Last updated 8 months ago
Lack of engaging, community-driven platforms to boost Cardano adoption.
A CAR meme website with a Cardano-based meme coin to drive on-chain activity and attract diverse users through fun, viral content.
This is the total amount allocated to CarMemeShift: for Daily Car Meme Community Engagement.
Please provide your proposal title
CarMemeShift: for Daily Car Meme Community Engagement
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
38000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
9
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Lack of engaging, community-driven platforms to boost Cardano adoption.
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
All project code, smart contracts, and related technical documentation will be released under the Apache 2.0 License and made publicly available.
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).
The “CarMemeShift” project is innovative by blending car meme culture with a Cardano-based meme coin, creating a unique community platform. It drives Cardano adoption through viral, relatable content, leveraging daily memes to engage car enthusiasts and crypto "bros". On-chain voting and tipping with “MemeShift” boost transactions. Unlike generic meme coins, it targets a niche audience, fostering engagement via a fun, accessible website. By integrating with Cardano’s blockchain, it pioneers creative applications, inspiring similar projects while enhancing ecosystem visibility and diversity.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
MVP Overview: The CarMemeShift MVP will demonstrate a website sharing daily car memes, integrated with a Cardano-based “MemeShift” coin for voting and tipping, driving on-chain engagement. It will feature meme uploads, user accounts, and wallet integration.
Access: Available at a dedicated URL (e.g., carmemeshift.io) and promoted on X with #MemeShift. A beta version will launch on Cardano testnet, with the full MVP on mainnet, accessible via desktop and mobile browsers.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
Success for CarMemeShift can be measured via on-chain data: by tracking "MemeShift" coin transactions (voting/tipping) on Cardano, targeting 1,000+ monthly transactions. Monitoring wallet activations (the aim is set for 500+ new users). Analyzing website engagement (10,000+ monthly visits) and coin holder growth (500+ holders) via Cardano blockchain explorers. We measure X posts with #MemeShift (100+ weekly) for community buzz. Big success is 50%+ user retention and 20% month-over-month transaction growth within 12 months, verifiable on Cardano’s mainnet.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Problem Statement
In my humble opinion, Cardano struggles to attract non-technical users, which limits adoption and on-chain activity. Existing projects tend to focus on technical applications, missing broader audiences like car enthusiasts and meme fans. This oversight reduces community growth and visibility.
Solution Overview
CarMemeShift is a Cardano-based platform that combines a daily car meme website with a “MemeShift” meme coin to boost adoption. It engages users through meme creation, voting, and tipping, driving on-chain transactions and attracting a diverse user base.
Solution Components
Car Meme Website
MemeShift Coin
Community Engagement
Marketing
Legal Compliance
How It Addresses the Problem
Measuring Success
Conclusion
CarMemeShift addresses Cardano’s adoption challenge by combining a meme website and coin, driving transactions, users, and visibility. The MVP, built for x ADA in y months, will showcase Cardano’s potential and foster a vibrant community.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
The CarMemeShift project significantly enhances the Cardano ecosystem by driving adoption and engagement through a car meme website integrated with the “MemeShift” meme coin. It boosts on-chain activity, targeting 1,000+ monthly transactions via voting and tipping, strengthening Cardano’s network. By appealing to car enthusiasts and meme fans, it attracts 500+ new users, diversifying the community and expanding adoption. Viral X campaigns (#MemeShift) and ties to events like The British Motor Show amplify Cardano’s visibility, drawing media and investor attention. Community features like meme creator contests and leaderboards foster engagement, aligning with Cardano’s decentralized ethos and encouraging staking and Catalyst participation. As a novel use case, CarMemeShift showcases Cardano’s versatility, inspiring creative projects and reinforcing its reputation as an innovative blockchain. The MVP, built within 9 months for a few ADA, ensures measurable impact through on-chain data, enhancing Cardano’s growth, transaction volume, and global reach.
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?
Roman is our project leader with a whole team of web, meme, and blockchain specialists combining a ton of experience in various fields. We have a sense of what meme coin traders want and vast knowledge about why certain memes are trending. Why cats and dogs?! etc. How to build a active community in a relatively short time using online tools, social media.
Çetin and I are for years already active in the car market and are familiar with their needs, expectations and love towards engine sound, hp, speed, risk, rally, steel, design and action. We simply know both sides: car enthousiast' sense of humour AND memecoin traders desires.
Milestone Title
Planning, Setup & Development
Milestone Outputs
Definition of project scope, finalization of entity structure (e.g., Swiss Association or GmbH), and consult lawyers for FINMA compliance.
Design website wireframes and smart contract specifications.
Begin community outreach on X to gauge interest.
Development: Website front-end and back-end, integrating Cardano wallets.
Coding smart contracts for “MemeShift” coin, including possible features.
Launch of a small X campaign to build early community hype.
Acceptance Criteria
Clear project plan (roadmap), established legal framework, active building of a car meme fan community.
Website prototype development, draft smart contracts, and testing, in line with best practices.
Evidence of Completion
Roadmap established.
Legal entity established.
Community initialized and growing.
Website draft available.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
20000
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Testing and MVP, Launch and Scale
Milestone Outputs
Testing website and smart contracts on Cardano testnet, addressing bugs.
Conducting a basic security audit of smart contracts.
Launch website MVP with daily meme uploads and basic coin functionality (e.g., voting).
Fully launch website and coin on Cardano mainnet, enabling on-chain voting/tipping, and eventually more.
Intensifying marketing with airdrops, meme contests, and X campaigns.
Monitor community feedback and refine features.
Acceptance Criteria
Tested MVP, audited contracts, soft-launched website.
Live MVP, active community, on-chain transactions.
Augmented marketing activities, esp. content creator contests.
Airdrops.
Community Feedbacks.
Evidence of Completion
MVP live.
Contracts audited.
Community engegement measures like on-chain transactions, new members in Discord, X groups.
Creator contest results.
Delivery Month
8
Cost
16000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Project Close-out Report and Video
Milestone Outputs
Written project close-out report and video that can be presented to the Cardano Catalyst Community.
Included key metrics like size of (active) community, content created (by community), on-chain transactions, in-group engagement, etc.)
Acceptance Criteria
Report and Video containing key metrics.
Video delivered to the Catalyst community.
Feedback gathered from CarMeme community and transformed onto the report.
Report discusses also next steps of the project.
Evidence of Completion
Report and video containing necessary metrics delivered to the community.
On-chain data analyzed and summarized.
Delivery Month
9
Cost
2000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Website Development: ADA 8,000
Purpose: Build a user-friendly website for daily car memes, with features like meme submission, display, and Cardano wallet integration for coin interactions (e.g., voting on memes, tipping creators).
Rationale: Based on web development costs, a simple website with front-end (React/Next.js) and back-end (Node.js) can cost $5,000–$8,000, per from Upwork. Cardano wallet integration (e.g., Nami, Eternl) adds minimal cost but requires developer expertise, per from Cardano Devs.
Details: Includes design, hosting, and basic features like user accounts and meme voting, keeping costs lean for an MVP.
Smart Contract Development: ADA 10,500
Purpose: Develop and audit Cardano smart contracts for the “MemeShift” coin, enabling burning and community features like on-chain voting or tipping, automated transactions like buy-back, burn, etc.
Rationale: Cardano smart contracts, written in Plutus/Haskell, are more cost-effective than Ethereum due to lower gas fees, but development and auditing are significant, costing $8,000–$12,000, per from Solulab and from Reddit’s r/Cardano. Audits ensure security, critical after high-profile DeFi hacks.
Details: Includes coding for token minting, community governance (e.g., voting on memes), and a basic audit by a Cardano-focused firm.
Marketing & Community Building ADA 10,000
Purpose: Promote the website and coin on X, Discord, and Meme enthusiast forums, using airdrops, meme contests, and social media campaigns.
Rationale: Marketing is crucial for meme coins, success is heavily tied to community engagement. Budget covers social media ads (ADA 2,000–3,000), airdrops (5,000–10,000), and creator contest prizes (NFT collectibles possible).
Details: Focus on X buzz, Discord server setup, and partnerships with car meme pages, mid-tier KOLs, and community content ceators.
Legal & Compliance ADA 7,000
Purpose: Consulting Swiss lawyers for FINMA compliance, IP rights for memes, and entity setup (e.g., Swiss Association or GmbH).
Rationale: Switzerland’s crypto regulations, per from globallegalinsights.com, require FINMA compliance for payment tokens, costing $5,000–$10,000 for legal consultation, per from kyc-chain.com. Meme IP rights are critical, as commercial use risks infringement, per from NatLawReview.
Details: Covers legal advice on entity choice (association vs. company), FINMA’s Cryptoassets Business Check, and ensuring memes are original or licensed.
Data collection for final report: ADA 1,500
Miscellaneous ADA 1,000
Purpose: Cover hosting, domain, and unforeseen costs (e.g., server upgrades, additional marketing).
Rationale: A buffer ensures flexibility, as unexpected costs arise in crypto projects, per from CryptoSlate.
Total: ADA 38,000, allowing flexibility to stay within the cap while covering all essentials.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
What’s in It for the Cardano Community?
Why supporting this project “CarMemeShift" is beneficial for the wider Cardano Community:
Pioneering a Cardano-Based Meme Coin for Daily Car Meme Community Engagement” with a Cardano Catalyst grant offers several benefits:
More On-Chain Activity: The “MemeShift” coin will enable transactions like voting on memes or tipping creators, increasing Cardano blockchain usage, which strengthens the network’s value, as seen in Catalyst’s focus on transaction-driven projects.
New Users: A car meme website with a fun, relatable theme attracts car enthusiasts and meme fans, many of whom may be new to crypto, growing Cardano’s user base.
Community Engagement: The project encourages active participation through meme creation and voting, aligning with Cardano’s community-driven ethos, as evidenced by successful Catalyst projects.
Visibility and Buzz: Memes are viral by nature, and promoting the project on X with hashtags like #MemeShiftCardano can boost Cardano’s visibility, similar to memes on other chains (Solana etc.).
Innovation Inspiration: A successful meme coin project showcases Cardano’s versatility for creative use cases, encouraging more developers to build on the blockchain.
By funding this project, the Cardano community invests in a fun, accessible way to expand the ecosystem, drive transactions, and attract diverse users, all while supporting a novel concept.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
Roman is our project leader with a ton of experience and a whole team of web, meme, and blockchain specialists: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-lapenko/
https://pass.international run by Çetin and myself https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-c-k/ has vast experience in the collector car market (including brand new collector cars.)
We know both: car enthousiast' sense of humour AND memecoin traders desires.