IndiaCodeX Multi-City Roadshow & Cardano Fellowship Program

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

IndiaCodeX Multi-City Roadshow & Cardano Fellowship Program

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

60000

[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

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

In India, interest in Cardano is rising but builders are asking for more than workshops. They need guidance, review and a place to grow. Lack of structured fellowship hinders progress.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://x.com/NucastIO/status/1822273787154374813
,
• https://x.com/Charanz1309/status/1840728046745108823
,
• https://x.com/NucastIO/status/1970525373029900693?s=20
,
• https://www.nucast.io/

[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

Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.

MIT license

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Training

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano?

We are targeting developers, students, early-career engineers, and Web3-curious builders across India’s major tech cities Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. We will reach them through university partnerships, local DAOs, developer communities, online workshops, and targeted social outreach. This matters for Cardano because expanding grassroots developer adoption strengthens the regional ecosystem, increases new wallet creation and on-chain activity, and brings long-term contributors into Cardano’s global builder community.

Provide a list of key activities of your project:

• Conduct 5 in-person roadshow events across major Indian cities.
• Host multiple nationwide online workshops covering Cardano development fundamentals.
• Deliver hands-on training sessions on smart contracts, SDKs, tooling, and prototype design.
• Facilitate team formation and idea validation during city events.
• Provide 4 weeks of structured mentorship through the fellowship program.
• Support the creation of functional prototypes by all fellowship teams.
• Publish recap materials, workshop recordings, and developer resources

What are your success metrics?

• 500+ total participants across online and in-person events.
• 5 new project teams were formed (one per city) and accepted into the fellowship.
• Minimum 5 testnet-ready prototypes delivered by the end of the fellowship.
• High participant satisfaction based on surveys, feedback forms, and testimonials.
• Growth in local community participation through partnerships with universities and DAOs.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

IndiaCodeX Multi-City Roadshow and Cardano Fellowship Program is a nationwide initiative that builds on the success of our past hackathons and workshops, which have already introduced thousands of developers. After engaging more than 3,400 participants in 2025 and helping many secure roles within the Cardano ecosystem, we created this program to offer a deeper, more structured path for builders. The roadshow brings hands-on Cardano training to five major tech hubs, while the fellowship provides long-term mentorship and support for teams ready to turn their ideas into functional prototypes.

How We Solve It

India has one of the largest developer communities in the world, yet most have limited exposure to Cardano development. Our approach solves this by meeting developers in their home cities, introducing them to Cardano through accessible workshops, and then guiding the most promising teams through a mentorship-driven fellowship. This structure gives developers the knowledge, technical practice, and ongoing support they need to confidently build real Cardano projects and join a growing pipeline of skilled contributors across India.

The solution includes two major components:

Multi-City Developer Roadshow (5 Major Cities)

We will host in-person developer events across:

• Delhi
• Pune
• Mumbai
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad

Each city event includes:

• Introductory Cardano developer sessions
• Smart contract primers (Plutus, Aiken, on-chain/off-chain basics)
• Tooling workshops using SDKs and libraries
• Live demos showing how to build on Cardano
• Local networking with colleges, DAOs, and dev groups
• Team formation and idea discovery around real-world use cases
• The goal is to expose hundreds of developers to hands-on Cardano development across India’s largest tech regions.

Online Workshops (Open to All of India)

Alongside the roadshow, we run a series of live and recorded online workshops so developers anywhere in India can participate.

Workshops cover:

Cardano architecture fundamentals

• Wallets, transactions, and UTxO concepts
• Smart contract development
• dApp integration flows
• How to design meaningful, feasible blockchain projects

All materials remain publicly available, helping India’s broader developer community continue learning after the event.

Selection of the Top Team From Each City

From each of the five roadshow cities, we identify one top project based on:

• Problem solution clarity
• Technical feasibility
• Team capability
• Potential value for Cardano

This results in five selected teams, each representing one city.

IndiaCodeX Cardano Fellowship Program

The five selected teams enter a structured 4 week fellowship designed to turn their ideas into functioning prototypes.

The fellowship includes:

• Weekly mentorship sessions
• Deep technical training
• Architecture reviews
• Progress tracking and milestone development
• Office hours with experienced Cardano developers
• Support integrating smart contracts, wallets, and SDKs

The goal is to help each team confidently build and deploy a working prototype on a Cardano testnet.

Final Showcase Event in Hyderabad (Non-Competitive)

At the end of the fellowship, all five teams gather either in-person or hybrid for a Final Showcase in Hyderabad.

The event features:

• Prototype presentations
• Technical walkthroughs
• Feedback from mentors and ecosystem contributors
• Networking with builders, users, and local communities
• All teams receive equal recognition.
• All five teams are formally awarded as IndiaCodeX Cardano Fellows.

This ensures every participating team feels supported and encouraged to continue building on Cardano long after the event.

Who This Project Engages

• University students
• Early-career developers
• Working professionals exploring blockchain
• Local DAOs and tech communities
• Startup founders and innovators
• Anyone interested in hands-on Cardano development

Why This Solution Works

This approach blends scale (roadshows + online workshops) with depth (fellowship + prototype building), ensuring we don’t just spread awareness, we create real Cardano builders.

This model:

• Increases Cardano visibility in India
• Provides structured learning pathways
• Helps developers launch real prototypes
• Builds long-term engagement across multiple cities
• Creates a distributed community of skilled contributors

The combination of outreach, education, and fellowship creates a repeatable, high-impact approach to expanding Cardano’s developer base in India.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

The IndiaCodeX Multi City Roadshow & Cardano Fellowship Program will create sustained, long-term value for the Cardano ecosystem by activating developer communities across India and guiding selected teams to build real, testnet-ready Cardano prototypes. This initiative transforms passive interest into hands-on experience, helping Cardano grow where developer density is already among the highest in the world.

Expanding Cardano’s Developer Base

By running roadshow events in five major Indian tech hubs, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad combined with nationwide online workshops, we expect to introduce Cardano development to hundreds of new developers. This creates a significant increase in awareness, skill-building, and local activity around Cardano’s development stack.

Creation of New Cardano Projects

Each city roadshow results in the emergence of at least one strong project team. All five selected teams receive fellowship support, mentorship, and guidance to develop real prototypes. This leads to practical, testnet-ready applications that expand Cardano’s ecosystem of tools, dApps, and utilities.

Strengthening India’s Role in Cardano’s Future

India has one of the world’s largest pools of software talent. Establishing Cardano’s presence in these key cities helps cultivate a strong foundation for future proposals, infrastructure projects, and community-led initiatives rooted in a region with massive long-term potential.

How We Will Measure Impact

We will track both quantitative and qualitative outcomes to ensure the project delivers meaningful results.

Quantitative Metrics

• Roadshow Attendance: Number of participants across all five cities
• Online Workshop Participation: Number of registrants and active attendees
• Project Formation: Number of teams formed during roadshows
• Fellowship Teams: Five city-selected teams successfully enrolled
• Prototype Delivery: Minimum of three completed testnet prototypes
• Community Growth: Number of new developers joining Cardano channels, opening wallets, or exploring Cardano GitHub resources

Qualitative Metrics

• Depth of developer engagement during mentorship
• Quality of prototypes produced
• Feedback from workshop participants
• Feedback from fellowship teams
• Post-program commitments (continued development, Catalyst proposals, Cardano community involvement)

These combined metrics ensure the program is assessed comprehensively, not only by numbers but by the depth and sustainability of outcomes.

How We Will Share Outputs and Opportunities

We will openly share outcomes in a transparent and community-focused way:

• Public Reports and Updates
• Summaries on social channels
• Fellowship progress highlights
• Final program report published to the Cardano community
• Open Access Educational Resources
• Workshop recordings
• Slides, worksheets, and reference materials
• Code samples used during training sessions
• These materials will remain available long-term to support future India-based developers.
• Prototype Showcases
• During the final showcase in Hyderabad, each fellowship team presents its prototype. All results including demos and documentation will be made publicly accessible for further development and community review.

Long-Term Ecosystem Value

Sustainable Developer Pipeline

The roadshow + fellowship model creates a repeatable structure that can be scaled in future Catalyst funds, enabling continuous onboarding of new developers and new projects from India.

Strengthening Community Infrastructure

By collaborating with universities, local tech groups, and DAOs, the project lays the foundation for ongoing Cardano meetups, builders’ circles, and future-focused initiatives in multiple Indian cities.

Catalyst Growth

Fellows are encouraged and supported to continue building and submitting high-quality proposals to Catalyst, contributing toward long-term ecosystem innovation.

[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?

The Nucast team combines over 20 years of collective blockchain and developer-community experience, with a strong record of delivering high-impact Cardano initiatives across India. Our capability to execute a multi-city roadshow and a structured fellowship program is rooted in our operational experience, ecosystem relationships, and commitment to transparency and reliable delivery.

Proven Expertise & Track Record

• Delivered multiple Cardano-based solutions that contributed directly to ecosystem growth.
• Organized large, high-profile Cardano events, including Cardano Summit community programs and technical workshops in major Indian cities.
• Built strong collaborations with universities, DAOs, developer communities, and Web3 groups, enabling efficient outreach and engagement at scale.
• Led educational programs that introduced thousands of developers to blockchain development and tooling.
• Our experience hosting developer meetups, city tours, and technical training sessions gives us the operational foundation required to execute a multi-city IndiaCodeX Roadshow efficiently and safely.
• 

Financial Management & Accountability

• Strong history of delivering projects on time and within budget, with clear documentation and milestone-based work.
• Transparent communication practices: we regularly share updates, progress summaries, and community reports to keep stakeholders informed.
• Structured budgeting and resource allocation ensure funds are used efficiently for outreach, training, and prototype development support.
• Roadshow Delivery Capability
• Our past experience running multi-location blockchain events gives us:
• A tested logistical playbook for managing venues, volunteer support, city outreach, and participant engagement.
• Established relationships with local partners in Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, enabling city-level event execution with minimal setup time.
• A strong network of speakers, mentors, and technical educators who can effectively deliver high-quality workshops.
• This ensures that each roadshow event is well-organized, well-attended, and technically valuable for participants.

Fellowship Execution Capability

• The team has extensive experience mentoring early-stage developers and supporting them in building prototype-level solutions. We bring:
• Skilled Cardano engineers capable of providing architecture guidance, code reviews, and development mentoring.
• Experience designing structured learning tracks and milestone-based programs for new developers.
• Ability to help participants progress from idea → concept → prototype with clear technical direction.
• The fellowship model is designed to ensure each team receives personalized support while following a standardized development pathway.

Validation of Feasibility

Our past city-level events consistently attracted strong developer turnout, proving the demand for Cardano educational programs.

The hybrid model (online workshops + offline events + fellowship) reduces risk and ensures accessibility across India.

Milestones are clearly defined, measurable, and backed by achievable schedules and documented evidence.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Roadshow Planning & Fellowship Framework Setup

Milestone Outputs

Comprehensive preparation for the IndiaCodeX Multi-City Roadshow and Fellowship Program, including detailed event planning for five cities, assembling and onboarding the core organizing team, developing workshop materials, confirming initial partnerships, and online session setup, marketing materials, technical requirements, and communication channels.

Acceptance Criteria

Core organizing team assembled and briefed

Workshop curriculum and fellowship structure finalized

At least three ecosystem/DAO/community partnerships confirmed

City event plans drafted with venue

Technical and logistical requirements documented

Evidence of Completion

Planning documents and project timeline

Fellowship curriculum outline

Confirmed partnership call notes or email confirmations

Copies of workshop materials and communication plans

Delivery Month

1

Cost

18000

Progress

20 %

Milestone Title

Multi-City Outreach, Promotions & Roadshow Delivery

Milestone Outputs

Execution of online and offline outreach campaigns targeting universities, developer communities, and DAOs across India, plus delivery of the roadshow events in Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Activities include webinars, online workshops, social campaigns, local meetups, and city events culminating in the selection of one top project per city for the fellowship.

Acceptance Criteria

Minimum 500 participants across online and city sessions

Roadshow events delivered in all 5 cities

Outreach campaigns executed across social media, emails, and partner networks

Five fellowship teams selected (one from each city)

Engagement and attendance benchmarks achieved

Evidence of Completion

Attendance and registration reports

Screenshots, analytics, and campaign metrics

Photos/videos from all city events

List of selected fellowship teams with evaluation notes

Delivery Month

2

Cost

18000

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Fellowship Program & Final Showcase (Hyderabad)

Milestone Outputs

Delivery of the full 4 week IndiaCodeX Cardano Fellowship, supporting the five selected teams with mentorship, technical training, and milestone-based development. Each team develops a working prototype or testnet-ready concept. Program concludes with a Final Showcase in Hyderabad where all teams present their work and are formally recognized as Cardano Fellows.

Acceptance Criteria

All five fellowship teams actively participating in sessions

At least 3 functional prototypes or testnet demos delivered

Completion of all fellowship checkpoints and mentor reviews

Successful hybrid final showcase in Hyderabad

Final written report summarizing outcomes, metrics, and next steps

Evidence of Completion

Session attendance

Prototype demos, repositories, or technical documentation

Event photos, videos, and presentation materials

Final program report shared publicly

Delivery Month

5

Cost

24000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Roadshow Planning & Fellowship Framework Setup

Cost: 18,000 ADA

Expenses: Planning, curriculum design, partnership onboarding, team coordination, content creation, and initial logistics for all five cities.

Milestone 2: Multi-City Outreach, Promotions & Roadshow Delivery

Cost: 18,000 ADA

Expenses: Marketing campaigns, social outreach, university and DAO partnerships, online workshop delivery, community engagement, and execution of roadshow events across Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

Milestone 3: Fellowship Program & Final Showcase (Hyderabad)

Cost: 24,000 ADA

Expenses: Fellowship mentoring, technical sessions, prototype support, final showcase in Hyderabad, travel assistance, video production, documentation, and overall project close-out reporting.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

IndiaCodeX delivers exceptional value for money by leveraging India’s large developer base and cost-efficient operational environment. With a hybrid model that combines online workshops, multi-city outreach, and a structured fellowship, the program maximizes impact while keeping costs lean and focused on builder development.

Cost Efficiency Through Local Partnerships

By collaborating with universities, DAOs, tech communities, and regional developer groups, the project significantly reduces the cost of venue access, outreach, and event setup. This allows us to maintain high-quality delivery across five major Indian cities while optimizing every ADA spent. The use of online workshops further reduces costs and expands nationwide reach.

High-Impact Developer Engagement

With hundreds of participants expected across Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad plus widespread online attendance the cost per engaged developer is extremely efficient compared to similar developer initiatives in other countries. The combination of local events and digital content ensures scalable, repeatable value without the need for heavy infrastructure investment.

Prototype Development Through Fellowship

The fellowship provides 4 weeks of mentorship and technical guidance to five selected teams, ensuring that funds directly support meaningful project creation. The cost of generating multiple real prototypes, mentoring future Catalyst proposers, and fostering long-term builders is far lower than typical accelerator programs in other regions.

Long-Term Ecosystem Growth

The roadshow and fellowship model creates an ongoing pipeline of developers entering Cardano. These fellows—equipped with skills, prototype experience, and community integration are likely to continue building, submitting proposals, and strengthening the ecosystem long after the project ends. This sustained output compounds the value of the initial investment.

Summary

IndiaCodeX provides a high return on investment by utilizing cost-effective resources, hybrid delivery methods, and long-standing community partnerships. The project not only extends Cardano’s reach into one of the world’s largest developer markets but also ensures that new builders receive the support needed to produce real, testnet-ready solutions. This is a scalable and impactful model that grows the ecosystem efficiently and sustainably.

[Self-Assessment] Self-Assessment Checklist

I confirm that the proposal is a non-technical initiative, with ≤20% of the budget for tech support.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal provides verifiable evidence (portfolio, links, reports) of the team's ability to deliver the project.

Yes

I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal includes clear objectives with both Output Metrics (what proposal did) and Adoption-Focused Metrics (what effect proposal had).

Yes

I confirm that the proposal clearly explains the user journey and provides a credible plan for how the project will equip and motivate users for future on-chain activity.

Yes

I confirm that the initiative clearly demonstrates how it will grow the Cardano ecosystem or onboard users.

Yes

I confirm that the project plan and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic and well-defined.

Yes

I confirm that the proposal commits to public outputs and justifies any exceptions.

Yes

I confirm that the budget adheres to all policies: it is for future work, follows the merchandise rule, and excludes establishing local treasuries, incentives/giveaways, re-grants.

Yes

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

I Agree

Yes