[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant
Brandon Cartwright
[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)
Entity (Incorporated)
[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)
4
[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 propose a Web3 Widget marketplace run by the community to boost treasury growth, offering Web3 tools for non-programmers and a platform for developers to buy, sell, and trade tools.
[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.”
While we are primarily focused on ensuring the marketplace is community-driven and user-friendly, there are key areas where collaboration is important. We will work with experienced blockchain developers to build the platform and leverage existing blockchain infrastructure for secure transactions and governance. Additionally, we’ll consult with security experts to ensure a safe environment. However, the project will largely be shaped by the community, minimizing reliance on external organizations while maintaining flexibility and adaptability in our approach.
[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 marketplace will be open-source, licensed under the GPL to ensure transparency and community collaboration, but the products sold on the platform may vary, with some being open-source and others proprietary.
[METADATA] Horizons
Marketplace
[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution
Proposed Solution
Perception of the Problem:
We are addressing two key issues: the slow pace of Cardano treasury replenishment and the lack of easily accessible Web3 tools for non-programmers. Treasury growth is essential for funding future initiatives, while the limited availability of user-friendly tools hinders wider blockchain adoption, particularly for website builders and small business owners who lack programming expertise.
Approach:
Our solution is to build a Web3 Widget marketplace that will be open-source and governed by the Cardano community. This marketplace will generate a revenue stream that accelerates treasury growth by allocating a portion of the marketplace’s profits to the Cardano treasury. Additionally, the marketplace will offer easy-to-use Web3 tools that allow non-programmers to integrate crypto features into their e-commerce websites, such as those built on platforms like Wix or GoDaddy.
For developers and more advanced users, the marketplace will serve as a space to buy, sell, and trade Web3 products, fostering innovation within the ecosystem.
Project Engagement:
Our project will engage multiple groups within the Cardano ecosystem:
- Non-programmers: Empowering them with simple Web3 tools to integrate crypto functionality into their websites without the need for technical knowledge.
- Developers: Offering a platform to sell, buy, and trade their Web3 tools, enabling them to monetize their creations.
- Cardano Voters: Governing the marketplace, deciding on key project developments, and ensuring transparency through decentralized governance.
Demonstrating Impact:
We will measure success through:
- Treasury Contributions: Tracking the portion of marketplace profits directed to the Cardano treasury, with transparent reporting of funds.
- User Adoption: Measuring the number of non-programmers using the tools and developers participating in the marketplace.
- Community Participation: Evaluating how engaged the Cardano community is in governing the marketplace, through voter turnout and project involvement.
Unique Aspects:
This marketplace combines decentralized governance, a revenue model to support the Cardano treasury, and accessible Web3 solutions for non-technical users. It provides a crucial platform for developers to sell products, expanding the reach and adoption of Web3 technology. By catering to both beginners and advanced users, we create a balanced ecosystem that fosters growth, innovation, and sustainability.
Why It Matters to Cardano:
This solution is vital to Cardano because it provides a long-term mechanism for treasury growth while promoting the adoption of blockchain technology. By empowering the community and creating a self-sustaining platform for Web3 development, we are ensuring that Cardano remains a leader in decentralized innovation.
[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Our project will create a direct and sustainable revenue stream for the Cardano Treasury through the Web3 Widget marketplace, helping to accelerate treasury replenishment. This will ensure that funds are available for future initiatives and development, fostering long-term growth and sustainability for the ecosystem.
Additionally, the marketplace will provide easy-to-use Web3 tools, making blockchain technology more accessible to non-programmers and small business owners. This will enable more users to integrate crypto features into their e-commerce websites without needing technical skills, significantly broadening the adoption of blockchain technology.
For developers and advanced users, the platform will create a thriving economy for buying, selling, and trading Web3 products, encouraging innovation and providing opportunities for monetization. This will contribute to the growth of a strong development community within Cardano, driving new projects and solutions.
By empowering the Cardano community to govern and shape the marketplace, the project will enhance community involvement, trust, and engagement, reinforcing Cardano's decentralized governance model.
The overall impact will be an ecosystem that is more financially robust, widely adopted, and collaborative, benefiting both users and developers within the Cardano network.
[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?
I have the necessary expertise in blockchain development, decentralized governance, and community engagement, ensuring that we can deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. I am committed to maintaining transparency throughout the project, from the open-source development process to governance and financial reporting.
The marketplace will be licensed under the GPL, ensuring that all code is openly available for the community to review, audit, and contribute to, which reinforces transparency and builds trust. We will provide regular updates, community feedback loops, and clear reporting on treasury contributions and project milestones.
To validate our approach, we will begin with a Proof of Concept (PoC), developing a basic version of the Web3 Widget marketplace and testing it on Cardano’s testnet. This will allow us to identify any technical or operational challenges early on and refine the solution based on real-world feedback.
Additionally, we will engage with key stakeholders within the Cardano ecosystem, including developers, potential users, and governance participants, to gather input and ensure the marketplace aligns with community needs. Success will be validated by the active participation of users, developers, and the Cardano voting community, ensuring that the project is both feasible and sustainable.
[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?
Community and Developer Engagement
- Goal: Engage the Cardano community and developers to gather feedback and gauge interest.
- Deliverables:
- Host at least one community webinar to present the marketplace concept, gather feedback, and refine the project based on community input.
- Early outreach to developers, encouraging discussions about widget development and potential involvement.
- Timeline: 1 month.
- Budget Allocation: 25% (37,500 ADA).
- Objective: Validate demand and interest within the Cardano community, showing investor confidence through active engagement and feedback loops.
Securing Prototype Developers
- Goal: Secure developers to build the Web3 Widget marketplace prototype.
- Deliverables:
- Finalize agreements with developers or development teams who will be responsible for building the marketplace prototype.
- Refine technical documentation and API specifications based on developer input.
- Present a roadmap and timeline for prototype development in collaboration with the secured developers.
- Timeline: 1 month.
- Budget Allocation: 25% (37,500 ADA).
- Objective: Secure a development team to execute the next phase of the project, demonstrating that the marketplace is ready for its prototype stage and next round of funding.
Concept Development
- Goal: Develop the initial concept and design for the Web3 Widget marketplace.
- Deliverables:
- Draft design mockups showcasing the basic user interface and navigation of the marketplace.
- Early-stage documentation of how the marketplace will operate, including key features like widget integration and user flows.
- Timeline: 1 month.
- Budget Allocation: 25% (37,500 ADA).
- Objective: Provide a clear vision for the project, offering initial visual and conceptual documentation to secure further engagement and funding.
Technical Architecture Planning, Reporting, and Video Presentation
- Goal: Finalize the technical structure and operational model of the marketplace.
- Deliverables:
- Detailed technical architecture outlining how the marketplace will function on Cardano, including smart contract interactions and integration of Web3 widgets.
- A refined governance proposal that includes the marketplace’s decentralized governance model.
- Complete whitepaper, reporting document and video describing the concept, marketplace operations, governance structure, and future development roadmap.
- Timeline: 1-2 months.
- Budget Allocation: 25% (37,500 ADA).
- Objective: Show comprehensive technical planning, making it clear how the marketplace will operate, and positioning the project for community and developer engagement.
[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
At the moment, I am the sole member of the project team. My role encompasses all aspects of the project, including conceptualization, planning, and outreach. I handle the design and technical planning stages, community engagement, and developer outreach, as well as overseeing the overall strategy and execution. As the project grows, I plan to bring on additional developers and other key contributors to build the prototype and further develop the marketplace.
[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Milestone 1: Community Engagement & Outreach (37,500 ADA)
- Webinars/Workshops for Community: 8,500 ADA
- (Marketing, outreach materials, and webinar hosting costs).
- Publicity and Marketing: 12,000 ADA
- (Social media campaigns, email marketing, and community outreach).
- Community Feedback and Surveys: 9,500 ADA
- (Cost for designing and distributing surveys, gathering community input, and analyzing feedback).
- Miscellaneous Unforeseen Expenses: 7,500 ADA
- (Tools and resources for outreach platforms, community-building tools, and communication management).
Milestone 2: Securing Developers for Prototype (37,500 ADA)
- Developer Contracts: 25,000 ADA
- (This includes initial costs for securing developers to build the prototype, onboarding, and consultations).
- Project Management (PM): 12,500 ADA
- (Self-directed cost for organizing team roles, reporting, and maintaining the project timelines).
Milestone 3: Concept Design & Initial Planning (37,500 ADA)
- Design Mockups: 10,000 ADA
- Technical Architecture Documentation: 12,000 ADA
- (Including structuring the smart contract design and marketplace interaction).
- Whitepaper Draft: 6,000 ADA
- Cost for creating and refining the whitepaper or technical documentation.
- Miscellaneous Unforeseen Expenses: 9,500 ADA
- (Additional software tools, documentation, or design refinement).
Final Milestone: Technical Architecture Planning, Reporting, and Video Presentation (37,500 ADA)
- Detailed Technical Architecture: 12,000 ADA
- Governance Proposal Refinement: 7,500 ADA
- Whitepaper/Technical Document: 7,500 ADA
- Final Reporting: 5,000 ADA
- Final Video Presentation: 3,500 ADA
- Miscellaneous Planning & Documentation: 2,000 ADA
[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
The project represents excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to several key factors:
Community Engagement & Outreach:
- By allocating 37,500 ADA to engage the community, the project builds a solid foundation of interest and involvement. This ensures that the marketplace will cater to the needs of the broader community. Outreach through webinars, social media, and feedback loops will drive adoption, helping grow the Cardano user base and providing direct value to the ecosystem.
Developer Procurement for the Prototype:
- With 25,000 ADA dedicated to securing developers and 12,500 ADA to project management, the project ensures a clear path to prototype development. Building a prototype will validate the marketplace concept, proving its technical feasibility and providing a working model that can attract more contributors, developers, and users, further enhancing Cardano's utility and reputation.
Concept Design & Initial Planning:
- The design mockups, technical architecture documentation, and whitepaper (totaling 37,500 ADA) offer a detailed vision of the project. This upfront investment ensures that all technical and conceptual aspects are well-planned before development starts, avoiding potential costly errors. A well-prepared foundation is vital for long-term success and sustainability.
Technical Architecture, Reporting & Final Presentation:
- Investing 12,000 ADA in technical architecture planning and 7,500 ADA in governance proposals will solidify the marketplace’s framework and decentralized governance model. Additionally, the final report and video presentation (8,500 ADA combined) will effectively communicate the project's progress and its value to investors and the community, ensuring transparency and continued funding.
Value for Cardano:
- Growth and Engagement: By focusing on community involvement early on, the project guarantees that the marketplace will reflect the needs and priorities of the Cardano ecosystem, fostering long-term growth.
- Developer Ecosystem Expansion: By allocating significant resources to securing developers, the project enriches Cardano’s developer community, attracting talent and encouraging the development of new Web3 tools and features.
- Well-Structured Planning: The extensive investment in technical architecture and governance ensures that the project is well-designed, creating a robust framework that can scale with the growth of Cardano.
In summary, each budgeted element directly supports the long-term sustainability and expansion of the Cardano ecosystem, providing a balanced approach between community engagement, technical development, and structured governance.