[Proposal setup] Proposal title
Please provide your proposal title
[C2VN]: Hydra on Cardano – Complete Step-by-Step DApp Guide
[Proposal Summary] Budget Information
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
30120
[Proposal Summary] Time
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
[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?
Hydra is difficult for newcomers to access due to scattered documentation, lack of practical guides and real-world examples, slowing down DApp development and Hydra adoption on Cardano.
[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation
Supporting links
[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
All project outputs will be released under the MIT License. Including:
- Teaching materials (lecture slides, exercises, source code, etc.).
- Source code of the lessons.
- Videos recorded and shared on YouTube.
These resources will be publicly available on our GitHub repository. We believe in open source principles and want to empower the community to use and contribute to these resources.
[Theme Selection] Theme
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Education
[Campaign Category] Category Questions
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
- Who: Blockchain developers, IT students, web/mobile developers looking to expand their skills to Cardano, and DApp developers looking for fast, low-fee scaling solutions with Hydra.
- How: Access via the global Cardano community, social media, technical forums, hands-on workshops, hackathons, webinars, and open source documentation and code on GitHub, YouTube, and technical blogs.
- Why: Help increase the quantity and quality of Hydra developers, create more high-performance DApps, improve user experience, promote the Cardano ecosystem to grow stronger and compete with other blockchains.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
The main project activities are designed to help learners master the knowledge and skills to build practical Hydra DApps:
- Design Hydra & Cardano courses from basic to advanced.
- Create slides, video tutorials and open source encryption.
- Guide to setting up Hydra Head environment.
- Organize workshops to build Hydra DApps.
- Promote through Cardano community, social media and events.
- Technical support, Q&A and Mentoring.
- Guide to complete DApps on testnet/mainnet.
- Collect feedback and improve course content.
What are your success metrics?
Success is measured by clear metrics of effectiveness and impact:
- 30+ students enrolled in the course on LMS (https://lms.cardano2vn.io)
- 100 Number of views and 10 comments per video on youtube
- Percentage of students who have deployed at least 1 Hydra DApp running on the testnet.
- Number of open source Hydra DApp projects shared after the course.
- Community engagement (Q&A, source code contributions).
- Positive feedback from students (≥ 80% satisfaction).
- Number of new Hydra developers joining the Cardano ecosystem.
[Your Project and Solution] Solution
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Current prolems
Hydra is Cardano’s potential Layer-2 solution, allowing for near-instant transactions at very low costs. However, there are still many difficulties:
- Disjointed, lack of practical documentation: The official documentation is scattered, with few clear examples, making it difficult for programmers to self-study and apply.
- The gap between research and application: Hydra has a lot of technical documentation, but lacks practical guidance to quickly turn ideas into products.
- Lack of comprehensive courses: There is no systematic training program from basic concepts to implementing real DApps with Hydra.
- High technical barriers: Installing Cardano Node, Hydra Node, operating Hydra Head, and integrating smart contracts requires a lot of background knowledge, making it difficult for beginners.
- Lack of community practice environment: There are few workshops, sample projects, or open source code repositories for programmers to experiment and exchange experiences.
- Lack of Hydra human resources: The number of programmers with experience implementing Hydra is very limited, slowing down the progress of many potential projects.
- High testing costs: Self-learning and testing Hydra requires time, effort and infrastructure, which is difficult for small groups and individuals.
Solution
To solve the above problems, we propose to develop “Hydra on Cardano: The Ultimate Step-by-Step DApp Course” — a comprehensive course on DApp development on Cardano, from basic to advanced, specifically for Vietnamese programmers. Course highlights:
- Clear learning path: Covers basic knowledge of Hydra, setting up the development environment, operating Hydra Head, and integrating smart contracts.
- High-quality materials: Video tutorials, slides, source code examples and exercises, suitable for self-study or under instructor guidance.
- Hydra Intensive Training: Step-by-step guide to operating Hydra Head, integrating Hydra with smart contracts, building high-performance, scalable DApps.
- Practical Practice: Students deploy complete Hydra DApps in guided practice sessions.
- Open Source Repository: Students can experiment, reuse, and develop projects from sample examples.
- Troubleshooting Guide & Best Practices: Prepare for real deployment, avoid common mistakes.
- Free and Open Access: All documents, videos, slides, source code are free, ensuring that all programmers can access, especially in the emerging blockchain community in Vietnam.
Reason for building
The goal of building the course is:
- Bridging the gap between research and application: Helping programmers quickly apply Hydra to real projects.
- Empowering Vietnamese talent: Training professional Cardano programmers who can contribute to the global ecosystem.
- Promote Hydra Adoption: Reduce the learning curve and provide ready-to-use resources.
- Strengthen Cardano's position: Increase competitiveness in high-performance Layer-2 blockchain solutions.
The course not only imparts knowledge but also builds a dynamic developer community, promotes innovation and develops the Cardano network. In addition, the project directly addresses key local needs:
- Overcoming the shortage of blockchain human resources in Vietnam: Training more developers, promoting technology adoption and sustainable development.
- Providing accessible practice materials: Guides from basic knowledge to building a complete DApp, helping students access faster.
- Meeting the demand for DApp programmers: Blockchain is developing rapidly, especially Cardano, creating an urgent need for quality DApp programmers.
- Building a Cardano community in Vietnam: Students can connect, support each other and develop new projects.
[Your Project and Solution] Impact
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Positive Impact
The course “Hydra on Cardano: The Ultimate Step-by-Step DApp Course” will have a clear positive impact on the Cardano community, especially in Vietnam:
- Accessibility – Professionally edited videos are freely available on YouTube, allowing anyone, anywhere, to learn without being limited by geography or time zone.
- Clear learning path – The course provides detailed instructions from environment setup, Hydra Head operation, to smart contract integration. All content is presented in videos, slides, and includes open source code.
- Highly practical – Students are guided to deploy a complete Hydra DApp through real source code examples, which can be downloaded, tested, and customized for their own needs.
- Interaction and quick feedback – Although the videos are not live, students will be guided to refer to solutions, read troubleshooting instructions, and access the support community to receive feedback from mentors or other learners.
- Building a Hydra developer community – Students will be encouraged to join Telegram/Discord groups, exchange experiences, share projects and develop skills together, creating a foundation for a dynamic Hydra community in Vietnam.
- Long-term resources – Videos, documents and source code repository will be publicly available forever, helping the community continue to exploit, upgrade and develop new Hydra projects after the project ends.
- Promoting practical applications of Cardano – By equipping knowledge and skills to deploy DApps, the course helps ideas to be quickly put into practice, increasing the number of Layer-2 projects running on the Cardano network.
Immediate quantitative impact
- 30+ students enrolled in the course on LMS (https://lms.cardano2vn.io).
- Views: Each video has at least 100 views.
- Comments: 10+ comments per video, including questions and feedback on the learning process.
- Viewer Retention: 75–80% watch the entire video.
- Likes: 500+ likes across all videos.
- Average View Duration: 15 minutes/video, reflecting high engagement.
- Percentage of students who have deployed at least 1 Hydra DApp running on the testnet.
- Community engagement (Q&A, source code contributions).
- Positive feedback from students (≥ 80% satisfaction).
- Student Feedback and Surveys: 90% of students are confident in deploying a DApp on the testnet after watching the video.
Benefits for Cardano
- Increase the number of Layer-2 developers – The number of Hydra-savvy developers increases, promoting the development of DApp projects on Cardano.
- Diversify applications and ideas – Students will create new DApp projects, contributing to diversifying the Cardano ecosystem and serving the global community.
- Strengthen competitive position – Help Cardano maintain its advantage in the Layer-2 race, effectively competing with other blockchains.
- Build a sustainable community – The course encourages students to connect, share experiences and continue to develop expansion projects, creating a foundation for a dynamic Hydra community in Vietnam.
- Promote open-source knowledge – Source code, instructions and best practices are widely shared, enhancing learning, testing and contributing to the Cardano ecosystem.
Project Results and Achievements Sharing Plan
- Public Disclosure – Videos, slides, and source code are posted on YouTube, GitHub, and the C2VN website (https://cardano2vn.io), ensuring everyone can learn and reference.
- Transparent Reporting – Submit Statement of Milestones (SoM) and Proof of Achievement (PoA) in stages for the Catalyst community and interested parties to verify progress.
- Community Sharing – Post progress updates, student success stories, technical guides, and best practices on the Cardano Forum, Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.
- Create a permanent resource repository – All content is permanently archived, allowing the community to exploit, improve, and develop new Hydra projects.
- Encourage Collaboration – Everyone can contribute code, ideas, and feedback to jointly develop Layer-2 projects on Cardano, creating a strong and sustainable Hydra dev community.
[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?
Team Skills
- Our team consists of experienced blockchain experts, including outstanding pool operators and developers, with a proven track record of building and growing successful DApps on Cardano.
- With multiple rounds of catalytic funding secured, we have consistently demonstrated our ability to develop innovative, collaborative projects that contribute to the growth and resilience of the Cardano ecosystem.
- We have completed several in-depth courses on the Cardano Blockchain and built a learning portal to support the community: https://lms.cardano2vn.io
Projects funded
We have successfully delivered five fully implemented projects, each receiving positive feedback and approval from the community:
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam Cardano Catalyst - NFT Exchange testing and development environment helps young people approach with the Web3.0 platform
- Dualtarget for ADA-Holders (Staking and increasing assets) with a decentralized automated trading bot
- Open source dynamic assets (Token/NFT) generator (CIP68)
- 🇻🇳 The Complete Aiken Course Cardano: From Zero to Expert!
Products and Tools
Project Management Skills
Our team excels in:
- Strategic planning, monitoring, and execution of projects.
- Managing budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation.
- Maintaining clear, consistent, and effective stakeholder communication.
- Ensuring financial management and accountability at every stage.
Financial Management & Transparency
We uphold transparent and efficient financial management through:
- Detailed budget planning: Clear allocation of resources across development, operations, and marketing.
- Transparent cost tracking: Complete audit records for all expenditures.
- Regular reporting: Timely updates to assess financial performance and guide strategic decisions.
Backed by a strong academic foundation and extensive project management experience, our team enforces strict budget discipline and adheres to the highest standards of financial transparency.
[Milestones] Project Milestones
Milestone Title
Curriculum Design and Material Preparation
Milestone Outputs
- Create detailed lesson outlines and overall course plan.
- Conduct internal review and assessment of the course content for quality and completeness.
- Event Marketing and communications.
- Manage the project to ensure timelines and resources are on track.
Acceptance Criteria
- Lesson outlines cover all topics from beginner to advanced Hydra DApp development. Lecture plan includes schedule, duration, and sequencing of topics. All slides and instructional materials are complete, accurate, and understandable.
- Review completed content, feedback recorded and edits needed.
- Marketing activity description files must be available on Google Drive.
- Project milestones and deadlines are tracked and reported.
Evidence of Completion
- Course outline and slides will be available on Google Docs. Project repository will be available on GitHub, and learning channel will be announced to students at Milestone 1.
- Internal assessment reports and feedback logs are available on Google Docs. Course content has been updated based on feedback.
- Evidence of compiled event marketing and communications activities will be available on Google Docs.
- Project management report showing progress and milestones.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
5760
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Setting Up Nodes and Running Hydra Heads
Milestone Outputs
- Create content for lessons (including creating slides, documents and archives, assignments).
- Video 1 – Introduction to Hydra and Practical Applications.
- Video 2 – Understanding Hydra architecture.
- Video 3 – Preparing the Development Environment.
- Video 4 – Install and Configure Cardano Node.
- Video 5 – Installing and Configuring Hydra Node.
- Video 6 – Running your first Hydra Head.
- Video 7 – Troubleshooting common issues.
- Video 8 – Review the important points in milestone 2 and prepare for milestone 3.
- Event Marketing and communications.
- Project Management.
Acceptance Criteria
- Videos 1-8 cover the full range of topics: Hydra Introduction, Hydra Architecture, Environment Preparation, Cardano Node Installation, Hydra Node Installation, Hydra Head Operation, Troubleshooting, Milestone 2 Summary.
- Slide: Each lesson (1-8) must have eight corresponding slides, containing clear and concise information.
- Create 8 archives, containing all session descriptions, samples, and resources discussed in each video, properly organized and documented.
- Event marketing and communication on social channels(Telegram, Forum, Facebook). Marketing activity description files must be available on Google Drive.
- Video production, materials preparation and marketing progress were monitored and reported regularly. Milestone 2 was completed on time and resources were allocated appropriately.
Evidence of Completion
- Lesson videos 1-8 have been produced, edited and published on Youtube.
- The course slides will be available on Google Docs.
- Documentation, code examples and exercises are available on Google Drive/GitHub.
- Evidence of compiled event marketing and communications activities will be available on Google Docs.
- Milestone 2 progress report on Google Sheet. List of completed tasks and staff allocation.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
9000
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Building DApps with Hydra
Milestone Outputs
- Create content for video lessons 9-16 (including creating slides, documents and archives, assignments).
- Video 9 – Introduction to Hydra-powered DApps.
- Video 10 – DApp architecture design.
- Video 11 – Setting up a smart contract environment.
- Video 12 – Writing Smart Contracts for Hydra.
- Video 13 – Integrating Contracts with Hydra Backend.
- Video 14 – Building a Frontend.
- Video 15 – Testing Hydra DApp.
- Video 16 – Deployment & Community Demo.
- Event marketing and communications.
- Project management.
Acceptance Criteria
- Videos 9-16 cover the full range of topics: Introduction to Hydra DApp, DApp architecture design, smart contract environment setup, smart contract writing, backend integration with Hydra, UI building, DApp testing, deployment & community demo.
- Slide: Each lesson (9-16) must have eight corresponding slides, containing clear and concise information.
- Create 8 archives, containing all session descriptions, samples, and resources discussed in each video, properly organized and documented.
- Event marketing and communication on social channels(Telegram, Forum, Facebook). Marketing activity description files must be available on Google Drive.
- Progress of video production, materials preparation and marketing was monitored and reported regularly. Milestone 3 was completed on time and resources were allocated appropriately.
Evidence of Completion
- Lesson videos 9-16 have been produced, edited and published on Youtube.
- The course slides will be available on Google Docs.
- Documentation, code examples and exercises are available on Google Drive/GitHub.
- Evidence of compiled event marketing and communications activities will be available on Google Docs.
- Milestone 3 progress report on Google Sheet. Completed task list and staff allocation.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
9000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Community Engagement And Final Reporting
Milestone Outputs
- Create a Project Close-Out Report and Project Close-Out Video.
- Conduct a survey for students upon completion of the course.
- Organize an AMA session to answer questions and evaluate student projects.
- Event marketing and communication.
- Project management.
Acceptance Criteria
- Project Close-Out Report – Completed in PDF format, including project objectives, outcomes, metrics, and lessons learned; reviewed and approved by project lead.
- Project Close-Out Video – 3–5 minutes in length, covers major achievements, includes visuals from the course, and is published on agreed platforms.
- The AMA session was held as scheduled, answering questions and evaluating student projects. Participants were guided to comment and respond to each other's projects.
- Event marketing and communication on social channels(Telegram, Forum, Facebook). Marketing activity description files must be available on Google Drive.
- Milestone progress is monitored, reported periodically, and resources are allocated appropriately.
Evidence of Completion
- A copy of the Project Close-Out Report will be published on public Google Drive
- The Project Close-Out Video will be published on the YouTube channel.
- AMA videos or notes on Google Drive/YouTube. List of participants and feedback recorded.
- Evidence of compiled event marketing and communications activities will be available on Google Docs.
- Final project management report, completed milestones, task lists and staff allocation.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
6360
Progress
100 %
[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
1- Project Overview
- Total budget: 30120 ₳
- Duration: 6 months - 4 milestones
2- Milestone-by-milestone Cost Analysis
Milestone 1: Curriculum Design and Material Preparation
- Cost: 5760 ₳ (19,12% of budget)
- Duration: 1 month
- Team: 5 peoples
- Key Deliverables: Finalize detailed lesson outlines and course plan; conduct internal review and assessment; execute event marketing activities; set up and operate project management systems.
Milestone 2: Setting Up Nodes and Running Hydra Heads
- Cost: 9000 ₳ (29,88% of budget)
- Duration: 2months
- Team: 5 peoples
- Key Deliverables: Produce complete content for the first 8 video lessons (slides, documents, assignments), covering Hydra introduction, architecture, environment setup, Cardano Node and Hydra Node installation, running Hydra Head, and troubleshooting; maintain event marketing and project management activities.
Milestone 3: Building DApps with Hydra
- Cost: 9000 ₳ (29,88 % of budget)
- Duration: 2 months
- Team: 5 peoples
- Key Deliverables: Produce content for the next 8 video lessons, guiding participants through designing DApp architecture, writing smart contracts, integrating backend and frontend, testing, and deploying community demos; continue event marketing and project management efforts.
Milestone 4: Community Engagement And Final Reporting
- Cost: 6360 ₳ (21,12% of budget)
- Duration: 1month
- Team: 5 peoples
- Key Deliverables: Complete the Project Close-Out Report and Video; conduct a student survey; organize an AMA session for Q&A and project evaluations; continue event marketing and project management activities.
3- Resource Allocation by Category
Video Production (16 videos) – 14,880 ₳ (49.38%)
Covers the entire process of creating 16 high-quality video tutorials, including scripting, preparing slides, live recording, screen capture, editing, and adding subtitles. These videos are the core of the course, ensuring learners have easily accessible and reusable material for both self-study and guided learning.
Curriculum & Content Design – 4,080 ₳ (13.54%)
Development of a complete curriculum with lesson outlines, technical documentation, and exercises. Includes internal reviews to ensure clarity and technical accuracy before integration into training delivery.
Marketing & Communication – 2,880 ₳ (9.56%)
Community outreach, event promotion, social media campaigns and coordination with Cardano community channels to maximize engagement.
Documentation & Reporting – 2,400 ₳ (7.97%)
Creation of the Project Close-Out Report, event photos/videos, and official submission for Catalyst reporting, including survey result summaries.
Community Engagement Activities – 3,000 ₳ (9.96%)
Includes organizing an AMA session for Q&A and project showcase, conducting post-course student surveys, facilitating community discussions, and providing ongoing support to participants for applying their knowledge.
Project Management – 2,880 ₳ (9.56%)
Overseeing timelines, coordinating team roles, managing resources, and ensuring quality control for all deliverables throughout the project.
4- Project budget details here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GYkAYbSIDvQ4jQfult2oNgqeU5gc-GjSUvEeiDrLajE/edit?gid=969034686#gid=969034686
[Final Pitch] Value for Money
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
Investing in blockchain talent and Hydra
The project budget is used to develop an in-depth training program on DApps supported by Hydra and Cardano smart contracts. Reasonable student remuneration (~60 ADA/hour) ensures high-quality teaching. Each coin spent directly creates a skilled programmer who is capable of developing Hydra Head, building Layer-2 DApp, solving the shortage of Cardano workforce, and strengthening the resource blockchain in Vietnam and the region.
Quality learning experience and practice with Hydra
The cost includes video production instructions, award documents, exercises and small projects. Students are guided step by step to operate Hydra Head, connect smart contracts to Layer-2, and develop complete DApps. This practice method helps learners quickly grasp knowledge, improve their ability to solve practical problems, and maximize the value of each investment account for the ecosystem.
Economic Impact and Cardano Ecosystem Development
Graduates will produce useful outcomes: smart contracts, mini DApps and open resources on Hydra. These outcomes bring innovation, attract new projects and development resources to the Cardano ecosystem, especially in Vietnam and the region, and increase the adoption of the Layer-2 Hydra solution.
Sustainability and Scalability
The course is designed to be scalable over the long term. Alumni can become advisors or contribute content, improve the program and expand the reach. The initial investment therefore creates ongoing value, forming a sustainable development opportunity for education, projects and the Hydra & Cardano community.
Cost-effective and transparent
Payment in ADA ensures transparency and alignment with ecosystem incentives. Adjusting workloads to ADA price fluctuations allows for efficient investment, focusing on creating real value for the Hydra and Cardano ecosystem, rather than administrative costs.
[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation
Terms and Conditions:
Yes