Summon: Feedback Polls for DReps & SPOs

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Summon Platform Operating Company

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

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Riley Kilgore

Dominic Zachar

Rodrigo Molina

Adam Rusch

[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 provide a free Snapshot Polling Platform to all DReps and SPOs so they can gauge the sentiment of ADA Holders who have wallets delegated to them before making governance votes.

[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.”

This project will require the Summon Platform to be live and running so that it can offer services to SPOs, DReps, and the wider Cardano community. Since we are the group building the Summon Platform we will be able to fully deliver these capabilities. We will also provide the ability for other websites such as GovTool to incorporate this polling platform as a service.

[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

Our platform has a mix of proprietary and open-source components. We plan to use the APACHE 2.0 or MIT License for any open-source components because it is highly permissive. Anyone will be welcome to use the open-source code for commercial purposes if they desire. However, we offer no warranty and accept no liability and do not offer use of our trademarks.

[METADATA] Horizons

Governance

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The Summon Platform is already running and offering Summon Snapshot Voting services to Cardano projects and community members for a fee. We would like to expand our product to include a service where any DRep can poll their delegators. We would make this available not only for use on the Summon Platform but also capable of integration into external community resources like GovTool if allowed.

We believe that constituent polling is an essential part of representative governance, which is why it is important for DReps and SPOs to be able to interact with their delegators. With this grant we will be able to offer the following support:

Free Polling for DReps: By providing Delegated Representatives (DReps) with complimentary snapshot polling services, we facilitate more effective and inclusive decision-making processes. This feature not only aids DReps in gauging community sentiment accurately but also encourages broader participation in network governance.

Free Polling for Stake Pool Operators (SPOs): SPOs are crucial to the Cardano network's block production operation and serve a vital role in Hardfork approval. Offering them free polling services enables them to engage more efficiently with their delegators and stakeholders, fostering a more dynamic and responsive governance environment.

Education on Decentralized Governance: The Summon team will engage with DReps and SPOs, imparting knowledge about decentralized governance. We will offer tutorials and learning sessions on how to use our tools. This educational initiative is vital for empowering communities within the Cardano ecosystem to self-govern effectively. By providing guidance, we ensure that community members are well-equipped to participate meaningfully in governance processes.

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

Areas of Impact:

• Enhanced Participation and Governance: By providing free polling services to DReps and SPOs, we enable a more inclusive and representative governance process within the Cardano ecosystem. This will likely lead to increased community engagement and a stronger sense of ownership and involvement among members.
• Educational Outreach: Our focus on educating about decentralized governance will empower community members with the knowledge to effectively participate in and contribute to the ecosystem. This education can lead to more informed decision-making processes, fostering a more mature and sophisticated governance culture.
• Attracting New Users: By offering unique and valuable services, we anticipate attracting new users to the Cardano community, contributing to its growth and diversity. A larger, more active user base enhances the network's robustness and its appeal to potential adopters.

Measuring Impact:

• We will track metrics such as the number of polls conducted, the number of participants in each poll, and the growth in the number of DReps and SPOs using our services. We will also monitor the increase in new users joining the Cardano ecosystem, attributable to our project.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Public Reporting: We will publish regular reports detailing our progress, the usage statistics of our services, and feedback from the community. These reports will be made available in our Milestone Reports and shared through Cardano community forums and social media channels.
• Community Engagement: We plan to host interactive online sessions where we share our findings, gather feedback, and discuss opportunities for improvement and expansion. These sessions will be open to all Cardano community members.
• Collaborative Growth: By openly sharing our insights and learnings, we aim to encourage collaboration with other projects and entities within the ecosystem, fostering a culture of shared growth and mutual support.

In summary, our project aims to strengthen the Cardano community's governance mechanisms, educate its members, and attract new users. By measuring both quantitative and qualitative impacts and actively sharing our findings, we hope to contribute significantly to the community's evolution and success.

[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?

We have a history of delivering this product for the Cardano Community. We have offered Summon Snapshot Voting integration as a service to Intersect MBO for use in the Membership Area and created custom websites for Summon Snapshot Voting for the Cardano Constitutional Workshops and Interim Constitutional Committee.

Earlier this year, we served as the Partner Vote platform for the CIP-1694 Governance Temperature Check called for by the Cardano Foundation and Intersect MBO because our platform offered Hardware Wallet integration, which was not possible on the Cardano Ballot platform. We also conducted the CIP-1694 Initial Parameter Settings Survey for the Intersect MBO Governance Parameters Working Group.

The presence of a live product with several features already in operation further reinforces the team's capability. This existing product not only shows technical proficiency but also provides a tangible example of the team's ability to deliver on its promises.

The internal development team is another key asset. Having a dedicated team ensures that there is a focused and consistent effort towards achieving the project's goals. This internal resource provides the flexibility and responsiveness necessary to adapt to new challenges and opportunities that may arise during the project's lifecycle.

Legal and professional compliance is a critical aspect of building trust and accountability. The Summon Platform Operating Company exemplifies a commitment to formal and reputable management of the platform's development and operation. This structured approach to organization and management conveys seriousness and professionalism, essential qualities for ensuring trust and accountability.

In terms of validating the feasibility of the approach, the existing capabilities and achievements provide a strong basis. The team's history of successfully launching and operating a DAO on Cardano, coupled with the ongoing development and management of a live product, are clear indicators of practical feasibility. This track record, combined with the organizational structure and legal compliance, positions the Summon team as not only capable but also highly reliable and accountable in delivering this project.

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

Platform Development and Beta Testing

• Objective: Develop the initial version of the polling platform tailored for DReps and SPOs, followed by a beta testing phase.
• Output: A beta version of the Delegator polling platform, equipped with essential features for creating and managing polls.
• Acceptance Criteria: The platform must be able to handle real-time polling with minimal latency, support at least 500 concurrent users, and pass all functional and security tests during the beta phase. Platform must be able to specifically handle creation of Snapshots for wallets delegating to DRep and SPO Certificates.

Educational Resource Creation and Dissemination

• Objective: Develop comprehensive educational materials to guide users on decentralized governance and effective utilization of the polling platform.
• Output: A series of educational resources, including user manuals, video tutorials, and live webinars.
• Acceptance Criteria: Educational materials must be clearly articulated and specifically show how to use the platform for DReps and SPOs who are polling their delegators.

Community Feedback and Use Assessment

• Objective: Collect and integrate feedback from the Cardano community along with statistics on platform usage
• Output: A report on how the platform is used and what the community has requested to make it better.
• Acceptance Criteria: Report must clearly articulate number of polls conducted, number of users participating, number of feedback sessions conducted, and contain an executive summary of how the system can be improved based on feedback given.

Continue the work of the previous milestones. Ensure platform continues to run with free services for SPOs and DReps for at least 8 months since submission of the Catalyst Grant.

Acceptance Criteria: Submit report showing that any outstanding work has been completed and platform continues to run with user statistics.

Continue the work of the previous milestones. Ensure platform continues to run with free services for SPOs and DReps for at least 8 months since submission of the Catalyst Grant.

Acceptance Criteria: Submit report showing that any outstanding work has been completed and platform continues to run with user statistics.

Continue the work of the previous milestone and ensure they are completed. Ensure platform continues to run with free services for SPOs and DReps for at least 10 months since submission of the Catalyst Grant.

Acceptance Criteria: Prepare Closeout Report as required under Project Catalyst rules with project completion information and video.

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

Dominik Zachar, Solutions Architect, Summon Platform Operations Company

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominikzachar/

• Design and oversee the execution of solutions that meet infrastructure and project needs
• Experienced Solutions Architect and software engineer
• Assist with emergent structural issues
• Founding core contributor of ADAO

Rodrigo Molina, Front-end Developer, Summon Platform Operations Company

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-molina-dacaret-data-and-gis/

• Engineer innovative solutions for front-end and back-end needs
• CTO of BETTER and Innovative software engineer
• Assist with emergent usage issues
• Long time core contributor to ADAO

Adam Rusch, Education Lead, Summon Community

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamruschtech/

• Oversee education and outreach efforts
• Holds PhD in Education Policy and member of the School of Information Sciences faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Member of Cardano Civics Committee and Parameters Committee at Intersect MBO
• Founding core contributor of ADAO

Riley Kilgore, Head of Development, Summon Platform Operations Company

https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-kilgore-1645b813a/

• Oversee the development process of software and product development
• Assist in project outreach and technology integration
• Experienced DevOps and Smart Contract Engineer
• Wrote first DAO script deployed on the Cardano Blockchain as founding core contributor of ADAO

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

• Project Management & Research (90,000 ADA)
• Percentage of Total Budget: 20%
• Details: This category covers essential planning, administration, and research activities. It is pivotal for effective project management and strategic decision-making, ensuring the project remains aligned with its objectives and is executed efficiently.

• Integration Development (202,500 ADA)
• Percentage of Total Budget: 45%
• Details: A significant portion of the budget is dedicated to developing the necessary infrastructure and protocols for seamless integration with existing systems or platforms. This includes salaries for skilled developers and the cost of technological resources, essential for building robust and efficient integration capabilities.

• Testing & Refinement (67,500 ADA)
• Percentage of Total Budget: 15%
• Details: This allocation is critical for conducting thorough testing and refinement to ensure the project meets its functionality and quality standards. It covers the expenses related to testing processes and any necessary improvements, safeguarding the reliability and performance of the project.

• Documentation & Education (45,000 ADA)
• Percentage of Total Budget: 10%
• Details: This budget is allocated for creating comprehensive user documentation and sample decentralized applications (dApps). It plays a crucial role in supporting user understanding and showcasing the project's capabilities, thereby enhancing user experience and engagement.

• Contingency Reserve (22,500 ADA)
• Percentage of Total Budget: 5%
• Details: This reserve is set aside to address unforeseen costs or challenges that may arise during the project's execution. It provides a buffer to ensure the project's smooth progression despite any unexpected obstacles, ensuring flexibility and adaptability in project management.

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

The cost of our project represents significant value for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Enhanced Governance Efficiency: By providing free polling services to Decentralized Representatives (DReps) and Stake Pool Operators (SPOs), we enable more efficient and inclusive decision-making processes. This efficiency translates into quicker responses to network upgrades and hardfork approvals, which can ultimately save time and resources for the ecosystem.
2. Educational Empowerment: Our educational outreach on decentralized governance equips community members with the knowledge and skills needed to actively participate in Cardano's governance. This education can lead to more informed decision-making, reducing the risk of poorly considered proposals and increasing the overall efficiency of governance processes.
3. Community Growth: Offering unique and valuable services, along with educational resources, attracts new users to the Cardano community. A larger, more active user base contributes to the network's robustness and its appeal to potential adopters and investors. This growth can result in a stronger ecosystem, increasing Cardano's competitiveness in the blockchain space.
4. Collaborative Ecosystem: By actively sharing our insights and learnings, we aim to encourage collaboration with other projects and entities within the Cardano ecosystem. This collaborative approach promotes the collective growth of the ecosystem, maximizing the value generated by all participants.