Enhanced DAO communication features to improve the efficiency of on-chain collaboration

[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 will integrate enhanced communication features into our DAO DApp, facilitating seamless communication among community members and users, enhancing community collaboration and governance efficiency

[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

n/a

[METADATA] Horizons

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our solution will integrate a comprehensive messaging system within our DAO DApp. This feature will allow users to communicate in real time, fostering greater collaboration and participation among DAOs hosted by our DAO DApp.

Key features will include:

• Text messaging: Users can send and receive messages within the DApp, facilitating quick discussions and updates
• Announcement channels: Dedicated channels for important updates and announcements to keep members informed about governance proposals and community activities
• Threaded conversations: Support for threaded discussions to help organize conversations around specific topics or proposals
• Notification prompts: Timely delivery of notifications via email and Discord regarding DAO discussions and votes

Design principles:

• User-centric design: The messaging interface will be intuitive and seamlessly integrated into our DAO DApp
• Security and privacy: Messages will be secured through encryption to ensure the confidentiality of community discussions
• Scalability: The messaging system will be built to accommodate growing user engagement and message volume

Key beneficiaries:

1. DAO communities: Enhanced communication capabilities will improve member engagement and streamline decision-making, enabling communities to respond promptly in the dynamic cryptocurrency space
2. Token holders: Community members can participate more actively through discussions and announcements, fostering a vibrant governance ecosystem and stronger community bonds
3. Developers: The messaging system will provide DAO developers with a framework for integrating our enhanced communication tools

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

By facilitating real-time communication within DAOs and among DAO members, our communication features integration will enhance community dynamics and encourage greater participation in DAO governance. This will contribute to more engaged and informed Cardano NFT and memecoin communities, ultimately boosting the adoption of decentralized governance across Cardano.

Key goal:

• Enable real-time messaging within the DAO DApp to enhance community collaboration and governance efficiency

Key quantitative metrics:

• Number of active users utilizing the messaging features
• Number of messages sent within the DAO DApp
• Number of announcements made through the messaging system
• Number of users using email and Discord notifications

Key performance indicators:

• Achieve 200 active users engaging with the messaging system within the first 3 months post-launch
• Facilitate the exchange of at least 1,000 messages within the first 3 months
• Enable 50 announcements made through the messaging channels within the first 3 months
• Facilitate the exchange of at least 10,000 messages within the first 12 months

Community outreach:

We will leverage existing Cardano community channels, including YouTube, X, blog posts, and forum discussions. We will actively promote the new messaging system to our current user base, encouraging feedback and usage to ensure it meets community needs.

[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 has a proven track record in the Cardano NFT space. Since December 2021, we have pioneered several innovative on-chain solutions on Cardano - including multisig NFT minting, non-custodial NFT staking and a first-of-its-kind NFT portal - while remaining entirely community funded.

Between March 2022 and March 2024, we operated a prototype DAO, Nemonium DAO. Nemonium DAO members cast over 10,000 votes across 35 proposals, accounting for hundreds of thousands of ADA in transactions, using the off-chain Hazel Discord Bot.

Since January 2024, we have redistributed more than 500,000 ADA in royalties to Omen NFT stakers via version three of our non-custodial NFT staking platform, proving that we are able to manage large sums of ADA on behalf of a wider community.

In addition, we operate our own Cardano stake pool (ticker: OMEN). At the time of writing, 672 unique wallets, accounting for 1.2 million ADA in delegations, trust us to produce blocks for Cardano. Created in February 2021, OMEN stake pool has minted a total of 187 blocks.

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

Messaging system design and development (months 1-4)

Output: Develop the core functionalities of the messaging system, including text messaging and announcement channels

Acceptance criteria: Successful implementation of messaging features, allowing users to send and receive messages

Evidence of completion: Demo video showcasing the messaging functionalities and user interactions

User testing and feedback integration (month 3-5)

Output: Conduct user testing sessions to gather feedback on the messaging system and make necessary adjustments

Acceptance criteria: Positive user feedback on the messaging interface and functionalities, with identified improvements integrated

Evidence of completion: User feedback report documenting insights and changes made based on testing results

Deployment, project close-out report and final video (month 6)

Output: Launch the messaging system within the DAO DApp and initiate community engagement efforts to promote its usage

Acceptance criteria: Successful deployment of the messaging feature and active engagement from the community

Evidence of completion: Submit project close-out report and publish final video detailing project journey, milestones, and impact

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

Nemo, founder (@_AskNemo)

Vivalacoin, community member (@VivalaCoinBTC)

Zeru, community member (@ZeruKami)

JT, community member (@UnstoicT)

Border Reiver, community member (@BorderReiver_)

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

Total Budget: 50,000 ADA

Budget overview:

• Development costs: 30,000 ADA
• Testing and QA: 10,000 ADA
• Project management: 10,000 ADA

Budget breakdown:

Development costs: 30,000 ADA

• Messaging system development: 30,000 ADA

Design and implement messaging functionalities, including text messaging, announcement channels, threaded conversations, and email/Discord notifications

Testing and quality assurance: 10,000 ADA

• User testing sessions: 5,000 ADA

Conduct testing sessions to gather community feedback and identify areas for improvement

• Quality assurance: 5,000 ADA

Ensure the messaging system is stable, secure, and user-friendly prior to deployment

Project management: 10,000 ADA

• Project coordination and oversight: 7,000 ADA

Manage project timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation

• Community engagement initiatives: 3,000 ADA

Plan and execute outreach efforts to promote the enhanced communication integration for the DAO DApp within the Cardano community

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

This proposal represents a focused investment in enhancing our DAO DApp’s functionality by integrating a messaging system tailored to improve community communication and collaboration. The budget aligns with the resources required to deliver a secure, user-friendly solution while building on the existing infrastructure of the DAO DApp. Funding from Project Catalyst will facilitate a timely launch of this critical feature, ultimately enriching the decentralized governance experience within the Cardano ecosystem.