Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution addresses the high 100K ADA deposit requirement, which prevents most ADA holders from participating in submitting proposals. By developing a smart contract system, we enable ADA holders to pool their funds collectively, forming a DRep that can meet the deposit threshold. This collective representation empowers more community members to engage in Cardano's governance, enhancing inclusivity.

We chose this approach to leverage the strengths of smart contracts, ensuring a transparent, decentralized method for ADA holders to combine resources. This method fosters community collaboration, allowing even smaller stakeholders to contribute meaningfully.

Our project will engage ADA holders interested in participating in governance but who lack the required individual balance. The impact will be demonstrated by the increased number of proposals submitted through this collective mechanism and the diversity of participants.

What makes our solution unique is its ability to create a decentralized and accessible pathway for broader participation. It benefits smaller ADA holders, strengthens Cardano's governance model, and ensures a more inclusive and democratic process. This inclusivity is vital for Cardano's growth and long-term sustainability.

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

Our project will positively impact the Cardano community by making governance more inclusive and accessible. By allowing ADA holders to pool their funds, we lower the entry barrier for proposal submissions, enabling a more diverse range of voices in the decision-making process.

We will measure impact quantitatively by tracking the number of new proposals submitted via the DRep collective, the total ADA pooled, and the number of individual participants. Qualitatively, we'll gather feedback from participants on how the collective model enhanced their engagement in Cardano governance.

We will share our outputs through open-source code repositories, community forums, and Cardano-related social media channels, encouraging others to adopt and improve the collective model. This will enable more ADA holders to benefit, driving greater community participation and strengthening Cardano’s decentralized governance.

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?

Our team possesses the capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability, backed by our extensive experience in Cardano development and smart contract implementation. We have successfully developed or contributed projects such as KuberIDE (a browser-based Plutus IDE), the Cardano Mempool Explorer, GovTool, and participated in the Hard fork testing (Vasil, Chang). These experiences have given us a good understanding of Cardano’s infrastructure and Plutus smart contract development.

Moreover, we have a proven track record of delivering funded projects within the Cardano ecosystem. Our Mempool Explorer project was successfully completed, and the Cardano Autonomous Testing project is nearing completion, demonstrating our reliability and commitment to delivering quality outcomes.

The funds will primarily be used for the technical development of this project, including smart contract creation, front-end integration, and backend infrastructure. As this is a technical project, our development team will be the main focus of this funding.

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will implement a phased plan, starting with the core functionalities of the smart contract and thoroughly testing in a controlled environment before expanding. Our open-source model ensures transparency, allowing the community to review and audit the progress. This transparency, combined with open development, will demonstrate our responsible management of resources and commitment to delivering an impactful solution.

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

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Smart Contract Development and Initial Testing (4 weeks)

A: Milestone outputs:

• Complete development of the smart contract for pooling ADA and validating deposits/withdrawals.
• Initial testing and validation of contract functionalities in a testnet environment.

B: Acceptance criteria:

• Smart contract successfully handles ADA deposits, withdrawals, and voting power delegation on the testnet.
• Basic functionality verified, including fund pooling and tracking contributions.

C: Evidence of milestone completion:

• Smart contract code published on GitHub (open-source) with testnet deployment details.
• Demonstration video showing successful execution of core functions on the testnet.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Backend and Frontend Integration (8 weeks)

A: Milestone outputs:

• Development of backend services to interact with the smart contract.
• Creation of a user-friendly front-end interface allowing ADA holders to join, deposit, and manage their participation in the DRep collective.

B: Acceptance criteria:

• Web application allows users to interact with the smart contract (deposit, withdraw, view balances) seamlessly.
• Backend accurately retrieves and displays data from the smart contract.

C: Evidence of milestone completion:

• Web application deployed and accessible for users.
• Code and documentation published on GitHub.
• Demo video showcasing the end-to-end integration of the smart contract with the web application.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: User Testing, Refinement, and Release (4 weeks)

A: Milestone outputs:

• Conduct user testing to identify issues and improve functionality.
• Implement necessary refinements based on feedback.

B: Acceptance criteria:

• Successful user testing with feedback integrated into the solution recorded on Github
• Preview testnet deployment with the contract operating correctly and securely.
• Release docker containers made available on Github or Docker Hub for self-hosting.

C: Evidence of milestone completion:

• User testing reports as Github issues.
• Updated code on GitHub with final refinements.
• Updated Readme on the repo to self-host the DApp

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Project Close-out Report and Video (2 weeks)

A: Milestone outputs:

• Completion of a detailed project report covering achievements, challenges, and impact.
• Creation of a final video summarizing the project journey and outcomes.

B: Acceptance criteria:

• Comprehensive documentation of the project’s impact and results.
• Video demonstrating the working solution and its value to the Cardano community.

C: Evidence of milestone completion:

• Submission of the project report and final video to the Catalyst platform and Cardano community channels.
• Open-source codebase and documentation finalized and available on GitHub.

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

Project Team and Roles

The Kuber Team is made up of experienced developers and project managers with a deep understanding of the Cardano ecosystem. Below is a breakdown of the core team members and their roles in the project:

Sandip Pandey

Main Proposer and Project Manager

• Role: Oversees both the technical and management aspects of the project, ensuring milestones are met on time and resources are properly allocated. He will support the team in coordinating project deliverables and handling community engagement.
• Github: <https://github.com/spannercode>
• Previous Involvement: Plutus Pioneer Program, Hard Fork Testing (Vasil &amp; Chang), GovTool Testing, Mempool Explorer, Cardano Autonomous Agent Testing, Kuber IDE.

Reeshav Acharya

Lead Software Developer (Smart Contracts) for Collective DRep

• Role: Responsible for coding, integrating Hydra transaction-building support, and ensuring functionality through rigorous testing.
• Github: <https://github.com/reeshavacharya>
• Previous Involvement: Chang Hard Fork Testing, Mempool Explorer, Smart Contract Audits, Kuber IDE.

Sudip Bhattarai

Lead Backend and Infrastructure Engineer

• Role: Leads the backend development and manages infrastructure setup, including Cardano node, dbsync, and testing environments.
• Github: <https://github.com/mesudip>
• Previous Involvement: Plutus Pioneer Program, Hard Fork Testing (Vasil &amp; Chang), GovTool Testing, Mempool Explorer, Cardano Autonomous Agent Testing, Kuber IDE.

Nabin Pokharel

Senior Software Developer

• Role: Assists in backend development, focusing on Plutus smart contract interactions and supporting infrastructure.
• Github: <https://github.com/nabinpkl>
• Previous Involvement: Plutus Pioneer Program, Hard Fork Testing (Vasil &amp; Chang), Governance Action Loader, Mempool Explorer, Kuber IDE.

Sital Nagarkoti

Fullstack Developer

• Role: Handles frontend and backend development tasks, ensuring the integration is user-friendly and supports DApp developers efficiently.
• Github: <https://github.com/Sital999>
• Previous Involvement: Cardano Autonomous Agents Testing, Kuber IDE, BetterCollected.

Additional Team Members

Beyond the core team, we have an in-house team of 8 fullstack developers who will be involved as needed, depending on the scope of the project and the number of proposals funded. Each team member brings a unique set of skills to ensure that the project is completed on time and to a high standard.

We have already engaged all team members and discussed the project's scope, ensuring their availability and commitment to its success if the project is funded. With their combined experience in previous Cardano projects and hard fork testing, we are confident in our ability to deliver the project with the necessary expertise and resources.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Funding Request: 100,000 ADA

1. Development Costs: 85,000 ADA

• Smart Contract Development (Milestone 1): 20,000 ADA
• Development and testing of the smart contract on the testnet.
• Includes coding, debugging, and integration with Cardano blockchain.
• Backend and Frontend Integration (Milestone 2): 50,000 ADA
• Building backend services to interact with the smart contract and creating a user-friendly front-end interface.
• User Testing, Refinement, and Release (Milestone 3): 15,000 ADA
• Integration of feedback from user testing, final refinements, and deployment on the Cardano mainnet.
• Comprehensive testing of the web application, backend services, and user interface.

2. Project Management and Reporting: 5,000 ADA

• Project Management (Coordination, Scheduling, and Milestone Tracking)
• Ensuring all project phases are completed timely, managing resources, and overseeing the team.
• Reporting &amp; Documentation
• Preparation of progress reports, documentation, and the final project report/video for the Catalyst platform and community.

3. Infrastructure &amp; Tools: 10,000 ADA (covering for a year)

• Cardano node, dbsync, kuber, and application infrastructure.
• Blockfrost/Maestro license

No dependencies.

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

We believe this project delivers a significant value for the Cardano ecosystem by addressing a critical barrier to decentralized governance—enabling broader participation among ADA holders who otherwise face prohibitive entry costs. The requested budget of 100,000 ADA is structured to ensure the development and delivery of a robust, open-source solution that directly enhances Cardano’s inclusivity and long-term growth.

Cost Justification:

• Development Costs (85,000 ADA): This constitutes the core technical work, reflecting the high level of expertise needed to develop secure smart contracts and a functional user interface. We have based this figure on prevailing industry rates for blockchain development, ensuring access to skilled developers while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
• Project Management &amp; Reporting (5,000 ADA): Effective project delivery requires proper coordination unblocking obstacles, transparent progress tracking, and thorough reporting. These funds ensure smooth execution, timely milestone achievement, and comprehensive documentation for the community.
• Infrastructure &amp; Tools (10,000 ADA): This allocation covers essential hosting, software licenses, and tools, ensuring reliable performance and access for a full year.

Value for Cardano Ecosystem:

• Our project significantly enhances Cardano’s governance model by creating an accessible path for ADA holders to participate in proposal submission, democratizing decision-making.
• As an open-source project, this solution not only serves its immediate purpose but also provides a foundation for future developments, inviting the community to build upon our work and contribute to Cardano’s decentralized evolution.
• By lowering the threshold for proposal participation, we expect to see a richer diversity of ideas and contributions, ultimately leading to more innovative and well-rounded governance outcomes.