[Proposal setup] Proposal title
Please provide your proposal title
Women’s Blockchain Hackathon Ecuador
[Proposal Summary] Budget Information
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
58000
[Proposal Summary] Time
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
4
[Proposal Summary] Translation Information
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
Yes
Original Language
es
[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement
What is the problem you want to solve?
Talented women developers in Ecuador often lack spaces to collaborate, explore blockchain, and turn their expertise into innovative tools that create real social impact
[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation
Supporting links
[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?
Yes
License and Additional Information
MIT
[Theme Selection] Theme
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Hackathons
[Campaign Category] Category Questions
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.
- Target: 50 – 100 Women software developers in Ecuador eager to gain hands-on blockchain experience, particularly those without access to collaborative learning spaces in Cardano.
- Reach: 2 months publicity via social media (X, Instagram), Engaging participants via universities (5 university) using Soraya’s networks, tech communities, women-focused developer networks, and digital outreach, ensuring diverse geographic and socio-economic representation.
- Why it matters: Empowers female talent, accelerates Cardano adoption, fosters social innovation, and builds a strong.
Provide a list of key activities of your project?
- Finalize roadmap, secure venue in Quito, and confirm expert mentors.
- Conduct outreach via social media, universities, and women developer networks; build an active online community.
- Host an intensive in-person hackathon with mentorship, prototyping, demos, final pitches, and ADA awards.
- Publish outputs on GitHub, connect teams with incubators, and support top projects for real-world implementation.
What are your success metrics?
- Education & Awareness: 100-150 participants, 80%+ knowledge increase (pre/post surveys).
- **Community Engagement: **50-100 attendees, 1,000-2,000 social reach, 100+ Discord members.
- Grassroots Growth: 10-20 ideas, 5+ Catalyst Fund 15 proposals.
- Onboarding: 50+ new wallets, 3+ university/tech hub partnerships.
- Feedback: 80%+ positive testimonials, 20%+ social media growth.
[Your Project and Solution] Solution
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Context
In Ecuador, many professional women developers have talent and programming skills, but they lack structured spaces to learn and apply blockchain technologies. This gap limits their ability to innovate and contribute to social impact projects through new technological tools.
Solution
This project proposes a women-only hackathon, to be held at a university in Quito over the course of one full week. The first 4 days will be dedicated to practical learning, covering among other topics Cardano, the eUTxO model, Aiken, and the use of Cardano-CLI, providing participants with solid foundations and concrete tools to work with the technology.
The remaining days will focus on collaborative work, with direct mentorship from experts in the Cardano ecosystem. In this space, participants will design sketches and initial outlines of social impact solutions, rather than fully developed prototypes, considering the complexity of the technology. The process will include integration activities, feedback sessions, and final presentations to share results.
With this methodology, the hackathon not only bridges the training gap in blockchain but also promotes the tangible adoption of Cardano, strengthens female leadership in the tech industry, and creates an active community of women developers with the potential to scale their ideas beyond the event.
[Your Project and Solution] Impact
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This women-only hackathon in Ecuador will empower Value for the Cardano Community
This project directly strengthens the Cardano ecosystem by creating a structured, inclusive, and replicable model of education and collaboration for women developers in Ecuador. By providing one full week of training and mentorship, it empowers participants to understand and use Cardano’s unique technological features such as the eUTxO model, Aiken, and Cardano-CLI.
The hackathon expands Cardano adoption in three ways:
- Capacity Building: It creates a new group of women developers with practical knowledge of the Cardano ecosystem, lowering entry barriers and increasing the pool of contributors.
- Diversity and Inclusion: By focusing on women developers, it addresses a key underrepresented group in blockchain, diversifying the community and strengthening Cardano’s global narrative of inclusion.
- Community Growth in Latin America: Ecuador and the wider region are emerging markets where blockchain adoption is still limited. Training women developers creates local ambassadors for Cardano who can expand the ecosystem organically into new universities, startups, and NGOs.
The long-term value lies not only in individual skills, but also in the creation of a professional community capable of scaling knowledge, fostering innovation, and applying Cardano to socially relevant use cases.
Measuring the Impact
Impact will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively:
Quantitative Metrics:
- Number of participants trained (target: 50+).
- Hours of structured training delivered (minimum 30 hours).
- Number of sketches or solution outlines produced during the hackathon (target: 10+).
- Number of mentors and experts involved (target: 5–7).
- Engagement in online community spaces (Discord/Telegram) before, during, and after the event.
Qualitative Metrics:
- Participant feedback surveys on learning outcomes and satisfaction.
- Mentor evaluations of participants’ understanding of Cardano tools.
- Case studies documenting how participants continue to engage with Cardano after the hackathon (e.g., contributions to GitHub repos, local meetups, or Catalyst proposals).
- Observed collaboration and knowledge-sharing between experienced and beginner developers during team activities.
Sustainability & Legacy
To ensure that the hackathon creates long-term value beyond the one-week event, we will implement a structured post-event plan:
Community Continuity: Creation of a bilingual (Spanish/English) Discord channel connected with Cardano Women Global to maintain engagement and link participants with the broader ecosystem.
Replication Toolkit: Development of an open-source Hackathon Toolkit that documents the methodology, materials, and lessons learned, enabling replication in other Latin American countries such as Peru and Colombia.
Mentorship Follow-Up: A three-month mentorship program with at least one monthly check-in per team, designed to support participants in refining their ideas, preparing future Catalyst proposals, and continuing their blockchain journey.
[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?
Team Capabilities
- Technical Expertise: The project is supported by developers with strong Cardano experience and active relationships with Latin American experts in Aiken smart contracts, the eUTxO model, and CLI operations. This network ensures the training and hackathon content remains accurate, practical, and highly relevant.
- Educational Experience: The core team has organized and facilitated more than 20 blockchain workshops and events in Ecuador and Paraguay, reaching hundreds of students and professionals. We are skilled in creating accessible, high-quality educational materials and guiding participants with different levels of technical knowledge.
- **Community Engagement: **We maintain strong relationships with grassroots organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions, which will ensure a diverse group of participants and sustained interest beyond the hackathon.
Partnerships & Local Support
We have secured support from key networks that provide credibility and outreach capacity:
Red de Mujeres de la Amazonía: A strong grassroots network advocating for women’s empowerment and inclusion.
Movimiento Sociales de Mujeres: Local women’s movements that bring visibility and ensure the event connects to broader gender equity initiatives.
Fundación Mujeres Luminosas: An established foundation supporting women’s leadership and training opportunities.
Universities in Quito: Through this network, we have direct access to multiple universities in the city, allowing us to secure venues, recruit participants, and collaborate with academic communities
[Milestones] Project Milestones
Milestone Title
Strategic Planning & Logistics
Milestone Outputs
- Roadmap finalized with clear objectives, activities, and delivery dates.
- Venue in Quito secured with signed agreements and logistical details.
- Travel and accommodation plan designed for mentors and staff.
- Expert mentors (3–5) confirmed and integrated into project plan.
- Participant integration and onboarding plan developed
Acceptance Criteria
- Approved and validated roadmap with milestones and deliverables clearly outlined.
- Signed contracts for venue and accommodation confirming feasibility.
- At least 3–5 expert mentors officially confirmed and committed to participation.
- Complete travel and housing plan documented and aligned with event logistics.
Evidence of Completion
- Signed agreements for venue and accommodation.
- Confirmation emails or contracts from expert mentors.
- Logistical planning document covering transport, accommodation, and event operations.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
15000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Outreach & Recruitment
Milestone Outputs
- Social media campaign designed and launched across major platforms.
- University visits completed with direct outreach to women developer networks.
- Application portal created and open for participant registration.
- Active Discord/Telegram communities established for ongoing communication.
- Cardano technologies and use cases finalized, validated, and shared on GitHub
Acceptance Criteria
- At least 100 applications received, with 50+ qualified participants identified.
- Active engagement in Discord/Telegram with consistent discussions and activities.
- Outreach campaign running across social platforms with measurable reach.
- Cardano-related educational materials reviewed and made publicly available.
Evidence of Completion
- Application lists with eligibility notes and selection criteria applied.
- Screenshots and analytics from campaign posts (reach, impressions, CTR).
- Community activity logs from Discord/Telegram (joins, posts, engagement).
- Public GitHub repo containing finalized learning materials and use-case notes
Delivery Month
2
Cost
10000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Hackathon Week (In-Person, Quito)
Milestone Outputs
- One-week in-person hackathon with a structured daily agenda and checkpoints.
- Teams collaborate on sketches/outlines of social-impact solutions (not full prototypes).
- Continuous expert mentorship, daily integration activities, midweek demos, final pitches.
- ADA awards granted to top teams to encourage continuity.
Acceptance Criteria
- ≥50 active participants attend on-site throughout the week.
- ≥10 documented solution sketches/outlines with problem, approach, and next steps.
- Mentorship schedule executed and mentor feedback captured per team.
- Final judging completed with criteria applied and winners announced.
Evidence of Completion
- Verified attendance sheets and daily check-in records.
- Team folders or repos with solution outlines, diagrams, and artifacts.
- Demo/pitch recordings (midweek and finals) with agenda and running order.
- Judging scorecards, rubric, and official winners’ announcement; mentor logs and feedback
Delivery Month
3
Cost
30000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Post-Hackathon Follow-Up & Scaling
Milestone Outputs
- All hackathon outputs and training materials consolidated and shared on GitHub.
- Ongoing mentorship and introductions to incubators/accelerators.
- Feedback collected from participants, mentors, and partners; lessons learned compiled.
- Shortlist of projects with paths to continue (meetups, Catalyst, pilots).
Acceptance Criteria
- 100% of team outputs (sketches, code, docs) uploaded and organized in public repos.
- ≥70% of participants remain engaged in community channels 30 days post-event.
- Final report published with outcomes, metrics, and recommendations to replicate.
- Clear next-step plans for top teams, including mentor or incubator follow-ups.
Evidence of Completion
- GitHub org with structured repositories, READMEs, and contribution guidelines.
- Post-event survey results and debrief notes with action items.
- Calendar notes/minutes from follow-up sessions with teams and partners.
- Public webinar or blog summarizing results with links to all artifacts and next steps
Delivery Month
4
Cost
4800
Progress
100 %
[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
**Publicity **
- Social media campaigns targeting universities and tech communities: 3,000 ADA
- Design and printing of promotional materials (posters, flyers): 3,000 ADA
Subtotal Publicity: 6,000 ADA
**Logistics **
- Venue rental for 5 days: 6,000 ADA
- Travel and accommodation for 3 international experts: 8,000 ADA
- Meals and daily allowances for participants and experts: 3,000 ADA
- Transportation for participants (local transport): 1,000 ADA
- Equipment rental: projectors, sound systems: 2,000 ADA
- Subscriptions for virtual tools and platforms (Zoom, collaboration software): 0 (covered by open-source tools or partners)
Subtotal Logistics: 20,000 ADA
**Prizes **
- ADA awards for top 3 solution sketches: 9,000 ADA
- Certificates and recognition gifts for all participants: 1,000 ADA
Subtotal Prizes: 10,000 ADA
**Platform/Workshops **
- Workshop setup (labs, environments, materials for Aiken, eUTxO, CLI): 2,000 ADA
Subtotal Platform/Workshops: 2,000 ADA
**Mentors/Speakers **
- Honoraria for international and regional experts: 10,000 ADA
- Pre-event preparation meetings and content development: 2,000 ADA
Subtotal Mentors/Speakers: 12,000 ADA
**Contingency/Admin **
- Event insurance, unforeseen expenses: 3,000 ADA
- Administrative costs: coordination, communications, documentation: 5,000 ADA
Subtotal Contingency/Admin: 8,000 ADA
[Final Pitch] Value for Money
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The investment of 58,000 ADA is a justified and strategic use of funds because it creates measurable, lasting value for the Cardano ecosystem while remaining proportional to local costs. In Ecuador and Latin America, professional event organization, international travel, and expert facilitation carry significant expenses, but this budget remains lean compared to similar international hackathons.
The allocation prioritizes direct impact: most resources are invested in logistics, mentorship, and prizes that directly benefit participants. Costs such as venue rental, travel, and accommodation are essential to bring qualified mentors and ensure professional conditions for a one-week event of this scale. Prizes (10,000 ADA) are critical to incentivize participants to remain active beyond the hackathon.
From a labor-cost perspective, mentor fees and administrative expenses are aligned with regional freelance rates, which are significantly lower than in North America or Europe, making this project highly cost-efficient. A similar event in the US or EU would likely exceed three times this budget.
The expected results clearly outweigh the costs: training 50+ women developers, producing 10+ solution sketches for social impact, building an active Cardano women’s community, and expanding adoption in Latin America. Beyond short-term outcomes, this initiative seeds long-term contributors, Catalyst proposers, and local leaders for Cardano.
Thus, the budget of 58,000 ADA is not only reasonable but represents high leverage for the growth, inclusion, and sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem.
[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation
Terms and Conditions:
Yes