Please describe your proposed solution.

Our proposed solution is a unique blend of blockchain technology and content monetization; a staking-subscription platform on the Cardano network. This platform will allow content creators to monetize their work directly with ADA tokens and allow their supporters to stake ADA in return for exclusive content. It essentially builds a community around each content creator, allowing them to create a reliable income while their supporters earn rewards from staking. The platform will be designed to be user-friendly, secure, and efficient, integrating analytical tools for creators to understand and engage their audience better.

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

Our solution tackles two main challenges: lack of direct monetization for content creators and limited practical applications for ADA staking. By marrying these two concepts, we give content creators an attractive financial incentive to join the Cardano ecosystem, which in turn brings in their audience. As a result, we expect to see an increase in user adoption and stake pool participation, thereby strengthening the Cardano network. In addition, the introduction of a unique utility case for ADA tokens will increase their overall usage and visibility in the broader market.

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

The success of our project will be measured through multiple quantitative and qualitative metrics:

User Adoption: Increase in the number of content creators and subscribers on our platform. A target of 1000 content creators and 10,000 subscribers within the first six months would indicate success.

Staking Activity: An increase in the amount of ADA staked on our platform. Our target is to have at least 2 million ADA staked within the first year.

User Engagement: Frequency and duration of platform use, as well as interaction metrics between creators and subscribers. A 30% month-on-month increase in user engagement would be a positive signal.

User Satisfaction: Regular feedback surveys and interviews with both creators and subscribers to gauge their satisfaction and gather suggestions for improvements. An average rating of 4 out of 5 or above would suggest a high level of user satisfaction.

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

We believe in transparency and openness, hence we will actively share the outputs and results of our project with the wider Cardano community. We will leverage a combination of channels:

Regular Blog Posts: To keep the community informed about our progress, challenges, successes, and learning experiences.

Social Media: Regular updates will be posted on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Webinars/Community Forums: We will host webinars or participate in community forums to share our learnings and gather feedback.

Open-Source Code: Once the platform is tested and optimized, we will make the code open-source, enabling others to learn from our work or build upon it.

Newsletters: We will send out monthly newsletters to our subscribers and stakeholders, providing a detailed summary of our progress and future plans.

Press Releases: For significant milestones, we will issue press releases to reach a broader audience.

Through these channels, we will maintain a steady frequency of updates, aiming for at least bi-weekly communications, and ensure our project's transparency and accountability.

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

Our team comprises blockchain developers, project managers, and digital content specialists with several years of experience in their respective fields. We have previously developed and launched similar projects in the blockchain space, and we understand the intricacies of developing on the Cardano blockchain. Our team's transparency is a fundamental principle, and we will provide detailed and frequent updates on the project's progress to the community. The funds received will be managed diligently, with clear records kept for accountability.

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

Develop a robust staking-subscription platform: The platform should be user-friendly, secure, and efficient for both content creators and subscribers. This goal will be validated by assessing the platform's functionality, security features, and user experience through various testing methods, including unit tests, integration tests, and user testing

Attract content creators and subscribers: Our target is to onboard at least 1,000 content creators and 10,000 subscribers in the first six months after launch. We will gauge the feasibility of this goal through market research and user feedback during our testing phase.

Increase the amount of ADA staked through our platform: We aim to have 2 million ADA staked through our platform within the first year. The feasibility of this goal can be measured by tracking the amount of ADA staked over time.

Boost user engagement: A measure of success would be a 30% month-on-month increase in user engagement on the platform. Usability tests and tracking user interaction metrics will help validate the feasibility of this goal.

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.

1. Project Kickoff & Research (Months 1-2): During this phase, we'll conduct market research to understand user needs, evaluate competition, and define our unique value proposition. Key tasks include drafting research plans, data collection, and analysis.
2. Platform Design & Development (Months 3-6): This stage involves developing the staking-subscription platform based on research insights. Key tasks include wireframing, prototyping, coding, and regular testing to ensure optimal functionality.
3. Testing & Feedback (Months 7-8): We'll conduct a pilot test with a select group of users to gather feedback and iterate the platform design. This includes selecting test participants, conducting usability tests, collecting feedback, and refining the platform based on findings.
4. Platform Launch (Month 9): After exhaustive testing and refinement, we'll officially launch the platform to the public. Key tasks will include final code optimization, setting up servers, and announcing the launch through various channels.
5. Marketing & User Acquisition (Months 10-12): During this phase, we'll run marketing campaigns to attract users to the platform. Key tasks will involve marketing strategy planning, campaign creation and execution, and performance tracking.

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

Phase 1: Project Initiation & Preliminary Research (Month 1)

• Kickoff meeting: Set project objectives, define team roles, and outline project timeline.
• Define target audience: Identify potential user profiles based on demographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics.
• Competition analysis: Evaluate competitive platforms to identify industry standards, trends, and potential gaps.

Phase 2: Deep-Dive Research (Month 2)

• Develop research plan: Outline methodologies, data sources, and research questions.
• Data collection: Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups with potential users.
• Data analysis: Analyze findings to derive insights and inform platform design.

Phase 3: Platform Design (Months 3-4)

• Wireframing: Create the basic structure of the platform.
• User Interface (UI) Design: Visualize the look and feel of the platform, designing elements like buttons, icons, and pages.
• User Experience (UX) Design: Plan the overall user journey through the platform to ensure a seamless and intuitive experience.

Phase 4: Platform Development (Months 5-6)

• Coding: Build the platform based on the wireframes and designs, using appropriate programming languages.
• Prototyping: Create a working model of the platform.
• Regular Testing: Check the platform’s functionality and fix any bugs.

Phase 5: Testing & Feedback (Month 7)

• Selecting pilot users: Identify a group of users that represent the target audience for initial testing.
• Usability testing: Evaluate the platform’s user experience and functionality.
• Collect feedback: Gather user comments, suggestions, and criticisms.

Phase 6: Refinement (Month 8)

• Analyze feedback: Understand common issues, user preferences, and opportunities for improvement.
• Iterative design: Adjust the platform design based on user feedback.
• Final Testing: Conduct a final round of tests to ensure all issues have been addressed.

Phase 7: Platform Launch Preparation (Month 9)

• Final Code Optimization: Refine and debug the code to ensure optimal performance.
• Server setup: Establish a reliable and secure server environment for the platform.
• Launch Plan: Plan the logistics of the platform launch, including date, time, and communication channels.

Phase 8: Platform Launch

• Go-Live: Officially release the platform to the public.
• Launch Announcement: Share the news via various channels such as social media, email newsletters, and press releases.

Phase 9: Marketing Strategy Planning (Months 10)

• Define marketing objectives: Identify the goals of the marketing campaign, such as user acquisition and brand awareness.
• Audience Segmentation: Break down the target audience into more specific groups for targeted marketing.
• Campaign Planning: Design marketing campaigns tailored to each audience segment.

Phase 10: Marketing Execution & User Acquisition (Months 11-12)

• Campaign Execution: Implement the marketing campaigns across various channels.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor the success of the campaigns using key metrics.
• User Acquisition: Attract and onboard new users to the platform.
• Ongoing optimization: Continually adjust marketing strategies based on performance results.

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

Project Management & Research (55,000 ADA)

• Project management (35,000 ADA): Covering the cost of project management including project manager's time and efforts in overseeing and coordinating all the project activities.
• Research (20,000 ADA): Includes resources spent on conducting market research, competitive analysis, and setting up the project's strategy and timeline.

Platform Design & Development (440,000 ADA)

• Design (90,000 ADA): Covers the cost of the design team involved in creating the platform's user interface and user experience.
• Development (350,000 ADA): Includes the salaries of blockchain developers working full-time on platform development, and any necessary software or hardware, server costs, and other technological resources.

Testing & Feedback (110,000 ADA)

• Testing (70,000 ADA): Accounts for the resources used for conducting pilot tests and platform functionality checks.
• Feedback & Refinement (40,000 ADA): Includes the cost for recruitment and compensation of test participants, data collection and analysis, and making necessary changes based on the feedback received.

Platform Launch (110,000 ADA)

• Server setup & Maintenance (60,000 ADA): Covers server hosting fees and costs associated with maintaining the platform's security.
• Launch & Promotion (50,000 ADA): Includes resources used in the launch and initial promotion of the platform.

Marketing & User Acquisition (275,000 ADA)

• Marketing strategy & Campaigns (200,000 ADA): Covers the cost of designing and executing marketing campaigns, including media buys.
• User Acquisition & Social Media Promotion (75,000 ADA): Includes resources spent on various user acquisition strategies and social media promotion activities.

Contingency Reserve (90,000 ADA): A contingency reserve of 10% is set aside to account for any unforeseen costs or challenges that may arise during the project's execution, ensuring flexibility and adaptability.

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

• Project Manager: Oversees project execution, resource allocation, and budget management.
• Blockchain Developers: Responsible for designing and building the platform.
• Content Specialist: Engages with content creators and users, assists in developing the platform to suit their needs.
• Marketing Specialist: Responsible for creating and executing the marketing and user acquisition strategy.

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

The cost of this project is an investment into increasing the use case of the Cardano ecosystem, improving its user experience, and expanding its user base.

Our staking-subscription platform directly incentivizes content creators and their audience to engage with the Cardano network, increasing network activity and the staked amount of ADA. This can lead to a potential increase in the ADA token's utility and value.