Last updated 7 months ago
Africa’s blockchain talent lacks access to education, incubation, and funding, leaving innovators without the tools to build impactful solutions or connect to global ecosystems like Cardano.
We don’t stop at awareness. we push youth to build, ship, and own on Cardano. From first wallet to first MVP, NextChain is where Ethiopia starts creating, not just learning.
This is the total amount allocated to NextChain – Empowering 10,000 Youth & Startups into Web3.
Please provide your proposal title
NextChain – Empowering 10,000 Youth & Startups into Web3
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
55000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
10
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Africa’s blockchain talent lacks access to education, incubation, and funding, leaving innovators without the tools to build impactful solutions or connect to global ecosystems like Cardano.
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 educational content, hackathon resources, and toolkits will be open source under the MIT License, ensuring free access, reuse, and contribution for the Cardano and wider Web3 community.
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: Ethiopian students, developers, and startups in universities and tech hubs.
Reach: On-campus workshops, hackathons, startup pitch events, partnerships with universities and local tech groups.
Why it matters: Drives grassroots Cardano adoption, fosters wallet creation & ADA transactions, builds a strong regional community, and creates long-term collaborations with local institutions.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
Educational Sessions: 15+ university workshops & hackathons.
Participants: Train 1,000+ students, developers & startups.
Retention: Follow-up mentoring & incubation for 40%+ of participants.
Impact: Pre/post surveys to measure 50%+ knowledge gain on Cardano tools, wallets, and dApps, driving real adoption and ecosystem growth in Ethiopia.
What are your success metrics?
Success metrics include forming 5+ new Cardano community groups, hosting 20+ events/meetups with 1,500+ attendees, achieving 50%+ participant retention, collecting 100+ testimonials, growing social media by 5,000+ followers, and adding 1,000+ new members to mailing lists/online channels, with consistent engagement and activity post-program to ensure long-term ecosystem impact in Ethiopia.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
NextChain Africa will deliver a 10-month nationwide Web3 education and incubation program in Ethiopia, combining workshops, university tours, hackathons, and startup support. By equipping 10,000+ students, developers, and entrepreneurs with Cardano skills, tools, and practical projects, we directly address the lack of structured blockchain education and ecosystem growth. This solution fosters wallet adoption, builds local developer capacity, and forms sustainable community hubs that continue driving Cardano’s presence beyond the program.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
NextChain Africa will expand Cardano’s footprint in Ethiopia by onboarding 10,000+ new users, fostering 50+ local blockchain startups, and training 500+ developers. Impact will be measured through wallet creations, ADA transactions, event participation, startup launches, and survey-based knowledge gains. Success will bring long-term value by establishing a skilled, connected community actively building on Cardano. Outputs—curricula, recordings, reports—will be openly shared via Cardano community channels, social media, and partner networks to maximize adoption and collaboration.
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?
we have extensive experience leading blockchain and Web3 initiatives across Ethiopia, including large-scale events, educational programs, and partnerships with key stakeholders such as MINT, ABI, and the Ethio Blockchain Network. I’ve successfully delivered high-impact community programs like Cardano Unleashed and AfroChain, ensuring measurable onboarding and engagement outcomes. I will validate feasibility through pilot training sessions, partner support, and clear milestones. Funds will be managed personally with transparent reporting, milestone-based delivery, and publicly shared progress to maintain trust and accountability.
Milestone Title
Program Launch & Initial Outreach in Ethiopia
Milestone Outputs
For this milestone, the deliverables will include:
Fully developed and launched NextChain Africa brand identity (logo, visuals, website landing page).
Outreach toolkit (presentations, flyers, digital promo materials) tailored for Ethiopian audiences.
Partnership agreements with at least 5 universities and tech hubs.
Completion of 4 physical info sessions in Addis Ababa and regional cities.
Onboarding of 200+ participants registered in the NextChain Africa program.
Acceptance Criteria
Success for this milestone will be achieved when:
The NextChain Africa brand and landing page are live and publicly accessible.
Outreach materials are completed, distributed, and used in events.
At least 5 formal partnership MOUs with universities/tech hubs are signed.
4 physical info sessions are successfully hosted with a combined attendance of 200+ participants.
Participant registration data is verified and stored for program tracking.
Evidence of Completion
Evidence will include:
Screenshots and live URL of the NextChain Africa landing page.
Copies of all outreach materials (digital and print).
Signed MOUs/agreements with partner universities/tech hubs.
Event photos, videos, and attendance sheets from all 4 info sessions.
Registration database showing participant sign-ups with timestamps.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
15000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Developer & Startup Training Cohort Launch
Milestone Outputs
Launch the first NextChain Africa developer and startup training cohort in Ethiopia, delivering a full curriculum on Cardano basics, blockchain development, and decentralized application building to at least 50 participants, including mentorship and project incubation support.
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum of 50 participants enrolled and actively attending training sessions.
At least 80% of participants complete the full curriculum.
Each participant builds and presents a functional Cardano-based project or prototype.
Positive feedback from at least 70% of participants via post-training surveys.
Evidence of Completion
Attendance records and participant lists.
Completed training materials and recorded sessions.
Submission of each participant’s Cardano-based project demo.
Post-training survey results and feedback reports.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
15000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Project Development & Mentorship Phase
Milestone Outputs
Delivery of fully developed MVPs from participating startups, refined with mentor feedback. Compilation of a portfolio showcasing each team’s project, use case, and integration plan within the Cardano ecosystem.
Acceptance Criteria
At least 5 functional MVPs completed and demonstrated.
Each MVP shows clear integration or interaction with Cardano tools or infrastructure.
Positive evaluation from mentors and judges based on functionality, innovation, and usability.
Portfolio compiled and ready for public sharing.
Evidence of Completion
Video demonstrations of all 5 MVPs in action.
Public repository links containing code and documentation.
Written evaluation reports from mentors and judges.
Published portfolio page showcasing MVPs and their use cases, accessible to the Cardano community.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
10000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Final Demo Day, Evaluation & Community Integration
Milestone Outputs
Deliverables include a high-profile demo day showcasing participant projects to the Cardano community, local stakeholders, and potential investors; feedback reports from judges; onboarding of top projects into ongoing Cardano ecosystem initiatives; and a final impact and outcomes report.
Acceptance Criteria
Success will be achieved when the demo day is hosted with at least 10 finalist projects presented, over 100 attendees (in-person and online) engaged, comprehensive feedback is provided to all participants, and a final report is submitted documenting outcomes, impact metrics, and next steps for selected projects.
Evidence of Completion
Evidence will include event recordings (video and photos) of the demo day, a published list of finalist projects, attendance records for both in-person and online participants, participant feedback forms, media coverage or social media posts from the event, and the final written report summarizing outcomes and impact metrics.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
15000
Progress
20 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Budget & Cost Breakdown (Total: 55,000 ADA)
Outreach & Marketing – 8,250 ADA
Social ads, PR, campus mobilization, community promos to drive registrations.
Educational Content – 7,333 ADA
Localized Cardano curricula, toolkits, slides, video lessons (Amharic & English).
University Tour & Workshops – 12,833 ADA
Travel, venues, trainer stipends, equipment for 10+ campuses.
Hackathon & Pitch Competition – 9,167 ADA
Prize pool, mentors, tech setup, hybrid streaming and facilitation.
Partnership Engagement – 4,583 ADA
Activations with EYEA, universities, hubs; stakeholder roundtables.
Media & Documentation – 4,583 ADA
Livestream, photography, recap videos, post‑event assets for community.
Project Management & Reporting – 3,667 ADA
Coordination, budgeting, milestone tracking, public reports to Catalyst.
Contingency – 4,584 ADA
Buffer for unforeseen costs to protect delivery quality.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The 55,000 ADA budget directly drives measurable grassroots adoption of Cardano in Ethiopia — a country with a fast-growing tech scene but limited blockchain entry points.
Costs are proportional to local market rates: skilled trainers and event staff in Ethiopia typically earn $400–$600/month, venue rentals range $150–$300/day, and media production averages 40% less than global freelance rates, ensuring high output for modest spend.
Every budget line ties to tangible deliverables — 10+ university workshops, a national hackathon, localized Cardano learning materials, and partnerships with EYEA, MINT, and 10+ universities — all aimed at creating thousands of wallets, transactions, and on-chain projects. By investing here, Catalyst funds will unlock a lasting developer and entrepreneur pipeline in a low-cost, high-impact market, yielding far more adoption per ADA than in more saturated regions.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Project Team
Edomiya Girmay – Project Lead (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/edomiya/))))
Oversees overall project execution, manages stakeholder relations, ensures milestones are met, and leads impact measurement and reporting.
Dawit Mulugeta – Technical & Developer Community Lead (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davamg744663?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app))))
Coordinates developer outreach, hackathon organization, and technical mentorship. Leads blockchain-focused workshops and ensures integration of Cardano tools and resources.
Lidya Solomon – Partnership & Sponsorship Manager (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidya-solomon-645b53192?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app))))
Drives partnership engagement, secures sponsorships, manages exhibitor relations, and coordinates with community collaborators.
Kahsu Abera – Event Operations & Marketing Director (LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kahsu-abera?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app))))
Oversees event logistics, marketing campaigns, and promotional content creation. Ensures high visibility through media, social channels, and university networks.
Collaborators & Institutional Partners
Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MINT) – Strategic partner for policy support and blockchain ecosystem integration.
Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association (EYEA) – Partner for youth engagement and startup participation.
Ethiopian Universities Network (10+ universities) – Hosts workshops, developer tracks, and outreach programs across Ethiopia.
The Chain Hub – Partner for technical training and blockchain incubation.
Skills Gaps to be Filled:
If needed, we may recruit additional technical trainers with expertise in Cardano smart contracts and data analysts for impact reporting to enhance delivery and scalability.
Yeneta blockchain academy. Delivering quality training