by creating a dedicated platform for job seekers and employers within the Cardano ecosystem. By using smart contracts and decentralized solutions, we ensure fast, secure, and cost-effective payments in ADA, reducing the high fees of traditional platforms. This will promote growth in the ecosystem, making it easier for projects to hire talent and for professionals to find Cardano-related work opportunities globally. The project will be measured by the number of active users, successful contracts, and the adoption rate. Outputs will be shared through reports, forums, and community channels.

[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?

Caleb brings extensive experience working with freelance platforms like Upwork, giving him deep insights into how these platforms function. He understands the dynamics between employers and freelancers, and how features such as job postings, contract management, and payment systems need to be seamlessly integrated into a platform to ensure user satisfaction and trust.

In addition to his knowledge of these centralized systems, Caleb is ready to lead the development of this decentralized freelance and job marketplace on Cardano, leveraging his connections to talented blockchain developers, UI/UX designers, and technical specialists. He has successfully managed multiple projects in a transparent and open manner, ensuring that milestones and outcomes were always clearly communicated to stakeholders.

For this Catalyst project, Caleb will employ the same transparent project management approach, utilizing smart contracts on Cardano to handle payments, providing full accountability for both freelancers and employers. With his track record of delivering projects on time and his ability to assemble a skilled team, Caleb is prepared to bring this project to fruition, delivering value to the Cardano ecosystem while maintaining the highest levels of transparency for the Catalyst team.

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning and Initial Design (25K ADA)

• Outputs:
• Finalize the platform's design architecture, including user interface and user experience (UI/UX) for both freelancer and employer functionalities.
• Set up initial requirements for job listings and freelance contract management.

• Acceptance Criteria:
• Design and architecture approval.
• Complete project roadmap.
• Team roles and developer assignments confirmed.

• Evidence of Completion:
• Project design document and roadmap shared publicly.
• Team members onboarded and work plan initiated.

Milestone 2: Platform Development - Phase 1 (50K ADA)

• Outputs:
• Develop the core functionalities for freelancers and employers (job posting, contract creation, and contract fulfillment using smart contracts).
• Smart contract integration for payment in ADA.
• Test initial MVP with limited features.

• Acceptance Criteria:
• Fully functional MVP with basic features live on testnet.
• Successfully complete smart contract-based payment in ADA.

• Evidence of Completion:
• MVP released with user-testing feedback.
• Smart contract demonstration shared publicly.

Milestone 3: Platform Development - Phase 2 (45K ADA)

• Outputs:
• Integrate the job history system similar to Upwork, and the resume/job listing features like Indeed.
• Implement enhanced security protocols.
• Decentralized storage (Iagon) integration for data protection.

• Acceptance Criteria:
• Finalized platform features (resume upload, job history, contract management).
• Decentralized storage integrated and live.

• Evidence of Completion:
• Live platform ready for beta testing.
• Feature demonstration and beta user feedback.

Milestone 4: Beta Launch and Marketing (30K ADA)

• Outputs:
• Conduct beta launch to the Cardano and blockchain job-seeking community.
• Launch marketing and user acquisition campaign.
• Onboard first users and freelancers to start using the platform.

• Acceptance Criteria:
• Platform tested with at least 100 beta users.
• Smart contracts tested in real-use cases.

• Evidence of Completion:
• Public beta report with user feedback and performance metrics.
• Marketing report showing engagement and user acquisition.

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

For this project, the core team members are:

• Caleb: Project Manager and Lead Strategist. With extensive experience managing CRM projects, Caleb will oversee the planning, development, and implementation phases, ensuring timelines and goals are met.

• Diego: UX/UI Designer. Diego will focus on creating a user-friendly interface, ensuring the platform offers a seamless experience for both employers and freelancers.

• Steven: Marketing and Community Outreach Specialist. Steven will be responsible for promoting the platform, engaging the Cardano community, and managing partnerships with businesses and organizations.

• Jonathan: Full Stack Developer (Front-end and Back-end). Jonathan will handle the platform's website development, ensuring both the back-end and front-end operations are efficient, responsive, and capable of handling large-scale traffic and integrations.

To complete the project, we will recruit two senior developers specializing in smart contracts and blockchain integration. Their primary role will be to build and implement the smart contract functionalities for employer-freelancer agreements, job postings, and instant payments in ADA.

The team is well-equipped to deliver this solution, combining technical expertise, strategic management, and community engagement.

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

Milestone 1: Project Planning & Setup (20K ADA)

• Project Management (Caleb): 2,500 ADA (This includes initial project planning, team meetings, scope definition)
• Senior Developers Hiring (2 positions): 7,500 ADA for job postings, hiring process, and initial onboarding

• Website Development Planning (Jonathan): 3,000 ADA (Planning for both front and back-end development structure)

• Marketing & Community Engagement Planning: 2,000 ADA (Initial planning for engaging the Cardano community)

Milestone 2: Platform Architecture & Development (50K ADA)

• Smart Contract Development (2 Senior Developers): 20,000 ADA (Integration of ADA payments and contracts)
• Backend/Frontend Website Development (Jonathan): 10,000 ADA (Full-stack development for the platform’s core)
• Decentralized Job Listing & Resume Feature Integration: 7,500 ADA (Using blockchain for job listings)
• Team Compensation (Caleb & Diego for oversight): 5,000 ADA (Project management and technical oversight)
• Testing & Quality Assurance: 2,500 ADA (Test environment creation, bug fixes, and user testing)

Milestone 3: Testing, Security, and Smart Contracts (40K ADA)

• Further Smart Contract Refinement (Senior Developers): 15,000 ADA (Refining and securing contracts for ADA payments)
• Security Audits (3rd Party Auditors): 10,000 ADA (Comprehensive review of code and smart contracts)
• Final Website Testing & Adjustments (Jonathan): 5,000 ADA (Ensuring website and app work seamlessly)
• Marketing & Community Engagement Campaign Launch: 10,000 ADA (Social media, forums, and promotional materials for the Cardano community)

Milestone 4: Launch, Onboarding, and Support (40K ADA)

• Platform Launch (Server costs, hosting, final backend development): 10,000 ADA (Costs associated with launching)
• Onboarding and Support Documentation: 5,000 ADA (Creating guides and support docs for users)
• Ongoing Community Engagement & Support (Caleb & Team): 10,000 ADA (User onboarding, feedback collection, bug fixes)
• Post-Launch Audits & Reporting: 5,000 ADA (Regular security audits, post-launch reviews)
• Final Team Compensation & Miscellaneous Costs: 10,000 ADA (Wrap-up payments for team and unforeseen costs)

Total Budget: 150K ADA

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

In this project, hiring talent from Latin America allows us to provide great value for the money requested. Salaries for skilled professionals in the region are significantly lower than in North America or Europe, yet the quality of work remains high. This approach will enable us to secure highly qualified developers, designers, and project managers while staying within our proposed budget of 150K ADA. Furthermore, by leveraging the lower costs of hiring in Latin America, we ensure that more of the funding can be allocated towards platform development, security, and marketing, which maximizes the value of every ADA spent. This hiring strategy will also help to sustain the project for the long term and potentially expand into more regions globally.