Mike Hornan Cardano Governance and Disaster Recovery

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Mike Hornan Cardano Governance and Disaster Recovery

[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

6

[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?

Cardano needs dedicated teachers to help train new SPOs, DReps and CC Members to perform in Governance and take part in Disaster Recovery and Bug Mitigation to upkeep the chain.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://able-pool.io/voltaire
,
• https://able-pool.io/document
,
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-LppIAFWNLhUiLSGliUpA
,
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KumxauKV6K57-H0NTYdsgDqJo2iEqb7oqc8B3aatwgo/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.7xiwzzeq9qo
,
• https://sancho.cardanoconnect.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.

CC BY-4.0 for educational content (infographics, docs, videos); MIT, Apache 2.0, or GPL for any code/scripts. All outputs released in public repositories.

[Theme Selection] Theme

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

Governance

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

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

Targets

• CC candidates preparing for Summer 2026 election
• DReps & SPOs deepening governance expertise
• Ada holders and worldwide, with emphasis on developing economies

How we’ll reach them

• 20+ online workshops (English & French) and an in-person workshop trip
• Updated educational materials (infographics, videos, documentation)
• Mentorship via the SanchoNet Education Network.

Why this matters

• A competent, global base of participants increases inclusion, decentralization, and quality
• Targeted outreach in developing economies lowers barriers where impact is highest

Provide a list of key activities of your project:

• Workshops & Training: Online sessions (EN/FR) and an in-person workshop series (planned for Africa) on governance participation and secure self-custody
• Educational Content: Refreshed infographics, step-by-step guides, and video tutorials (EN/FR)
• SanchoNet Experimentation: Maintain SanchoNet, publish governance test cases and outcomes
• Mentorship & Support: Mentor network pairing experienced contributors with newcomers
• Outreach in Developing Economies: Collaboration with ABLE Stake Pool's ongoing outreach
• Disaster Recovery: Continue running Disaster Recovery Scenarios, investigating potential bugs that could take down Cardano and planning how to recover from them.

What are your success metrics?

• Content outputs: Number and versions of updated infographics, public guides, and video tutorials (EN/FR) released
• Infrastructure & test cases: SanchoNet operational documentation, faucet continuity, recovery plan, and published test cases with documented outcomes
• Workshops delivered: Public archive of slides, agendas, and recordings for all sessions
• Mentorship network: Mentor roster, onboarding guide, and evidence of active mentorship engagements (logged issues/PR reviews/office hours).
• Disater Recovery Plans: Have documentation for how to recover from various incidents that could threaten Cardano.
• Reporting: Milestone reports with links to all deliverables

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

Cardano governance is moving into a critical phase where decentralized participation is essential. However, governance concepts remain complex, intimidating, and poorly understood by much of the global community. This complexity risks concentrating decision-making in the hands of a narrow group of insiders rather than empowering a broad, diverse base of Ada holders. Without accessible training, resources, and mentorship, many potential participants (especially in developing economies) are excluded from the decision-making process.

We believe governance education must be practical, engaging, and inclusive. Our approach combines workshops, documentation, infographics, and video tutorials with live mentorship and a governance experimentation environment (SanchoNet). This model not only explains governance concepts but also allows participants to practice them in a hands-on setting. By updating existing resources and maintaining a network of experienced mentors, we can deliver continuity, credibility, and measurable outputs that build on our past successes while scaling outreach to new communities.

We also believe it is essential that the SPOs and other participants on the Cardano network know what kind of scenarios could impede operation of the blockchain and what part they can play in recovering from these incidents. The November 2025 Cardano Separation Incident was a wake-up call to many people of how serious bugs can be on the network. We have already been planning for events like this through the SanchoNet Disaster Recovery Fire Drills and we plan to continue this work.

This project will engage:

• Ada holders worldwide, especially those in developing economies where self-custody and governance literacy are most needed.
• Future Constitutional Committee (CC) candidates, who require advanced preparation to serve competently in this critical role.
• DReps and SPOs, who need resources to better communicate governance processes to their delegators and communities.
• Educators and community leaders, who will benefit from re-usable educational content and mentoring infrastructure.
• Cardano community in Africa, where ABLE Stake Pool and others have already built mission-driven initiatives to onboard participants into governance and self-custody.
• SPOs and technical contributors who can help plan for disaster recovery.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

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

Impact will be demonstrated through the consistent production and delivery of high-quality, publicly accessible content. This includes:

• A maintained and updated library of infographics, guides, and video tutorials.
• At least 20 online workshops (in English and French) and 1 in-person workshop series in Africa.
• A functioning mentorship network that pairs experienced governance actors with new participants.
• Ongoing maintenance of SanchoNet as a live experimentation environment where governance test cases can be explored.
• Clear milestone reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Our approach offers a unique solution to the community:

• Continuity and proven success: Mike Hornan has a proven record in governance education, from infographics used by thousands to in-person workshops. This proposal expands on that foundation rather than starting from scratch
• Mentorship network: Unlike one-off training programs, we are building a durable pipeline of governance leaders through sustained mentorship
• Focus on developing economies: By targeting regions like Africa where mission-driven SPOs have laid groundwork, we expand Cardano governance participation beyond established communities
• Practical experimentation: SanchoNet provides a unique sandbox for testing governance scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practice

Why this matters for Cardano:

• Cardano’s governance model cannot succeed if only a handful of insiders are equipped to participate. The health of the ecosystem depends on training, inclusion, and decentralization at scale.
• By building infrastructure for education, mentorship, and experimentation, this project prepares the next generation of governance leaders, expands the pool of Constitutional Committee candidates, and ensures that Cardano governance remains decentralized, resilient, and globally inclusive.

[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?

Mike Hornan has a proven record of delivering governance education, training, and outreach within the Cardano ecosystem. We have already organized governance workshops, produced widely used documentation and infographics, and built community participation pipelines that have reached thousands of ADA holders worldwide. These prior efforts demonstrate both our capability and our reliability in executing educational initiatives that serve the ecosystem.

Trust and Accountability

• Mike Hornan has performed excellently in gant-funded projects before, consistently delivering on milestones and providing transparent reporting. We will follow Catalyst milestone delivery requirements, ensuring outputs are published in a public and accessible manner. Financially, we have structured a transparent budget with clear justifications for each line item, including stipends, administrative support, infrastructure, workshops, and mentorship incentives. This structure ensures funds are allocated responsibly and traceably.

Processes for Validation and Feasibility

• We will validate feasibility through incremental milestones tied to content production, workshop delivery, and mentorship network development. Each milestone will be documented and reported to the community, providing an open record of progress. Educational resources (tutorials, documentation, infographics, video content) will be publicly accessible, serving as verifiable evidence of impact. Workshops will be logged, and participant materials will be archived for review.

Sustainability and Feasibility

• The SanchoNet Education Network is already operational, providing us with a solid base to expand. By leveraging this infrastructure and our existing community networks—including outreach with ABLE Stake Pool’s mission-driven initiatives in Africa—we reduce startup risks and increase the likelihood of successful delivery. The mentorship network will ensure continuity beyond the project’s funding cycle, cultivating the next generation of governance leaders.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Project Launch & Mentorship Network

Milestone Outputs

The project will formally launch with a clear project plan, updated governance education documentation, and public announcements. A mentorship network will also be established with three experienced mentors recruited, onboarded, and matched with mentees. Documentation will clarify mentor roles, communication channels, and goals.

Acceptance Criteria

AC1: Public project plan is published with milestones and communication strategy.

AC2: Governance education documents updated with clear changelog.

AC3: Three mentors recruited, trained, and matched with mentees, with written commitments.

Evidence of Completion

Links to the published project plan in PDF format, mentor onboarding confirmations, and screenshots or links of kickoff announcements across official channels. Archival copies of these materials will also be preserved for accountability.

Delivery Month

1

Cost

15000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Online Workshop Series

Milestone Outputs

Twenty online workshops delivered in English and French, covering governance foundations, constitutional committee roles, and self-custody best practices. Resources will include guides, slides, infographics, and recordings. Feedback surveys will be conducted to improve future delivery.

Acceptance Criteria

AC1: 20 workshops successfully delivered with recordings and materials made public.

AC2: Infographics and guides published in both English and French.

AC3: Feedback report compiled from surveys and shared publicly.

Evidence of Completion

YouTube playlist of educational videos and workshop recordings, published slides and guides, infographics, and participant feedback. Lists of peer review comments will further confirm delivery.

Delivery Month

3

Cost

10000

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Africa Trip Preparation

Milestone Outputs

All logistical and educational preparations for the Africa trip completed. This includes securing venues, finalizing travel arrangements, preparing localized content, and coordinating with local Cardano communities. Workshop curricula will be adapted to regional contexts with a focus on self-custody and governance participation.

Acceptance Criteria

AC1: Venues booked and travel confirmed for Africa workshop series.

AC2: Educational materials adapted and translated for local use.

AC3: Local partners confirmed and prepared to co-facilitate events.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of venue agreements, travel confirmations, localized workshop materials, and partnership agreements or MOUs.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

15000

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Africa Workshop Series

Milestone Outputs

Mike will travel to Africa for a one-week intensive workshop series. Sessions will include self-custody training, governance simulations, and collaborative community discussions. The series will emphasize empowering Ada holders in developing economies to become governance leaders. Workshops will be documented via video, photography, and participant testimonials.

Acceptance Criteria

AC1: Multi-day workshop series successfully delivered with diverse participation.

AC2: Governance simulations, hands-on wallet training, and community forums conducted.

AC3: Workshop materials, recordings, and testimonials published for the global Cardano community.

Evidence of Completion

Video/photo documentation, published workshop reports, uploaded training resources, and testimonials from participants and facilitators.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

10000

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Final Report & Sustainability Plan

Milestone Outputs

A comprehensive final report will summarize outcomes, lessons learned, and future recommendations. It will include a sustainability plan to ensure that the mentorship network, online resources, and community outreach continue beyond Catalyst funding. Reports will highlight KPIs, budget expenditures, and next steps.

Acceptance Criteria

AC1: Final report delivered publicly in line with all Catalyst close-out requirements.

AC2: Sustainability plan published detailing how the mentorship network and educational resources will be maintained.

AC3: Public closing presentation to disseminate results and invite feedback.

Evidence of Completion

Final report PDF, published sustainability plan, public closing presentation/recording, and links to content hub showing consolidated project outputs.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

10000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Conversion rate expected 1 ADA / $0.50 USD

Mike Hornan Consultant Pay: 48,000 ADA

• ≈25% capacity, 6 months; $100/hr education consultant benchmarking.

Technical Advisors: 2,000 ADA

• Stipends to mentor newcomers and ensure infrastructure quality & continuity.

Travel & Workshops : 10,000 ADA

• In-person event logistics (venue, travel, materials) focused on self-custody and governance participation.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

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

• High-leverage educators produce durable, reusable content used widely across the ecosystem.
• Developing economy workshops strategically expands inclusion where impact is highest.
• Advisor stipends seed a sustainable mentor network, scaling beyond the core team.
• Rates reflect standard nonprofit technical education consulting benchmarks.

[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