Last updated 3 months ago
The Cardano ecosystem lacks a global, structured database connecting it to universities, incubators, and accelerators, hindering partnerships, research access, and innovation opportunities.
Open source global CRM database platform containing up-to-date and searchable profiles of universities, incubators, and accelerators worldwide, directly linked to the needs of the Cardano ecosystem
This is the total amount allocated to Cardano Global Academic & Innovation Hub Network.
Please provide your proposal title
Cardano Global Academic & Innovation Hub Network
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
The Cardano ecosystem lacks a global, structured database connecting it to universities, incubators, and accelerators, hindering partnerships, research access, and innovation opportunities.
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
Project will be fully open source.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Connected Community
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
This project is the first global database connecting Cardano with universities, incubators, and accelerators. Unlike past initiatives, it centralizes information, links academic research with startup acceleration, and enables scalable global collaboration. It positions Cardano as a bridge between research and commercial blockchain adoption, with potential for multi-chain expansion, creating reusable infrastructure and new opportunities for partnerships, projects, and ecosystem growth.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
The prototype will demonstrate the core functionality of the platform, including searchable profiles of universities, incubators, and accelerators, filtering by region and expertise, and the ability to initiate connections between Cardano projects and institutions. It will also showcase basic analytics to track engagement and connections. The prototype can be accessed via a web-based interface (hosted on a test domain) and will be open for review by the Cardano community and early pilot participants.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
On-chain metrics could include verified collaborations or partnerships recorded via Cardano transactions, participation in pilot programs, and usage of any token-based incentives for contributing or validating data.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
We will create a global CRM database platform containing up-to-date and searchable profiles of universities, incubators, and accelerators worldwide, directly linked to the needs of the Cardano ecosystem.
The platform will enable:
Future iterations will integrate on-chain verification for institutional credentials and allow whitelabel usage for specific Cardano communities or partners.
This will be the first global database specifically designed to connect the Cardano ecosystem with academia and innovation networks, creating a unique gateway for collaboration. It will integrate academic outreach with startup acceleration pipelines, enabling a seamless flow from research to market-ready projects.
By doing so, the platform positions Cardano as a bridge between cutting-edge research and the commercial adoption of blockchain technology. While the initial focus will be on Cardano, the system will be built with the potential for multi-chain expansion, keeping Cardano as the anchor network and primary driver of innovation.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The platform will expand Cardano’s global partnership network, fostering stronger connections across academia and innovation hubs. It will encourage the creation of academic research projects and startups within the Cardano ecosystem, generating new opportunities for collaboration and impact.
By providing a centralized entry point, it will facilitate the onboarding of researchers, students, and innovators from diverse backgrounds.
Furthermore, it will support governance, education, and adoption efforts in both emerging and developed markets, strengthening Cardano’s position as a leader in blockchain innovation.
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 solid experience creating platforms that bring together different stakeholders, manage large sets of information, and deliver solutions that are both easy to use and scalable. I have led international projects with diverse teams, always working transparently, meeting deadlines, and maintaining high quality. Throughout this project, I will keep all processes open and auditable, share regular progress updates, and stay in close communication with the Cardano community to build trust and ensure accountability.
We will validate the project in phases, starting with a pilot that uses a smaller set of institutions in selected regions. This will allow us to test the main features, gather feedback from universities, incubators, accelerators, and members of the Cardano community, and measure key results such as search accuracy, engagement, and successful connections. Based on these results, we will refine the platform before expanding globally, ensuring it meets real needs and delivers strong impact.
Milestone Title
Milestone 1
Milestone Outputs
Complete the detailed information architecture of the platform, including a comprehensive Mind Map that outlines all sections, features, and user flows, created in Docs or Whimsical. Develop a full platform wireframe illustrating the user interface, navigation, and interactions, using Figma or Whimsical to provide a clear visual representation of the proposed design and structure.
Acceptance Criteria
Mind Map and sections of the application includes all main sections and subsections. Visually clear with connections and dependencies
Platform wireframe ensure the user journey is intuitive and logical, enhancing user experience
Evidence of Completion
Document/PDF describing the Sections of application and Mind Map. This document will be easily understandable to both technical and non-technical community members
Document/PDF or Link to wireframe platform
Delivery Month
2
Cost
30000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Milestone 2
Milestone Outputs
Define all technical requirements for the platform, including backend architecture, frontend functionality, and integration with external systems and APIs. Simultaneously, create a complete UX/UI design for the application interface, detailing layouts, user interactions, navigation flows, and visual elements to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience across all devices.
Acceptance Criteria
Detail all necessary technical specifications, including backend, frontend, and integration requirements. Ensure requirements align with industry best practices and standards
Creation of the platform wireframe ensure the user journey is intuitive and logical, enhancing user experience. Clearly identifiable and functional buttons, links, and elements.
Evidence of Completion
Document/PDF describing technology requirements of the application
Link to Figma UX/UI design file.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
30000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Milestone 3
Milestone Outputs
Develop the front-end of the platform, including the complete web interface design that ensures a smooth and intuitive user experience with all planned functionalities fully implemented. Additionally, create and integrate a feedback collection form to gather user insights, suggestions, and evaluations on the platform’s usability and performance, enabling continuous improvement based on real user input.
Acceptance Criteria
Carry out front-end programming to develop a fully functional prototype that demonstrates the platform’s core features and user interactions. Additionally, create a detailed Google Form to collect structured feedback from at least 10 users, capturing their insights, suggestions, and usability evaluations to inform refinements and improvements before full deployment.
Evidence of Completion
Github with the front-end source code developed until the moment
Link to Google Form to collect users feedbacks
Delivery Month
4
Cost
15000
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Milestone 4
Milestone Outputs
Complete the full back-end development of the platform, including the implementation of database structures, server-side logic, APIs, and integration with front-end components. Ensure that the back-end supports secure, efficient, and scalable operations, enabling all core functionalities of the platform to run smoothly and reliably for users across different devices and regions.
Acceptance Criteria
The back-end development will be considered complete when all specified technical requirements are implemented, supporting all operations efficiently. There must be complete and error-free integration with the front-end, with successful integration tests confirming API functionality.
Evidence of Completion
Upload and maintain all source code developed up to this point in a public GitHub repository, ensuring it is well-organized, and version-controlled. This will allow collaborators and reviewers to track progress, review code quality, and understand the development history of the platform, providing transparency and a reliable reference for future iterations and improvements.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
10000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Final Milestone
Milestone Outputs
Launch of the platform
Source code developed at the moment available on GitHub
Final close-out report to the Catalyst teamand Cardano Community for transparency
Final closeout video to the Catalyst team and Cardano Community for transparency
Acceptance Criteria
Launch of the platform, we will set a GO LIVE date for the platform to be used in production
Source code developed at the moment sent and available on GitHub
Final closeout report is publicly available and sent to the Catalyst Milestone module
Final closeout video is publicly available and sent to the Catalyst Milestone module
Evidence of Completion
URL Link to the platform Live (online)
Github link with the completed of the source code developed
Link to final closeout report to the Catalyst team and Cardano Community for accountability
Link to final closeout video to the Catalyst team and Cardano Community for accountability
Delivery Month
6
Cost
15000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Budget breakdown:
Tech:
Developer Front-end = 12,500 ADA
Developer Back-end = 12,500 ADA
Product Owner = 9,000 ADA
DevOps Engineer = 9,500 ADA
Scrum Master = 7,600 ADA
Designer UX/UI = 9,600 ADA
Marketing:
Marketing Assistant = 5,400 ADA
Social Media = 6,200 ADA
Marketing Budget = 4,750 ADA
Tech Enviroment :
Amazon AWS Services Maintenance (1 year) = 7,200 ADA
Add-ons, notifications and endpoints = 1,800 ADA
Crawler and scraper APIs: 3,950 ADA
Flutuation
Contingency: 10,000 ADA
TOTAL: 100,000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The cost of this project represents a strategic investment in Cardano’s global adoption and ecosystem growth. By creating a centralized CRM database that connects Cardano with universities, incubators, and accelerators worldwide, we unlock long-term value through increased partnerships, research initiatives, and startup creation.
The platform will serve as a reusable infrastructure for the community, reducing duplication of effort and enabling faster collaboration across regions. This means every dollar spent will generate sustained impact, amplifying Cardano’s reach, innovation capacity, and real-world use cases far beyond the project’s initial delivery.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Jose Miguel de Gamboa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-miguel-de-gamboa/
University Professor of “Blockchain for Business” at CESA.
Ezequiel Marclé Montenegro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emarcle/
He has experience as a translator coordinator in the Community Translator Team and has more than two years of experience in the community, assisting and collaborating with the Core Team. He is an Accountant as a background formation, with specialization in web3 and DAO management.
Other functional areas such as Marketing and Community managers of the organization will provide support.
It is a project carried out by the 2 LATAM Cardano members above.