[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Aquara: The World’s First Decentralized Water Fund

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

68000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

8

[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?

Water is life, yet corporations and closed institutions control it. As supplies run out, billions suffer. The world needs a fair way to decide how water is valued and protected.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://aquara.io
,
• https://github.com/AquaraOfficial/aquara-dao
,
• https://app--aquara-governance-portal-84163bcd.base44.app
,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zaSm0HRqofiqqE2vp_2DebN9n7Hu7M7S/view?usp=sharing
,
• https://linktr.ee/AquaraOfficial

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

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

Yes

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

We’re in talks with trusted Cardano developer partners. These discussions have shaped our budget, scope, and roadmap.

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

Aquara’s main code, like smart contracts and governance tools, will be open source and shared on GitHub. We will use the MIT license so anyone can see, use, and help improve the project. This keeps things clear, safe, and open to the community.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

DAO

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).

Putting Water in the People’s Hands

Aquara is the world’s first decentralized water fund — where people, not corporations or billionaires, decide how water assets is funded, protected, and managed. Using Cardano, we make decisions transparent and give everyone a real voice. By combining blockchain treasury tools with community voting, Aquara offers a new model for funding and governing water, one of Earth’s most important resources.

Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.

Aquara’s MVP is a governance portal where users can connect their Cardano wallets, view proposals, and vote on decisions about water assets and projects. It will show how our on-chain governance works, using a virtual treasury and the AQA token on Cardano. The portal will be available on our website, and all code, templates, and test results will be open-source on GitHub.

Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.

Success means delivering the AQA token and a working MVP governance portal by Month 5, launching the DAO pilot, and achieving 500+ pilot participants with at least 20% active voter turnout. We aim for 2–4 DRep endorsements, 2,000+ twitter followers by Month 6, and transparent on-chain participation data. All code and progress will be shared via monthly GitHub updates, with analytics dashboards tracking voter activity, proposal counts, and participation rates throughout the pilot.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Water Belongs to Everyone, Lets Keep It That Way

Aquara is a new way to fund and protect the world’s most important resource: water. Today, water is being bought and sold like stocks, with Wall Street and private companies treating it as ‘blue gold.’

For the first time, anyone — from a farmer in Kenya to a teacher in Denmark — can have a real say in how water assets are funded, valued, protected, and shared.

With Aquara, water governance is open to everyone — transparent, participatory, and accountable, instead of decided behind closed doors by governments, corporations, or billionaires.

Our solution is to bring water asset and the governance of them onto the blockchain using the Cardano network. With our AQA token, anyone can take part in transparent, online voting about real issues - from which water infrastructure and technology to fund, to what water start-ups to invest in, to which NGOs to support.

With Catalyst funding, we’ll deliver:

• The AQA token (Cardano native asset)
• A governance portal where people can connect their wallets, see proposals, and vote
• A pilot program that simulates real-world decisions using a virtual treasury (no real funds at risk)
• Public reports and open-source code so anyone can check, learn, and contribute

A full DAO simulation plan — including interactive UI mock-ups and governance models — is already available on our GitHub.

💻 Check out our GitHub repo here: https://github.com/AquaraOfficial/aquara-dao

DAO Proposal Lifecycle

Governance Portal (Mock-Up UI)

The full Governance Portal UI are available at: https://app--aquara-governance-portal-84163bcd.base44.app

Why it works

• All decisions are open and verifiable
• Everyone can have a voice, no matter where they live
• The pilot rewards participation, building early trust and engagement
• Long-term, Aquara offers exposure to the water economy and a model that can expand to other public resources

See how Aquara works in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFZ48x9umt8&t=12s

Token Utility

Aquara turns water assets from something controlled by a few into something managed by all — openly, fairly, and together. It’s not just a better system — it’s a completely different one.

👉 Interested in learning more about Aquara and our vision? Explore our ‘Start Here’ document https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zaSm0HRqofiqqE2vp_2DebN9n7Hu7M7S/view

🌊 Or visit us at: https://aquara.io

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Cardano for a Better World

Aquara will prove that Cardano can solve real problems — starting with water assets and their governance and funding. Our MVP lets the community vote on, fund, and manage water assets with AQA tokens and a transparent treasury, creating real on-chain activity.

We’ll bring together water experts, activists, NGOs, fund managers, and everyday citizens, giving everyone a reason to participate, learn about decentralized governance, and make real decisions.

All our code will be open-source, so other Cardano projects can use our tools for causes like clean energy or food security. By showing that communities can manage real assets on Cardano, Aquara will strengthen the blockchain’s role in public good.

What does the Cardano community say?

🌊"Aquara is building something that is magical we need water to survive. Governance behind water is a cool concept. We need to decentralised water reserves. This is so cool because I don't think any one is thinking about this!! Cannot wait to see how value is brought to blockchain using water assets."🌊 - Snek_Church / Cardano Community Member

🌊“I love Aquara because it's unique and fascinating. They aim to protect the world's water resources through a decentralised system. I haven't seen an idea like this anywhere and if everything is carried out well, I believe the project will become global. Aquara wants to change how people value water, making sure it's not just seen as a natural resource, but as something that needs to be protected and invested in — like we do with money or gold. And water Is one of the biggest resources on Earth and if a project is backed by it, it's poised to do well.”🌊 - Icey / Community Member

🌊"The first time I heard about Aquara was during one of our Fireside Chats at the European Cardano Community. The ecosystem needs bold ideas and young founders like Theis who are willing to buckle up and grow into these shoes."🌊

– Marcus Ubani, Project Lead ECC

[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?

Execution

Aquara has already shown strong execution and community-driven progress without external funding:

• Documentation: A fully developed Litepaper, Whitepaper, and Doc-hub totaling 160 pages articulate Aquara’s vision, roadmap, tokenomics, and governance model.
• Digital Presence: The Aquara website is live, detailing our mission, roadmap, and tokenomics; active social media presence (900+ Twitter followers, Telegram community).
• Community Engagement: 30+ direct contacts provided feedback, and AMA participation is generating growing interest.
• Media & Recognition: Featured by the European Cardano Community.
• Partnerships: Early discussions with MLabs, DRC and Web3 charities shows collaborative potential.

Why We Can Make It Work

Our approach is grounded in:

• Community feedback that helps us improve our model
• Collaboration with blockchain and sustainability experts to ensure feasibility
• Pilot simulations that test how water and Bitcoin assets work together
• Partnership talks with MLabs, DRC, and the Cardano Foundation to align with the ecosystem

With these foundations, Aquara can carry out its mission openly, responsibly, and with real accountability, making it a practical and high-impact Catalyst project.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Token & MVP Development

Milestone Outputs

1. AQA token deployed on Cardano testnet

• Token smart contract written, reviewed, and deployed on Cardano testnet
• Tokenomics configured according to the whitepaper (total supply, distribution rules)
• Test transactions conducted to confirm transfers and wallet compatibility
• Documentation created for developers and testers on how to access and use the token

1. Working MVP voting interface (DAO dashboard, wallet integration, user flows)

• Basic DAO dashboard design implemented with placeholder proposals
• Wallet integration completed (Nami, Eternl, Lace) for authentication and signing votes
• Core voting logic connected to testnet for proposal creation, voting, and result display
• Usability testing with at least 5 external testers, feedback documented for improvement

Acceptance Criteria

• MVP fully functional on Cardano testnet, with all core features operational.
• Wallet connection works with at least two Cardano-compatible wallets (e.g., Nami, Eternl) without critical bugs.
• Proposal creation and display: Users can create proposals, and all active proposals are visible in the dashboard with correct metadata (title, description, voting deadline).
• Voting mechanism: Users can cast votes using AQA test tokens, with votes recorded and tallied correctly on-chain.
• End-to-end test successfully demonstrates the governance flow: proposal creation → voting → result tally → final state displayed in UI.

Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repository with working smart contracts and front-end code
• Demo video showing token issuance and MVP voting interface in action

Delivery Month

5

Cost

45000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

DAO Pilot & Governance Operations

Milestone Outputs

• DAO pilot launched on testnet: internal team conducts voting simulations with AQA test tokens to validate governance flows.
• Feedback loop established: participant feedback is collected, analyzed, and documented to refine proposal creation, voting, and result reporting mechanics.
• Community engagement plan initiated: Bi-weekly workshops to walk participants through governance processes, AMAs (Ask Me Anything) to answer questions and gather input, Outreach to DReps and key community members to ensure pilot participation
• Pilot participation metrics tracked and reported: number of voters, proposals submitted, and interaction quality.

Acceptance Criteria

• At least 500 participants engage in the governance pilot (e.g., via workshops, AMAs, or testnet voting).
• Minimum 20% voter turnout on simulated proposals during the pilot.
• 2–4 DRep endorsements confirmed for pilot proposals.
• Feedback collected from participants to inform next phase of governance design.

Evidence of Completion

• DAO pilot test results documented on GitHub
• Screenshots or videos of pilot voting and workshop sessions
• Social media posts and engagement metrics demonstrating participation

Delivery Month

6

Cost

20000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Transparency & Reporting / Project Close-Out

Milestone Outputs

• Monthly GitHub updates with code changes, governance data, and analytics dashboards.
• Final report summarizing pilot results, lessons learned, and recommendations for next phase.
• Project close-out video showcasing pilot highlights, governance participation, and outcomes.

Acceptance Criteria

• Publish detailed monthly progress reports covering development, community engagement, and governance pilot results
• Maintain and update live analytics dashboards showing participation metrics, voting activity, and treasury tracking
• Submit final report and project close-out video for review and approval by Milestone Reviewers, documenting lessons learned and achievements

Evidence of Completion

• GitHub repository and aquara.io updated with dashboards, analytics, and reports
• Project close-out video submitted
• Educational materials published and publicly accessible

Delivery Month

8

Cost

3000

Progress

10 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Aquara Fund14 Budget

Funding Requested

₳68,000 (~$53678.58 USD at time of writing)


This proposal supports:

• Development of Aquara’s MVP (DAO dashboard, wallet integration, core flows)
• Cardano-native, open-source token and smart contract infrastructure
• Launch of a DAO governance pilot (Q1–2026)
• Setup of transparent reporting framework for on-chain participation
• These elements lay the groundwork for a decentralized water asset fund and long-term DAO operations.

Use of Funds Breakdown:

• ₳20,000 / Token + Smart Contract Development - Implementation of Aquara’s native token and treasury logic. While MLabs quoted ~$4K for simple base contracts, the full budget includes integration, testing, bug fixes, and a basic audit to ensure secure, production-ready deployment.
• ₳25,000 / MVP Development - Outsourced front-end and back-end build of a minimum viable product, including DAO dashboard, wallet integration, and essential user flows.
• ₳10,000 / DAO Pilot + Governance Ops - Internal testing of governance proposals, including testnet-based DAO voting simulation, with feedback loops to refine future decentralized participation.
• ₳10,000 / Community Engagement - Targeted outreach, dRep engagement, Catalyst updates, and initial SoMe presence to attract early contributors and signal credibility.
• ₳3,000 / Transparency + Reporting - GitHub documentation, treasury tracking dashboards, and storytelling to ensure clarity around fund usage and project impact.

Optional Stretch Goals (Pursued if co-funding or savings occur)

DAO UX testing & user feedback workshops – ₳3,000

Light Product Management support – ₳2,000

Timeline (8 months)

Start: October–November 2025 (after funds received)

End: May 2026 (DAO MVP + reporting delivered)

Milestones and documentation will be shared on GitHub

Notes

All code and deliverables will be open-source.

Progress and financial transparency will be shared with the community.

Any unused ADA will be returned or reported transparently.

All work will be publicly documented, and any unused funds will be transparently managed and reported to the community.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

Value for the Cardano Ecosystem

The 68,000 ADA we’re requesting will help build an MVP that shows how Cardano can solve real problems:

• Proof it works: The MVP will show that Cardano can support fair, community-led decisions and manage real assets like water and Bitcoin.
• Encouraging activity: Launching the portal, AQA token, and treasury simulation will create real on-chain interactions and bring new users, developers, and holders to Cardano.
• New use cases: Aquara is a new way to fund and govern water projects, showing Cardano can support sustainability and impact initiatives.
• Building trust: A working MVP proves the idea is real, attracts partners and investors, and strengthens Cardano’s reputation as a platform for socially responsible projects.

This MVP will speahead a new era where people, not monopolies, manage and fund essential resources.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes