Last updated a month ago
Cardano seeks to expand credible, on-the-ground builder pipelines in Latin America that connect ecosystem teams to public-sector partners and impact use-cases.
Run a Latin America residency with Cardano and other protocols to train builders, enrich knowledge, and connect teams with partners, expanding pipelines for real-world blockchain impact.
Please provide your proposal title
Funding the Commons Buenos Aires Residency
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
60000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
4
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Cardano seeks to expand credible, on-the-ground builder pipelines in Latin America that connect ecosystem teams to public-sector partners and impact use-cases.
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 outputs will be fully open source under MIT license, including documentation, educational materials, project templates, and collaboration frameworks. We have open-sourced all previous residency projects from 2023 and 2024, and are committed to an open source ideology and mandate.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Incubator
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
We're targeting 25 international public goods builders, including from the Cardano ecosystem. We'll reach builders through FtC's global network, Gitcoin, and blockchain communities, while engaging local communities via Mauro Andreoli, Lucas Macchiaveli, SEED Latam, and Aleph Crecimiento. This matters for Cardano because it creates a pipeline of skilled builders developing real-world applications on Cardano, strengthens the Argentina ecosystem, and demonstrates the platform's capability for public goods innovation.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
• 3-week intensive residency for 20 international builders
• Daily collaborative work sessions
• Prototypes of impactful projects developed
• Community integration events with local ecosystem
• Educational workshops on Cardano development
• Project showcase and presentation events
• Documentation and knowledge sharing
• Partnership building between international and local builders
What are your success metrics?
• 20 participants complete full 3-week program, including 2+ Cardano builders
• 20 documented public goods projects with code repositories
• 12+ community events and workshops held, including 1+ Cardano-specific workshop
• 5+ projects continue development post-residency
• 3+ ongoing partnerships between international and local builders
• 3+ projects secure additional funding within 6 months
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
The Funding the Commons Buenos Aires Residency addresses a critical gap in Latin America's blockchain ecosystem by creating the region's first dedicated space for international public goods builders to collaborate on solutions related to topics such as sustainability, governance, identity, compliance, impact evaluation, funding allocation, etc. This initiative leverages Argentina's emerging position as a blockchain innovation hub, evidenced by IOG's recent Buenos Aires office opening, the hosting of Cardano's Constitutional Convention, and the execution of Argentina's first legally enforceable blockchain-based contract by local ambassadors.
Our solution brings together 25+ carefully selected builders from around the world who are developing projects related to access to basic financial services, humanitarian aid systems, climate finance, privacy & compliance, identity, and governance of digital public goods & commons. These participants are chosen through a competitive application process that evaluates technical capability, project potential, willingness of the participant to engage in peer-to-peer mentoring, diversity of skill sets, and alignment with public goods principles. Priority is given to projects that can benefit from cross-cultural collaboration and have potential for real-world impact in Latin American contexts.
At least two of the builders would be sourced from the Cardano ecosystem, and mentors from Cardano Foundation and IOHK would be invited to access to the space, and given the opportunity to give workshops to builders.
The three-week intensive program will be structured around four core focus areas that reflect the most pressing needs in the public goods space. Climate action and environmental sustainability projects will include carbon credit verification systems, biodiversity monitoring platforms, and regenerative agriculture tools. Governance innovation projects will explore new models for decentralized decision-making, community coordination, and resource allocation. Sustainable finance projects will develop impact measurement tools, regenerative funding models, and economic systems that align incentives with positive outcomes. Basic financial services projects will focus on providing access to the global financial system for marginalized populations through decentralized solutions for identity, wallets, payments, micro-credit, remittances, inflation-resistant savings accounts, and fiat on/off ramps.
If invited to, the program would leverage Input Output Global's Buenos Aires office as an auxiliary workspace, providing builders with access to professional facilities, technical infrastructure, and direct engagement opportunities with IOG team members working on Cardano's core development. This would ensure that projects developed during the residency can take advantage of Cardano's on-the-ground presence.
Local community integration will be facilitated through partnerships with established Cardano ambassadors Mauro Andreoli and Lucas Macchiavelli, who have demonstrated leadership in the Argentina blockchain community. Regular weekly events will showcase resident projects, gather feedback from local stakeholders, and create opportunities for ongoing collaboration beyond the residency period. These events will strengthen connections between international participants and local builders, potentially leading to long-term partnerships.
The residency will emphasize projects that address challenges relevant to Latin American contexts while having global applicability. This includes solutions for financial inclusion in regions with limited banking infrastructure, tools for managing natural resources facing environmental pressures, and governance systems that can operate effectively in varying institutional contexts. By grounding the work in real regional needs, the program ensures outputs will have immediate relevance and adoption potential.
Documentation and knowledge sharing will be integral to the program's design, ensuring that insights and innovations benefit the broader public goods community. Participants will maintain detailed project logs, contribute to shared knowledge repositories, and participate in regular reflection sessions that capture lessons learned and best practices. This documentation will be made available to the global community, creating a valuable resource for future public goods builders.
The program will culminate and conclude with a public showcase event bringing together participants, local community members, public sector representatives, and international builders in town for DevConnect and Protocol Labs’ LabWeek, both commencing in Buenos Aires around the final dates of the residency.
What makes our solution unique is its combination of Funding the Commons' established network and experience in incubating public goods funding projects with Argentina's emerging blockchain infrastructure and community. FtC has successfully organized over 13 conferences, 2 hackathons and 2 residencies globally, building a network of thousands of public goods builders and establishing partnerships with leading organizations across web2, web3, institutional philanthropy, and the public sector. This residency will be the first to specifically focus on Latin American contexts.
The project will benefit multiple stakeholder groups within the Cardano ecosystem. Builders will gain access to collaborative workspace, technical mentorship, and cross-cultural perspectives that enhance their project development. The local Cardano community will benefit from knowledge transfer, international connections, and increased visibility for Argentina's blockchain ecosystem. The broader Cardano community will benefit from innovative public goods projects that showcase the platform's capabilities for addressing real-world challenges.
This initiative is important to Cardano because it demonstrates the community’s commitment to supporting public goods while expanding its presence in a strategically important region. Argentina represents a significant growth opportunity for blockchain adoption, due to its unique context of traditional financial systems failing to meet the needs of the broader public, combined with a friendly regulatory environment for blockchain innovation. By supporting public goods innovation in this context, Cardano positions itself as a platform that enables positive impact while strengthening its builder community regionally.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The Funding the Commons Buenos Aires Residency will create significant positive impact for the Cardano community through multiple interconnected outcomes that strengthen the ecosystem's position as a leading platform for public goods innovation and sustainability solutions.
The primary impact will be the development of innovative public goods projects that showcase Cardano's capabilities for addressing real-world challenges. A cohort of builders working intensively for three weeks will produce tangible prototypes. These prototypes can serve as case studies demonstrating how Cardano's blockchain can be leveraged to create positive social and environmental impact.
Community building represents another crucial impact dimension. The residency will strengthen connections between international builders and the Argentina Cardano community, creating relationships that can endure beyond the program period. Local ambassadors Mauro Andreoli and Lucas Macchia will gain exposure to an international builder cohort while sharing their expertise in navigating Latin American contexts. This knowledge exchange will enhance the local community's capacity to support future blockchain innovation while providing international builders with insights into emerging market opportunities locally.
By collaborating with local ambassadors, the program will enhance Cardano's presence and reputation in Latin America, a region with enormous potential for blockchain adoption.
Knowledge creation and sharing can provide lasting value to the global Cardano community. Project documentation, educational materials, and collaboration frameworks developed during the residency will be made freely available under open source licenses. This creates a valuable resource library that future builders can use to accelerate their own projects and replicate successful approaches in other contexts.
We will measure impact through both quantitative and qualitative metrics that capture the residency program's comprehensive outcomes. Our Impact Report People database tracks quantitative measures including project completion rates, career advancement (job placements, leadership roles), follow-on funding secured, awards and recognition received, and ongoing community connections among residents. We monitor Impact Report Projects database metrics such as projects launched into production, GitHub repository activity and reuse, partnership formations, and funding milestones achieved.
Qualitative assessment includes participant testimonials, career impact narratives, and connection outcomes that demonstrate long-term value creation. We measure sustained engagement through follow-up evaluations tracking residents' continued involvement in the public goods ecosystem, their ongoing collaboration networks, and the evolution of their projects beyond the residency period. This comprehensive approach enables us to document both immediate program outputs and lasting impact on builders' careers and the broader public goods funding landscape.
Qualitative impact measurement will focus on the depth and quality of projects developed, the strength of partnerships formed, and the broader community response to the program. We will conduct interviews with participants and local Cardano ambassadors to understand how the residency influenced their perspectives and future plans. Case studies of the most impactful projects will showcase concrete examples of value creation.
The outputs and opportunities resulting from this project will be shared through multiple channels. Project documentation will be published on GitHub and a Notion project showcase dashboard, making it freely accessible to the global community. A comprehensive impact report will be published and distributed via Funding the Commons website, newsletter, and social channels.
Video documentation of the residency experience and project presentations will be created and shared on YouTube and other platforms to provide visual storytelling that can inspire future participants and supporters. A Cardano ecosystem builder will be highlighted in a professionally produced “Open Conversations video.
The public demo day showcase event at the end of the residency will be recorded for future reference, and for distribution across Funding the Commons media channels.
The projects, partnerships, and knowledge created through this residency have the potential to continue generating value long after the program concludes, establishing a foundation for ongoing collaboration and innovation in the region.
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?
Funding the Commons possesses exceptional capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability, demonstrated through our established track record of organizing successful builder events including hackathons and builder residencies, and producing viable prototypes through those builder events that have gone on to raise grant and venture funding.
Over two years of running hackathons and residencies, we have a network and database of 1000+ high quality builders enthusiastic about the mission of Funding the Commons. Beyond builder events, our organization has successfully organized thirteen international conferences, having engaged more than 10,000 participants from across the blockchain, public sector, academia, and web2 ecosystems. These events have consistently delivered high-quality programming, networking opportunities, and tangible outcomes for participants. Our experience includes managing complex logistics, coordinating international speakers, sponsors, partners, mentors and participants, coordinating international and local production teams alongside local vendors that we source and vet, and creating environments that foster peer production.
The leadership team brings deep expertise in blockchain, events production, and startup incubation/venture. Our founder has been actively involved in various blockchain communities since 2015 including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Celo, and Filecoin, with a particular focus on incubating public goods focused startups.
Our financial management capabilities are demonstrated through successful stewardship of funding from multiple sources, including grants and funding from Protocol Labs, Optimism Foundation, Stellar Foundation, NEAR Foundation, Human.Tech, Brave, Giveth, and Springer Nature. We have consistently delivered projects on time and within budget while maintaining transparent reporting and accountability to funders and communities.
Our application and selection process for residency participants is rigorous, ensuring that we attract builders with both technical capability and genuine commitment to public goods development and peer mentoring.
The three-week timeframe is optimal for intensive collaboration while remaining manageable from logistical and financial perspectives. This duration allows sufficient time for meaningful project development while avoiding the cost associated with longer-term programs, and the logistical difficulty of a builder leaving their established life for extended periods.
Risk mitigation strategies are built into our project design to address potential challenges. All of our team members speak Spanish, and half of our team lives in Latin America, providing cultural and linguistic expertise that will facilitate smooth operations.
Weekly check-ins with participants will identify any issues early and enable rapid response. Communication with local partners will ensure that community integration proceeds smoothly and that concerns are addressed.
Our commitment to transparency and accountability includes detailed financial reporting, and comprehensive documentation of all activities and outcomes. We will maintain public project logs and provide a final report that details expenditures, activities, and progress toward stated objectives.
Our organization maintains professional relationships with accounting and legal service providers who can provide additional oversight and compliance support as needed. We carry appropriate insurance coverage and maintain corporate governance structures that ensure responsible stewardship of funds and adherence to applicable regulations.
Milestone Title
Partnership Establishment and Program Setup
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
1
Cost
18000
Progress
70 %
Milestone Title
Residency Program Execution
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
2
Cost
18000
Progress
70 %
Milestone Title
Final Milestone: Impact Documentation and Community Reporting
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
3
Cost
24000
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Personnel and Operations (20,000 ADA - 33%)
Participant Support and Accommodation (15,000 ADA - 25%)
Venue and Event Costs (16,000 ADA - 27%)
Marketing, Documentation, and Media (6,000 ADA - 10%)
Contingency and Reporting (3,000 ADA - 5%)
Third-Party Services Professional video production services will be contracted by Funding the Commons for high-quality documentation of the residency experience and project presentations. Translation services may be required for community events and documentation to ensure accessibility for both English and Spanish speakers.
The budget reflects costs in the Buenos Aires market, with accommodation and venue costs based on current market rates for professional spaces and quality accommodation suitable for international participants.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project represents exceptional value for money for the Cardano ecosystem through multiple dimensions that deliver both immediate and long-term benefits significantly exceeding the 60,000 ADA investment.
The cost per participant for a three-week intensive program is highly competitive compared to similar blockchain education and development programs globally. Traditional blockchain bootcamps and accelerators typically cost $5,000-15,000 per participant, making our program cost-effective while providing more comprehensive support and longer duration engagement.
The geographic arbitrage of operating in Buenos Aires provides excellent value compared to similar programs in North American or European markets. Accommodation, venue, and operational costs in Buenos Aires are 40-60% lower than comparable cities while maintaining high quality standards. This allows us to support more participants and provide better experiences within the same budget.
The multiplier effect of public goods development creates value that extends far beyond the immediate program participants. Each of the projects developed during the residency has potential to benefit thousands or millions of users globally. Public goods projects typically generate 10-100x returns on investment through their positive externalities and network effects.
Knowledge creation and documentation outputs provide lasting value to the entire Cardano community. The educational materials, collaboration frameworks, and project templates developed during the residency will be freely available for future use, creating a resource library that can support hundreds of future builders at minimal additional cost.
The strategic positioning value for Cardano in Latin America represents significant long-term return on investment. Latin America's blockchain market is projected to grow 40% annually over the next five years, and establishing Cardano as a reputable platform for public goods innovation positions the ecosystem to capture market share in this growth.
Our cost structure prioritizes direct value creation over administrative overhead, with 65% of the budget allocated to participant support, venue costs, and program delivery. Only 10% is allocated to marketing and documentation, ensuring maximum impact per ADA spent. The 5% contingency allocation is conservative and reflects our experience managing similar programs within budget.
This investment will generate returns through increased Cardano presence in Latin America, increased exposure of the Cardano ecosystem to top builders from other ecosystems, the formation of relationships between Cardano ecosystem members and members of other communities both within and beyond web3, enhanced reputation for supporting public goods innovation, the production and distribution of a high-quality short feature video on the Cardano ecosystem from a third-party perspective. It will also create opportunities for direct engagement with local government through problem-discovery sessions we are organizing with policymakers, leveraging our existing relationships to explore real-world adoption pathways. Additional long-term value will come from Cardano-based prototypes and pilots launched in the region, open-source resources and developer onboarding materials, new NGO and institutional partnerships, the recruitment of local technical talent, and the establishment of an ongoing regional hub that continues to generate collaborations, integrations, and network effects well beyond the residency period.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
David Casey (LinkedIn)%5D(https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcasey/))) - Strategic Director
David will oversee strategic direction, stakeholder relationship management, and partnership development. He brings extensive experience in blockchain ecosystem and project incubation from a decade in the industry spanning across startup, corporate, venture, consulting and advisory, including to government and international institutional bodies. David will be responsible for relations with IOG Buenos Aires office and local Cardano ambassadors, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and community needs.
Anna Medina - Operations Manager and Program Coordinator LinkedIn: N/A
Anna will manage day-to-day operations, participant coordination, and logistics management. Her experience in event management and international program coordination makes her ideally suited to handle the complex logistics of bringing together international participants for an intensive residency program. Anna will oversee accommodation arrangements, daily programming, and community event coordination.
Charlotte Fradet (LinkedIn)%5D(https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottefradet/overlay/about-this-profile/))) - Event Production
Charlotte is a community builder and event producer dedicated to systemic change, specializing in creating innovative spaces that blend precise logistics with authentic community engagement. She has extensive experience leading diverse events—from co-living residencies to interdisciplinary summits—bringing strong coordination, adaptability, and relational leadership to foster meaningful collaboration and impact.
James Farrell (LinkedIn)%5D(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespfarrell/))**) will lead the technical curation of the residency and design the overall program structure. His expertise in Web3, privacy-preserving technologies, and public goods funding makes him ideally suited to guide participants in developing impactful, technically robust projects. James will oversee project selection, mentor matching, and the creation of a technical support framework, ensuring that participants have the resources, infrastructure, and guidance needed to bring their ideas from concept to deployment
Tereza Bízková (LinkedIn)%5D(https://www.linkedin.com/in/tereza-bizkova/))**) - Builder community lead + content production
Tereza will lead builder community engagement and content creation for the residency. She brings a rich background in community marketing, storytelling, and strategic communications at the intersection of blockchain and socio-economic impact. She has designed and executed programs that connect diverse stakeholders, grow engaged builder communities, and produce high-quality, accessible media content. Tereza will oversee community engagement with residency participants - including at least two Cardano ecosystem teams - manage content production and distribution, and ensure that the residency experience is documented and shared to maximize its reach across both Cardano and broader public goods ecosystems.
Technical Mentorship Network - Through our partnerships with various web3 protocols and foundations, we will access technical mentors who can provide specialized guidance to builders. IOG team members will be invited to join our mentor cohort.
The technical requirements for this project are well within our team's capabilities, as the focus is on program coordination and community building rather than complex technical development. Our experience organizing similar intensive programs provides confidence in our ability to manage the logistical and coordination challenges involved.