Please describe your proposed solution.

Previous iteration

In Catalyst Fund7, our organization, Everyblock.Studio, successfully secured funding for the creation of CardanoRio 2022. The primary objective of CardanoRio2022 was to host a hybrid event aimed at promoting the Cardano ecosystem within the local community and fostering connections among its users, particularly in Latin America, with a focus on Brazil. In September 2022, we successfully organized the event, which received overwhelming acclaim.

Opportunity for 2023

Now, in the year 2023, we aspire to replicate our achievements by hosting an even larger and more dynamic event. Building upon the success of our inaugural edition, we are currently engaged in negotiations for a strategic partnership with Blockchain Festival, the largest Blockchain event in Latin America. This collaboration presents a unique opportunity for us to integrate our event directly within the festival, scheduled to take place from the 12th to the 14th of September.

By aligning CardanoRio with Blockchain Festival, we anticipate a substantial increase in our reach, enabling us to introduce Cardano to a broader audience of Blockchain enthusiasts. It is important to note that the CardanoRio event will span one day, offering participants a focused and immersive experience dedicated to exploring the potential of Cardano and its impact on the blockchain landscape.

The vibrant and engaging event experience we aim to create will serve as a compelling attraction for individuals interested in blockchain technology. Through informative sessions, networking opportunities, and interactive activities, we will provide a platform for participants to learn about Cardano's unique features and benefits. This exposure can lead to an increased understanding and appreciation for Cardano, encouraging individuals to become active users and contributors to the ecosystem.

Our Proposal

The problem we aim to solve is the need for additional funding to support various aspects of CardanoRio within the Blockchain Festival. Specifically, we require financial support to allocate a dedicated team to ensure the smooth execution of the event. This includes tasks such as event planning, coordination, logistics, and participant engagement.

To enhance the overall experience and capture the essence of CardanoRio, it is essential to have a high-quality video recording of the event. This involves hiring professional videographers, equipment rental, and post-production editing to create engaging and informative videos that can be shared with the wider community.

We also recognize the importance of providing a memorable experience for attendees. By offering free merchandise, such as branded souvenirs or promotional items, we can create a sense of belonging and appreciation among visitors, fostering a positive connection to the Cardano community and the event itself.

By addressing these funding challenges, we can ensure that CardanoRio within the Blockchain Festival becomes a memorable and impactful event for all participants, while also creating valuable content that can be shared beyond the event itself.

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

This project brings several benefits to the Cardano ecosystem. Firstly, it will attract participants and visitors to the community by creating a vibrant and engaging event experience. By hosting CardanoRio within the Blockchain Festival, which attracted over 22,000 participants throughout the event in 2022, we tap into this existing audience and have the potential to attract a substantial number of participants and visitors to the Cardano community.

By expanding the Cardano user base through the event, we contribute to the overall growth and strength of the Cardano community. The more individuals we can introduce to the ecosystem and engage with, the greater the potential for collaboration, innovation, and the development of new projects within the Cardano network. Moreover, the event serves as a valuable opportunity for community members to connect and network with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration within the Cardano ecosystem. This collaborative spirit can lead to the formation of new partnerships, the exchange of ideas, and the overall advancement of Cardano's goals and objectives.

Additionally, the production of high-quality event videos not only serves as valuable content for promotion and education about Cardano but also contributes to the visibility and recognition of Brazilian projects building on the Cardano platform. These videos, showcasing the innovative projects and ideas presented in the event, will be made publicly available on YouTube under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which allows anyone to copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the material, even commercially, as long as they give appropriate credit to the original creator. By sharing these videos both within and outside the Cardano community, we enhance the visibility of the Brazilian Cardano ecosystem, strengthening the local ecosystem and fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among participants. This, in turn, helps establish Brazil as a hub for Cardano development in Latam.

Furthermore, the provision of free merchandise to event attendees fosters a sense of loyalty, appreciation, and connection to the Cardano community. This gesture enhances the overall event experience and encourages active participation within the ecosystem. Attendees who receive free merchandise can become advocates for Cardano, spreading its influence and attracting more individuals to join the community. This creates a positive feedback loop, strengthening the Cardano ecosystem and contributing to its growth and widespread adoption.

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

• Number of projects at the event: ≥ 10 independent Cardano projects presenting at the event.
• Social media growth after the event: ≥ 100% followers growth on event's social networks, as well as other activities related to the event, including mentions, shares, and engagement on platforms.
• Number of tweets with the event hashtag: ≥ 1k tweets.
• Number of photos in the event posted by the community: ≥ 300 photos.
• Number of participants: ≥ 500 engaged attendees through various metrics such as session attendance, interaction in round table discussions, and active participation in networking activities.
• User feedback from event participants and visitors: We also plan to conduct post-event questionnaires to evaluate participant satisfaction with the quality of speakers, topics covered, and overall relevance and usefulness of the content.

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

Video Publication: The edited video footage from CardanoRio will be published on YouTube within two months after the event. We will ensure that the videos are professionally produced, visually appealing, and engaging, capturing the essence of the event and the innovative projects showcased. By making these videos accessible on a widely-used platform like YouTube, we maximize their reach and enable easy sharing and viewing by the community.

Social Media Promotion: We will leverage various social media channels, including Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, to promote and share the event videos. These platforms provide a significant opportunity to reach a diverse audience, engage with the Cardano community, and encourage sharing and discussion around the content. By actively promoting the videos on social media, we aim to amplify their visibility and attract viewership.

Blog Posts: In addition to the video footage, we plan to write and publish detailed articles about the CardanoRio event. These articles will provide in-depth insights into the projects showcased, key takeaways, and the overall impact on the Cardano ecosystem. We will explore various channels for publication, including reputable blockchain and cryptocurrency publications, Cardano-specific platforms, and other relevant outlets. These articles will serve as a valuable resource for further research, development, and reference within the Cardano community.

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

Proven Experience: EveryBlock Studio has a successful history of organizing and executing events. Having successfully organized CardanoRio 2022, we’ve developed a deep understanding of the complexities involved in planning and executing an event. We are well-versed in handling logistical challenges, coordinating with speakers, managing participant registration, and creating an engaging program that caters to diverse interests within the Cardano community.

Strong Partnership: Being hosted within the Blockchain Festival provides us with a strong partnership that simplifies logistics and ensures a high-quality event structure. The collaboration with the Blockchain Festival offers us access to a larger event infrastructure, including venue management, technical support, and overall event organization. Additionally, the fact that we will be part of a much larger event provides an added level of assurance and credibility to the public, instilling trust in our ability to deliver a high-quality experience.

Community Engagement: Our previous experience demonstrated our ability to foster strong connections within the Cardano ecosystem. We understand the importance of involving the community in event planning, incorporating their feedback, and tailoring the program to meet their interests and needs. This ensures a sense of ownership and active participation, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment for all attendees.

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

The main goals for our project, also related to the measure the success, are described as follows:

1. Attract and engage participants and visitors to the CardanoRio. We will measure the number of participants and visitors to CardanoRio within the Blockchain Festival, aiming to exceed the previous year's attendance of over 140 participants.
2. Promote and educate about Cardano through high-quality content and event footage. We will track the reach and impact of the event videos by measuring the number of views, shares, and engagement metrics on platforms like YouTube.
3. Enhance visibility and recognition of Brazilian projects building on the Cardano platform. We will monitor the visibility and recognition of Brazilian projects through qualitative measures, such as community feedback and collaboration opportunities that emerge as a result of the event.

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.

In order to achieve the successful implementation of our project, we have outlined the following milestones and their respective tasks. Each milestone represents a crucial step in the project's progress and is expected to be completed within the specified deadline. Success for each milestone will be measured by the completion of the outlined tasks. The implementation of the project will follow a structured project management approach, involving clear communication, task delegation, and regular progress monitoring. The project team will collaborate closely to ensure the timely completion of tasks and the overall success of the event.

M1 - Social Media Campaign Launch (week 2 of August):

• Post about the event on social media.
• Update the website with event details.

M2 - Branding and Merchandise Materials Ready for Production (week 3 of August):

• Define and finalize artwork for printed materials.
• Identify suitable print stores for production.
• Negotiate and finalize contracts for printing materials.

M3 - Publish Preliminary Lineup (week 4 of August):

• Structure the event program.
• Identify potential speakers and projects.
• Invite speakers and projects to participate.

M4 - Contract Audiovisual Staff and Equipment (week 1 of September):

• Determine the required equipment and identify a rental company.
• Hire the necessary audiovisual professionals.
• Negotiate and finalize contracts for audiovisual services.

M5 - Event Execution (week 2 of September):

• Finalize the lineup of speakers.
• Capture high-quality videos of the event.

M6 - Video Publication (week 2 of November):

• Edit and post-produce event videos.
• Publish the first event video on appropriate platforms.

M7 - Event Analytics (week 4 of November):

• Determine the metrics for the event analysis report.
• Create the first event analysis report.

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

M1 - Social Media Campaign Launch:

• Deliverables: First social media post about the event; updated website.
• Outputs: Increased social media engagement and increased website traffic.
• Intended outcomes: Increased awareness of the event, increased interest in attending the event, providing up-to-date and accurate information about the event, facilitating the registration process.

M2 - Branding and Merchandise Materials Ready for Production:

• Deliverables: Designs for printed materials; a list of print stores
• Outputs: Completed designs for printed materials and contracts with print stores.
• Intended outcomes: Consistent branding across all materials and high-quality merchandise for attendees.

M3 - Publish Preliminary Lineup:

• Deliverables: Event structure, list of potential speakers and projects, invitations to speakers and projects.
• Outputs: Published preliminary lineup, confirmed speakers, and projects.
• Intended outcomes: Increased interest in the event and increased ticket sales.

M4 - Contract Audiovisual Staff and Equipment:

• Deliverables: List of required equipment; list of required audiovisual staff.
• Outputs: Contracts with equipment rental companies and audiovisual staff.
• Intended outcomes: High-quality audiovisual experience for attendees; smooth event execution.

M5 - Event Execution

• Deliverables: Finalized speaker lineup.
• Outputs: Successful execution of the event.
• Intended outcomes: Positive attendee experience; increased interest in future events.

M6 - Video Publication:

• Deliverables: First event video post.
• Outputs: Increased social media engagement, increased website traffic, the creation of attractive and informative visual content, and the sharing of key moments of the event.
• Intended outcomes: Extend the reach of the event through video content, allow participants to re-watch the talks, and promote the event to a wider audience.

M7 - Event Analytics:

• Deliverables: List of metrics to be included in the event analysis report, first report, and post-event survey.
• Outputs: Completed event analysis report.
• Intended outcomes: Improved understanding of the event's success, and identification of areas for improvement for future events.

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

Due to the timeline of Fund10 and the nature of the proposed project, if our project is successfully funded, we will receive the funding only after the execution of the event. This circumstance poses limitations on our financing options for the event. Please note that the budget elements marked as "Not included" are currently under negotiation for alternative funding or partnerships. The included budget elements encompass team allocation, support staff, video recording, video editing, and t-shirts. Nonetheless, we are providing a comprehensive description of the event costs to ensure transparency.

For reference, in CardanoRio 2022, we received $17,501 from Catalyst Fund7 and an additional $2,500 from the Cardano Foundation.

Budget Breakdown

Included in this proposal:

Not included:

Exchange rates as of 2023-07-11, totaling approximately 28,735 ADA:

1 ADA = $0.29

$ 1 = R$ 4.86

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

Lincon Vidal

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/lincon-vidal-a81110182>

• Founder & CEO EveryBlock Studio
• Experience in organizing and acting as mediator in-person and online events (e. g. CardanoRio 2022), also organized small events for up to 400 people during the undergraduate course (I EcoSemana do Polo Xerém, I Simpósio de Biotecnologia da UFRJ).
• Python developer with more than 6 years of experience, including works in genetic algorithms and machine learning during his academic career.
• Previously worked on the back-end development of third-party NFT projects (NFTsurf, CardanoBeans), having great knowledge of the technical basics and general operation of Cardano.
• Have previously worked as the director of technology in an analytical chemistry company (NanoBusiness), coordinating teams and executing digital transformation projects.
• Stake Pool Operator since epoch 208, having already received [IOG delegation for 3 months](<https://iohk.io/en/blog/posts/2021/01/22/our-new-delegation-strategy-announcing-the-pools-we-are-supporting/>](<https://iohk.io/en/blog/posts/2021/01/22/our-new-delegation-strategy-announcing-the-pools-we-are-supporting/>) in the first round of delegation.
• Experience in teaching in-person having worked for over 2 years on tutoring and other educational projects involving programming education, as well as online classes and webinars on technology topics.
• Since 2020 he has been participating in local meetups and disseminating technical knowledge about Cardano in Brazil.
• Also writes and produces text and video content in Portuguese and English about Cardano, blockchain, and technology in general.
• He has already worked briefly as a photographer and has experience with audiovisual production, having produced audiovisual material for events and for companies.
• BSc in Biotechnology (UFRJ - Brazil) and MSc in Computational Modeling and Artificial Intelligence (LNCC - Brazil), working on deep learning applications

Aline Cardoso

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/aline-cardoso-0554ab20a/>

• Head of communications at EveryBlock Studio;
• Will be responsible for all the logistics of the event (e.g. hiring services and staff, purchasing and renting equipment, etc.), and coordinate the teams working before and on the day of the event. She will also help develop marketing campaigns across a wide array of media.
• Experience in organizing and acting as mediator in-person and online events (e.g. CardanoRio2022, academic symposia such as Symposium of Neuropharmacology of Rio de Janeiro, interviews and debates for the Diversity Committee of the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior and for Diversity Committee of Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho - UFRJ);
• Worked with digital marketing, social media management and designer (for the Diversity Committee of the Brazilian Society of Neuroscience and Behavior and for Valejo);
• Experience teaching in free preparation courses for college admittance/booster classes for high school students from the periphery of Rio de Janeiro and for undergraduate students (some neuroscience topics) at UFRJ (in-person and online classes);
• BSc in Biophysics (emphasis on psychophysiology and psychopharmacology) and MSc in Neuroscience/Physiology (emphasis on human behavior and neurobiology of emotions) (UFRJ - Brazil).

Thulany Christiny

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/thulany-christiny-642b8b1a9/>

• Designer at EveryBlock Studio;
• Thulany will be the project’s designer. She will be responsible for the creation of all visual and graphic materials for the event.
• Experience in organizing and acting as a designer for events (e. g. CardanoRio 2022) in which she was responsible for the creation of all graphic material and the visual identity of the CardanoRio 2022 event.
• Experience in creating educational graphic material about Blockchain and Cardano (Infoblock project);
• Already worked as a graphic designer in the media team for e-sports athletics and ESDI's Design Business Incubator;
• Worked on several UX/UI projects at Ably Design, a studio specializing in design for digital products;
• Interest in graphic design, communication, and layout.
• BSc in Design (UERJ - Brazil);

Anna Júlia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-júlia-lopes-pires-226966229/

• Anna will be the project's Social Media Specialist. She will be responsible for creating and publishing content on all social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, to grow an audience, build brand awareness, and ultimately, boost ticket sales. She will also monitor site metrics and respond to readers’ comments.
• Experience in organizing and acting as a Social Media Specialist for events (e. g. CardanoRio 2022).
• BCc in Biomedicine (UFRJ - Brazil)

Thiago Nunes

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiago-nunes-72b95327/>

• Thiago Nunes is a seasoned professional with a strong background in digital product development and team management. He brings years of experience from running a successful marketing agency in Brazil, where he led a team of over 30 contributors and served clients ranging from small businesses to national and international corporations.
• He has been actively involved in the Cardano ecosystem for more than five years, collaborating with the Cardano Foundation as an Ambassador. Thiago has been instrumental in several Cardano initiatives, including being one of the early participants in the Incentivized Testnet (ITN) as a stake pool operator under the Ouros ticker. He has also played key roles in organizing events such as CardanoRio 2022 and Cardano Summit 2022 in Brazil. Additionally, Thiago serves as the Director of Operations at Cardano Warriors, further contributing to the Cardano community.
• In his role for the project, Thiago will assume the responsibility of partnership manager. With his extensive experience in the Cardano ecosystem and a strong presence within the community, he is well-positioned to foster valuable partnerships. Thiago's deep understanding of Cardano and his active involvement in projects during the launch of native assets on the platform further enhance his ability to facilitate successful collaborations.

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

The costs outlined in the budget breakdown have been carefully considered based on industry standards, average wages, and the specific requirements of the project. We have conducted research, obtained quotes, and considered past event expenses to ensure a realistic and fair assessment of the costs. By investing in these elements, we are confident that the project represents value for money by delivering a high-quality event experience, promoting Cardano's visibility, and fostering community growth and engagement. Below, we will outline some of the key costs and explain how they contribute value for money to the project.

Team Allocation: Allocating a team of experienced professionals ensures the smooth execution of the event. The costs associated with team allocation are based on average wages in the industry, reflecting the expertise and skills required to manage the event effectively. This ensures that the project benefits from the knowledge and capabilities of professionals who can deliver a seamless event experience.

Video Production: Video recording and editing are essential for capturing and promoting the event's content. The costs associated with video production cover equipment, skilled operators, and editing services. High-quality videos not only showcase the event but also serve as valuable promotional material for Cardano, increasing awareness and adoption. By investing in professional video production, we maximize the impact and reach of the event, providing long-term value to the Cardano ecosystem.

Merchandise: Providing branded merchandise, such as t-shirts and pens, contributes to community engagement and brand loyalty. The costs associated with merchandise production are based on market rates and the quality of materials. These items not only enhance the event experience but also serve as promotional tools, as participants become advocates for Cardano by using and displaying the branded merchandise.

Event Expenses: Costs related to support staff, event venue, and licensing fees are crucial for ensuring a well-organized and successful event. While some of these costs may appear high, they are justified by the value they bring to the overall event experience and the Cardano ecosystem. For example, the event venue and licensing fee reflect the opportunity to be part of the prestigious Blockchain Festival, tapping into its existing audience and providing a larger platform for promoting Cardano.