Last updated a month ago
Tribal communities manage collective assets and need transparent, culturally aligned DAOs, but complex technical barriers block adoption and self-determination.
Develop a technical blueprint for TribalDAOs with architecture, smart contracts, and UX frameworks to lower barriers for culturally aligned DAOs on Cardano.
Please provide your proposal title
TribalDAOs Technical Blueprint
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
100000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
12
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Tribal communities manage collective assets and need transparent, culturally aligned DAOs, but complex technical barriers block adoption and self-determination.
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
All code, documentation, and designs produced in this project will be released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPLv3). This ensures that the TribalDAO blueprint remains open, transparent, and freely reusable, while requiring that any modifications or derivative works are also shared with the community under the same license.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal.
Infrastructure
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously funded (whether by you or others).
Previous DAO and governance projects have largely been platform-specific, rebuilding identity, voting, and treasury systems within each app. This fragments trust and increases complexity. Our approach is innovative because it creates a portable, open-source technical blueprint for TribalDAOs, embedding cultural governance into a standardized architecture that can be reused across Cardano. Unlike prior efforts, it focuses on large Indigenous communities managing collective assets, where transparency and sovereignty are critical.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
The prototype will demonstrate the working implementation of the TribalDAO blueprint through Mātou DAO. It will show functional governance, treasury, tokenomics, and contribution systems on Cardano testnet, integrated with a user-facing web and mobile interface. The MVP will be deployed to Cardano mainnet for pilot use by Mātou DAO and will be open-sourced under AGPLv3, with public access to code repositories, technical documentation, and governance manuals.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
Blueprint Delivery: Publication of a complete technical specification and open-source repository.
Smart Contract Metrics: Successful deployment of governance, treasury, and token contracts on Cardano testnet and mainnet.
Adoption Metrics: Number of proposals submitted, votes cast, and treasury disbursements executed on-chain by Mātou DAO during the pilot.
Community Engagement: At least 2 TribalDAO partner communities engaged in testing or adapting the blueprint.
Reuse Potential: Evidence of other projects referencing or adopting the TribalDAO blueprint as a foundation.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
We will develop a comprehensive technical blueprint for TribalDAOs — a reusable design framework that defines the infrastructure, smart contracts, and user systems required to embed Indigenous governance into decentralized organizations.
This blueprint will include:
System architecture documentation for backend services, blockchain integrations, APIs, and client applications.
Smart contract designs for governance, treasury, tokenomics, and contributions.
Integration specifications for identity, membership, proposals, voting, and communications.
UX/UI frameworks aligned with community accessibility and cultural needs.
The outcome is an open, well-documented blueprint that lowers the technical barriers for Indigenous and large communities to build and operate their own culturally grounded DAOs on Cardano.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project will deliver the first comprehensive technical blueprint for TribalDAOs, lowering barriers for Indigenous and large communities to adopt decentralized governance on Cardano. By embedding cultural decision-making systems into transparent, reusable smart contracts and infrastructure designs, the blueprint empowers communities managing collective budgets, lands, and assets to govern with accountability and sovereignty.
For the Cardano ecosystem, the blueprint provides open-source, production-ready architecture that can be reused across many governance contexts, reducing duplication, accelerating adoption, and positioning Cardano as the blockchain of choice for culturally aligned and large-scale governance use cases.
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?
Mātou Collective and its partners bring deep experience in DAO governance design, tokenomics, and decentralized infrastructure, having delivered multiple Cardano-funded projects including governance tools, smart contracts, and education platforms. Our team combines technical expertise (smart contract architecture, backend systems, and full-stack development) with cultural stewardship, ensuring that the blueprint is both technically robust and culturally grounded.
Feasibility is ensured through a milestone-driven work plan: starting with detailed technical documentation, advancing through smart contract design and prototyping, and culminating in a tested and open-sourced blueprint validated by a live implementation. All work will be published under AGPLv3, ensuring transparency, peer verification, and community reusability. This structured approach, paired with proven delivery capacity, provides strong accountability and reduces execution risk.
Milestone Title
Blueprint Architecture & Documentation
Milestone Outputs
A complete system architecture for TribalDAOs, covering backend services, blockchain integrations, APIs, web and mobile requirements, governance, treasury, tokenomics, and contributions systems. Outputs will include detailed diagrams, specifications, and process flows to serve as the foundation of the blueprint.
Acceptance Criteria
Architecture documents are reviewed and validated by technical stewards and cultural advisors. They must provide a coherent, technically sound, and culturally aligned foundation for DAO infrastructure and operations, suitable for open-source release.
Evidence of Completion
Public release of the system architecture documentation in an AGPLv3 open-source repository, including diagrams, specifications, and governance process models.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
33300
Progress
40 %
Milestone Title
Smart Contract & Systems Design
Milestone Outputs
Detailed smart contract designs for governance, treasury, tokenomics, and contributions, alongside integration specifications for wallets, memberships, proposals, and voting. Includes audit preparation criteria and security checklists.
Acceptance Criteria
Smart contract specifications reviewed by technical and governance stewards, with validation of logic, security assumptions, and cultural fit. Integration documents must demonstrate how each contract connects to backend systems and user interfaces.
Evidence of Completion
Open-source publication of smart contract specifications and integration designs in repository, including flow diagrams, security checklists, and annotated contract templates.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
33300
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Blueprint Consolidation & Publication
Milestone Outputs
Finalized TribalDAO technical blueprint combining system architecture, smart contract designs, governance and tokenomics frameworks, and cultural integration guidelines. Includes UX/UI frameworks and user journeys to demonstrate usability and accessibility.
Acceptance Criteria
Blueprint peer-reviewed by technical and cultural stewards, approved for completeness, clarity, and open-source publication. It must be packaged as a comprehensive guide for Indigenous and large communities to adopt.
Evidence of Completion
Published blueprint in an AGPLv3 open-source repository, including a technical whitepaper, governance manuals, UX frameworks, and a consolidated reference package for reuse by other communities.
Delivery Month
6
Cost
33300
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Total Budget: 100,000 ADA
Milestone 1: Blueprint Architecture & Documentation – 33,300 ADA
Milestone 2: Smart Contract & Systems Design – 33,300 ADA
Milestone 3: Blueprint Consolidation & Publication – 33,300 ADA
Resource Breakdown
Technical Steward – 260 hours – 18,200 ADA – Leads system architecture, blockchain design, contract logic, and integration specifications.
Governance Architect – 123 hours – 8,610 ADA – Designs governance frameworks, contribution systems, and ensures cultural alignment.
Treasury Steward – 118 hours – 8,260 ADA – Specifies treasury flows, tokenomics models, and safeguards.
UX/UI Designer – 169 hours – 11,830 ADA – Produces UX frameworks, user flows, accessibility designs, and usability documentation.
Documentation & QA Specialist – 54 hours – 3,780 ADA – Documents systems, produces blueprint manuals, and ensures quality validation.
Community Steward – 50 hours – 3,500 ADA – Facilitates cultural validation, community review sessions, and adoption guidelines.
Project Lead – 25 hours – 1,750 ADA – Manages project delivery, coordination, and final blueprint packaging.
Non-Personnel Allocations
External Audit / Peer Review – 5,000 ADA – Independent review of blueprint, contract designs, and governance models.
Tools & Services – 7,000 ADA – Hosting, collaboration platforms, version control, and design tools.
Community Validation Workshops – 10,000 ADA – Facilitation, events, and materials to test blueprint with partner communities.
Contingency Reserve – 21,070 ADA – Buffer for unforeseen technical or community needs.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This proposal delivers a comprehensive, open-source TribalDAO technical blueprint for 100,000 ADA, representing strong value through its reusability and ecosystem-wide impact. Instead of producing a one-off platform, the project creates a documented, peer-reviewed framework that any Indigenous or large community can adopt to build culturally aligned DAOs on Cardano.
By focusing investment on system architecture, smart contract design, governance frameworks, and usability models, the project reduces duplication, lowers technical barriers, and enables cost-effective DAO deployment at scale. The allocation of resources balances skilled personnel with audit, community validation, and contingency, ensuring both technical rigor and cultural legitimacy.
The blueprint will serve as a reference standard for future DAO projects on Cardano, meaning a single investment benefits not only Mātou DAO but also many other communities seeking transparent, decentralized governance solutions. This multiplier effect maximizes the long-term value of Catalyst funding.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
As Product Owner of the project solution, Ben will play a pivotal role in driving the development and success of the project. Ben will be responsible for ensuring the product meets the needs of both the development team and the diverse communities it aims to serve.
Professional Experience:
Co-Founder and Core Contributor of Matou Collective, the team who lead and developed the TribalDAO blueprint (Successfully funded through Project Catalyst Fund12)
Proven experience as the Product Owner with Ahau since 2017
Strong familiarity with AtalaPrism and Cardano as the core contributor to the ssb-atalaprism module
Strong understanding of decentralized identity concepts, verifiable credentials, and related technologies, serving as chair of Digital Identity NZ 2019-23 and Member of the Identity Product Advisory Group for New Zealand Government.
Clear understanding of user base and product vision as Earth Defenders Toolkit Community Steward since 2022
Key Responsibilities:
Develop and communicate a clear product vision aligned with the goals of the project.
Curate and manage the product backlog, ensuring it reflects project priorities.
Champion user-centric design principles, working closely with UI/UX designers to implement feedback and improve usability.
Collaborate with QA teams to establish and maintain quality standards, participating in testing processes.
Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, defining tasks, timelines, and dependencies.
Track project timelines, identifying and addressing potential delays, and ensuring the timely delivery of milestones.
Facilitate clear communication between project stakeholders, ensuring everyone is informed about project progress and changes.
Work closely with the project's financial team to manage and monitor the budget, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
Is our community liaison for the project leading our co-development approach between between the product development team and the communities we aim to serve. Engie will be responsible for developing an engaged communities user base, fostering collaboration, addressing concerns, and ensuring a positive and inclusive experience.
Personal experience:
Co-Founder and Core Contributor of Matou Collective, the team who lead and developed the TribalDAO blueprint (Successfully funded through Project Catalyst Fund12)
Strong understanding of community registrations as lead research and community engagement for TribalDID's = Indigenous sovereignty and TribalDAOs = Indigenous Economic Sovereignty projects since Nov 2022 (Current)
Secretary for Te Riingi Marae (Marae Trustee)
Strong technical understanding and community product development working as a community software developer and Forward Deploy Engineer since 2017
Cardano Constitution Delegate for Aotearoa New Zealand - Buenos Aires Cardano Convention 2024
Elected Chair - Cardano Constitution Delegate Committee 2024 - Feb 2025
Key Responsibilities:
Forward Deploy Engineer - act as the bridge between development teams, community stakeholders, and other relevant parties.
Actively engage with potential user communities to build strong relationships.
Gather and synthesize user feedback, ensuring the community's voice is heard and considered in project development.
Address community concerns, inquiries, and issues promptly, working closely with the development team to find resolutions.
Be an advocate for the community within the development team, ensuring their needs and perspectives are considered in decision-making processes.