Please describe your proposed solution

The proposed solution is to host Cardano Tech Week, a five-day event in Buenos Aires combining education, collaboration, and innovation. The event will address the lack of blockchain resources and community presence in Latin America by offering hands-on workshops, hackathons, bootcamps, and educational content on Cardano and advanced blockchain technologies like Zero Knowledge Proofs. By leveraging the timing of the Cardano Governance Week, we will engage more than 200 participants, including industry experts, entrepreneurs, and international delegates. The uniqueness of our solution lies in its integration of co-working, co-learning, and co-living, fostering an environment of continuous collaboration and knowledge exchange. This will enhance the visibility of Cardano, build a strong local community, and inspire long-term commitment to the ecosystem.

Our approach will benefit students, researchers, developers, and entrepreneurs who will gain practical skills, network with global experts, and contribute to shaping the blockchain landscape in Latin America. The impact will be measured by increased adoption of Cardano, successful project launches from the hackathons, and the formation of local governance groups. This solution is vital for positioning Cardano at the forefront of technological innovation in the region.

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

Cardano Tech Week will have a significant positive impact on the broader Cardano community by expanding its reach in Latin America. We will measure impact quantitatively by the number of attendees, hackathon projects launched, and the new Cardano wallets created by participants. Qualitatively, we will assess community feedback, media coverage, and new partnerships formed during the event. Outputs such as educational materials, hackathon projects, and governance working groups will be shared through open source platforms, official Cardano channels, and social media to ensure maximum accessibility and engagement. This event will create lasting connections, educate a new generation of blockchain enthusiasts, and foster a collaborative culture in Cardano's ecosystem.

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?

Capability & Feasibility:

Together with Kehua Yang, we organized the first Cardano Hackathon in Latin America, setting a precedent that was adopted as a model by the IOG Education Team for future hackathons worldwide. Since 2021, we have also been organizing the Cardano Summit Buenos Aires, now in its fourth edition, and we are honored to host Charles Hoskinson for the 2024 event.

Jose Iadicicco - Cardano Ambassador, Co-founder of ADA Solar and Stake Pool Operator for ADA ONE Pool. Jose brings over 20 years of experience in energy, technology, and telecommunications. His prior work includes organizing significant events like the Cardano Summits since 2021, ALBA (ADA Labs for Blockchain Applications) and Hackathon in Buenos Aires.

Kehua Yang - Co-founder and Community Manager for ADA ONE Pool. With a Master in Education and extensive experience in international business, Kehua has coordinated large-scale projects, including those in renewable energy sectors.

We have signed a collaboration agreement with the IOG education team, who will assist us in several of the activities, such as Cardano Days, hackathons, and more.

We have the capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability. As the lead applicant, I, José Iadicicco, have extensive experience organizing and leading blockchain-related events and educational initiatives in Latin America. My role as a Cardano Ambassador, co-founder of ADA Solar, and Director of ALBA at UTN demonstrates my deep commitment to the Cardano ecosystem and community building.

Our team is composed of experienced professionals from the Cardano community, including educators from the IOG education team and blockchain experts who will facilitate the workshops and hackathons. The IOG education team has a proven track record of managing similar events, such as Cardano Days in Mexico and Europe, which received extremely positive feedback from participants.

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we have already secured partnerships with local educational institutions, co-working spaces, and industry experts. We have a detailed project plan with well-defined milestones and deliverables, ensuring the project stays on track and meets its objectives. Additionally, our budgeting and financial management processes will be transparent, with regular reports and audits to ensure proper use of funds.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Pre-Event Planning and Logistics (Completion by October 2024)

• A: Milestone outputs: Secure venue, finalize partnerships, confirm speaker lineup.
• B: Acceptance criteria: Venue booking confirmed, collaboration agreement signed, and speaker confirmations obtained.
• C: Evidence of milestone completion: Signed contracts, partnership agreements, speaker confirmation emails.

Milestone 2: Marketing and Community Outreach (Completion by November 2024)

• A: Milestone outputs: Launch marketing campaign, outreach to the community, promote Cardano Tech Week.
• B: Acceptance criteria: Achieve 200 registered participants.
• C: Evidence of milestone completion: Participant registration list.

Milestone 3: Event Execution (November 25-30, 2024)

• A: Milestone outputs: Conduct Cardano Tech Week successfully, complete all planned activities.
• B: Acceptance criteria: Over 200 attendees and successful completion of all planned activities (hackathons, workshops, courses).
• C: Evidence of milestone completion: Event photos, attendance records, participant feedback.

Final Milestone: Project Close-Out Report and Video (Completion by January 2025)

• A: Milestone outputs: Produce a final report and an impact video summarizing the event's success and outcomes.
• B: Acceptance criteria: Submission of the final report and video.
• C: Evidence of milestone completion: Published report and video submitted to Catalyst.

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

Team Members and Roles:

• José Iadicicco: Lead Applicant, Event Coordinator, and Strategic Lead. José is a Cardano Ambassador, co-founder of ADA Solar, and leader of ALBA at UTN. He is responsible for the overall coordination of Cardano Tech Week and strategic partnerships.

• Kehua Yang: Master in Education from the National Taipei University. Kehua co-organizes Cardano Summit Buenos Aires and is involved in educational activities. She will oversee the content creation and educational modules for the event.

• IOG Education Team: The IOG education team is a key collaborator for Cardano Tech Week. They will lead several activities, including the Cardano Days, workshops, hackathons, and the Cardano Node Installation and Configuration Course. They bring a wealth of experience from organizing similar events, such as Cardano Days in Mexico and Europe.

Additional Resources:

We may recruit additional mentors and experts to help support the hackathons and workshops. We will specifically look for individuals with strong experience in blockchain development, cryptography, and Zero Knowledge Proof technologies to ensure participants receive high-quality mentorship and guidance.

All members of the team have been engaged prior to submitting this proposal, and each member is fully committed to contributing their expertise to make Cardano Tech Week a success.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget & Costs:

Total Requested Amount: ₳100,000

1.- Hackathons and Cardano Days (infrastructure, logistics, food, and beverages): ₳20,000

• Details: This includes the rental of technical equipment, logistics support, and food and beverages for participants during the hackathons.

2.- Venue Rental: ₳30,000

• Details: Rental of a coworking space for five days, including access to all facilities, meeting rooms, the main stage, and collaboration areas.

3.- Content Production (equipment, personnel): ₳20,000

• Details: Costs for producing educational content, including hiring professional videographers, editors, and the required equipment for recording, editing, and sharing the workshops, talks, and hackathons.

4.- Mentorship and Collaboration (travel, fees): ₳15,000

• Details: Travel and accommodation for mentors and experts who will facilitate the hackathons and workshops. This also includes fees for their participation and guidance during the event.

5.- Governance Group Formation (workshops, meetings): ₳15,000

• Details: Organizing and running workshops for establishing local governance groups and working on standards for blockchain adoption in the region. This includes logistics, refreshments, and facilitator fees.

Additional Notes:

• Third-Party Services: We will use third-party services for video production and content editing. Additionally, we will hire local caterers to provide food and beverages during the event.
• Marketing & Community Engagement: While the marketing efforts are not separately budgeted, they will be conducted through collaboration with community partners and social media platforms to promote the event effectively.

All resources mentioned in the budget are directly aligned with our proposed activities to ensure the successful execution of Cardano Tech Week, maximizing impact and community engagement.

Our project has a dependency on IOG, as we have been collaborating with them since 2022. Together, we organized the first Cardano hackathon in Latin America and launched the Cardano developer course at ALBA (ADA Labs for Blockchain Applications). We have now established a new collaboration for the upcoming Cardano Tech Week, where IOG will support activities such as Cardano Days, hackathons, and workshops to ensure a high-quality educational experience for all participants.

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

The cost of Cardano Tech Week represents excellent value for the Cardano ecosystem by focusing on high-impact, community-driven activities that promote education, innovation, and collaboration. The requested funds are efficiently utilized to deliver a large-scale event that will have a lasting effect on Cardano's adoption in Latin America.

The budget includes key components such as infrastructure, content production, mentorship, and venue rental—elements that are essential to achieving the event’s goals. For example, the venue rental cost of ₳30,000 is a fair investment for a five-day event, providing a cutting-edge coworking environment tailored for collaboration and community engagement. Additionally, the ₳20,000 allocated to hackathons and Cardano Days ensures participants receive a rich, immersive experience, with all necessary infrastructure and amenities.

Costs have been benchmarked against similar events in Argentina and reflect a proportional expense for the quality and scale of the planned activities. We have also maximized cost-effectiveness by leveraging partnerships, such as our collaboration with the IOG education team, who are contributing their expertise in leading workshops and hackathons. This ensures the delivery of high-quality content while minimizing costs that would be significantly higher if external trainers were hired.

The value derived from these funds is directly tied to tangible outcomes, including increased Cardano adoption, the creation of educational content, and the formation of governance groups. The engagement of over 200 participants, the production of educational materials, and the establishment of lasting partnerships justify this investment as a pivotal step toward expanding Cardano's presence in Latin America. This project is not merely a one-time event; it lays the foundation for sustained community growth, making it a sound and strategic investment for the ecosystem.

Moreover, as a unified Cardano Community, we are making an enormous effort to bring participants from over 50 countries to Argentina. With a modest additional investment, we can elevate the visibility and experience of this significant Cardano event—the Constitutional Convention—to new heights. This minimal extra funding will allow the hundreds of attendees at Cardano's most crucial governance event to benefit from an enhanced experience, ensuring that their time at the event is both: Political and Technical.