Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is an EVM sidechain dedicated to the mobility sector named 'PeakChain'. It's rooted in Cardano's main chain, offering scalability, GDPR compliance, and privacy features, making it an enterprise-grade solution.

The problem we're addressing is that current Layer-1 blockchains can't cater to all specific use-cases, notably the mobility sector. Our approach stems from the recognition that in the multichain future, use-case specific sidechains will be necessary to accommodate sector-specific needs. These needs include high throughput, instant finality, and strict privacy norms – features that general Layer-1 blockchains may not provide efficiently.

Our project will engage mobility enterprises, tech developers, regulators, and other stakeholders within the Cardano ecosystem. The primary beneficiaries will be the enterprises within the mobility sector, as they will have a scalable, privacy-compliant blockchain solution tailored to their needs.

We will demonstrate our impact by tracking key metrics such as the number of enterprises adopting PeakChain, transaction throughput, adherence to privacy norms, and overall user satisfaction. Additionally, the technical robustness and efficiency of our sidechain can serve as a template for the development of other use-case specific sidechains within Cardano.

What sets our solution apart is its dedicated focus on the mobility sector, its privacy features that align with GDPR, and its status as a Cardano-rooted EVM sidechain. Cardano should value this project as it aligns with its scalability goal (BASHO) and enhances the ecosystem's versatility by accommodating the needs of a specific industry - the mobility sector. By setting a precedent, it paves the way for more use-case specific chains, contributing to the multichain vision of the future.

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

Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge by leveraging our team's expertise in blockchain technology, software development, and quality assurance to contribute to the growth and enhancement of the Cardano ecosystem.

Here are the key impacts and benefits our project will bring to Cardano:

1. Enhanced User Experience: Our collective experience in software development and quality assurance enables us to deliver applications that are not just functional but also user-friendly
2. Software Quality and Reliability: Our project emphasizes rigorous software quality assurance
3. Community Growth: Our project, through its deliverables, aims to attract more developers and businesses to the Cardano ecosystem
4. Empowering the Ecosystem: By addressing existing challenges in a user-friendly and efficient manner, we strengthen the Cardano ecosystem

We are realistic in our expectations and foresee a gradual increase in usage as our project progresses and matures. Within a reasonable timeframe post-project completion, we aim to engage a significant number of users, thereby contributing to the overall activity and vibrancy of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

The success of our project will be gauged through a combination of both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Quantitative Measures:

1. Completion of User Stories: We will track the successful completion of each user story within our sprints, with a focus on meeting the clear acceptance criteria we have established
2. Project Milestones: We'll measure the successful delivery of the increment within its timeline
3. Code Quality Metrics: We will leverage software quality metrics to ensure the highest quality of our deliverable

Qualitative Measures:

1. User Feedback: We will collect and analyze feedback from our user
2. Community Engagement: We will gauge community engagement and sentiment via social media channels, discussion forums, and other platform

In terms of the project's impact on Cardano’s productivity and growth, in the short term, our project aims to deliver tangible, functional solutions that address existing challenges. The improvements we make will contribute to enhancing the overall efficiency of the Cardano ecosystem.

In the long term, our project aims to foster innovation within the ecosystem. By providing reliable and high-quality solutions, we'll encourage more developers and businesses to build on the Cardano blockchain. This can lead to an increase in dApps and other use cases for Cardano, ultimately contributing to the network's growth and the value of ADA.

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

Upon the completion of the PeakChain sidechain, our first step will be to share its technical details, capabilities, and potential use cases within the Cardano community. We plan to achieve this through a series of webinars, community meet-ups, blog posts, and technical documentation that we'll disseminate via various Cardano community platforms.

To promote the use of PeakChain among enterprises within the mobility sector, we will organize industry-specific events and demonstrations to showcase the capabilities of our solution. We'll also engage directly with interested businesses, offering them technical support and guidance in implementing and leveraging PeakChain for their needs.

Furthermore, we will actively seek collaborations with universities and research institutions to explore additional potential use cases, improvements, and features for the PeakChain sidechain. By providing researchers with access to our project's data and findings, we can spur further blockchain innovation.

Finally, we envision that the PeakChain sidechain will serve as a foundational infrastructure for the Cardano community. It will be open for use by developers to build a variety of mobility applications on top of it. This will not only catalyze the development of new mobility use-cases within the Cardano ecosystem but also allow us to continuously learn from these developments and integrate useful innovations into the sidechain.

Long term, we intend to use the results and learnings from this project to inform further research and development activities. These may include the creation of additional use-case specific sidechains, enhancing the functionality of PeakChain based on user feedback, and continually contributing to the richness of the Cardano ecosystem.

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

As PeakSoft GmbH, a Germany-based consulting company, we bring an extensive range of skills and experiences to the table, making us uniquely positioned to deliver this project.

• Company Reputation and Track Record: Over the years, we have established ourselves as a trusted entity, working with large-scale applications and big clients. Our projects' success, including partnerships with leading German automakers, underscores our ability to deliver high-quality results and manage large-scale projects efficiently.
• Solid Team Foundation: Our company boasts six full-time employees, each bringing their expertise in diverse disciplines such as software development, quality assurance, project management, and blockchain technology. This strong internal structure will ensure that all aspects of our project are managed effectively.
• Extended Resources: Beyond our internal team, we have access to an extensive network of external consultants. Should the need arise, we can swiftly deploy additional resources to ensure our project progresses without disruption.
• Web2 and Web3 Expertise: Our team members are pioneers in both web2 and web3 technologies. We have in-depth experience in large-scale software quality assurance and application development. Furthermore, our involvement as Plutus Pioneers and Atala PRISM Pioneers showcases our deep-rooted understanding and commitment to the Cardano ecosystem.
• Transparency and Accountability: We prioritize maintaining clear communication with the community. Regular progress reports and periodic webinars and Q&A sessions will be organized to keep stakeholders updated. Our stringent budgeting and auditing procedures will ensure that funds are managed appropriately and used as intended.

While our current budget allows for the completion of our proposed project, we may consider seeking additional funding in future Catalyst rounds. This would enable us to introduce new features and expand our project's scope. Any additional funding required will be detailed in a separate, new proposal.

To track the progress of our project, we'll implement Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, and set clear acceptance criteria for each project component and deliverable. We'll also make use of Scrum boards and product backlogs to provide a transparent and constantly updated view of our progress.

For us, success is not merely about reaching milestones. It also involves accomplishing our established acceptance criteria and user stories within our sprints, and successfully delivering the first product increment within the proposed timeline. In essence, success means delivering a product that meets our high-quality standards and offers real value to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

The main goals for our project, PeakChain, are as follows:

1. Development of an EVM sidechain, rooted in Cardano, specifically designed for the mobility sector
2. Ensuring that PeakChain adheres to GDPR compliance requirements and privacy norm
3. Achieving high throughput and instant finality to handle the demands of the mobility sector
4. Encouraging the adoption of PeakChain among enterprises within the mobility sector

To validate the feasibility of our approach, we'll measure our progress against these goals using the following methods:

1. Successful development of PeakChain will be validated upon completion and testing of the sidechain
2. GDPR compliance and privacy norms adherence will be validated by working with legal experts and conducting regular audit
3. High throughput and instant finality will be evaluated through rigorous testing under different scenarios and load

Even if some of these goals are qualitative, we can assess them using suitable proxy indicators. For example, user experience can be evaluated through user feedback and ratings, response times, and overall system reliability.

Our project being technical, we plan to adopt an agile development methodology. This approach involves regular iterations, frequent testing, and adjustment based on feedback, ensuring that we can accommodate changes and unforeseen challenges effectively and efficiently.

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: Project Setup, Research, and Team Building (Month 1)

Key tasks include setting up the project, defining roles and responsibilities, conducting market research, and finalizing the project plan. Acceptance criteria involve assembling a capable team and having a comprehensive understanding of the mobility sector’s requirements.

Milestone 2: Architectural Design (Month 2)

This involves designing the architecture of PeakChain, establishing GDPR-compliant privacy protocols, and drafting the technical blueprint. Acceptance criteria include a well-defined technical design reviewed and approved by the team and consultants.

Milestone 3: Development (Months 3-4)

We will develop the sidechain based on the approved design, including all the defined features. Acceptance criteria involve a working prototype of PeakChain, ready for initial testing.

Milestone 4: Testing and Debugging (Month 5)

This phase includes testing of the developed sidechain under various scenarios, identifying bugs, and resolving them. Acceptance criteria involve a thoroughly tested and debugged PeakChain.

Milestone 5: Launch and User Feedback (Month 6)

We'll do a full launch of PeakChain, incorporating any final improvements based on the feedback from testing. Acceptance criteria include successful deployment of the sidechain and satisfactory user experience.

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

Milestone 1: Project Setup, Research, and Team Building (Month 1)

Deliverables include a finalized team structure with assigned roles, a detailed project plan, and a comprehensive market research report. The intended outcome is the establishment of a dedicated team and a clear understanding of the mobility sector's requirements.

Milestone 2: Architectural Design (Month 2)

The key deliverable is the technical blueprint of PeakChain, including architecture design and GDPR-compliant privacy protocols. The outcome is a comprehensive and feasible design ready for development.

Milestone 3: Development (Months 3-4)

Deliverables include the developed sidechain with all defined features. The intended outcome is a working prototype of PeakChain ready for initial testing. Progress will be tracked by regular reviews of the development work and achievement of development targets.

Milestone 4: Testing and Debugging (Month 5)

The main deliverable for this phase is the fully tested and debugged version of PeakChain. The outcome is a sidechain ready for deployment, with all identified bugs resolved. Testing results will be documented and used to track progress and measure success.

Milestone 5: Launch and User Feedback (Month 6)

Deliverables include the final version of PeakChain launched and operational. Feedback collected from users post-launch will be compiled and reviewed. The intended outcome is a fully operational, user-validated sidechain catering to the mobility sector.

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

1. Project Setup and Research (50k ADA): This will cover the initial setup costs, market research, and analysis to understand the mobility sector's requirement
2. Architectural Design (60k ADA): This includes costs associated with designing the architecture of PeakChain and establishing GDPR-compliant privacy protocol
3. Development (100k ADA): This will fund the actual development of the sidechain, including all the defined feature
4. Testing and Debugging (30k ADA): This will cover the costs associated with testing scenarios, bug identification, and resolution
5. Launch and User Feedback (30k ADA): This includes costs associated with deploying the sidechain and gathering user feedback post-launch
6. Marketing and Community Engagement (20k ADA): This includes costs for market research, marketing campaigns, user education, and community engagement initiative
7. Legal & Compliance (10k ADA): This includes consulting fees for GDPR and other legal advisors to ensure compliance

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

• Oussama Benmahmoud: As CEO and Co-Founder of PeakSoft GmbH, Oussama is a Certified PMP, ITIL, Professional Scrum Master, and Product Owner, and holds an ISTQB Advanced Level Certification. His key roles include Project Management, Software Quality Assurance, and Blockchain Development. His extensive Connected Car Projects experience and achievements as a Plutus Pioneer and Atala PRISM Pioneer make him a valuable asset to the team. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oussama-benmahmoud-43693926/
• Abderrahim Issaoui: As the CTO and Co-Founder of PeakSoft GmbH, Abderrahim brings over a decade of experience e as a Software Engineer. He is Atala PRISM Pioneer. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abderrahim-issaoui-b3149227/
• Habib Mokni: Habib is our Software Engineer and Frontend Developer. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habibmokni/
• Mohammed Abdelali: Mohammed is an Electronic and Communication Engineer, focusing on Software Quality Assurance. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammed-abdelali-290b7b101/
• Neyla Issaoui: Neyla is part of the Project Management Office, handling Administration, Accounting, and Coordination tasks. LinkedIn
• Ramla Mahjoub: Ramla works in Software Quality Assurance and some project coordination duties, and she is also ISTQB certified. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramla-mahjoub-25a1843b/

Our team roles and responsibilities for the project are:

1. Project Management - Oussama Benmahmoud (Certified PMP, ITIL, Professional Scrum Master, Product Owner)
2. Blockchain Development - Abderrahim Issaoui, Oussama Benmahmoud (Both Plutus Pioneers)
3. Frontend Development - Abderrahim Issaoui (Lead), Habib Mokni
4. Mobility Integration - Mohammed Abdelali, Oussama Benmahmoud
5. Software Quality Assurance - Mohammed Abdelali, Oussama Benmahmoud, Ramla Mahjoub (All three are ISTQB certified, Oussama at Advanced Level)
6. Administration, Accounting, and Coordination Tasks - Neyla Issaoui, Ramla Mahjoub

The team is prepared to engage external consultants if necessary, as we are always open to bringing in more expertise. We remain committed to active engagement with the Cardano community and technical-group channels and understand the expectations of proof of life verifications and public proposal availability. Our team's combined skills and experience make us well-suited to execute this project and contribute significantly to the Cardano ecosystem.

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

Our project's cost offers significant value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to our team's expertise, our operational efficiency, and our strategic approach to resource utilization.

Our team comprises highly skilled professionals, with extensive experience in large-scale application development, software quality, and connected car projects. This high caliber of expertise might appear to increase the cost, but it also ensures that we deliver high-quality solutions that are designed to stand the test of time, resulting in long-term savings for the ecosystem.

In terms of operational efficiency, we, as PeakSoft GmbH, a Germany-based consulting company, have years of experience working with prominent clients and managing sizable projects. This experience enables us to streamline our operations, reducing overheads and eliminating unnecessary costs.

Furthermore, as a company, we have full-time employees dedicated to this project, ensuring a high degree of accountability, ownership, and commitment, which in turn leads to better cost management and enhanced output. This commitment also extends to the possibility of deploying external consultants, if necessary, to enhance our capabilities without significantly affecting our cost structure.

The budget for this project has been determined considering the average wages for software professionals in Germany, which is one of the higher wage countries in Europe, reflecting the high level of expertise and quality assurance that we bring to this project. However, we're confident that our team's unique combination of skills and experience in both Web2 and Web3 technologies offers exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem.

Ultimately, our aim is to provide the Cardano community with solutions that not only solve existing problems but also open up new opportunities. By investing in our project, the community is investing in the potential for future growth and innovation within the ecosystem, making it a value-for-money proposition.