Please describe your proposed solution.

We have prototyped a Cardano Center in Cape Town, South Africa, which is a blend of a cafe, gallery and event center. The Center provides the following:

• Trainings for new users
• Hosting regular community events to showcase interesting projects and solutions
• Hosting hackathons to build out a local developer network
• Establishing collaborations with local businesses
• Experimenting with SSID, loyalty programs and crypto payment solutions in a physical location
• Providing a comfortable environment where people can enjoy good food, drinks and Cardano NFT art

We will be developing a Cardano Center platform for day-to-day operations, including customer data, booking systems, inventory management, and employee management. Furthermore, the platform will allow Cardano third-party developers to integrate their products, allowing Cardano Centers to act as a sandbox for their products. Effectively, we’re creating a hybrid of traditional franchise management software integrated with Cardano payment, loyalty, wallet, media and other solutions.

Central to this proposition is the creation of an open-source operations guide with a software solution, which forms the backbone of our franchise operations.

The franchise operations guide and management software will be used as the foundation to onboard financing partners, local Center operators, and sponsors with the goal of opening 20+ Centers throughout major cities worldwide. Part of the budget will be used to assist in establishing the first franchisee in a new city.

How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

We will provide a tried and tested blueprint with a robust operating guide to build and operate physical Cardano Center locations worldwide to attract developers, users and all web3 curious—a meeting place where everyone can develop, demo, experiment and promote projects.

The Center is used to cater to the existing Cardano ecosystem by co-hosting events with projects and organizations such as Emurgo and Cardano Foundation, where they can demo their products or organize gatherings with local community members. Moreover, organizers and educators from other blockchains are holding events in our Centers as well.

We want Cardano to expand this kind of network to new cities to drive growth, increase opportunities and project visibility. Ultimately, we want Cardano Centers to become a gateway and go-to solution for incubating real-world use cases on the Cardano blockchain.

How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

By the conclusion of this project, we believe success would be having a pipeline of franchisees in 20+ cities and capital commitments from various Cardano ecosystem members of at least $500,000 to support the rollout of Cardano Centers.

During the process, we want the community and Cardano organizations to provide guidance and help to form partnerships so that our new franchisees can use the open-source franchisee toolkit to set up shop quickly. Franchisees can integrate with our software systems and piggyback off of all of the pre-existing partnerships and become profitable in the shortest timespan possible. All this will facilitate the overall growth and adoption of Cardano.

Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

Our project is community-oriented, and as such, our outputs and results will be shared with the Cardano community publicly. We plan to share all this information via open-source reporting on the overall progress of the project. These reports will be made available on our existing Cardano Centers website and social channels.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our team is heavily invested in the Cardano ecosystem and comprises individuals with extensive experience in their respective fields, including blockchain technology, franchise management, business development, and legal compliance. This multidisciplinary team ensures we have the necessary expertise to manage all aspects of the project successfully.

Testament to our capability is the successful launch and operation of the prototype Cardano Center in Cape Town. This Center has not only been well-received by the community but has also proven the viability and value of the Cardano Center concept. This intensive hands-on experience equips us with deep understanding and insights, which will be instrumental in guiding the development and implementation of the franchise model.

Additionally, Cardano Centers already have existing collaborations with Cardano projects established and running in the Center in Cape Town, including:

Cur8 - Digital NFT display platform for gallery management in the Cardano Center

Anywall - digital gallery screen displays manufactured for Cardano NFTs

Splash - Gamified minting & community directory

Artboardz - Using Kingspray and Oculus, graffiti artists create and mint NFTs in the Center

Monet - Education provider for courses in the Cardano Center

Inversion - highly experienced software developers on Cardano

What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

The Cardano Center has already proven the viability of the model. For this project, we are using the proceeds to roll out Cardano Centers to new cities with our main goals including:

• Developing a Comprehensive Franchise Model: Design a scalable and replicable model, including a robust business and financial plan, operational guidelines, training and support systems, and legal compliance measures, to ensure the seamless launch and operation of new Cardano Centers worldwide.

• Global Expansion of Cardano Centers: Facilitate the establishment of the first franchisee and sourcing of additional franchisees in dozens of cities.

• Establishing Partnerships With More Cardano Projects and Sponsors: Our franchise model will help new Centers establish a viable business model that seamlessly taps into the various distribution agreements already in place.

Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: Franchise Model Development (3 Months)

• Develop a comprehensive business plan, financial model, and operational guidelines for the Cardano Centers
• Formulate a legal framework for the franchise that ensures global and local regulatory compliance.
• Identify initial target regions for franchise expansion based on Cardano community presence, market potential, and regulatory environment.
• Collate specs from research to create the development stack required for milestone 2

Milestone 2: Software and Platform Development (4 Months)

• Finalise the scope for SDK and for the open-source software platform based on the franchise model development plan and research.
• Screen and select a software development team to build the open-source software platform.
• Development of the open-source platform starts.

Milestone 3: Initial Franchise Roll-Out (3 Months)

• Open the franchise sales process to the Cardano community.
• Select the first franchisee.
• Launch and test the Cardano Center software platform.
• Conduct training sessions for the selected franchisee.
• Provide ongoing support to the franchisee for the successful launch of their Cardano Center.

Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Franchise Model and Software Requirements Development

• Approximately a 100-page business plan with a financial model and operational guidelines for the Cardano Centers.
• Legal framework for the Cardano Centers franchise model.
• A report on initial target regions for franchise expansion.

Milestone 2: Software Development Team Selection and Platform Development

• A signed contract with the selected software development team to build the open-source software platform and SDK.
• Proof of payment to the software development team.
• Contract date starts

Milestone 3: Initial Franchise Roll-Out

• Initial test results report detailing functionality, user-friendliness, and security of the platform and SDK.
• Launch the Cardano Center open-source software platform and SDK.
• Make comprehensive training programs for future franchisees available on the open-source platform
• Survey and initial report from the first selected franchisee

Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1: Franchise Model and Software Requirements Development

• Business plan, financial model, and operational guidelines development: $20,000
• Legal framework development with franchise lawyer: $15,000
• Market research for franchise expansion: $5,000

Total for Milestone 1: $40,000

Milestone 2: Software Development Team Selection and Platform Development

• Software development: $35,000
• Software testing: $5,000

Total for Milestone 2: $40,000

Milestone 3: Initial Franchise Roll-Out

• Launch an open-source platform with iterations $20,000
• Sign off on development at this stage $15,000
• First franchisee onboarding, in-person training and assistance in setting up a Cardano Center $5,000

Total for Milestone 3: $40,000

Grand Total: $120,000 or ADA 400,000 (USD 0.3 per ADA)

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Aaron Arfman - <https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-arfman-1209a95/>Aaron Arfman is an entrepreneur with 20 years of operations experience in China and a Cardano supporter since 2018. He is passionate about developing products that make blockchain more accessible to the masses by leveraging his cross-industry experiences from private equity, fintech startups to wine production and distribution. Global team leader.

David Harris - <https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidharris1/>David Harris is a Canadian entrepreneur and investor. He spent 20 years in Asia as a founder, executive, and investor with startups in hardware, e-Commerce, media, and blockchain technology. He is chief investigator at Cool McLuhan Labs, a Web3 technology research outfit based in Brisbane, and co-Founder of Singapore-based Cur8, the ‘Spotify of Display’ platform empowering creators across the whole value chain of digital art and digital assets. Brisbane-based team leader & team advisor.

John-Patrick van Rensburg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/provident/ An account-based marketing expert primarily focused on building projects on the Cardano Blockchain, including the establishment of Cardano Center Cape Town. His background includes extensive experience in Africa, involving complex operations in the mining and tourism sector in West Africa and social development in complex geo-political environments. Globetrotting across more than 70 countries in his 20s, his resilient spirit and commitment to excellence shine through in both professional engagements and adventurous pursuits. South Africa team leader and marketing.

Dee Boshoff - <https://www.linkedin.com/in/dee-boshoff-53818393/> a digital marketing expert and blockchain enthusiast who spent a decade studying, living, and working in Asia with a leading digital marketing agency. He is currently helping to conceptualize, build, and market Splash, a gamified NFT minting and data aggregation directory looking to onboard the next wave of Web3 projects and users into the creative ecosystem. Marketing lead.

Murray Walker - www.linkedin.com/in/murray-clive-walker-59b9b1174Murray Walker is a South African NFT art aficionado and curator. After living in China for 10 years, he returned to South Africa, where he built small online businesses. He has been involved in Cardano since 2018 and NFT since 2021. He is currently the Operations Guru at The Art Bank and Community Manager at Cur8. NFT expert and resident Degen.

Jacques Bosch - Linkedin Jacques Bosch, a tech entrepreneur from South Africa, loves the way harnessing software can reshape the real world. With a quarter of a century career spanning a diverse range of industries, from Blockchain and Auctioning to Education and Insurance, Jacques has a wealth of experience in implementing successful systems across many countries. For over 18 years, he has led competent teams founded on strong and respect-based relationships. Currently, he is concentrating on developing blockchain products and generative AI solutions for enterprise scenarios, highlighting his love of innovation and progress.

Piro Vorster - Linkedin Piro Vorster is a skilled tech professional and founder of 2 successful software startups, Inversion, and Pink Fish, with 17 years of experience in technologies like .NET, Azure, C#, and more. He’s worked in a broad range of sectors, including Auctioning, Insurance, and Reinsurance, and relishes the thrill of solving complex challenges. Piro’s credentials include a BSc (Hons) Computing degree and a wealth of leadership experience. He also boasts an unusual asset — a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reflecting his commitment to discipline and strategic thinking.

Isheanesu Gurupira is a hospitality manager and an emerging NFT guru. He spent his early 20s in economically crippled Zimbabwe, where he was involved in the groundwater surveying and borehole drilling industry. He moved to Cape Town to pursue new ventures, finding his footing in hospitality. He has managed to become a connector of people in different trades and has further taken part in establishing the Cardano Center in Cape Town. Isheanesu’s determination to learn, grow, and connect is evident in his ability to smoothly manage the projects he is responsible for.

Clyde Mandy is a Zimbabwean musician, emerging art director, and blockchain enthusiast residing in Cape Town for the past five years. With experience in hospitality and management, he successfully launched local startups and later found his passion in the advertising and creative agency industry as a copywriter. He contributed to impactful TV commercials and campaigns, blending African township stories with real-world messaging tools. Clyde also played a role in establishing the Cardano Center Cape Town. His creative problem-solving skills align with Cardano’s goals for Africa as he strives to bring an authentic and utopian approach to his work.

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

Replicating a successful Cardano Centers model around the world promises an enormous return on investment to the Cardano ecosystem. Our successful launch and operation of the prototype Cardano Center in Cape Town are a testament to the viability and efficacy of the project proposal and overall model.

Investing in the expansion of Cardano Centers brings a host of benefits. It strengthens the Cardano ecosystem by creating an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Moreover, it amplifies Cardano's visibility and reputation, attracting more interest and investment into the ecosystem. We're making waves with one Cardano Center; imagine what a host of Centers worldwide could do, and we're just getting warmed up. The project's cost is an investment in a sustainable, scalable, and replicable model that promises to expand Cardano's influence globally.