Last updated 3 months ago
Pho-Chain fills a unique intersection: using the universal language of food and culture to raise awareness of Cardano, build community, and create a grassroots “on-ramp” for future Cardano adoption.
Core Activities 1. Vietnamese Food & Culture Campaign 2. Community Events & Local Meetups 3. Cultural Exchange & Content Creation 4. Cardano On-Ramp & Education 5. Sustainability & Community Building
Please provide your proposal title
Pho-Chain: WeLovePho Community & Culture Hub for Cardano
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
30000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
10
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
Yes
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Pho-Chain fills a unique intersection: using the universal language of food and culture to raise awareness of Cardano, build community, and create a grassroots “on-ramp” for future Cardano adoption.
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Our project is carried out by members of the following organizations/units: 1- Welovepho.org 2- Vybe-network.org 3- TDA.company 4- VietAssist.net
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.
Pho-Chain is a community-driven, open-source initiative. All content, event materials, and educational resources will be released and published openly on WeLovePho.org and a public GitHub/GitBook.
This ensures every Cardano community can reuse, translate, and replicate the Pho-Chain model across cities and cultures. By keeping everything open, we amplify shared learning, community growth, and long-term impact for the Cardano ecosystem.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Community Outreach
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano?
Who benefits?
Pho-Chain primarily benefits:
• Vietnamese diaspora communities across Europe, who gain a cultural hub, events, and opportunities for community connection.
• Local European audiences, including food enthusiasts and culturally curious individuals who engage with Vietnamese cuisine and culture through events and content.
• The wider Cardano ecosystem, which gains access to new, diverse, and previously underrepresented communities that are not traditionally targeted by blockchain outreach.
• Small Vietnamese businesses, especially restaurants and cultural groups, which gain visibility, community support, and educational resources about Cardano.
How does this proposal help diversify and grow the Cardano ecosystem?
Pho-Chain integrates Cardano into real-world cultural spaces where blockchain is not yet present. By embedding Cardano education within high-engagement cultural experiences — food events, cultural stories, diaspora-driven media, social-media content — we provide a soft onboarding pathway for people who would not naturally enter the Cardano ecosystem through technical or crypto-centric channels.
This approach:
• Builds trust and familiarity through cultural values instead of technology jargon.
• Creates new entry points for Cardano among non-crypto-native communities.
• Expands Cardano into European and Southeast Asian diaspora networks with strong word-of-mouth and community bonding.
• Encourages multicultural dialogue and inclusion, strengthening Cardano’s global identity.
Why is Cardano the right fit?
Cardano is known for:
• A strong global mission around inclusion, education, and social impact
• A reputation for responsible, community-driven, multicultural growth
• A governance system (Catalyst) that supports public-goods projects and community engagement
Pho-Chain fits naturally into this vision because:
• It builds organic community growth, not speculative activity.
• It expands blockchain accessibility to people who value community, culture, and social connection.
• It demonstrates Cardano’s utility in real-world cultural outreach.
• It strengthens Cardano’s presence in European and Southeast Asian diaspora communities — major, multicultural demographics with long-term significance.
In short: Cardano is a chain that values culture, education, and community — and Pho-Chain is designed to amplify exactly those values.
Provide a list of key activities of your project:
The project will implement a structured 12-month programme consisting of the following key activities:
A. Community & Cultural Content Creation
• Produce a bilingual (English + Vietnamese) content library: articles, videos, interviews, and stories about Vietnamese cuisine and culture.
• Highlight Vietnamese restaurants, food traditions, chefs, diaspora stories, and cultural insights.
• Create gentle Cardano educational content integrated into cultural storytelling (“Cardano 101 for beginners”).
B. Website / Microsite Development
• Build and launch the Pho-Chain Vietnamese Food & Culture Guide website.
• Publish restaurant directory, cultural articles, event information, and educational resources.
• Maintain regular content updates and community announcements.
C. Social Media Campaign
• Launch an ongoing social media strategy across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
• Post short-form videos, cultural highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and event coverage.
• Use targeted marketing to reach diaspora and food enthusiasts across Europe.
D. Community Events Across Europe
• Host six events during the year (workshops, meetups, pho-gatherings, cultural showcases).
• At each event, introduce attendees to Cardano with simple, accessible guides.
• Collect community stories, photos, and interviews to amplify online.
E. Community Building & Mailing List
• Establish a mailing list and communication channels (newsletter, social media groups).
• Maintain consistent updates to nurture and grow an active community.
• Conduct community surveys and feedback sessions to improve engagement.
F. Reporting & Transparency
• Provide monthly written updates summarizing activities and spending.
• Publish final public report with metrics, lessons learned, and recommendations for next-phase sustainability.
What are your success metrics?
We use measurable, realistic metrics aligned with Cardano Open: Ecosystem goals.
A. Community Reach
• ≥ 5,000 website visitors to the Pho-Chain hub within 10 months.
• ≥ 500 subscribers to the community mailing list.
• ≥ 1,000 social-media followers across platforms.
B. Engagement & Participation
• 5 community events successfully organized across different European cities.
• ≥ 300 total event participants across all meetups.
• ≥ 10 cultural content pieces (articles, videos, interviews) published publicly.
• ≥ 2,000 combined views/reads across published content.
C. Cardano Onboarding & Awareness
• ≥ 200 individuals access or download beginner-friendly Cardano educational materials.
• ≥ 50 people attend optional introductory Cardano briefings integrated into cultural events.
• Measurable engagement on Cardano-related content (likes, clicks, shares).
D. Diversity & Inclusion Impact
• Participation spread across ≥ 5 European cities/countries.
• Bilingual content (English + Vietnamese) ensuring accessibility to migrant communities.
• Collaborative involvement from multicultural diaspora networks.
E. Sustainability Indicators
• Active mailing list with ≥ 50 consistently engaged members after month 10.
• Clear community demand for continued events or Phase 2 activities.
• Long-term partnerships with Vietnamese restaurants and diaspora organizations
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
1-Europe-wide Vietnamese Food; Culture Campaign
• Curate and publish a multilingual (English + Vietnamese) “Vietnamese Food; Culture Guide” website / microsite — featuring Vietnamese restaurants (phở, traditional cuisine), cultural stories, diaspora experiences, cooking tips, community interviews, etc.
• Social-media campaign (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.) with short videos, photos, and stories to highlight Vietnamese cuisine and culture.
2-Community Events & Local Meetups
• Organise community events in major European cities: e.g., “Pho Nights”, cooking workshops, cultural meetups, Vietnamese-food popups.
• Host at least 5 events in the first 10 months, with participation from both Vietnamese diaspora and locals curious about Vietnamese culture.
3-Cultural Exchange & Content Creation
• Produce and distribute blog articles, videos, podcasts about Vietnamese culture, diaspora stories, and how Cardano can support multicultural communities.
• Collaborate with diaspora networks (through VietAssist.net, Vybe-network.org, TDA.company) to amplify reach.
4-Cardano On-Ramp & Education
• Include in our content a simple “Intro to Cardano & ADA” section: what is Cardano, how to get started with ADA, why blockchain matters — targeting non-crypto audiences.
• Provide resources (guides, translated materials) to lower the barrier for newcomers, especially Vietnamese-speaking communities.
5-Sustainability & Community Building
• Build a mailing list / community group of interested users (food lovers, diaspora, culturally curious individuals).
• Maintain regular communication (newsletter, social media, community calls) to keep engagement, build trust, and gradually introduce more Cardano-centric content or initiatives.
6-Expected Deliverables & Public Outputs
• Publicly accessible “Vietnamese Food & Culture Guide & Directory” microsite / website.
• At least 10 content pieces (articles, videos, social media posts) on Vietnamese cuisine + Cardano intro.
• 5 offline/online community events across Europe within 10 months.
• Social-media campaign metrics (followers, engagement), community mailing list with minimum 500 subscribers by month 10.
• Monthly publicly shared progress reports; final report summarizing outcomes, metrics, lessons learned.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This project strengthens the Cardano ecosystem by expanding awareness, education, and real-world engagement among multicultural communities across Europe. By integrating Cardano into the established WeLovePho network—known for connecting Vietnamese diaspora, creators, entrepreneurs, and food enthusiasts—the initiative introduces blockchain concepts to audiences not typically reached by existing Cardano outreach channels.
1-Ecosystem Expansion
• Builds a new entry point into Cardano through food, culture, entrepreneurship, and community storytelling.
• Engages Vietnamese-European and migrant communities—highly active, entrepreneurial demographics that are underrepresented in blockchain education but demonstrate strong adoption potential.
• Creates localized, language-accessible content that increases inclusiveness and global diversity within Cardano.
2-Cross-Community Connective Value
• Leverages multiple partners (TDA.company, VietAssist.net, Vybe-network.org) to bridge Cardano with tech, student, and cultural networks.
• Events across Europe help grow local Cardano nodes of influence, encouraging future builders, creators, and small business adoption.
3-Long-Term Onboarding Pipeline
• Multimedia content and community events create repeated exposure, becoming a sustainable funnel for: New wallet users, Catalyst voters, Developers and entrepreneurs, Cultural ambassadors promoting Cardano messaging
4-Catalyst Alignment
• Fits directly into Cardano Open: Ecosystem by generating multi-format educational content, fostering community activation, and strengthening the global network.
• By building Cardano visibility in everyday environments (restaurants, shared kitchens, cafés, local communities), it provides practical, real-world pathways for people to explore and adopt Cardano
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 project team has extensive experience in content production, community building, entrepreneurship, event coordination, and digital communications. Combined, they represent a strong and reliable implementation team capable of delivering all planned milestones on time.
Team Competencies
Dong Phong — Project Lead (WeLovePho.org)
• 8+ years building multicultural community platforms in Europe.
• Lead organizer of WeLovePho projects and food-culture networks.
• Experience with cross-community engagement, content direction, and partnerships.
• Proven track record of executing community-based digital initiatives.
TDA.company — IT, Digital Production & Media
• Professional media & design partner supporting video/visual content creation.
• Skilled in producing branded multimedia assets and social campaigns.
• Ensures consistent stylistic quality and publishing reliability.
VietAssist.net — Community Activation & Local Engagement
• Deep access to Vietnamese-European networks across major cities (Germany, Netherlands, Czechia, France).
• Supports event mobilization, logistics, and cultural outreach.
• Ensures strong turnout for community sessions and Cardano-focused meetups.
Vybe-network.org — Technical Guidance & Ecosystem Knowledge
• Experienced in blockchain community programs, workshops, and onboarding.
• Provides Cardano-aligned educational guidance, ensuring content accuracy.
• Supports wallet demos, ecosystem explanations, and Web3 engagement activities.
Feasibility Analysis
Realistic Scope; Phasing
The project’s structure of 5 milestones over 10 months is realistic and fully aligned with the team’s existing operational workflows. Each milestone includes clear deliverables, acceptance criteria, and evidence, ensuring auditability and manageable workload distribution.
Operational Readiness
• Existing WeLovePho digital infrastructure ensures immediate deployment.
• Strong European partner network guarantees viable event venues and audiences.
• Content production pipeline with TDA.company already operational.
Risk Management
Identified risks and mitigations:
• Event attendance variability: mitigated by using multiple local partner networks to promote events.
• Content production delays: mitigated by a flexible content calendar and backup contributors.
• Technical accuracy: supported by Vybe-network.org to ensure Cardano correctness.
High Likelihood of Success
The team’s combined strengths in content creation, community activation, cultural networks, and Web3 education ensure the project can be executed effectively, with measurable outputs and strong relevance to Cardano’s global expansion goals.
Milestone Title
Project Setup & Launch (Month 1)
Milestone Outputs
• Project communication channels created (email list, social media accounts, update channel).
• Public microsite/landing page for Pho-Chain launched with initial content (project overview, mission, contact).
• Published project roadmap and activity schedule.
Acceptance Criteria
• Microsite is publicly accessible and contains at least: Home, About, Roadmap, Contact pages.
• All communication channels operational and publicly linked (email list signup + social accounts).
• Roadmap clearly published and matches Catalyst proposal structure.
Evidence of Completion
• Public URL to microsite.
• Screenshots/links of social channels and email signup page.
• Screenshot/PDF of roadmap published online.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
6000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Initial Content Release & Campaign Start (Month 3)
Milestone Outputs
• First set of 4 cultural content pieces published (articles or videos).
• Social media campaign launched (minimum 10 posts across channels).
• Outreach initiated to diaspora groups and restaurant partners.
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance Criteria:
• At least 4 content pieces publicly accessible.
• Social campaign shows visible activity (≥10 posts).
• Outreach documented (emails, messages, or collaboration confirmations).
Evidence of Completion
• URLs to 4 content items.
• Screenshots of social posts with timestamps.
• Summary list of outreach activities with evidence (emails, confirmations, or public announcements).
Delivery Month
2
Cost
6000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
First Community Events
Milestone Outputs
Outputs:
• At least 2-3 community events held in different European cities and Vietnam...
• Event photo/video documentation collected...
• Event summaries published on microsite or social media...
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance Criteria:
• Minimum 2-3 events completed with ≥20 participants total...
• Documented event materials: photos, short videos, summaries...
• Public event recap posts published...in website...
Evidence of Completion
• Photos/videos from events.
• URLs to published event summaries.
• Attendance logs or sign-in sheets.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
6000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Content Expansion & Community Growth
Milestone Outputs
**Outputs: **
• Additional 6 cultural or community content pieces published.
• Newsletter or community updates sent monthly since milestone 1.
• Growth of social channels and mailing list demonstrated.
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance Criteria:
• Total content count reaches ≥10 items.
• At least 3 newsletters/community updates sent.
• Mailing list reaches ≥300 subscribers OR measurable engagement growth shown.
Evidence of Completion
Evidence of Completion
• URLs of new content (6 items).
• Copies/screenshots of newsletters.
• Mailing list dashboard screenshot (subscriber count).
Delivery Month
2
Cost
6000
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Final Events & Project Wrap-Up
Milestone Outputs
Outputs:
• Final 4 community events completed (target total: 6 events).
• Full dataset of media assets (photos, videos) compiled.
• Final report drafted and published.
• Public summary of metrics (engagement, reach, attendance).
Acceptance Criteria
**Acceptance Criteria: **
• Total of 6 events completed across ≥3 locations...
• Final report includes KPIs comparison vs proposal targets...
• All media and deliverables publicly accessible...
Evidence of Completion
**Evidence of Completion: **
• Event photos/videos + recap URLs.
• Final report PDF or webpage link.
• Analytics screenshots (website, social media, content reach)
Delivery Month
2
Cost
6000
Progress
20 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Budget Category -Estimated ADA -Description / Notes:
1) Website / Microsite setup & maintenance (3,000 ADA): Domain, hosting, site design, localization (English + Vietnamese)
2) Content creation (writing, video, editing) (6,000 ADA): Articles, video production, translations, design/graphics
3) Social-media marketing & promotion (4,000 ADA): Ads, boosted posts, content promotion to reach broader audience
4) Events (venue, logistics, materials) (10,000 ADA): Rental for venues, catering (food), logistics, local marketing, printing, signage
5) Community management & outreach (3,000 ADA): Coordination, communication, moderation, mailing list management
6) Administration; overhead (2,000 ADA): Coordination, project management, minor costs, contingency
7) Reporting & documentation (2,000 ADA):
Producing monthly reports, final report, compliance costs
Total 30,000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
This project delivers strong value for money by combining low-cost digital production with high-impact, community-driven outreach across Europe. With a total request of 30,000 ADA, WeLovePho leverages an established network (WeLovePho.org, TDA.company, VietAssist.net, Vybe-network.org) to produce measurable ecosystem growth at a fraction of the cost typically associated with international engagement and media creation.
1-Cost Efficiency
• Hybrid model (content + community events) ensures each ADA contributes to both long-term digital assets and in-person adoption activities.
• Content production is conducted by experienced contributors within the WeLovePho ecosystem, significantly reducing outsourcing fees while maintaining professional-quality output.
• Events are hosted in cost-efficient partner locations across Europe, minimizing venue and logistics costs through local community support.
2-High Return on Investment
• The project produces 14 high-quality content pieces, 6–8 events, and continuous community activation over a 10-month timeline.
• Each output directly drives Cardano visibility to new audiences—especially Vietnamese-European communities often underserved in blockchain engagement.
• Collaborating with existing partner communities (TDA, VietAssist, Vybe) multiplies exposure without requiring additional budget.
3-Sustainability Beyond the Funding Period
• All produced content remains evergreen and publicly accessible on WeLovePho.org and external platforms.
• Community relationships, mailing lists, and event infrastructures will continue enabling Cardano-focused activities at no further cost to Catalyst.
• WeLovePho’s volunteer-driven contributors ensure ongoing maintenance without long-term financial dependency.
4-Transparent and Milestone-Based Spending
• The budget is distributed across five auditable milestones, each delivering objective outputs and verifiable evidence.
• Costs are directly linked to measurable deliverables rather than administrative overhead.
• The project team commits to transparent reporting and open data publication, ensuring that ADA spent can be independently verified.
5-Leverage of Existing Strengths
• The project amplifies cultural, entrepreneurial, and community assets already built by WeLovePho.org.
• By integrating Cardano storytelling into an existing food & culture brand with thousands of followers, the initiative maximizes exposure without additional marketing costs.
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
I Agree
Yes
Team & Roles
• Dong Phong – Main proponent, representing WeLovePho.org — responsible for overall project coordination, community outreach, liaising with the Vietnamese overseas community network, event scheduling and content monitoring.
• TDA.company – Partner: in charge of technology, technical solutions for marketing strategies, social media promotion,
• VietAssist.net – Partner: content design, multilingual translation (English ↔ Vietnamese) and logistics for community outreach in Europe. Activating the Vietnamese overseas community network across Europe, supporting recruitment of event participants, community management, liaising with local Vietnamese businesses/restaurants.
• Vybe-network.org – Partner: supporting community building, digital content production (videos, podcasts), social interaction, supporting the building and operation of community hubs/mailing lists/channels.
Each partner has prior experience in community organizing, outreach support, cultural content, and marketing—ensuring we meet the “relevant experience” requirement of Catalyst proposals.