Please describe your proposed solution.

Tackling the E-Commerce Login Maze:

Let's face it, online shopping's a bit of a login nightmare. You're juggling a zillion passwords, and on the flip side, eCommerce sites are sweating over keeping user data safe. This mess is screaming for a fix – something that simplifies logging in without tossing user privacy out the window.

Why We're Going the Cardano Way:

We’re crafting a Single-Sign-On (SSO) solution for Adobe Commerce Magento, but with a twist – it's powered by Cardano's blockchain. We're talking about using NFTs to keep user info locked down but accessible. It's like having a master key for all your eCommerce doors, without worrying who else has the key to your data.

We're a part of the Midnight (sidechain) Pioneer Program as well, so we'll eventually integrate with Midnight but that is not a part of this proposal. The Midnight option will be for those companies who want to offer SSO in a regulatory compliance way, but this solution for Cardano would be an Anonymous SSO option for those who're looking to keep anonymity while shopping as all customer data stored in a Magento database will be encrypted, and your data is encrypted within a unique NFT.

Who's In and What's the Win:

Adobe Commerce Magento shops are our main stage, giving them a way to offer customers a one-click login. Shoppers get a break from password overload, and businesses get to build trust with top-notch security. And hey, Cardano gets to flex its muscles beyond PFP's and DeFi, showing off what it can do for everyday shopping.

Proving the Point:

We'll be keeping tabs on how many jump on board, how much time we're saving folks, and the thumbs-up (or down) from users and businesses. More seamless logins and happy chats about data security? That’s our aim.

Here’s Why It’s a Game-Changer for Cardano:

What's cool about our approach is how we're meshing Cardano into the traditional digital commerce world, bridging the gap between web2 and web3. Using Cardano for Single-Sign-On functionality isn’t just about upping security; it's about giving Cardano a whole new playground in eCommerce. We're not just solving the login puzzle; we're putting Cardano on the eCommerce map.

Bottom Line:

We're not just making online shopping smoother; we’re opening a new chapter for how Cardano can be implemented in real world scenarios outside of web3, one login at a time.

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

<u>Cardano Hits the Checkout Lane:</u>

First off, we’re bringing Cardano into the daily grind of online shopping. Imagine Cardano being the hero behind every secure login at an eCommerce store. That's visibility like never before. Our project is like giving Cardano a VIP pass to the eCommerce world, showing off how blockchain can do more than just meme coins and NFT profile pictures.

<u>Counting the Wins:</u>

How do we measure this? We're talking numbers and vibes. We'll track how many stores jump on our SSO bandwagon and the chatter around Cardano in the eCommerce space. Every time a shopper logs in with our system, that's Cardano making life easier. More stores, more users, more buzz – that's our scoreboard.

Spreading the Word:

As for sharing what we're up to, we're not the keep-it-to-ourselves type. We'll shout out our milestones, updates, and all the cool stuff happening on our social platforms, Cardano forums, and maybe even a blog that keeps everyone in the loop.

We're Transforming Digital Commerce:

Success for us means Cardano gets a new role in everyday life. It's no longer just a coin or a concept; it's what gets you through the checkout faster and safer. The more we succeed, the more Cardano becomes a part of people's shopping routine.

We’re making Cardano the talk of traditional digital commerce, and everyone’s going to hear about it. Every store that signs up, every user that logs in – it's all about showing the world that Cardano's not just playing in the big leagues, it's changing the game.

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?

Making Cardano and Adobe Commerce Magento Click:

Mitchell Robles Jr is not just another tech enthusiast. He's been in the trenches with Magento, so much so that Packt Publishing chose him as the sole technical reviewer for their Magento 2 Developer's Guide right after Adobe purchased Magento for $1.7 Billion. His skills are in print, and he has a biography on a dedicated page next to the authors biography. It’s proof that when it comes to Magento, Mitchell knows his stuff, and his hand picked team is very capable of delivering on our work.

Checking the Tech, Double-Checking the Approach:

As for making sure this whole thing works, our plan is to keep testing and adapting. We'll start small, get feedback, tweak things, and scale up. Think of it as continuous improvement – we're not just launching and hoping for the best. We're tweaking, refining, and making sure every step is solid.

Trust? We’ve Got it in Spades:

Managing funds? We plan on hiring number-crunching accountant who'll oversee the budget, make sure we’re sticking to it, and keep everything transparent. No smoke and mirrors here – just honesty and accountability.

Bottom Line:

You’re not just investing in a project; you’re backing a team that’s got the technical experience to make it happen. We're here to make Cardano shine not only in the Magento world but in all of eCommerce, and we've got the skills and the plan to do just that.

You can view two of our Adobe Commerce Magento extensions which are the bread and butter of this proposal on GitHub. These extensions are a work in progress and showcase our Proof-Of-Concept.

• <https://github.com/veralidity/SecureVault>
• <https://github.com/veralidity/WalletBridge>

You can also view a demo of it in action by visiting the link below:

• <https://catalyst.veralidity.com/anonymous-single-sign-on-proof-of-concept-demo>

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

Project Kickoff & Initial Framework:

• Output: Setting up the foundational framework for our Ghost SSO functionality that encompasses multiple custom Magento extensions.
• Acceptance Criteria: We will establish a new public code repository with code migrated from our proof-of-concept repositories with initial framework documented, and we'll have documentation on how to set up a development environment for the community. This repository will encompass multiple Magento extensions that will be the foundation for accomplishing our end result of our proposal

>Cardano NFT Minting:

• Output: Development of Cardano NFT minting capabilities.
• Acceptance Criteria: Create a demonstrable NFT with encrypted data stored within NFT metadata with a basic script for decrypting the encrypted data. We’re looking for a basic web page that can decrypt the encrypted metadata and display it's content on a page, similarly to when a customer might want to view their account information inside of Magento 2's customer account section. The web page will need to be able to decrypt the data on demand with a click of a button or link and hide the data as well.

>Refining SecureVault & WalletBridge:

• Output: Refining the functionality within our existing proof-of-concept extensions in preparation for an Alpha version and testing.
• Acceptance Criteria: All data within Magento is fully encrypted and decrypted across all Magento database tables, not just the basic tables as shown in our proof-of-concept, but all tables that store customer data such as sales quote, and sales order database tables. Our WalletBridge functionality will have functionality that can scan a customers wallet and identify whether or not they have an NFT within their wallet and extract the metadata from within the NFT

>SSO Functionality:

• Output: Create the functionality for our seamless Single-Sign-On functionality.
• Acceptance Criteria: The creation of a new Magento extension that has the bare-bones functionality of creating customer accounts and signing a customer into their account using static placeholder data.

>Merging of Functionality & Testing:

• Output: Merging it all together and create an alpha version of working Magento 2 extensions ready for closed-group testing. This software will be incorporated into our overall larger portfolio of Magento 2 extensions that we've already developed such as our custom extension that adds Cardano ₳ ADA as a native installed currency, which goes beyond the confines of ICU library's, our custom price precision extension that adds the capability for currencies to have more than 4 decimal places in pricing, and our wallet connector extension that allows customers to connect to their web browser wallets for seamless shopping experiences.
• Acceptance Criteria: Successful deployment of a MVP in a controlled development environment and documentation of identified issues. It’s test time, making sure the gears are turning smoothly.

>Pre-Launch Preparation:

• Output: Feedback incorporation, Final adjustments pre-launch, marketing materials, and documentation.
• Acceptance Criteria: Completion of all pre-launch checklists, marketing content, and user guides. It’s all about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.

Project Completion Report and Video:

• Output: Comprehensive project report and a video demonstration.
• Acceptance Criteria: Detailed report outlining the project journey, challenges, solutions, and a video showcasing the final product. The grand finale, laying out our journey and showcasing what we’ve built.

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

Mitchell Robles, Jr.

• Roles: Bossman, Lead Engineer
• He was the sole technical reviewer for Packt Publishings Magento 2 Developers Guide book published in 2015. You can find a bio about Mitchell in the book on a dedicated page next to a bio about the author.
• Mitchell does not use social media except for the Veralidity Twitter account, but can and will have public interactions (discussions, interviews, speaking engagements, etc with the community to prove he is who he says he is

Matthew Olsen - (currently employed as a Software Engineer at Microsoft)

• Roles: Full stack developer, systems engineer, Haskell development
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-olsen-1180a833

Jose Maldonado

• Roles: Front-development, Dev-Ops
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/josejmaldonado

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

<u>Development Costs:</u>

• Straight-up Coding: This chunk's for the tech wizards coding this SSO magic. We’re talking salaries and any fancy software they need.
• Cardano Genius Stuff: Cash reserved for making sure the Cardano blockchain parts are top-notch.
• What’s in the Pot: Around 55% the budget – because world-class code doesn’t write itself.

<u>The Outsiders – 3rd Party Services:</u>

• Code Auditing: Hiring professionals for code review and security auditing, particularly for blockchain integration aspects.
• Accounting and Financial Management: Accounting services for fund management and financial reporting.
• Total Third-Party Service Cost: Approximately 10% of the total budget.

<u>Testing and Quality Assurance:</u>

• Bug Hunting Gear: Tools and platforms to catch those pesky bugs.
• Beta Bounty: A little something for the brave souls who'll beta test.
• The Slice: 10% of the budget – because nobody likes a glitchy launch.

<u>Getting the Word Out: Marketing and Community Engagement:</u>

• Hype Creation: Creation of digital marketing content, advertisements, and promotional materials.
• Community Engagement Activities: If needed, hosting webinars, workshops, or participating in relevant events for community engagement and maintaining a strong social media presence.
• Total Marketing and Community Engagement Cost: Approximately 10% of the total budget.

<u>Project Management and Administration:</u>

• Project Management Tools: Setup of project management tools.
• Administrative Expenses: Miscellaneous administrative costs, including communication tools.
• Total Project Management and Administration Cost: Approximately 5% of the total budget.

<u>Docs and Proof for the World:</u>

• How-to Guides and Help Docs: Tools to write up how everything works.
• Telling Our Tale: Costs to keep everyone in the loop with reports and updates.
• The Bit for Bragging Rights: 5% – because what’s the point if you can’t show it off?

<u>The "Just in Case" Fund:</u>

• Oops Money: A stash for stuff we didn’t see coming.
• The Safety Net: 5% of the budget – because surprises aren’t always fun.

<u>Alternative Funding:</u>

In case the project costs exceed the requested funding, we plan to leverage partnerships, pre-existing resources, and potential future revenue from commercial licensing post-project completion.

<u>Fund Management Responsibility:</u>

We are committed to transparent and responsible management of the funds provided, ensuring each ₳ ADA is optimally utilized towards the success of the project. Regular financial reporting and adherence to the budget will be our top priority.

This budget plan is structured to cover all critical aspects of the project, ensuring thorough development, integration, testing, and market readiness, while also maintaining a strong focus on community engagement and transparency.

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

Alright, let's get into why this project is a bang-for-the-buck deal for the Cardano ecosystem, blending a bit of straightforward talk with some finer details:

<u>Making Every ₳ ADA Count:</u>

First up, let's be clear – ₳300,000 isn't pocket change. But here's why it's worth every bit for Cardano. We're not just building another app; we're integrating Cardano into one of the worlds leading platform for eCommerce. This project is about giving Cardano a front-row seat in online shopping, and that's massive.

<u>Why the Price Tag?</u>

• Dev Costs are Real: Our development team's salaries are based on going rates in our country – no inflating numbers here. We're talking about fair pay for top talent. This is cutting-edge work, and we need to take care of our team.
• External Experts: We're bringing in external pros. Their fees? Industry standard. We're talking about ensuring our code is solid and our bases are covered – crucial stuff.

<u>Long-Term Gains for Cardano:</u>

• Big Picture: Every ₳ ADA spent is an investment in making Cardano a household name in eCommerce. Imagine the traction Cardano gains when it’s the backbone of secure, seamless online shopping.
• Opening Doors: We're setting the stage for more businesses to adopt Cardano. Once they see it in action, powering our SSO solution, it's a whole new playing field.

<u>Value Beyond the Build:</u>

• Marketing and Community: A chunk of the budget goes to getting the word out and engaging the community. This isn't just about building software; it's about building a movement around Cardano in eCommerce.
• Project Management: Keeping things on track isn’t free, but it’s what ensures this project delivers on time and on point.

<u>In Conclusion:</u>

What we're building here isn’t just another piece of software. It’s a bridge between Cardano and the daily lives of countless online shoppers and sellers. It’s about long-term gains, reputation, and setting a new standard in eCommerce. Every ₳ ADA spent is an investment in Cardano's future, and we’re all about making sure it pays off.