[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Cardano School for Gifted Entrepreneurs

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

59870

[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’s growth is slowed by talented builders lacking business acumen. Without support, great ideas die early—blocking adoption, dApp utility, and real-world value creation.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://tokenallies.com/
,
• https://i.imgur.com/EHlKM2X.jpeg
,
• https://x.com/tokenallies
,
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cz5VHNpto-lVKidHXM5bMhfvE2lKMquOteur07OqmCw/edit?tab=t.0

[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 educational content and training materials developed for the Cardano School for Gifted Entrepreneurs will be released under the Apache 2.0 open-source license, ensuring free access, use, and adaptation by the Cardano community and beyond. This commitment to open-source enables global replication of the program, fosters localization in non-English-speaking regions, and empowers regional leaders to deliver the curriculum independently.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Training

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

Targeting Cardano-native builders, developers, and Web3 enthusiasts who possess technical skills but lack business training. Outreach via Cardano forums, Catalyst Town Halls, Telegram groups, and Twitter. This aligns with Cardano's long-term growth by increasing quality proposals and dApps.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

• Curriculum development (startup + Web3 topics)
• Live cohort training and mentorship
• Demo Day event for the Catalyst community
• Distribution of open-source educational content
• Post-program alumni networking and support

What are your success metrics?

Expected Outcomes

≥75% program completion

≥65% participants develop MVPs or business models

≥50% apply to Catalyst or seek external funding

≥10 Catalyst-ready proposals produced

≥80% graduate satisfaction

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

A practical 3-month startup business training bootcamp, merging lean startup methods, Cardano-native tooling, with Product and customer first principles. The curriculum includes customer discovery, tokenomics, MVP creation, Business Model and pitching. Delivered via blended learning—videos, live sessions, mentor support—with an in-person optional Demo Day.

The Proposal will deliver:

• Structured modules across 3 months, combining asynchronous content, live online sessions, and optional in-person ones with a live demo event at the end.
• Frameworks from top startup minds (Steve Blank, Eric Ries, Alexander Osterwalder, Peter Diamandis, John Mullins and others) adapted to the Web3 space.
• Practical tools to build business models, validate ideas, structure token economies, and pitch to investors.
• Real-world deliverables like MVPs, validated canvases, and funding mechanisms.

This proposal addresses the lack of entrepreneurial business skills among Cardano builders by offering a focused 3-month program. It combines lean startup methods, Cardano-native tooling, with Product and Customer first principles to help builders develop fundable, scalable and sustainable ventures. This approach turns technical builders into customer-ready founders, solving the core problem of underutilized talent.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

• Builds businesses skills capacity within Cardano founders.
• Increases quality and sustainability of proposals
• Generates new MVPs and use cases tailored to the Cardano ecosystem
• Produces replicable, open-source education modules
• Generates startups that can really scale and attract customers tailored to the Cardano ecosystem
• Produce real adoption of the Cardano blockchain, increasing usage, TVL, value and scale.

[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?

Token Allies is a seasoned team with experience in Cardano governance, startups, and education delivery:

Led by a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience, this program builds on a track record of mentoring, university teaching, and community leadership.

The team includes:

• Experienced startup mentors and educators

• Cardano ecosystem builders and advisors

• Guest speakers from successful Web3 startups

• All sessions, materials, and metrics will be transparently shared with the community.

Feasibility risks are mitigated via:

• Mentorship incentives to boost participation

• Templates and structured modules for simplicity

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Curriculum Launch & Onboarding

Milestone Outputs

• Finalized program syllabus with session breakdown

• Comprehensive onboarding materials and orientation sessions

• Recruitment proccess started, selection, and onboarding of bootcamp participants

Acceptance Criteria

• Published syllabus and session calendar

• Onboarding materials accessible to the public in agreed format (e.g.,, public website or Social media)

• At least 10 of intended participants confirm onboarding

Evidence of Completion

• Public link to the finalized syllabus and session calendar

• Copies or links to onboarding materials shared with participants

• Screenshots, list or signed confirmations from at least 10 onboarded participants

Delivery Month

1

Cost

19350

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Delivery of Core Modules

Milestone Outputs

-Six structured online learning sessions with industry leaders.

-Completion and submission of weekly assignments by participants

--Mentor-led support and feedback sessions for students participating.

Acceptance Criteria

-All six student sessions are delivered and recorded for future use.

-75% of participants complete at least 4 assignments

-Feedback sessions held with 1:1 or group engagement with industry experts.

Evidence of Completion

Session recordings and presentation slides send in Milestone report.

Archive of participant submissions and feedback logs

Writen or recorded testimonials from students about 1:1 mentor engagement.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

23400

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Demo Day & Community Handoff

Milestone Outputs

• Hosting a Final in-person or hybrid Demo Day event where students will present their work to a Jury of experts.

• Participant project pitch presentations

• Post-program impact and feedback survey

Acceptance Criteria

• Demo day Event summary publicly accessible on social media or other digital channels.
• At least 70% of participants that made it to the end of the bootcamp present theirfinal projects on demo Day
• Survey response rate ≥ 75%

Evidence of Completion

• Public Media coverage on social media and event documentation on report.

• Video recordings of project pitches video file.

-Compiled survey responses and summary report on milestone report.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

17120

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Requested: ₳59,870

Month 1 – ₳19,350

• Curriculum Design – ₳9,850

• Marketing & Outreach (Phase 1) – ₳4,880

• Platform & Tools (Setup) – ₳4,620

Month 2 – ₳23,400

• Delivery & Coordination – ₳13,920

• Operations (Ongoing) – ₳5,400

• Marketing & Outreach (Continued) – ₳3,750

• Platform & Tools (Ongoing) – ₳330

Month 3 – ₳17,120

Demo Day – ₳9,870

Final Mentoring & Coaching – ₳6,000

Operations Wrap-up – ₳1,250

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

At just ₳3,000 per participant (20)—approximately $2,700 USD—this 3-month business accelerator offers exceptional value. For a fraction of what traditional programs charge, participants gain direct access to mentorship, practical training, and ecosystem integration tailored to Cardano. This modest investment has the potential to seed high-impact, Cardano-native ventures with lasting value. By equipping founders with the tools to build, fund, and scale within the ecosystem, this program transforms each ADA spent into a multiplier of long-term growth, innovation, and sustainability for Catalyst and beyond.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes