Last updated 6 months ago
There is no Web3 cultural or startup hub in Ethiopia. Creators, founders, and youth lack access, training, and funding to build on Cardano or join the blockchain movement meaningfully.
I’ve already educated and onboarded youth into Cardano. Now, I am building Ethiopia’s first permanent Web3/Cardano incubation space, where innovators go from MVP → startup → investment readiness.
This is the total amount allocated to Chain Hub: Africa’s First Web3 Culture Incubator for Cardano.
Please provide your proposal title
Chain Hub: Africa’s First Web3 Culture Incubator for Cardano
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
46000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
5
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
There is no Web3 cultural or startup hub in Ethiopia. Creators, founders, and youth lack access, training, and funding to build on Cardano or join the blockchain movement meaningfully.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
no dependencies
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
Yes, all project materials will be fully open source. Workshop content, onboarding guides, incubation toolkits, and cultural zines will be published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license and made publicly accessible on GitHub and our website from day one.
These open resources will allow other communities to replicate the Chain Hub model, remix content, and contribute back to Cardano’s global ecosystem growth.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Training
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
We target students, founders, creatives, and grassroots youth. We'll reach them through university workshops, local events, and partnerships with schools and community orgs. This matters for Cardano because it brings real adoption through wallet creation, ADA use, and cultural engagement. Chain Hub will onboard thousands, grow local Web3 communities, and form lasting partnerships to expand Cardano’s reach in Ethiopia and beyond.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
15 in-person workshops at universities and community centers
3 incubation cohorts with weekly sessions
Monthly public events: DAO clinics, pitch nights, and creative showcases
Target: 1,000+ participants reached, 200+ wallets created
Pre/post-session surveys to measure Cardano knowledge gains
Ongoing engagement through the physical Chain Hub and digital channels to ensure retention
What are your success metrics?
5 new community groups formed across cities
30+ events and meetups hosted at Chain Hub and partner venues
1,000+ total attendees, with 50% returning for multiple events
200+ testimonials and feedback forms collected
5,000+ new followers across social platforms
3,00+ signups to Chain Hub mailing list and Discord
10+ partnerships with local orgs, schools, and media
Regular user stories shared via blog, video, and cultural zine
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Chain Hub will be Ethiopia’s first Web3 culture and startup incubator built around Cardano. It will be a physical and digital space that provides access, training, and support to students, creators, and early-stage founders who currently lack any pathway into blockchain. We’ll run hands-on workshops, incubation cohorts, and community events, helping thousands build real-world Cardano use cases. Chain Hub directly solves the lack of infrastructure by creating a permanent, inclusive home for Cardano in Ethiopia.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Chain Hub will bring Cardano to life in Ethiopia by onboarding thousands of students, creators, and founders who’ve had no access to Web3. The project will expand Cardano’s presence in East Africa, establish a permanent grassroots hub, and incubate real Cardano-powered ideas — from NFTs to DAOs.
How We’ll Measure Impact:
Wallets created, NFTs claimed, and ADA transactions initiated
Pre/post surveys showing increase in Cardano knowledge
of workshops, events, and returning attendees
Startup progress tracked during and after incubation
Testimonials, community stories, and retention stats
Growth of Discord, social media, and mailing list engagement
How We’ll Share Results:
Publish monthly reports and metrics via blog + GitHub
Host livestream recaps and recap videos from each event
Open-source all learning materials under CC BY 4.0 license
Share partner opportunities and creator stories via social media and a cultural zine
Present progress at Cardano Africa events and Catalyst town halls
By growing a vibrant on-chain culture in an underserved region, Chain Hub will create a replicable model for Cardano community-building across emerging markets worldwide.
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?
Edomiya Girmay, the project lead, is a proven ecosystem builder with years of experience supporting startups and creative communities in Ethiopia. She previously served as Project Manager at Addis Ababa Angels, supporting early-stage founders, and currently leads multiple community-driven blockchain initiatives. Her track record includes organizing high-impact workshops, managing teams, and coordinating funding with transparency.
Why We’re Capable:
Deep connections with Ethiopian universities, hubs, and youth organizations
Experience managing multi-partner projects with accountability
Strong network of mentors, creators, and ecosystem collaborators
Previous Catalyst grantee (Fund 13) with successful milestones
How We’ll Ensure Feasibility & Fund Management:
Clear roadmap with monthly milestones and reporting
Dedicated financial tracking using transparent tools (e.g., Notion, Airtable, Google Sheets)
Community updates through regular blog posts and social media
Outputs and spending breakdowns made public quarterly
Collaboration with advisors and ecosystem leaders for oversight
We’ve already validated demand through past events, pilot workshops, and growing community interest. We know the need is real — and we’re ready to meet it.
Milestone Title
Launch Phase: Team Setup, Partnerships & Community Activation
Milestone Outputs
Core project team recruited and onboarded
Partnership agreements finalized with at least 5 universities and local organizations
Chain Hub brand identity and visual assets developed
Community onboarding channels launched (Discord, Telegram, email list, social pages)
Public launch announcement across social media and Cardano community platforms
Outreach calendar published (events, workshops, campaigns)
First public info session or AMA held online
Acceptance Criteria
At least 4 core team members (program manager, community lead, partnerships lead, operations) are fully onboarded
Minimum of 5 signed partnership confirmations with universities, hubs, or community orgs
Chain Hub’s brand assets (logo, visual kit, banner templates) are published and shared
3+ active community channels (e.g., Discord, Telegram, Instagram) launched and open to the public
Outreach & activation calendar published online
First online AMA or info session held with at least 50 attendees
Evidence of Completion
Signed contracts or MoUs with at least 5 partner organizations (PDF or image scans)
Team introduction post and bios published on Chain Hub’s official channels
Branding assets (logo, templates, visual kit) uploaded to GitHub or shared drive
Public links to active Discord, Telegram, and social media pages
Outreach calendar published on Chain Hub’s website or Notion page
Recording + attendance list or screenshots from the first public AMA or info session
Screenshot or archive of launch announcement across Cardano and local communities
Delivery Month
1
Cost
16000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Education & Incubation: Workshops, Training, and Startup Cohort Launch
Milestone Outputs
10 in-person workshops delivered at universities and innovation hubs
3-week founder onboarding bootcamp launched for first incubation cohort
5000+ participants reached through events, sessions, and outreach
Cardano wallet creation and NFT claim station set up at all workshops
Chain Hub Curriculum Pack v1 (Web3 basics, Cardano use cases, startup building) published online under open license
Pre/post surveys distributed to measure knowledge gain and retention
Local mentors and facilitators onboarded to support incubation
Acceptance Criteria
10 educational workshops successfully delivered, each with photo/video documentation
Minimum 5,000 participants reached across all events (with attendance sheets or signups)
At least 3,000 wallets created or verified across sessions
Chain Hub Curriculum Pack v1 published publicly on GitHub or Notion
Pre/post surveys collected from at least 60% of attendees, showing measurable knowledge improvement
First incubation cohort launched with a minimum of 10 startup teams
5+ local mentors onboarded to support the cohort
Evidence of Completion
Photos and short video clips from all 10 workshops
Attendance sheets or registration data confirming 5,000+ participants
Wallet creation screenshots, QR claim data, or on-chain explorer links
Public link to Chain Hub Curriculum Pack v1 (Notion or GitHub)
Aggregated pre/post survey results showing learning impact
List of startup teams accepted into the incubation cohort
Public announcement or page showcasing selected cohort
Mentor profiles or signed agreements with at least 5 confirmed mentors
Delivery Month
3
Cost
15000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Launch & Showcase: Startup Demo Day, Public Outputs, and Ecosystem Integration
Milestone Outputs
Final Chain Hub Demo Day event hosted with public pitch sessions from incubated startups
10+ Cardano-aligned startup projects showcased, with MVPs or concepts
Pitch Day livestream + recap video published across all platforms
Public project directory listing all participating startups, founders, and use cases
Final report summarizing KPIs, impact data, lessons learned, and testimonials
NFT-based recognition badges issued to all graduates, mentors, and top contributors
3 public partnerships formed with Cardano orgs, local investors, or media outlets
Final media push and social campaign highlighting outcomes and success stories
Acceptance Criteria
Demo Day event successfully hosted with at least 10 startup teams pitching
Livestream and recap video published with a minimum of 1,000 views
Public directory of incubated projects published and accessible online
Final report completed and shared, including KPIs, survey data, and testimonials
NFT recognition badges issued to at least 50 participants (startups, mentors, contributors)
3 ecosystem partnerships confirmed through MoUs, announcements, or collaborations
Final social media campaign launched with impact metrics and community feedback
Evidence of Completion
Livestream link and recording of the Chain Hub Demo Day
Screenshots and public link to the startup project directory
Final project report (PDF) including full metrics, testimonials, and survey results
NFT badge issuance records (on-chain or screenshots with wallet confirmations)
Recap video uploaded to YouTube or IPFS with public access
Screenshots or documentation of 3 partnership announcements
Engagement metrics from the final social media campaign (reach, shares, comments)
Delivery Month
5
Cost
15000
Progress
30 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
₳10,000 for setup and launch: team onboarding, branding, communication tools, launch promotion, and our first community AMA.
₳22,000 for education and incubation: 10 university workshops, wallet onboarding, startup bootcamp sessions, mentor fees, curriculum materials, staff stipends, and NFT rewards.
₳14,000 for Demo Day and public outputs: final event, livestream, recap video, NFT badges, community stories, final report, and outreach for partnerships and sustainability.
We will use trusted tools like GitHub, Canva, Mailchimp, Google Forms, and Zoom. All materials, content, and financial reports will be open and shared with the Cardano community.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
Our request of ₳46,000 delivers long-term, high-impact grassroots value for the Cardano ecosystem at a fraction of traditional program costs.
The budget will fund 5 months of community activation, including 10+ university workshops, incubation of 30–50 early-stage founders, a full demo day, wallet onboarding, open curriculum, and thousands of new users brought into Cardano.
Costs are carefully scoped and locally optimized. For example:
Local staff and facilitator stipends are well below international averages, aligned with Ethiopian wage standards (monthly professional salaries average $150–$300/month).
Event costs (venues, media, logistics) in Ethiopia are 3–5x lower than in Europe or the U.S.
Publicity and production are done in-house or via local freelancers, keeping output high and costs low.
All learning materials, reports, zines, and campaign content will be open source and reusable, creating long-term ripple effects for Cardano ecosystem builders across Africa and beyond.
The result is a high-leverage, replicable grassroots model that can be reused in other emerging regions, while establishing Ethiopia as a flagship hub for Cardano growth. For the cost of a small campaign elsewhere, we’re delivering real, lasting infrastructure.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Edomiya Girmay – Project Lead
Former Project Manager at Addis Ababa Angels, Edomiya brings deep experience in startup incubation, project leadership, and grassroots innovation. She will lead the overall Chain Hub strategy, team coordination, reporting, and community engagement. She will also oversee ecosystem integration and milestone delivery.
Kahsu Abera – Operations & Ecosystem Growth Lead
Co-founder of Kese Events and Web3 advocate, Kahsu brings expertise in event organization, community activation, and creative direction. He will lead workshop implementation, event logistics, university outreach, and activation of partner campaigns both in-person and online.
Nebyou Sultan – Technical Advisor & Cardano Ethiopia Ambassador
Co-founder of Endubis Wallet and Ethio Blockchain Network, and official Cardano Ambassador in Ethiopia. Nebyou will support with technical guidance, ecosystem alignment, wallet onboarding infrastructure, and mentor sourcing. He will also help connect Chain Hub participants with Cardano tools and dApp resources.
Eyea Redie – Youth Engagement & Content Strategy
A communications strategist, digital content creator, and youth engagement specialist. Eyea will lead storytelling, creator onboarding, zine production, and help amplify Chain Hub activities across platforms. She will ensure consistent community content and lead post-event documentation.
Additional Collaborators
Yeneta Blockchain Academy – Educational partner for curriculum development and mentorship
Ethio Blockchain Network – Community and infrastructure partner for wallet integration and outreach
Kese Events – Event logistics, production, and local promotion support
Skill Gaps to Be Filled
Finance & Grant Reporting Coordinator – To handle budget tracking, milestone documentation, and financial reporting to Catalyst
Local Event Coordinators – Volunteers or part-time hires in 3–5 regional cities to support university outreach and community follow-up
Graphic Designer – To assist with visual content, flyers, branding extensions, and zine layout