Develop a Product and Services DAO

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem.

We will establish Algae Token as a DAO on the Cardano Blockchain to provides services and physical products. The DAO governance features will be released gradually to ensure it is sustainably deployed

[GENERAL] Summarize your relevant experience.

The team over 15 years’ experience in delivering sustainable environmental projects, with expertise in higher education, scientific publications, Information systems, Enterprise resource planning and project management, delivering commercial projects around the world.

[GENERAL] Requested funds in USD.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Opportunity to classify and automate individual parts of business to achieve a streamlined rapidly scalability and simplified model without forfeiting quality of service.

Providing the structure for technical, organisational, and economical systems of the DAO.

Development of the first product and services DAO on the Cardano blockchain. Committed to supplying commodities beneficial to Cardano stakeholders through decentralised operations on the blockchain.

Development of a DAO which allows the opportunity for all to fairly contribute through equality of governance paired with skills based governance. Incentivised through rewards for participation and voting.

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

The proposal challenge aims to support global communities onboarding DAO’s to the Cardano ecosystem. This project aims to use the functionality of a DAO for Operations, Governance and community collaboration. 

DAO categories addressing the proposal challenge

• Governance - Voting - Voting Power - Engagement to vote
• Dapps and Smart contracts
• Treasury - permissions
• Network upgrades
• Risk Assessment
• Web3

DAO Governance - 2 Method Voting System

 A two-method voting approach will be deployed over time, allowing the DAO to grow at a natural rate and avoiding governance attacks. This governance approach enables everyday users to vote on proposals where general knowledge is sufficient to cast an informed vote. For technical aspects of proposals, voters would be required to register their qualifications to participate.

The two methods of voting are as follows.

1.    Everyday users are encouraged to vote on projects that focus on, community growth such as; project locations, community activities and hub related activities. Where to focus education (what particular health or climate benefits should be focused upon), what target audiences should be engaged. Etc

2.   While the second method of governance voting, focuses on technical and scientific aspects of the projects. This requires voters to be certified scientists and/or engineers with a specific knowledge of the areas to be voted upon. Applicants will be interviewed to ensure they hold the relevant qualifications. These interviews will confirm applicants are knowledgeable and capable of casting an informed vote.

Risk Management

 The project is initially engineer and scientist lead, over time community voting will be enabled, allowing the project to morph into a DAO at a sustainable and manageable rate. System changes must be carefully implemented to avoid risks while maintaining quality products and a high level of technical skill and operations.

Incentives

 The community will be incentivized with tokens rewards to encourage voting.

This proposal aims to identify the correct voting methodologies for fair voting which incentivise and reward participants. 

Dapps, Smart contracts and Web3

Integration of blockchain technologies will integrate financial, logistical and other internal system functionality, such as; Supply Chain Tracking and Quality Assurance.

Web3 will allow token holders to interact with Dapps on the website, such as purchasing products, placing orders and voting governance. 

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

Currently risks involve the dependence on off-chain governance, external software or social media platforms. This risk will be improved by smart contract integration and Web3 technology, enabling people to vote via the website.

There is a risk of governance exploitations, to avoid exploitations comprehensive testing will be applied to all new voting methodologies and smart contract integrations. All implemented technologies (Web3, API’s Smart Contract and Dapps) will be rigorously tested prior to implementation.

A risk of rushed implementation, to overcome this, all governance and smart contract applications will be thoroughly tested prior to user engagement. 

There is a risk of low community engagement in governance voting, this will be overcome with effective incentives which provide rewards for voting. 

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

The aim for the DAO is for important off-chain business activities to be converted to smart contracts. This will allow multiple business objectives to be collectively aligned in a single system, allowing for a reduction in middlemen, reducing human error and allowing for improved analytical data extraction from the information stored in API’s or on the blockchain.

Smart contracts allow for more effective automation and product tracking, improved financials while reducing the need for middlemen. Production parameters and quality control, coupled with other internal operational and manufacturing parameters will be used to improve scientific research and development. As well as their main function in maintaining high quality products and traceability through design. Dapps that help increase internal business workflows, internal systems management and increase security.

Transport and Logistics,

The aim to develop an on-chain supply chain tracking system to allow for authentication of products, a system that will enable purchases, delivery, and internal product tracking. This will be implemented through smart contracts, APIs, dapps and Web3 technology.

Milestones and deliverables

The implementation of each business function whether system based, or governance based as a smart contract will also allow for easier execution of elected governance proposals and improved system data handling. 

DAO operations Milestone – The development of a DAO will enable a more transparent ecosystem, permitting the focus of operations on improving production processes, improved physical product quality and quantity and a streamlined supply chain tracking / logistics operations system. Smart contract implementation will reduce bottlenecks in systems management and allow for increased profits.

Physical entity milestone 

• A list of requirements for applying DAO technology to physical entity
• Identify automating transaction processes
• Identify policy voting power
• Identify automated Interconnected smart contracts essential and non-essential processes
• Identify centralised points of weakness
• Identity crypto-economic incentives
• Identify Web3 options and wallet integration
• Identify scalability incentives and operations of transactions and governance
• Identify collaboration apps and DAOs – who to partner with
• Identify DAO implementation security and risk analysis
• Identity inputs from the business – governance system - outputs

Governance milestone

To implement an advanced 2 method governance methodology, careful design and functionality concepts must be identified, then correctly implemented, and introduced after testing. The 2 methods are discussed in more detail in challenge solution above.

• Everyday voters
• Skilled/Qualified voters 

Incentivised Milestone

The development of voter incentives and rewards programs using - Game theory must keep the users socially engaged in the project.

Proposal timeline

The timeline of this project is 12 months, allowing for the DAO concepts to be slowly implemented with clear goals and carefully tested coding.

Months 1-4

Resourcing stage

• Identify internal DAO processing for smart contact engagement, identify each business function that is to be coded as a smart contract
• Identify all internal regions of business that have the opportunity to be incorporated into the DAO e.g. economics, supply chain tracking, scalability, business inputs, product quality parameters and incentives.

Month 4-6

• DAO Design and Development
• API choice
• Educational Material and documentation
• Qualified Body – handover techniques
• Economic System modelling
• Web3 website implementation

Month 6-12

• Testing of smart contracts and Web3 interactions
• Implementation of smart contract and Web3 technology
• Deployment of governance

Time has been allocated by the team to complete proposed milestones for this project. The milestones operate in conjunction with other business processes which coexist with complementary functionalities of business operations, required to complete the entire blockchain project. 

*Internal core team time allocation 1 day per week for 1 people over 12 months

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Project development by the internal core Algae Token Team: 8 hours per week for 12 months (416 hours at $40/h = $16,640)

• Initial design protocols
• Develop on-chain scripting
• Test script compatibility throughout entire system
• Frontend Web3 integration
• Validate DAO system smart contract coding and performance
• Testing smart contracts prior to launch
• Manage deployment of the DAO

Working with DAO Developers and implementing tools (32 hours at $75 = $2,400)

• Software licencing
• Collaboration of DAO system design
• Establishing management for community incentives (voting rewards)
• Support agreements

Business structure development Design (50 hours at $75 = $3,750)

• Financial modelling software
• Hardware components
• Project management and reporting software

Other expenditures (approx. $1,800)

·        Marketing and educational material creation and publishing

Total $24,590

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Dylan Kreis https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylankreis/

Bachelor of Information Systems

20+ Year's experience in Information System project management, design and implementation.

Chemical Engineer

He has significant experience as a Chemical Engineer and Farm manager for a micro algae-based companies in Australia and as the Algae Energy Farm Manager for the University of Queensland. Consulting for microalgae companies in Australia and the middle east.

Dr. Skye Thomas Hall https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-thomas-hall-858a6639/

PHD. Microbiologist

Dr Thomas-Hall has worked at the University of Queensland as Team leader of the Algae Biotechnology supervising a number of PhD, Masters, Honours and undergraduate students, all working on algae production/processing.

Skye has helped set up over 30 small scale projects in hatcheries, university operations and several larger companies, primarily based in northern America and Australia.

Dr. Swaminathan Detchanamurthy https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-d-swaminathan-5982b115/

PHD. Microbiologist

Chemical Engineer

Dr D. Swaminathan serves in the Board of different microalgae cultivating companies which includes Seagrass Tech Pvt Ltd India. Glaukos Algae Technologies, India and Algae Australia

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

This project aims to be self sufficient and will not require further funding for this proposal.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

Developer Feedback

• Github comments regarding development comments and bug tracking
• Developer documentation and reporting to management feedback

Social Media Feedback

• Social Media feedback, this includes the number of community onboarding, on social media platforms; Discord, Twitter, reddit, YouTube and social media blogs.
• Social media feedback and community growth, this includes comments by the public on the project through YouTube and discord and all third-party articles related to the project.

Impact reports for tracking the progress of project milestones

• Identify regulatory needs and requirements – from legal and financial advisors
• Create time-based outlines to development structures – reporting software and project management software/methods
• A scientific approach to all business orientated operations – peer reviewed deliverables.
• Reports and analysis from social enterprise experts – external surveys

Milestone measurements; reports and completion vs budget costs

• DAO registration and govenance features implemented
• Development identification tracking – internal and external budgets
• Goal completed vs outgoing expenses

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

Success is determined by Milestones completion

Smart Contract and Web3 implementation

All internal business areas/operations are incorporated into the DAO e.g. economics, supply chain tracking, scalability, business inputs, product quality parameters and incentives.

Implementation of DAO Dapps / Smart contracts and Web3 integration

The ability for Cardano users to purchase products off the blockchain with ADA or native tokens

Working governance voting ability

The creating of a newly designed 2 level Governance system, with concepts and the ability to identify how these voting categories are implemented and introduced. 

·        Everyday voters

·        Skilled/Qualified voters

The ability for voting, DAO governance and voting to the community in a safe and risk-free approach.

Social Media Feedback

Community involvement with Incentives and rewards programs for voters, including feedback from educational and marketing materials. 

Social media comments and feedback

Twitter shares

Discord comments and questions

YoutTube views, comments and shares.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

New proposal

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

This project is one of the most sustainable projects on the planet, providing solutions to Food, Fuel and Climate issues currently being faced worldwide. The education on these benefits must be brought into public domain and we appreciate your support. 

SDG goals:

Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

SDG subgoals:

14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round

2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment

2.c Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility

7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

7.3.1 Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP

7.2.1 Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

2.c.1 Indicator of food price anomalies

2.3.2 Average income of small-scale food producers, by sex and indigenous status

2.3.1 Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size

2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

14.4.1 Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

14.2.1 Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas