Last updated 2 months ago
"In LATAM, most people lack basic knowledge of decentralized finance, limiting adoption and opportunities in the Cardano ecosystem.
Create a beginner-friendly DeFi course in LATAM, inspired by InvestIn, to teach finance basics and onboard new users to Cardano
This is the total amount allocated to Decentralized Finance Course for Beginners.
Please provide your proposal title
Decentralized Finance Course for Beginners
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
22000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
"In LATAM, most people lack basic knowledge of decentralized finance, limiting adoption and opportunities in the Cardano ecosystem.
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
everything will be shared
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Education
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
Target Audience
We focus on young adults and working professionals in Mexico (18–40) who lack access to quality financial education and are curious about crypto.
How We Reach Them
Through online courses, partnerships with universities, social media campaigns, and community workshops that make DeFi simple and accessible.
Why It Matters for Cardano
Educating people about decentralized finance builds trust, awareness, and adoption of Cardano as the preferred blockchain for real-world financial solutions.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
Key Activities
Design beginner-friendly DeFi & finance course.
Produce educational videos and materials.
Deliver pilot workshops and gather feedback.
Launch full course online + community outreach.
Measure impact and share results with Cardano.
What are your success metrics?
Number of course participants.
Completion rate of modules.
Growth of Cardano wallets among learners.
Engagement in workshops and online sessions.
Social media reach of educational content.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
This project creates an accessible DeFi & finance course for beginners in LATAM, teaching practical skills and Cardano-based tools. By lowering knowledge barriers, it empowers people to adopt decentralized finance, expands Cardano’s user base, and promotes long-term ecosystem growth.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
Impact on the Cardano Community
This project will strengthen Cardano’s presence in Mexico by educating beginners about decentralized finance through Cardano. It will onboard new users, empower financial inclusion, and create local advocates who spread Cardano’s adoption organically.
By bridging traditional finance knowledge with Cardano’s DeFi tools, we reduce entry barriers and expand Cardano’s grassroots ecosystem in Latin America.
Key KPIs
500+ participants enrolled in the first course within 6 months.
60% course completion rate, ensuring effective learning.
300 new Cardano wallets created by learners to practice DeFi.
5 local workshops hosted in Mexico with at least 50 attendees each.
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?
As a Cardano Ambassador in Mexico, I have extensive experience in community building, education, and ecosystem engagement. I have organized blockchain workshops, conferences, and initiatives that introduce students and new users to Cardano. My network across universities and tech communities ensures effective outreach, collaboration, and project delivery.
Milestone Title
Foundational Modules
Milestone Outputs
3 introductory sessions (1 hour each):
Finance Basics: saving, investing, risk, diversification.
Blockchain Fundamentals: how it works and differences with traditional systems.
Cardano Overview: what Cardano is, how it works, basic wallets, and ecosystem overview.
Teaching materials: slides, quick guides, and complementary resources for each session.
Mini quizzes at the end of each session to reinforce learning.
Acceptance Criteria
Each session has clear and measurable learning objectives.
At least 70% of participants pass the comprehension quizzes.
Teaching materials reviewed and approved by the team to ensure clarity for beginners.
Positive feedback from at least 80% of participants on clarity and usefulness of the session.
Evidence of Completion
Files of slides and guides used in the sessions.
Results of quizzes from each participant.
Feedback forms showing understanding and satisfaction.
Attendance records of confirmed participants.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
8000
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Intermediate Modules (DeFi Introduction)
Milestone Outputs
4 intermediate sessions (1 hour each) covering:
Introduction to DeFi: concepts, benefits, risks, and comparison with traditional finance.
Cardano DeFi Platforms: overview of platforms like Liqwid Finance, Minswap, and DripDropz.
Wallet Management & Security: creating wallets, sending/receiving ADA, security best practices.
Hands-on Practice: simple transactions, staking ADA, and interacting with DeFi apps.
Updated teaching materials: slides, tutorials, step-by-step guides, and practice exercises.
Mini quizzes and practical exercises for each session
Acceptance Criteria
Each session has clear learning objectives.
At least 70% of participants successfully complete quizzes and practical exercises.
Participants can demonstrate basic transactions and staking in Cardano.
Positive feedback from at least 80% of participants about clarity and usefulness of sessions.
Evidence of Completion
Session slides, guides, and tutorial files.
Results of quizzes and completion of practical exercises.
Screenshots or logs confirming participants’ successful transactions and staking.
Feedback forms and attendance records.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
7000
Progress
70 %
Milestone Title
Final Modules & Project Close-Out
Milestone Outputs
3 final sessions (1 hour each) covering:
Advanced DeFi Concepts: lending, borrowing, yield farming basics on Cardano.
Portfolio Building & Strategy: managing ADA, diversification, long-term planning.
Project Integration & Review: students apply what they learned in a mini DeFi project.
Complete course delivery of all 10 sessions.
Close-Out Report summarizing participation, learning outcomes, and KPIs.
Close-Out Video highlighting key moments, participant testimonials, and project impact.
Acceptance Criteria
All 10 sessions delivered according to the plan.
At least 70% of participants complete the full course successfully.
Participants demonstrate ability to perform basic DeFi actions on Cardano.
Close-Out Report and Video completed under Catalyst guidelines and approved by the team.
Positive feedback from at least 80% of participants on course effectiveness.
Evidence of Completion
Session slides, guides, and recordings.
Quiz and practical exercise results for all sessions.
Screenshots/logs of participant DeFi actions (staking, transactions).
Completed Close-Out Report and Close-Out Video.
Participant feedback forms and attendance records.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
7000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Category Description Amount (ADA)
Content Creation Slides, videos, tutorials, quizzes, and guides 6,000
Instructor & Staff Fees Payment for instructors, mentors, and support staff 7,000
Platform & Tools Online course platform, hosting, software, licenses 2,500
Marketing & Outreach Social media campaigns, university partnerships 2,500
Logistics for Workshops Venue (if in-person), materials, refreshments 3,000
Project Close-Out Report creation, video production, Catalyst deliverables 1,500
Contingency Fund Miscellaneous / unforeseen expenses 500
Total: 22,000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project represents excellent value for Cardano because 22,000 ADA will fund a full educational program that directly builds the ecosystem in Mexico. For this investment, Cardano will gain:
500+ new educated users who understand DeFi and Cardano tools.
300+ new wallets created, increasing on-chain adoption.
Community growth through workshops, university partnerships, and social media outreach.
Long-term impact as participants become ambassadors, spreading knowledge and onboarding more users.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Erick Valadez – Project Lead & Cardano Ambassador (Mexico)
Erick leads the project as a Cardano Ambassador in Mexico, bringing expertise in blockchain education, community engagement, and event coordination. He oversees curriculum development, course delivery, and participant outreach, ensuring the project meets Catalyst’s goals and drives adoption of Cardano in Mexico.