Prisma Argentina Action-Learning Journey

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Prisma Argentina Action-Learning Journey

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

60000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

5

[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?

Cardano faces a critical shortage of skilled developers building real-world applications on the platform, particularly in places like Latin America.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://docs.prisma.events/patterns/action-learning%20journeys
,
• https://prisma.events

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

Our project has several dependencies: Local partner organizations (Wingu and Semillero Digital) for community outreach and venue coordination. Cardano community groups and Stake Pool Operators for technical mentorship. Third-party software tools including Zoom, Vercel, Luma, and LLM services for which we have necessary licenses. Venue availability at El Origen Hub in Buenos Aires Participant recruitment from local technical communities and universities

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

Team projects will be made available on GitHub.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Incubator

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

We're targeting developers, systems change practitioners, artists, and community leaders. We aim to work with people that are engaged in making positive impact, and will follow that up with the entrepreneurial drive to disrupt the status quo. We find these people through our partner impact networks. This is important for Cardano as Cardano wants real-world use-cases, and what's realer than forming and resourcing action-led teams at the grassroots level?

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

• Enrolment: registration, onboarding calls, stakeholder alignment, collective envisioning
• Ground-potentialising: activating on-the-ground hubs as the foundational role holding the process of the action-learning journey and the ongoing story-making that will continue beyond the end of the programme.
• Enaction: action design, experiential learning, creating the conditions for self-organising, adapting and facilitating with the emergence.
• Evaluation: communicating the underlying practice that was being applied and distributing resources via community-led evaluands.

What are your success metrics?

Quantitative metrics:

1. Developer Onboarding: 30-50 participants complete the ALJ, with at least 80% submitting a final project
2. Project Development: At least 3 functional prototypes deployed on Cardano testnet, with 3+ expected to move to mainnet within 3 months
3. Community Engagement: 500+ community members participating in ALJ case environment

On-Chain Metrics:

Transaction Volume: 500+ testnet transactions generated during the ALJ

Address Growth: 50+ new Cardano addresses created by participants

Smart Contract Deployments: 3-5 unique smart contracts deployed for the ALJ

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Our proposed solution addresses the problem through an Action-Learning Journey that combines technical education, community building, and real-world application development. We perceive the core problem as a disconnect between Cardano's technical capabilities and its practical adoption in solving real community challenges, particularly in emerging markets.

Our approach is grounded in participatory design and regenerative development principles. We begin by creating a "social container" where diverse participants—developers, social innovators, community leaders, and technical experts—can collaborate effectively. This container is built through a series of facilitated processes that establish trust, shared purpose, and collective intelligence. Through active exploration, participants can identify possible themes with their communities to enable growth and development.

The ALJ consists of three main phases:

1. Enrollment and Grounding (September 2025): We'll establish partnerships with local organizations, recruit participants, and begin a "Sense of Place" process that connects technical development with local context. This phase includes community mapping, stakeholder analysis, and problem identification to ensure that the technical work addresses real needs.
2. Intensive Learning and Co-Design (November 10-22, 2025): A 15-day intensive where participants dive deep into Cardano development while working in teams to design solutions for identified challenges. This includes technical workshops on Plutus and Marlowe, design thinking sessions, and iterative prototyping. The intensive is hosted at El Origen Hub, which provides an environment conducive to creative collaboration and connection with nature.
3. Hackathon and Integration (November 24, 2025): A culminating hackathon where teams finalize their prototypes and present them to the broader community. This event expands participation beyond the core ALJ cohort, creating opportunities for wider community engagement and feedback.

What makes our solution unique is the integration of technical education with regenerative development principles. We're not just teaching people how to code on Cardano; we're cultivating a new generation of developers who understand how to leverage blockchain technology for positive social and ecological impact. This aligns perfectly with Cardano's vision of enabling positive global change.

The primary beneficiaries of our project are:

1. Local Developers: Who gain skills and experience in Cardano development
2. Community Organizations: Who receive technical solutions to address their challenges
3. Cardano Ecosystem: Which gains new developers, real-world use cases, and geographic diversity
4. Latin American Blockchain Community: Which becomes more connected to the global Cardano network

This project is important to Cardano because it addresses several strategic needs simultaneously: expanding the developer base, creating real-world use cases, increasing geographic diversity, and demonstrating Cardano's value for social impact.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Our project will have a significant positive impact on the wider Cardano community in several ways:

1. Developer Growth: By onboarding 30-50 new developers with hands-on experience in Cardano development, we're directly addressing one of the ecosystem's most critical needs. These developers will become ongoing contributors to Cardano's growth, creating new projects and supporting existing ones.
2. Real-World Use Cases: The projects developed during the ALJ will demonstrate Cardano's applicability to real community challenges, moving beyond theoretical applications to show concrete value. These use cases will serve as inspiration and reference points for other developers in the ecosystem.
3. Geographic Expansion: By focusing on Argentina and Latin America, we're helping to diversify Cardano's global presence, creating a more resilient and representative ecosystem. This expansion will open new markets and use cases specific to the region.
4. Knowledge Sharing: Through ChatALJ and our documentation efforts, we're creating a persistent knowledge base that will benefit the entire Cardano community, lowering barriers to entry for future developers and accelerating innovation.
5. Cross-Sector Collaboration: Our interdisciplinary approach will bring new perspectives and expertise into the Cardano ecosystem, fostering collaboration between technologists, social innovators, and community organizers.

We will actively engage the Catalyst community throughout the project using the new Fund14 Community Review module. We will:

• Share regular progress updates and solicit feedback
• Invite community members to participate in review sessions
• Incorporate community suggestions into our iterative development process
• Make our work visible and accessible through our Case Study environment

We will measure this impact through:

• Quantitative Measures: Number of developers onboarded, projects created, documentation produced, and community members engaged
• Qualitative Measures: Participant feedback, project impact assessments, and ecosystem integration metrics
• Community Engagement: Active participation in Community Review module, feedback incorporation rates, and collaborative development activities

We will share our outputs through multiple channels:

• Public documentation on GitHub and the Cardano Forum
• Presentations at Cardano community events and Summits
• Webinars and workshops sharing the ALJ methodology and learnings
• Open-access curriculum materials that can be used by other Cardano education initiatives
• Our Case Study envrionment, which will be freely accessible to the entire Cardano community
• Regular updates through the Catalyst Community Review module

The success of our project will bring value to the Cardano community by creating a replicable model for developer onboarding that can be adapted to other regions, establishing Cardano as a platform for social impact applications, and strengthening the ecosystem's presence in Latin America.

[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 team has demonstrated capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability through our successful implementation of the Cardano Catalyst Fund 13 ALJ in Accra, Ghana. That project, which received 100,000 ADA in funding, was completed on time and within budget, delivering all promised outputs and receiving positive feedback from participants and community members.

Our existing capabilities include:

1. Proven Methodology: The Action Learning Journey framework has been tested and refined across multiple contexts, including the Cardano ecosystem. We have a clear, replicable process that has been documented and can be effectively implemented in Argentina.
2. Technical Expertise: Our team includes experienced blockchain developers and technical educators who understand Cardano's architecture and can effectively teach others to build on it. Tobias Fechner, our Project Lead, has extensive experience in software development and systems thinking.
3. Local Partnerships: We have established relationships with key organizations in Argentina, including Wingu and Semillero Digital, who will provide local context, community access, and logistical support.
4. Educational Design: Delfina Terrado, our Lead Experience Designer, has 15+ years of experience in creating effective learning experiences that build collective intelligence and technical skills.
5. Evaluation Framework: Shikhar Argawahl, our Evaluation Lead, has developed robust methods for measuring impact and learning, ensuring we can validate our approach and demonstrate results.
6. Ecosystem Integration: Noah Grant, our Web3 Fundraising & Partnerships lead, has deep experience in the blockchain space and understands how to connect our work with broader ecosystem goals.

To validate our approach's feasibility, we will:

• Conduct regular check-ins with our Cardano community advisors throughout the project
• Implement iterative development processes that allow for course correction based on feedback
• Use participatory evaluation methods that involve community members in assessing progress
• Maintain transparent communication with the Catalyst community through regular updates and the new Community Review module

We have established financial management processes that ensure proper handling of funds, including:

• Clear budget tracking and reporting
• Separation of financial responsibilities among team members
• Regular financial reviews and audits
• Transparent reporting to the Catalyst community

Our previous success with Cardano Catalyst Fund 13 demonstrates our ability to deliver on our commitments with accountability and transparency. We are confident in our capacity to implement this project effectively and create meaningful value for the Cardano ecosystem.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Partner Engagement & First On-Site

Milestone Outputs

• Signed partnership agreements with Wingu, Semillero Digital, and local Cardano groups
• Participant recruitment strategy and materials
• Initial onboarding session conducted
• "Sense of Place" learning process initiated with community mapping

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 3 formal partnership agreements in place
• Recruitment strategy documented and materials distributed
• Minimum of 10–15 core participants onboarded
• Initial community mapping and contextual analysis completed

Evidence of Completion

• Copies of signed partnership agreements
• Recruitment strategy document and outreach materials
• Attendance records from onboarding session
• Community mapping documentation and photos

Delivery Month

1

Cost

15000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

First Onsite Intensive & Ideation

Milestone Outputs

• First in-person gathering held at El Origen Hub
• Technical workshops on Plutus, Marlowe, and eUTXO conducted
• Teams formed and engaged in problem identification and ideation
• Evaluation framework co-developed with participants

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 2–3 technical workshops successfully delivered
• Minimum of 3–5 project teams established
• Problem statements and ideation outputs documented
• Evaluation framework approved by participants

Evidence of Completion

• Workshop agendas, slides, and attendance logs
• Team lists and project problem statements
• Draft evaluation framework document
• Photos/videos from in-person gathering

Delivery Month

2

Cost

15000

Progress

40 %

Milestone Title

Second Onsite Intensive & Prototyping

Milestone Outputs

• Advanced technical workshops and mentoring sessions delivered
• Functional prototypes developed on Cardano testnet
• Peer feedback sessions conducted
• Initial integration of learnings into ChatALJ knowledge base

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 2 advanced workshops conducted with >80% participant attendance
• Minimum of 3 working prototypes deployed on Cardano testnet
• Peer feedback documented for each project
• Evidence of ChatALJ knowledge base update

Evidence of Completion

• Workshop materials, mentoring session notes, and attendance logs
• Links to deployed testnet prototypes
• Feedback reports from peer review sessions
• Screenshots or documentation of ChatALJ integration

Delivery Month

4

Cost

15000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Hackathon & Project Completion

Milestone Outputs

• Hackathon event hosted with community participation
• Final project presentations and feedback sessions conducted
• Prizes awarded to selected projects
• ChatALJ knowledge base fully updated with learnings
• Closeout report submitted

Acceptance Criteria

• Hackathon with at least 30 participants and community attendance
• All teams present completed projects
• Clear evaluation and award process implemented
• Final version of ChatALJ updated with complete documentation
• Closeout report delivered to Catalyst

Evidence of Completion

• Hackathon agenda, attendance records, and media (photos/videos)
• Final project presentations and feedback forms
• List of awardees and judging criteria
• Final updated ChatALJ knowledge base documentation
• Copy of final completion report

Delivery Month

5

Cost

15000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Personnel Costs (60,000 ADA)

• Core Team (5 members): 45,000 ADA
  • Project Lead: 10,000 ADA
  • Experience Designer: 10,000 ADA
  • Community Builder: 7,500 ADA
  • Evaluation Lead: 7,500 ADA
  • Partnerships Lead: 10,000 ADA
• Local Facilitators: 10,000 ADA
• Technical Mentors: 5,000 ADA

Venue and Production (20,000 ADA)

• El Origen Hub rental: 12,000 ADA
• Event production and setup: 5,000 ADA
• Materials and supplies: 3,000 ADA

Technology and Infrastructure (10,000 ADA)

• Software licenses and services: 4,000 ADA
• Development tools and platforms: 3,000 ADA
• ChatALJ development and hosting: 3,000 ADA

Hackathon Prizes (5,000 ADA)

• Prize pool for outstanding projects: 5,000 ADA

Marketing and Outreach (3,000 ADA)

• Promotional materials: 1,500 ADA
• Community engagement: 1,500 ADA

Documentation and Reporting (2,000 ADA)

• Documentation and knowledge sharing: 1,000 ADA
• Final report and video: 1,000 ADA

--

Total: 100,000 ADA

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

• Leveraging Previous Investment: Our methodology has already been developed and tested through the Cardano Catalyst Fund 13 ALJ in Accra. This project builds on that foundation, requiring less investment in methodology development and focusing resources on implementation and expansion.
• Multiplicative Impact: The 60,000 ADA investment will onboard 30-50 developers who will continue to contribute to the Cardano ecosystem long after the project ends. If each developer creates just one project or contributes to an existing one, the return on investment multiplies significantly.
• Cost-Effective Model: At approximately 1,428-1,667 ADA per participant, our program is highly cost-effective compared to traditional developer education programs, which often cost significantly more per developer trained.
• Geographic Expansion: By establishing Cardano's presence in Latin America, we're opening a new market with millions of potential users and developers. The long-term economic value of this expansion far exceeds the initial investment.
• Knowledge Infrastructure: The Case Study environment created through this project will remain as a permanent resource for the entire Cardano community, lowering barriers to entry for future developers and accelerating innovation.
• Competitive Rates: Our budget is based on reasonable rates for the region. Personnel costs reflect local wage standards in Argentina, where technical expertise is available at more competitive rates than in North America or Europe.
• Leveraged Partnerships: We're maximizing impact by working with established local organizations (Wingu and Semillero Digital) who are providing in-kind support and resources, reducing the overall cost to Catalyst.
• Proven Success: Our previous Catalyst project demonstrated a clear return on investment, with participants continuing to develop Cardano projects and contribute to the ecosystem. This track record suggests a high likelihood of success and impact.

The costs in our budget are proportional to the scope and impact of the project. We've prioritized direct program delivery while minimizing administrative overhead. The investment in personnel ensures high-quality facilitation and technical support, which are critical to the success of the learning journey. The venue and production costs reflect the need for a physical space that can accommodate intensive collaborative work, which is essential to our methodology.

Overall, this project represents a strategic investment in Cardano's growth that will yield returns in developer capacity, real-world use cases, geographic expansion, and ecosystem knowledge.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes