Speedrun Aiken - A Developer Onboarding Platform for Cardano

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Speedrun Aiken - A Developer Onboarding Platform for Cardano

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

78000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

10

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Developers struggle with complex setups, a steep learning curve for new tech like Aiken and EUTXO, and fragmented tools that force slow, error-prone manual work.

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

Apache-2.0 license

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Infrastructure

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.

Apache License 2.0 is permissive, allowing free use, modification, and distribution for any purpose-commercial or non- commercial-while providing clear legal protections for contributors. It explicitly grants patent rights, which is critical for fostering trust and adoption in a technology-driven ecosystem like Cardano. This license encourages broad collaboration, enables integration into both open and closed-source project, and aligns with Catalyst's requirements for developer tooling.

How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?

The source code will be publicly hosted on GitHub from day one of the project. A dedicated repository will be created immediately upon grant approval, with all code, documentation, and development updates pushed in real time. We will announce the project launch and repository link through key Cardano community channels-including the official Cardano Forum, Telegram groups, and X (Twitter)-to ensure immediate visibility. Regular updates, milestones, and tutorials will be shared to keep the community informed and engaged from the outset.

How will you provide high quality documentation?

We will provide high-quality documentation by creating comprehensive, clear, and beginner-friendly guides hosted on a dedicated website. This includes step-by-step setup instructions, API references, code examples, and real-world use cases. We will also produce video tutorials and maintain an actively updated GitHub README. All documentation will be written in plain language, version-controlled, and open to community contributions via pull requests to ensure accuracy and continuous improvement.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Inspired by the success of Speedrun Ethereum, Speedrun Aiken is a challenge-based, self-paced learning platform designed to help developers and Web2 engineers onboard into Web3 by building practical projects with Cardano and Aiken. The platform focuses on verifiable learning, where progress is measured by successfully deploying functional smart contracts on-chain.

Key Features:

• Curated Aiken Challenges: A carefully designed collection of 10+ coding challenges written in Aiken, organized into dedicated learning tracks from beginner to advanced.
• Seamless GitHub Integration: A streamlined workflow for code submission via GitHub, paired with a public leaderboard to foster friendly competition and showcase talent.
• Direct On-Chain Verification: Smart contract deployments are verified directly on the Cardano blockchain, providing tangible proof of a developer's skills.
• Developer-Ready Resources: Ready-to-use starter templates, testing utilities, and detailed walkthroughs are provided to accelerate development and reduce setup friction.
• Modular & Reusable Curriculum: A modular structure makes it easy for DAOs, developer guilds, or DevRel teams to remix and reuse the content for their own bootcamps and educational initiatives.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Speedrun Aiken will deliver transformative benefits to the Cardano ecosystem by addressing critical gaps in developer onboarding and education. Here's how this project will positively impact the wider Cardano community:

1. Accelerating Developer Onboarding

By providing a structured, hands-on learning path similar to Speedrun Ethereum's successful model (which features practical challenges from Simple NFTs to DEX development), Speedrun Aiken will dramatically reduce the time it takes for new developers to become productive in the Cardano ecosystem. This directly addresses the high barrier to entry that has historically limited Cardano's developer growth compared to other blockchain platforms.

1. Building a Skilled Developer Pipeline

The platform will create a verifiable talent pipeline where developers can demonstrate their skills through on-chain verified challenges. This gives Cardano projects confidence in hiring qualified developers who have proven their abilities through practical exercises rather than just theoretical knowledge.

1. Strengthening the Aiken Ecosystem

As Aiken emerges as Cardano's premier smart contract language, Speedrun Aiken will accelerate its adoption by providing the first comprehensive educational resource specifically designed for this language. This will help standardize best practices and create a community of developers fluent in Aiken's unique approach to the EUTXO model.

1. Attracting Web2 Talent

By offering a familiar challenge-based learning experience with seamless GitHub integration, the platform will make it significantly easier for experienced Web2 developers to transition to Cardano development. This bridges the talent gap that has constrained Cardano's growth compared to ecosystems with larger developer bases.

1. Creating Community Engagement

The leaderboard system and public verification of achievements will foster healthy competition and community building among learners. This mirrors the engagement seen in platforms like Speedrun Ethereum, where developers share their progress and collaborate on solutions.

1. Enabling Quality dApp Development

With developers gaining practical experience through challenges covering essential concepts (NFTs, token vending, staking mechanisms, and more), the overall quality of dApps built on Cardano will improve significantly. This directly addresses the current shortage of high-quality applications in the ecosystem.

1. Supporting Educational Initiatives

The modular curriculum design allows DAOs, developer guilds, and educational institutions to easily incorporate Speedrun Aiken challenges into their own programs, creating a standardized learning path across the ecosystem.

1. Enhancing Cardano's Competitive Position

By providing a superior developer onboarding experience comparable to leading platforms like Speedrun Ethereum, Cardano will become more competitive in attracting developer talent, ultimately driving innovation and adoption across the ecosystem.

1. Creating Verifiable Developer Credentials

The on-chain verification system provides developers with tamper-proof proof of their skills that can be shared with potential employers or collaborators, solving the credential verification problem that plagues many blockchain learning platforms.

1. Fostering Long-Term Ecosystem Growth

By systematically addressing the developer onboarding bottleneck, Speedrun Aiken will catalyze sustainable growth in Cardano's developer community, leading to more innovative applications, stronger infrastructure, and ultimately greater adoption of the Cardano platform.

This project represents a strategic investment in Cardano's most valuable resource—its developers—and will pay dividends across the entire ecosystem for years to come by creating a self-sustaining cycle of learning, building, and innovation.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & 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 capability is built on relevant technical expertise, a history of successfully delivering funded projects in the Al space, and proactive validation of our proposed architecture. We have proven our capabilities and responsibilities in the previous project: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/13/cardano-open-developers/cardano-easydev-vs-tool

This is our commitment to contribute products to the Cardano ecosystem Here are our team members:

Cuong Vo - AI Engineer ( Project Lead)

linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/vo-nhat-cuong/

Github : https://github.com/vonhatcuong

Hien Phan ( Web3 Engineer, top prize winners at Orainchain global hackathon, SUI hackathon, NEAR hackathon, AI global hackathon) |

Github : https://github.com/hienphv

Mr Tung le: Smart contract develoner winner of SUT hackathon NEAR hackathon Alaorand hackathon

Github : https://github.com/tung-lee

Mr Thang Le: Smart contract developer, winner of NEAR hackathon; ex-blockchain research at CMC corporation; experienced with multiple blockchain ecosystem

Validating the Feasibility of Speedrun Aiken

To ensure Speedrun Aiken delivers on its promise as an effective developer onboarding platform for Cardano, I've developed a comprehensive feasibility validation framework that addresses technical, educational, and practical concerns. This approach leverages lessons learned from Speedrun Ethereum's proven model while accounting for Cardano's unique EUTXO model and Aiken language requirements.

Technical Feasibility Validation

1. Minimal Viable Prototype (Milestone 1)

Core Integration Test: We'll build a minimal prototype that demonstrates the complete workflow for a single challenge (starting with a Simple NFT equivalent) to validate:

• GitHub integration with Aiken code submission
• Backend processing of Aiken contracts
• On-chain verification mechanism on Cardano testnet
• Result reporting back to the user

Aiken Compiler Compatibility: We'll verify that our verification system works with the current Aiken compiler version by:

• Processing sample Aiken contracts through our pipeline
• Testing compilation errors and success states
• Validating that verification works with Aiken's specific output formats

1. Challenge-Specific Validation

For each challenge category (based on Speedrun Ethereum's structure), we'll validate feasibility through:

Simple NFT Challenge: Test the adaptation of Ethereum's ERC-721 standard to Cardano's native token model

Token Vendor: Verify feasibility of implementing token economics within Cardano's UTXO constraints

Dice Game: Validate randomness approaches that work within Cardano's deterministic model (unlike Ethereum's block hash approach)

DEX Implementation: Test the adaptation of AMM concepts to Cardano's EUTXO model

Content Adaptation Feasibility

1. Challenge Translation Framework

We've developed a systematic approach to validate that Ethereum concepts can be effectively translated to Cardano.

1. Progressive Content Validation

Rather than attempting all challenges at once, we'll validate feasibility through a phased approach:

• Phase 1 (Feasibility Confirmation): Adapt and validate 3 foundational challenges:

Simple NFT (proving native token implementation)

Token Vendor (testing basic token economics)

Multisig Wallet (validating Cardano's transaction signing model)

• Phase 2 (Intermediate Validation): Adapt 4 intermediate challenges:

Decentralized Staking

Dice Game (with Cardano-appropriate randomness)

DEX implementation

SVG NFT

• Phase 3 (Advanced Validation): Adapt complex challenges:

Over-Collateralized Lending

Stablecoins

Prediction Markets

Educational Effectiveness Validation

1. Target Audience Testing

Beta Tester Recruitment: We'll recruit 30-50 developers with Web2 experience but minimal Cardano knowledge

Completion Rate Metrics: Track completion rates for each challenge with the goal of ≥80% for foundational challenges

Time-to-Completion Analysis: Measure how long it takes developers to complete challenges compared to estimates

1. Learning Assessment Framework

Pre- and Post-Assessment: Administer knowledge tests before and after challenge completion

Concept Retention Testing: Include follow-up challenges that require applying previously learned concepts

Qualitative Feedback Collection: Gather detailed feedback on pain points and learning effectiveness

1. Community Validation

Expert Review Panels: Engage 5+ experienced Aiken developers to review challenge accuracy

Guild Partnerships: Partner with Cardano developer guilds for real-world testing

Public Challenge Drafts: Publish draft challenges for community feedback before finalizing

Risk Mitigation Strategies

1. Technical Risk Assessment

EUTXO Model Challenges: We've identified that Cardano's EUTXO model presents different constraints than Ethereum's account model. To validate feasibility:

We'll build simplified versions of complex challenges first

Implement fallback approaches for concepts that don't translate directly

Document Cardano-specific patterns where Ethereum approaches don't apply

1. Resource Validation

Team Capability Assessment: Verify team members' hands-on experience with Aiken through:

Code review of previous Aiken projects

Practical testing of Aiken development skills

References from previous Cardano development work

1. Incremental Development Approach

Milestone-Based Validation: Each milestone includes specific feasibility checkpoints:

Milestone 1: Technical architecture validation

Milestone 2: UI/UX validation with target users

Milestone 3: Core functionality validation with basic challenges

Milestone 4: Full platform validation with complete challenge set

By implementing this comprehensive validation framework, we ensure that Speedrun Aiken isn't just theoretically sound but practically effective for onboarding developers to Cardano. The approach prioritizes early validation of the riskiest assumptions while maintaining flexibility to adapt challenges based on real-world testing and community feedback. This methodology has been proven effective by Speedrun Ethereum's success, and we're adapting it specifically for Cardano's unique environment to maximize feasibility and impact.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

System Architecture & Foundation

Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive technical specification document for Cardano-specific implementation
• System architecture diagrams showing all components and integration points
• Detailed roadmap with timeline for all subsequent milestones
• GitHub repository structure planning with Cardano development workflow
• Cardano-specific technical requirements for verification system
• UX/UI wireframes for core user flows and initial design system
• Research report on Cardano developer pain points and onboarding challenges

Acceptance Criteria

• Architecture design approved by at least 3 independent Cardano experts
• Complete documentation of all system components and their interactions
• Clear definition of integration points between GitHub, backend, and Cardano blockchain
• Documented technical approach for on-chain verification mechanism adapted for EUTXO model
• Risk assessment with mitigation strategies for Cardano-specific challenges
• UX/UI wireframes validated with target developer audience

Evidence of Completion

• Publicly accessible architecture documentation repository
• Signed approval from technical reviewers
• Detailed project roadmap with resource allocation
• Technical specification document with component diagrams
• GitHub repository structure implementation plan
• UX/UI validation report from developer interviews

Delivery Month

2

Cost

15000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Core Infrastructure & Verification System

Milestone Outputs

• Backend API framework implementation with Cardano-specific features
• GitHub integration for code submission handling and automated workflows
• User management system with authentication and progress tracking
• Challenge tracking infrastructure with Cardano-specific metrics
• CI/CD pipeline setup for backend services
• Aiken smart contract verification framework
• On-chain verification smart contract deployed to Cardano testnet
• Integration between backend and Cardano testnet
• Automated verification workflow for challenge submissions

Acceptance Criteria

• GitHub webhook integration successfully processing pull requests with Aiken code
• User authentication system with secure session management
• API endpoints for challenge status tracking with Cardano-specific data
• Automated testing coverage of ≥ 75% for core functionality
• Documentation for all backend API endpoints
• Verification system successfully validating at least 3 sample challenges
• Smart contract deployed and functioning on Cardano testnet
• End-to-end verification process completing within 5 minutes
• Verification results accurately reflected in platform UI

Evidence of Completion

• Backend repository with complete codebase
• Postman collection demonstrating API functionality
• Test coverage reports
• CI/CD pipeline demonstration
• Security assessment of authentication system
• Verification smart contract source code
• Testnet transaction hashes demonstrating verification
• Integration test results
• Performance metrics report

Delivery Month

2

Cost

23000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Challenge Development & Curriculum

Milestone Outputs

• 10+ complete Aiken-based challenges with starter templates:
• Simple NFT Example (Aiken equivalent)
• Decentralized Staking App
• Token Vendor
• Build a DEX (for Cardano tokens)
• Over-Collateralized Lending
• Stablecoins
• Prediction Markets
• Multisig Wallet
• SVG NFT
• Cardano-specific features implementation

Acceptance Criteria

• Challenges covering fundamental to advanced Aiken concepts and Cardano-specific patterns
• Each challenge validated by at least 2 independent Aiken experts
• Starter templates enabling developers to begin immediately with minimal setup
• Solutions verified on Cardano testnet with transaction proofs
• Challenges tested by at least 20 beta users with ≥ 80% completion rate
• All user journeys fully implemented and tested
• Seamless integration between frontend and backend systems
• Real-time verification status updates for challenge submissions
• Leaderboard functionality with proper sorting and filtering

Evidence of Completion

• Public repository with all challenge materials
• Verification transaction hashes for sample solutions
• Beta tester feedback summary
• Expert validation signatures
• Challenge difficulty assessment report
• Frontend repository with complete codebase
• End-to-end testing demonstration video
• Performance benchmark report

Delivery Month

3

Cost

28000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Security, Optimization & Public Launch

Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive security audit report from reputable third-party firm
• Finalized challenge content (10+ total challenges) with community feedback incorporated
• Optimized platform performance for scalability
• Public launch of platform with onboarding materials
• Community onboarding materials and tutorials
• Documentation for future content contributors
• Marketing and community engagement strategy
• Initial user onboarding program

Acceptance Criteria

• All critical issues from audit resolved with verification
• Platform successfully handling 200+ concurrent users
• Complete documentation for all platform features and challenges
• Successful onboarding of first
• 100 users with ≥ 75% challenge completion rate
• Platform performance metrics meeting target benchmarks (load times < 2s)
• Community engagement plan successfully executed with measurable results

Evidence of Completion

• Platform launch announcement with metrics and user testimonials
• Stress test results showing platform stability
• Community feedback report from first 100 users
• Documentation repository with contributor guidelines
• Performance metrics dashboard
• Community engagement metrics report

Delivery Month

1

Cost

12000

Progress

10 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The detailed budget breakdown per tasks in each milestone can be seen in below google sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uRH5HXn46I5gCmsR8cEdu_ci7CzWM5jYYcDUIQILrrA/edit?usp=sharing

Total Budget Request: 78,000 ADA

1. Development Resources (43,000 ADA - 55.1%)

Backend Development (15,000 ADA)

1. API development & integration (GitHub, Cardano node)
2. Submission processing system
3. User management & progress tracking
4. Challenge verification workflow engine
5. CI/CD pipeline setup and maintenance

• Frontend Development (12,000 ADA)

1. Responsive UI implementation based on design system
2. Challenge submission interface
3. Verification status dashboard
4. Leaderboard and community features

Documentation viewer and learning resources

• Smart Contract Development (16,000 ADA)

1. On-chain verification framework (5,000 ADA)

2. Testnet deployment infrastructure (3,000 ADA)

3. Integration with Aiken compiler ecosystem (4,000 ADA)

4. Gas optimization and performance tuning (4,000 ADA)

5. Challenge Content Creation (22,000 ADA - 28.2%)

Core Challenge Development (15,000 ADA)

10+ Aiken-based challenges adapted from Speedrun Ethereum model:

Content Review & Validation (7,000 ADA)

Technical review by Aiken experts (3,000 ADA)

Beta testing with target audience (2,000 ADA)

Iteration based on feedback (2,000 ADA)

1. Design & User Experience (5,000 ADA - 6.4%)

UX research and user journey mapping (1,500 ADA)

UI design system development (1,500 ADA)

High-fidelity mockups and prototypes (1,000 ADA)

Accessibility compliance (500 ADA)

Design-to-development handoff (500 ADA)

1. Security & Quality Assurance (4,000 ADA - 5.1%)

Comprehensive security audit by third-party firm (2,500 ADA)

Penetration testing (750 ADA)

Performance and stress testing (500 ADA)

Bug bounty program setup (250 ADA)

1. Project Management & Community Engagement (3,000 ADA - 3.8%)

Project coordination and milestone tracking (1,500 ADA)

Community feedback collection and implementation (750 ADA)

Developer outreach and beta tester recruitment (500 ADA)

Documentation and knowledge base maintenance (250 ADA)

1. Infrastructure & Operations (1,000 ADA - 1.3%)

Hosting and server costs for 10 months (600 ADA)

Domain registration and SSL certificates (200 ADA)

Continuous integration services (200 ADA)

Resource Allocation Justification

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

This budget represents exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem because:

1. Cost Efficiency: At 78,000 ADA , this project delivers a comprehensive developer onboarding platform at a fraction of commercial development costs.
2. Sustainable Impact: The platform will continue generating value long after development completes, onboarding thousands of developers to Cardano.
3. Ecosystem Multiplier: Every developer who learns Aiken through this platform will create additional value through dApps, tools, and contributions to the broader ecosystem.
4. Proven Model: Based on the successful Speedrun Ethereum framework which has onboarded thousands of developers, adapted specifically for Cardano's unique requirements.
5. Community Ownership: All code and content will be open source, allowing the community to extend and improve the platform indefinitely.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes