Cardano DACH Region BD & Startup Acceleration Program

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano DACH Region BD & Startup Acceleration Program

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

60000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

3

[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?

Cardano lacks a structured BD footprint in DACH - a leading Web3 hub and economic powerhouse - missing startup, academic, and institutional opportunities, and a lasting local presence beyond meetups.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://www.sososcaled.com
,
• https://x.com/sososcaled
,
• https://t.me/sososcaled

[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

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Community

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.

We’re targeting startups, innovation leaders, and academic institutions in the DACH region. These include Web3 founders, accelerator leads, student tech clubs, and university innovation hubs. We’ll reach them through direct 1:1 BD outreach, curated events, university visits, and our existing network in the Berlin and wider DACH innovation ecosystem. This matters for Cardano because the DACH region as a global innovation hub and economic powerhouse remains largely untapped. Engaging this market will help unlock new pilot opportunities, startup integrations, and talent channels for Cardano.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

• Map 50+ startups, labs, and innovation hubs in DACH
• Conduct 5+ 1:1 BD calls with high-potential stakeholders
• Host a curated BD roundtable in Berlin
• Identify and support 3–5 Cardano-aligned startups
• Engage with 2+ university innovation hubs (e.g. ETH, TU Berlin)
• Draft and share a DACH-facing GTM kit for future BD work
• Publish a public-facing strategic report with findings and recommendations

What are your success metrics?

• 50+ relevant organizations mapped and categorized
• 5+ 1:1 BD conversations completed with tangible follow-ups
• 1 curated private BD roundtable successfully hosted
• 3–5 startup collaborations initiated with Cardano potential
• 2+ academic partnerships or pilots kicked off
• 1 public report and GTM resource kit delivered
• Engagement and alignment with Cardano ecosystem actors (e.g. IOG, Catalyst, Cardano Foundation)

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

To address the lack of structured BD presence in the DACH region, we propose a focused 3-month program based out of Berlin, Germay that activates the startup and academic ecosystem through direct outreach, curated engagement, and strategic reporting. Our approach combines targeted 1:1 conversations with key players in the Web3 and innovation space, the facilitation of a private roundtable for high-potential partners, and the identification of 3–5 startups that align well with Cardano’s mission and tech stack.

We’ll also build relationships with leading university innovation hubs, such as ETH Zurich and TU Berlin, to explore opportunities for curriculum integration, hackathons, and guest lectures. The insights and connections generated through this pilot will be captured in a public-facing strategic report, laying the foundation for long-term Cardano engagement in the region.

This project is designed to move quickly, deliver real outcomes, and help Cardano establish a stronger foothold in one of Europe’s most promising innovation markets.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project brings Cardano into direct contact with one of Europe’s most important innovation hubs. By connecting with startups, universities, and local ecosystem builders, we create new pathways for adoption, partnerships, and developer engagement. The curated, hands-on nature of this project makes it easy to replicate in other regions. For the wider Cardano community, this means more visibility, real-world traction, and a stronger foundation for long-term growth, grounded in local context but aligned with global strategy.

[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?

This project is led by So So Scaled!, a Berlin-based Web3 GTM Lab founded by experienced operators, C-level executives, and PhDs with strong backgrounds in strategy, Web3, and growth. Our team brings a unique combination of deep technical fluency and real-world business acumen.

We have strong roots in the DACH region and a proven track record of running effective, high-leverage BD pilots across Europe. Our ability to engage local startups, convene ecosystem actors, and surface valuable leads has been demonstrated in similar contexts, and is a key success factor here.

The model we propose is low-risk, replicable in other regions, and designed to generate fast insights. Feasibility is ensured by our regional network and experience. To ensure trust and accountability, we will:

• Share BD progress, event outcomes, and academic engagements in a public Notion or Drive folder
• Include documentation for each milestone, including contact lists, roundtable notes, and startup profiles
• Deliver a polished public report with GTM recommendations and a follow-up roadmap
• Make collaboration transparent by involving local stakeholders, Cardano contributors, and ecosystem teams

This project is designed to be lean and effective. We’re not running a vague community initiative - we’re mapping tangible BD pathways, creating real-world connections, and documenting them clearly for future reuse. Validation will come from:

• Confirmed BD calls and university engagements
• Curated roundtable execution with relevant actors
• Startup traction and handover to Cardano teams
• Adoption of the public GTM report and playbook

The following testimonials from previous Web3 projects show that our approach creates real value, that we deliver results, and our results are already trusted by ecosystem leaders:

• “Decentralized BD is tough to bootstrap. Natalie and Jashar found a credible path by building an essential knowledge base. I fully support all their proposals to bring this into the ecosystem.” //Founder, Web3 Governance Platform
• "Natalie and Jashar don’t just create slides. They identify what’s needed, collaborate, and deliver.” //Founder & CEO, Web3 Investment and Advisory Firm

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Ecosystem Mapping & Dealflow Sourcing

Milestone Outputs

• Map 50+ DACH ecosystem stakeholders including early-stage startups, Web3 founders, venture scouts, university labs, and crypto-aligned incubators across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
• Conduct 5+ 1:1 BD conversations with selected stakeholders (e.g. accelerator leads, crypto-native startup founders, innovation heads) to understand their pain points, Cardano relevance, and potential collaboration angles.
• Publish a DACH BD Opportunity Map that visualizes the most promising entry points, partners, and strategic verticals. This will be delivered as a living Notion resource or PDF, publicly shared with the Cardano ecosystem.

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 50 organizations mapped across the DACH region, covering startups, university labs, VCs, and accelerators.
• A minimum of 5 meaningful BD calls held
• A public-facing Notion or PDF visualizing key stakeholders, categories, and initial collaboration potential.

Evidence of Completion

• Publicly accessible Notion page or downloadable PDF listing 50+ mapped DACH orgs
• Table or visual map categorizing stakeholders (startups, labs, VCs, universities, etc.)
• Screenshots or notes from at least 5 completed BD calls
• Link to public BD Opportunity Map shared with Catalyst/Cardano ecosystem

Delivery Month

1

Cost

15000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

BD Activation & Strategic Engagement

Milestone Outputs

• Host one curated private BD Roundtable in Berlin, bringing together a selected number of handpicked startup and innovation leaders to explore concrete collaboration opportunities with Cardano (e.g. pilots, grants, tech alignment). This will not be a public meetup - it’s a curated, professional convening.
• Identify and support 3–5 Cardano-aligned startup projects with a strong use case (e.g. decentralized identity, tokenization, sustainability, AI x crypto). These projects will receive light-touch BD support, including feedback sessions, resource access, and connection to relevant Cardano teams or grant programs.
• Create and share an internal GTM Resource Kit - a refined and modular draft document (or deck) to help future BD agents pitch Cardano to startups, investors, or institutions in the region.

Acceptance Criteria

• One curated BD roundtable hosted in Berlin with up to 10 targeted participants from the startup and innovation space.
• 3–5 promising Cardano-aligned startups identified, profiled, and offered light BD support.
• A draft internal resource (deck or doc) summarizing learnings and messaging frameworks is shared with Cardano stakeholders.

Evidence of Completion

• Photos or documentation from the private BD roundtable in Berlin (agenda, notes, invite list)
• Short profiles of 3–5 selected Cardano-aligned startups, including their use case and relevance
• Internal draft of the GTM Resource Kit (PDF or deck format), accessible to the Catalyst team
• Confirmation that resources were shared with Cardano community stakeholders

Delivery Month

2

Cost

20000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

University & Talent Channel Activation

Milestone Outputs

• Initiate fruitful dialogue with at least 2 leading university innovation hubs or student-led tech clubs in the DACH region - such as Technical University of Berlin, ETH Zurich, or WU Vienna. These will be approached with a focus on blockchain curriculum integration, hackathon collaboration, or guest lectures.
• Explore feasibility for a “Cardano GTM Case Study” or seminar-style engagement where university students can learn how real-world Cardano adoption is structured from a business angle.
• Prepare a contact list and engagement plan for a potential follow-up proposal focused on deeper academic integration and student talent development.

Acceptance Criteria

• Initial engagement with at least two leading university innovation hubs or student groups in DACH (e.g. ETH Zurich, TU Berlin), including 1:1 meetings.
• Documentation includes contact list, meeting notes, and a plan for future student-facing activities such as workshops, lectures, or case studies.

Evidence of Completion

• Contact list of university innovation hubs or student-led clubs (with names, roles, emails)
• Meeting summaries or notes from initial university outreach and calls
• Draft outline of a workshop, hackathon, or guest lecture plan tailored for university settings
• Documentation of alignment with potential follow-up scope (e.g. slide, Notion page, or doc)

Delivery Month

3

Cost

10000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Reporting & Strategic Recommendations

Milestone Outputs

• Deliver a polished, insight-rich report with a clear synthesis of stakeholder feedback, regional opportunity areas, key BD challenges, and proposals for how to scale.
• Share findings with IOG, Cardano Foundation, EMURGO, and Catalyst teams, ensuring the pilot connects with ongoing ecosystem initiatives.
• Include a next-step plan for scaling the effort: e.g. a full DACH growth office, co-designed startup accelerator, or repeatable GTM playbook tailored to regional institutions and founders.

Acceptance Criteria

A comprehensive strategic report (PDF or Notion) summarizing all key insights, BD opportunities, pain points, and proposals for scale-up. Report shared with IOG, Catalyst, and the Cardano Foundation. Follow-up roadmap included to guide next steps toward a longer-term DACH presence.

Evidence of Completion

Final strategic report in PDF or Notion format, covering:

• Stakeholder feedback, Key BD barriers & enablers, Regional GTM opportunities, Strategic recommendations
• Confirmation of report delivery to IOG, Catalyst, Cardano Foundation, and/or EMURGO
• Optional: Short Loom video walkthrough of the findings and next steps (for added clarity)
• Documentation of next-phase proposal scope (summary slide, concept note, or similar)

Delivery Month

3

Cost

15000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

The budget breakdown is outlined within each milestone, including associated costs and deliverables. All expenses are fully covered, including personnel, materials, tools, subscriptions, and any necessary travel within the DACH region to ensure successful project delivery.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project delivers high ROI by unlocking a fairly underrepresented region for Cardano with low cost and risk. For ₳60,000, we’ll generate actionable BD leads, establish university and startup relationships, and build the foundation for long-term growth in the DACH region. Our experience and network allow us to move fast and make meaningful progress in just three months.

If successful, this initiative could position Cardano as a leading Web3 player in one of Europe’s most strategic markets in the long run - unlocking major upside in terms of sustainable commercial success.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes