Last updated a month ago
London, a global hub for culture and finance, lacks regular opportunities for the Cardano community to connect. This limits collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the organic growth of our ecosystem.
Organise monthly informal Cardano meetups at a central London venue, fostering community growth and networking.
Please provide your proposal title
Connect The Dots: Monthly Cardano London Meetups
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
31283
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
London, a global hub for culture and finance, lacks regular opportunities for the Cardano community to connect. This limits collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the organic growth of our ecosystem.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
This project depends on hiring a venue to host events. We are not limited to a specific venue and can change suppliers at any time.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
All content produced through this project will be released under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. No software code will be developed, however if it does become necessery to create code as part of the project it will be released under the MIT License.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Events
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
Cardano developers seeking collaboration and visibility, enthusiasts and newcomers looking to learn and connect, organisations exploring blockchain adoption and partnerships.
Meetup.com/Eventbrite for reservations, social media (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Telegram, Discord, Cardano Forum), direct outreach to ecosystem projects and companies.
Creates a regular London hub, strengthens the developer ecosystem, welcomes newcomers, and builds adoption and partnerships.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
What are your success metrics?
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
A series of informal monthly meetups at The Square Pig pub in central London. Each event will bring together Cardano developers, enthusiasts, newcomers, and organisations in a relaxed setting to exchange ideas, build relationships, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The Square Pig’s spacious basement with capacity for 80 attendees will be reserved one evening each month for a year. Located just minutes from Holborn Station, the venue is easily accessible and well-suited to regular community gatherings.
Attendees will pay for their own food and drink. Catalyst will underwrite the pub’s £1,200 minimum spend per event - covering any shortfall if needed. If attendee purchases meet or exceed the threshold, there is no cost to Catalyst.
To kick‑start community engagement:
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Visibility
Make the Cardano community and its dynamism and enthusiasm visible.
Onboarding & retention
Make it easy for newcomers to meet more experienced members of the Cardano community.
Ecosystem growth
Stimulate interest and attract individuals and organisations seeking to engage with Cardano.
Network expansion
Develop trust through regular face‑to‑face connections, leading to new collaborations (projects, hackathons, collaborations with enterprises).
Local hub creation
Establish London as a vibrant hub, inspiring similar initiatives in other cities.
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?
All essential elements are already in place:
The team for this project features:
Robert Castelo
A former Cardano Ambassador (2020–2022) with 21 years organising open-source events for the Cardano and Drupal community.
Mark Hall and Christopher Warren
Web3 Consultant and Upstream [UPSTR] Cardano Stake Pool operator who have organised Cardano events in London for more than 5 years.
Attendance targets:
40–60 attendees at each of the first three events, rising to 60–80 by month four
Sponsorship interest:
Secure at least one sponsor by month four
Feedback surveys:
80% positive response
Digital metrics:
Growth in Meetup group members, social‑media engagement (+50% followers)
Milestone Title
Initial Set Up
Milestone Outputs
Essential preparation required to launch the monthly London Cardano meetups and ensure strong community awareness from the outset.
Finalise Venue Booking Dates:
Confirm and secure the monthly reservation of The Square Pig’s basement for the full 12-month period, guaranteeing a consistent location and schedule that participants can plan around. Establish terms of the minimum spend agreement with the venue to provide clarity on financial commitments.
Publish Event Registration:
Publish the first event registration on Meetup and Eventbrite with clear details on the location, timing, purpose, and format. Ensure that RSVPs and attendance tracking are enabled to gather reliable data on community interest and engagement.
Start Social Media Campaign:
Launch a coordinated promotional push across relevant channels (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Telegram, Discord, and the Cardano Forum) to raise awareness of the new meetup series. Share the Meetup.com link, highlight the benefits of attending, and invite both newcomers and experienced community members to join. This initial outreach will establish momentum and build visibility in advance of the first event.
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Recurring monthly meetup date confirmed:
Copy booking confirmation showing the monthly schedule (e.g., first Wednesday of each month).
Minimum spend deposit paid:
Receipt or bank transfer confirmation for the deposit to The Square Pig for the first event
First event listing published on Meetup.com:
Screenshot of the event listing with date, time, and description visible.
Event banner and logo finalised:
Image files of the banner and logo in their final form.
Social media accounts set up:
Screenshots of the event’s social media accounts showing they are active and branded.
Promotional images and videos created:
Copies or links to the marketing images and video clips produced for social media.
Promotional posts published:
Screenshots or links to posts on each social media account linking to the Meetup.com event listing.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
3857
Milestone Title
Launch and Initial Engagement
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on executing the first three monthly meetups and establishing baseline metrics for community participation and satisfaction.
Host the first three meetups:
Deliver the inaugural events at The Square Pig’s basement as per the pre-agreed schedule. Ensure the venue is set up for a comfortable and engaging environment, and coordinate logistics such as registration. Facilitate networking and discussion among attendees, creating a friendly and inclusive atmosphere for both newcomers and experienced community members.
Collect baseline attendance data:
Track the number of attendees at each of the first three events to understand initial community interest. Use RSVP lists, and registration check-ins to ensure accurate data.
Gather attendee feedback:
Use Meetup's post event survey tools to capture attendees’ impressions, suggestions, and interest areas. Collect both qualitative and quantitative feedback to inform improvements for future events.
Initial insights and reporting:
Summarise attendance trends and key feedback points to evaluate the success of the initial events. Identify opportunities to increase engagement, improve the format, or adjust promotion strategies for subsequent meetups.
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Event hosting confirmation:
Photos of the venue during each of the first three meetups.
Attendance records:
RSVP lists, registration check-ins, or headcount summaries for each meetup.
Collected feedback:
Completed survey responses, notes from informal interviews, or screenshots of digital feedback forms from attendees.
Summary report of insights:
Document summarising attendance trends, key feedback themes, and actionable recommendations for future events.
Operational lessons learned:
Notes or brief report on logistical challenges, improvements implemented, and lessons learned from hosting the first three events.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
7285
Milestone Title
Ongoing Events
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on maintaining momentum by delivering the next three monthly Cardano London meetups, building on the foundation established in the launch phase.
Host 3 events:
Deliver three additional meetups following the same structure and format proven in Milestone 2. These events will provide consistency and continuity for the community.
Community building:
Strengthen relationships among returning attendees while continuing to welcome newcomers. Encourage open discussion, networking, and knowledge sharing.
Track participation:
Record attendance figures at each event to monitor trends in community growth.
Feedback collection:
Gather informal feedback from attendees to capture early impressions of the ongoing series, ensuring future events can be tailored to community needs.
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
7
Cost
7285
Milestone Title
Optomisation
Milestone Outputs
This milestone focuses on learning from the first six events, optimising outreach, and building a foundation for long-term sustainability through sponsorship.
Evaluate first six events:
Review attendance data, participant feedback, and operational lessons from Milestone 2 and 3. Identify what worked well (e.g. timing, venue setup, format) and what can be improved (e.g. promotion channels, event structure, community engagement). Produce a short evaluation report to capture findings.
Adjust promotion strategy:
Based on the evaluation, refine the marketing approach. This may include tailoring messaging to target specific audience groups (e.g. developers, organisations, newcomers), experimenting with different social media channels, or adjusting the cadence of promotional posts.
Use metrics to secure sponsorship:
Package attendance numbers, community feedback, and early success stories into a sponsor-ready summary. Develop sponsorship materials to present a clear value proposition to potential partners. Begin outreach to organisations and businesses aligned with Cardano or the broader blockchain ecosystem to secure funding support for events beyond the initial Catalyst funded period.
Host 3 Events
Host the next three events of this series.
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Report
Copy of the evaluation report showing analysis of the first three events.
Promotional Content
Screenshots or examples of updated promotional content (new posts, images, or messaging).
Sponsorship Materials
Final version of sponsorship materials as a PDF
Potential Sponsors Record
Record of outreach attempts to potential sponsors (e.g. emails, messages, or meeting notes).
Promotional Campaigns
Links or screenshots of refined promotional campaigns on social media accounts.
Event Hosting Confirmation
Photos of three events.
Delivery Month
10
Cost
7285
Milestone Title
Impact Report and Continuity Planning
Milestone Outputs
This milestone consolidates the learnings and outcomes of the meetup series, while laying the groundwork for sustainability and growth beyond the initial Catalyst funding.
Host Events:
Host two more events.
Conduct review:
Carry out a comprehensive review of the meetup series, covering attendance trends, sponsorship outcomes, promotional effectiveness, and overall community impact.
Produce an impact report:
Publish a detailed report capturing attendance data, feedback, testimonials, and sponsorship progress. This report will provide accountability to Catalyst and serve as a resource for future supporters.
Adjust promotion strategy:
Refine outreach efforts based on series insights, highlighting successful tactics and addressing weak points to ensure continued community growth.
Document best practices guide:
Create a practical guide for other Cardano meetup organisers, documenting effective strategies for planning, promoting, and running successful events. Share openly with the community to encourage replication worldwide.
Create video testimonials:
Record and edit short testimonial videos from regular attendees, capturing authentic stories about the value of the meetups and their impact.
Plan next year’s series:
Develop a plan for a second year of events, incorporating attendee feedback, sponsorship commitments, and adjustments to format or frequency.
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
12
Cost
5571
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Catalyst guarantees £1,200 minimum spend per event
Actual cost to Catalyst = £1,200 minus attendee spending
Example scenarios:
Attendees spend £800 = Catalyst pays £400
Attendees spend £1,200 or more = Catalyst pays £0
Savings will be calculated per milestone and set aside to protect against ADA price drops below the budget assumptions used in this proposal for future milestones. Any unspent savings at the end of the event series will be used to extend the meetups for additional months.
If attendance grows beyond 80 people and we have enough budget saved up we may book the ground floor of the venue as well and scale to 150+ attendees.
3 day/month support for event management, documentation, marketing, content creation, and social media promotion @ £500 / day
Milestone 1: £2,700 / 3,857 ADA
Venue booking: 1 month @ £1,200 / month
Event management and promotion: 3 days @ £500 / day
Milestone 2: £5,100 / 7,285 ADA
Venue booking: 3 months @ £1,200 / month
Event management and promotion: 3 days @ £500 / day
Milestone 3: £5,100 / 7,285 ADA
Venue booking: 3 months @ £1,200 / month
Event management and promotion: 3 days @ £500 / day
Milestone 4: £5,100 / 7,285 ADA
Venue booking: 3 months @ £1,200 / month
Event management and promotion: 3 days @ £500 / day
Milestone 5: £3,900 / 5,571 ADA
Venue booking: 2 months @ £1,200 / month
Event management and promotion: 3 days @ £500 / day
For budgeting purposes, this proposal assumes an exchange rate of 1 ADA = £0.70 (GBP).
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
Cost-effective venue
The £1,200 minimum secures a full evening for up to 80 people.
Attendees fund drinks/food
Per‑attendee cost
Assuming 60 attendees/event, net Catalyst cost is about £13 per head - far below typical London conference evening rates
High ROI on engagement
Face‑to‑face networking often accelerates project collaborations, dApp launches and onboarding, translating into ecosystem growth
Scalability
Proven template can be replicated in other cities across the world
Self-sustaining model
Year 1 sponsorship revenue will fund Year 2 operations, making the event self funding, creating a financially independent community asset that continues generating value without a dependency on Catalyst
Sponsorship multiplier
We expect Catalyst funding to generate ongoing sponsorship of equal or greater value in each subsequent year.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Overall coordination, venue liaison, budgeting
Lead: Robert Castelo
Support: Mark Hall and Christopher Warren
Manage event registration page.
Set attendee limits and monitoring sign-ups.
Responding to registration queries.
Lead: Robert Castelo
Support: Mark Hall and Christopher Warren
Creating promotional content and graphics.
Lead: Robert Castelo
Support: Mark Hall and Christopher Warren
Photography and video.
Joint Responsibility: Robert Castelo, Mark Hall, and Christopher Warren
Scheduling and posting across platforms.
Engaging with followers and responding to public-facing questions.
Joint Responsibility: Robert Castelo, Mark Hall, and Christopher Warren
Check in, attendee assistance.
Joint Responsibility: Robert Castelo, Mark Hall, and Christopher Warren
Write guide to creating and managing Cardano meetups.
Joint Responsibility: Robert Castelo, Mark Hall, and Christopher Warren
Note:
Team members provide Support for a role by performing role tasks if the lead person for the role is not available.
Robert Castelo
Cardano Ambassador (2020–2022)
Organised Open Source events (Drupal) for 20+ years
Mark Hall
Web3 Consultant
Upstream [UPSTR] Cardano Stake Pool operator.
Event organiser and host for multiple Cardano events in London for more than 5 years.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/devhalls
Christopher Warren
Web3 Consultant
Upstream [UPSTR] Cardano Stake Pool operator
Event organiser and host for multiple Cardano events in London for more than 5 years.