DevX Code & Conquer Series: Powered by Cardano

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

DevX Code & Conquer Series: Powered by Cardano

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

58638

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

6

[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?

We want to build a strong Cardano developer network across Africa, starting in Nigeria. The goal is to help teams go beyond the bootcamp and turn their ideas into real products that grow the ecosystem

[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?

No

License and Additional Information

The products built by participants during the bootcamp will be open source. We believe this is important to encourage collaboration, allow others to learn from the work, and contribute to the Cardano ecosystem.

Additionally, all media content (including our YouTube series and promotional materials) will be publicly accessible and aimed at growing ecosystem awareness. Our priority is transparency, impact, and contributing meaningfully to Cardano’s developer growth.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Education

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

We are targeting talented Nigerian developers, particularly:

• Builders with little to no Cardano experience.
• Developers currently building on other chains (Ethereum, Solana, etc
• Emerging founders and startup teams.

Reach them through:

• Outreach to existing developer networks and associations (NACOS, Web3Nigeria, GDG Uyo, Chainspace, TGIB).
• Social media campaigns, paid ads, and partner-led promotions.

This matters because it:

• Onboards new technical talent into the ecosystem.
• Produces more open-source projects.
• Increases Cardano’s in Africa.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

Key Activities in the Project

• Finalize planning, partnerships, curriculum, and infrastructure.

• Launch application portal and run nationwide developer recruitment campaign.

• Host info sessions and Q&As to engage potential participants.

• Select and onboard 20 top developers.

• Run a 1-week in-person reality-style bootcamp with gamified learning and mentorship sessions.

• Conduct a 2-month product sprint with weekly mentorship and workshops.

• Host a Developer Summit + Demo Day with networking, exhibitions, and awards.

• Publish a Project Close-out Report

What are your success metrics?

Success Metrics

• At least 200 applications and 20 selected participants.

• 10 functional, open-source MVPs deployed on Cardano.

• Reality series and content achieving 20,000+ views across platforms.

• At least 50% of participants continue building on Cardano six months after program completion.

• Secure formal collaboration with at least 5 key ecosystem partners

• Secure 5+ speakers, mentors, or judges for the bootcamp and summit.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Problem Perception

Cardano has built a strong foundation, but like many emerging ecosystems, it still faces challenges in attracting and retaining active developers, especially in fast-growing regions like Africa. In Nigeria, there's a large pool of talented builders working on real-world solutions, but many are unfamiliar with Cardano's tools or don’t see a clear path into the ecosystem. Most onboarding efforts rely on text-heavy documentation or isolated community platforms, which can feel intimidating or disconnected. What’s missing is a fun, engaging, and rewarding way to learn, build, and belong.

Why This Approach

We’re not trying to reinvent learning, we’re just making it more real, more fun, and more connected to how people actually grow. Nigerian developers don’t need another whitepaper or endless docs. They need to see what’s possible, get their hands dirty, and feel like they’re part of something bigger.

This program brings learning to life. The bootcamp is practical, the rewards make it exciting, and the YouTube series shows the world that Cardano isn’t just for a niche group, it’s for everyone willing to build. By giving builders a platform, community, and real outcomes, we’re not just onboarding them, we’re giving them a reason to stay, grow, and tell others. That’s how ecosystems thrive.

Proposed Solution

We’re creating a new kind of builder experience, one that’s fun, rewarding, culturally visible, and deeply Cardano-native.

Here’s what we’ll do:

1. Scout and Select Developers in Nigeria: We’ll launch a national call for applications to attract talented product builders, engineers, and Web3 developers across Nigeria. From this pool, we’ll select the top 20 to participate in the full program.
2. Host a One-Week In-Person Bootcamp: These 20 developers will be brought together for a hands-on, immersive learning experience focused on Cardano development. We’ll use a gamified curriculum, where participants earn points and rewards for completing tasks, collaborating, and shipping small prototypes.
3. Launch a Two-Month Product Sprint: After the bootcamp, participants will be paired into 10 teams. Each team will spend the next two months building a viable, Cardano-based product. We’ll support them with mentorship, check-ins, and technical guidance throughout.
4. Document Everything Through a Reality-Style YouTube Series: The full experience, from selection to product launch, will be turned into a high-quality YouTube reality series. We’ll follow the builders, their stories, and their challenges, while also educating and inspiring viewers about Cardano. This brings the ecosystem into the mainstream and shows the human side of Web3 innovation.
5. Organise a Founders Summit + Demo Day: Before the final showcase, we’ll host a summit that brings together top founders from Web2 and Web3 to share insights and inspire our builders. The summit will also be aimed at educating these founders about building on Cardano and the benefits. The program will then end with a public exhibition, where all 10 teams will present their final products and receive awards based on creativity, usefulness, and impact.

Expected Benefits

• Developer Adoption: We will onboard 20 new developers and expose hundreds more through applications and outreach.
• Ecosystem Growth: 10 open-source projects will be built on Cardano, increasing activity, code availability, and use cases.
• Cultural Visibility: The YouTube series will bring Cardano into new spaces and introduce it to thousands of non-crypto audiences across Africa and beyond.
• Long-Term Builders: Through mentorship and exposure, we will help promising teams move from idea to MVP to real ventures within the Cardano ecosystem.
• Global Replication: The full program will be documented and open for other communities to adapt in their own regions.

The Project Will Target:

• Talented developers from web3 dev hubs in Nigeria who have a track record of building digital products but have little to no experience with Cardano.

• Builders already active on other chains like Ethereum and Solana who are curious about new ecosystems, but need a reason to switch.

• Emerging founders and startup teams who are looking for new infrastructure to build real, scalable solutions.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

This project helps Cardano grow in real, lasting ways, not just with hype, but by building people, products, and stories that stick. Here’s what that looks like:

• **New Builders in the Ecosystem: **We’re expecting over 500 developer applications across Nigeria. From that pool, we’ll select 20 skilled builders to go through the program. Most already build on other chains. After this experience, many of them will be building their next projects on Cardano, and they’ll bring their communities along too.

• Open Source Contributions: At least 10 MVPs will be built and published as open-source projects by the end of the program. These aren’t throwaway hackathon ideas. They’re real tools that others in the Cardano ecosystem can learn from, use, and build on.

• Making Cardano visible beyond crypto Twitter: Through our YouTube reality series, we’ll be documenting the full journey of these developers (their stories, challenges, and wins), to reach thousands of viewers outside traditional blockchain platforms. That kind of cultural visibility matters for long-term adoption.

• Increased Ecosystem Diversity: We’ll help onboard a new wave of African builders, talented Nigerian developers solving real-world problems. Right now, most of them don’t consider Cardano. This project changes that and brings in perspectives that are often missing in Web3.

• **Community Showcase and Ecosystem Connection: **The program ends with a public demo day and a founders summit that brings together founders and builders from Web2 and Web3. It gives our teams real exposure, opens doors to future opportunities, and shows the broader world what building on Cardano really looks like.

[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?

Our Capability to Deliver

We’ve spent the last two years building technical communities, onboarding developers, and driving blockchain adoption across Africa. So far, we’ve reached and engaged over 50,000 users on Cardano via the Olympus Insights, including both developers and non-technical contributors. Our team brings deep expertise in developer relations, community engagement, and ecosystem storytelling, and we’re already doing this work both within and beyond the Cardano ecosystem.

Team Expertise

Our team includes experienced organisers, builders, and facilitators who’ve contributed to multiple blockchain initiatives. For example, Joseph Pius, one of our core members, is the Nigerian Country Manager for Olympus Insight, a project built on Cardano. Another teammate, Samson Anthony, served on the organising committee of Sandbox 25, a Cardano developer bootcamp that successfully onboarded 100 devs with 25 products going live on Cardano. We bring that same energy and experience to this project.

Execution Experience

We’ve hosted and contributed to high-impact events across Nigeria, including:

• Olympus Technical Workshops and local meetups

• Ibom Blockchain Conference (South-South’s largest tech event), where we served as knowledge partners

• Edo Tech Week, Innovate 24/25, and the Lisk Hackathon

These events weren’t just for show, they featured hands-on workshops, panels, and active product building, all of which contribute directly to developer activation.

We’ve also grown Olympus Insight’s presence in Africa, helping to onboard over 50,000 users to Cardano, including both developers and non-technical contributors.

Developer Community Partnerships

We already collaborate with several grassroots developer networks, including:

- NACOS (Nigeria Association of Computing Students) -[https://x\.com/nacosnational](https://x.com/nacosnational) 



- Web3Nigeria -[https://x\.com/Web3Nigeria](https://x.com/Web3Nigeria) 



- RootHub - [https://x\.com/Theroothub](https://x.com/Theroothub) 



- Google Developer Group (GDG) - [https://x\.com/Theroothub](https://x.com/Theroothub) 



- Teen Girls in Blockchain (TGIB) - [https://x\.com/GirlsBlockchain](https://x.com/GirlsBlockchain) 



- Chainspace - [https://x\.com/ChainspaceHQ](https://x.com/ChainspaceHQ) 



- For the Love of DeFi - [https://x\.com/FTLDOfficial\_](https://x.com/FTLDOfficial_) 

These partnerships give us immediate access to engaged technical audiences, physical venues, and co-organising support.

Sustainable, Long-Term Approach

This project is built to seed ongoing developer communities. With mentorship, follow-up support, and content that lives on past the bootcamp, we aim to make Cardano a long-term home for African builders.

• Our Commitment to Trust and Transparency

• Responsible Fund Management

• We work with structured, itemised budgets that undergo internal review before any spending.

We follow a milestone-based disbursement approach,funds are only released as we meet clearly defined goals.

All expenses and receipts are logged and shared in public reports.

Transparent Updates & Public Logs

• We’ll post frequent updates via Twitter, YouTube, and Medium, including milestone completions and event footage.

• We’ll share progress reports monthly, with both financial and deliverable summaries.

• Third-Party Oversight: We will collaborate with trusted community figures and ecosystem veterans for feedback and post-project evaluation.

This provides an extra layer of assurance and insight for the broader Catalyst community.

How We’ll Validate Feasibility

• Pre-Bootcamp Onboarding: All selected participants will complete a short but hands-on preparatory course to get familiar with Cardano development tools and terminology.

• Experienced Mentorship: We’ll bring in Cardano-native mentors (including past Catalyst grantees and contributors) to guide teams in areas like smart contract deployment, UX, and governance.

• Plug-and-Play Infrastructure: Thanks to our existing network and partnerships, we already have access to training venues, mentor pools, and local dev communities to ensure a smooth rollout.

Tangible Metrics

Success will be measured through:

• Number of MVPs and GitHub submissions

• Number of wallets created

• Participants retained after bootcamp

• On-chain engagement and community involvement

• Ongoing mentorship and project growth

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Planning, Setup, and Ecosystem Alignment (Month 1)

Milestone Outputs

Objective: Finalize planning, partnerships, and infrastructure.

Key Milestones:

• Onboard mentors and technical advisors.
• Scout and confirm venue(s), virtual infrastructure, and logistics for bootcamp (AirBNB), summit and exhibition (500-seater Hall).
• Finalize gamified learning curriculum tailored for Cardano.
• Launch awareness campaigns and teaser content to generate interest.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria for Success of Milestone

• Minimum of 4 confirmed mentors and 3 technical advisors onboarded.
• Finalized curriculum document tailored for Cardano-specific learning objectives.
• Includes clearly defined modules, activities, and assessment methods.
• Bootcamp accommodation venue (Airbnb) confirmed with payment deposit made.
• Summit & exhibition venue (500-seater hall) reserved and initial deposit made.
• Minimum of 5 teaser content pieces (videos, posters, blog posts) published across selected channels.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion

• Signed MoUs or formal email confirmations from at least 5 mentors and 3 technical advisors.
• Rceipts for Airbnb accommodation for bootcamp participants.
• Receipts for 500-seater hall for summit & exhibition.
• Share final curriculum document (PDF or shared doc)
• Copies or links to at least 5 published teaser content pieces (videos, social media posts, blogs).
• Analytics report showing ≥5,000 impressions within the first 2 weeks.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

14132

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Call for Applications + Developer Selection (Month 2)

Milestone Outputs

Objective: Attract, screen, and onboard a diverse pool of committed Nigerian developers.

Key Milestones:

• Open public applications through a simple landing page, with eligibility criteria and program overview.

• Promote call across developer communities, social media, campuses, and partner platforms.

• Review applications and shortlist 20 developers based on motivation, basic skillset, and diversity.

• Welcome selected developers and provide pre-bootcamp onboarding materials.

Acceptance Criteria

• Application portal and smart landing page launched with functional submission form, automated confirmations, and tracking in place.
• Confirmation agreement with developer communities and partners.
• All applications reviewed against predefined selection criteria and top 20 developers shortlisted.

Evidence of Completion

• Live links to the application portal and smart landing page with analytics reports showing visits and submission

• Documented review notes and final shortlist of the top 20 developers.

• Confirmation agreement with developer communities and partners.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

13740

Progress

10 %

Milestone Title

Developer Bootcamp, Product Development, Mentorship & Community Integration (Month 3 - 5)

Milestone Outputs

Objective: Guide participants through an engaging, gamified learning experience on Cardano and support top teams as they develop real-world Cardano dApps.

** Key Milestones:**

• Begin structured bootcamp using a gamified point system (XP, quests, and technical challenges).

• Facilitate weekly learning tracks, hands-on tasks, and group collaboration.

• Monitor individual performance, participation, and progress.

• Form 10 teams to begin building functional mini-projects.

• Deliver advanced technical sessions on smart contracts, tooling, and security.

• Assign each team a mentor to guide them through development hurdles.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria

• 1-week bootcamp completed with training sessions, quests, and mentor feedback loops

• Weekly mentorship sessions and guest workshops delivered, with feedback collected and community review conducted.

• Finalised a list of 10 teams from 20 selected developers.

• Host Q & A sessions between the mentors and developers.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion

• Bootcamp reports with published links across social media platforms to videos from the reality series.

• Report of Q&A sessions hosted between mentors and developers

Delivery Month

5

Cost

6084

Progress

10 %

Milestone Title

Developer Summit, Demo Day & Exhibition (Month 6)

Milestone Outputs

Objective: Celebrate progress, showcase projects, and connect developers with the broader ecosystem.

Key Milestones:

• Host the Developer Summit:

• Speakers from Web2 and Web3 Founders and Builders physically.

• Talks from Cardano founders and regional partners.

• Live demo showcase from all 10 project teams.

• Public exhibition and networking between developers, builders, and investors

• Announce and reward the top 3 projects based on innovation, relevance, and usability.

• Capture summit highlights for future use (content, PR, case studies).

Acceptance Criteria

• Developer Summit hosted with physical participation from Web2 and Web3 founders, builders, Cardano representatives, and regional partners.

• All team present on the exhibition and demo day.

• Live demos conducted by all project teams during the summit.

Evidence of Completion

• Attendance records, and photos/videos showing participation of speakers, partners, and attendees.
• Recordings or documentation of the event.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

19979

Progress

10 %

Milestone Title

Documentation and Reporting

Milestone Outputs

• Draft a Project Close-out Report, which includes participant details, KPIs, achievements, feedback and next steps.
• Create detailed documentation covering the developer reality series.
• Ensure consistency and clarity in formatting.
• Finalize and promote the documentation.
• Compile all activities to create a Project Close-out Video showcasing achievements and deliverables

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria:

• Project Close-out Report completed, including participant details, KPIs, achievements, feedback, and next steps.
• Detailed documentation of the developer reality series created with clear, consistent formatting.
• Documentation promoted through agreed channels to reach the target audience.
• Project Close-out Video produced, highlighting key achievements, deliverables, and overall impact.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion:

• Published documentation.
• Uploaded Project Close-out Report
• Public link to the Close-out Video.

Delivery Month

6

Progress

10 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Planning, Setup, and Ecosystem Alignment (14,132 ADA)

• Consultation fee & payment for training sessions – 3,953 ADA (4 mentors @ 142 ADA per session for 7 sessions), Technical advisors – 2,118 ADA (3 advisors @ 589 ADA per month for 2 months): Total cost - 6,071 ADA
• Bootcamp lodging (Airbnb) – 5883 ADA 500-seater hall booking for Summit & Exhibition - 589 ADA: Total cost - 6,472 ADA
• Gamified curriculum design - 589 ADA Developer tooling & tracking dashboard setup - 1000 ADA: Total cost - 1,589

Milestone 2: Call for Applications & Developer Selection (13,737)

• Web design & hosting - 942 ADA Tracking & analytics setup – 236 ADA: Total cost - 1178 ADA
• Media & Blog partner acquisition - 2000 ADA KOLs and Media Influencers- 4147 ADA: Total cost - 6147 ADA
• Community partnerships (NACOS, GDG Uyo, Web3Nigeria, Chainspace, TGIB) - 118 ADA Outreach CRM & coordination tools - 235 ADA: Total cost - 353 ADA
• Bootcamp branding & Physical starter packs (merch, materials) – 1647 ADA
• Pre-booking for Catering & logistics - 4,412 ADA

Milestone 3: Developer Bootcamp, Product Development, Mentorship & Community Integration (6,084 ADA)

• Transport stipends for 20 devs to and from the Bootcamp - 3,765 ADA
• Leaderboard development - 706 ADA XP & rewards distribution - 942 ADA: Total cost - 1,648 ADA
• Documentation & reporting - 671 ADA

Milestone 4: Developer Summit, Demo Day & Exhibition (19,979 ADA)

• Flights & ground transport - 2,539 ADA Accommodation - 1,765 ADA: Total cost - 4,124 ADA
• Guest logistics & hospitality - 2,942 ADA
• Total cash prize for winners - 9,412 ADA
• Live stream & recording, AV crew - 1,412 ADA
• Booth fabrication - 883 ADA Branding materials - 1,206 ADA: Total cost - 2,089 ADA

Project Management and Coordination - 4,706 ADA

• Project Manager - 1,177.5 ADA
• Technical Lead - 1,177.5 ADA
• Community, Content and Partnership Manager - 1,177.5 ADA
• Digital Media & Design Co-ordinator -1,177.5 ADA

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

This project offers strong value for money by focusing on a core challenge in the Cardano ecosystem: attracting, educating, and retaining African developer talent while making the journey visible and aspirational. With a total budget of 58638 ADA, we’re not just running a bootcamp. We’re launching a full ecosystem activation that combines product building, mentorship, storytelling, and community engagement.

One of the unique value drivers is the reality-style content series that runs alongside the bootcamp. This isn’t just education behind closed doors. We’ll spotlight the personal journeys of selected developers, from application to product launch. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes look into the real hustle of African devs (their wins, struggles, pivots, and breakthroughs). Viewers will witness how ideas evolve into Cardano-powered products, and how the ecosystem supports builders through mentorship, technical learning, and collaboration.

This storytelling approach humanizes Cardano and makes it relatable to other aspiring devs watching from the sidelines. It also encourages healthy competition and community support within the cohort, as participants will see themselves not just as learners but as role models.

Beyond the bootcamp, the Developer Summit takes things even further. We’ll bring in Web2 founders who are already building successful products and introduce them to Cardano’s infrastructure and funding opportunities. Through live demos, ecosystem showcases, and private workshops, we’ll actively encourage them to explore how they can either transition or extend their solutions to Cardano. It’s not just about the current 20 developers. It’s about inspiring dozens of established builders to join the ecosystem with fresh ideas and working code.

We’re also being deeply intentional about cost efficiency. With our pre-existing partnerships across top developer communities and student bodies in Nigeria, we’re cutting down outreach and venue costs without compromising quality. Instead of spending heavily on visibility, we’re channeling funds toward building long-term value, from reusable curriculums and open-source projects to media content that can be repurposed by Cardano entities worldwide.

When you break it down, we’re spending less than 2,941 ADA per developer to take them from beginner to product launch, while building a content engine that continues to inspire others beyond the immediate cohort. That’s not just cost-effective. It’s a strategic investment in talent, tools, and visibility for Cardano in one of the fastest-growing developer markets in the world

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes