Please describe your proposed solution

We are building a business development service for the agricultural sector, combining blockchain features with logistical and market access solutions to support small-scale farmers. Here’s how the platform will work:

Lending Solution

Tokenized Offerings and Auction Protocol (Part of the Lending Solution)

• How: Farmers will tokenize their agricultural products on the Cardano blockchain, allowing them to auction these tokenized assets to investors through smart contracts. This creates liquidity and transparency in the marketplace.
• Why: By tokenizing their products, farmers gain access to a broader pool of buyers and investors, increasing the value of their produce and ensuring competitive bidding.

Collateralized Loans (Lending Protocol)

• How: Tokenized products will be used as collateral to secure loans through Cardano’s lending protocol. Smart contracts will govern the loan terms, automating repayments and interest schedules.
• Why: This solution allows farmers to access much-needed capital while retaining ownership of their assets, and it offers lenders a reliable source of yield through interest payments.

Supply Chain Integration (Blockchain Records)

• How: Cardano’s blockchain will record and track every step of the supply chain, from production to delivery. This includes product origin, quality checks, and logistics data, ensuring authenticity and traceability.
• Why: Buyers can trust the authenticity of the products they purchase, while farmers benefit from a transparent system that helps them fetch better prices by proving the quality and origin of their produce.

Logistical Solutions and Market Access (Non-Blockchain Feature)

• How: The platform will help farmers connect with buyers and suppliers through a business onboarding process. This marketplace will allow farmers to access larger markets and secure bulk sales at competitive prices. In addition, logistical solutions will be coordinated, assisting farmers with transportation, storage, and delivery.
• Why: Matching farmers with suppliers and buyers ensures they can sell their products efficiently and at competitive prices, expanding their market access and improving profitability.

Smart Contracts for Transactions

• How: Transactions will be governed by Cardano’s smart contracts, automating payments, lending/borrowing, and tokenization
• Why: This eliminates intermediaries, reduces transaction costs, and builds trust between buyers and sellers, ensuring smoother business operations.

API and Wallet Integration

• How: The platform will integrate with Cardano wallets, allowing users to pay securely in ADA and other cryptocurrencies. APIs will be used to coordinate external logistics systems, ensuring seamless operations.
• Why: This facilitates efficient payment processing and external coordination, ensuring that the platform runs smoothly for all users.

Business Development Support

• How: The platform will offer business development services, including operational guidance, access to new markets, and investor matching. Transparent blockchain records and smart contracts will govern partnerships and revenue-sharing agreements, ensuring smooth collaboration.
• Why: Providing additional support to farmers helps them optimize operations, attract investment, and grow sustainably.

Profitability for the Business Development Service:

The service will generate revenue through:

1. Transaction Fees: A small fee will be charged for transactions on the platform.
2. Loan Interest: A percentage of the interest earned on loans will be retained by the platform.
3. Tokenization and Auction Fees: Fees will be charged for tokenizing assets and auctioning them on the platform.
4. Supply Chain and Logistics Fees: Fees for coordinating logistics services for farmers.
5. Subscription Model: Farmers can subscribe to premium services such as business development consulting.
6. Marketplace Fees: A fee for each successful sale or match between suppliers and buyers.
7. Partnerships: Revenue from partnerships and API integrations with logistics providers and external systems.

Long-Term Sustainability:

1. The business development service is designed to create a self-sustaining ecosystem by combining transaction fees, marketplace activities, and interest from loans. By integrating blockchain technology for transparency and efficiency, the platform ensures long-term growth and profitability, benefiting both farmers and investors.

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

Our project will have a significant positive impact on the wider Cardano community by addressing key issues in the agricultural sector through blockchain-powered solutions, driving transparency, financial inclusion, and market access. Here’s how we will create value, measure impact, and share outputs:

Positive Impact on the Cardano Community:

• Increased Adoption of Cardano for Real-World Asset Tokenization: By tokenizing agricultural products and integrating supply chain data onto the Cardano blockchain, we will demonstrate the utility of Cardano in real-world application

• Financial Inclusion for Small-Scale Farmers: Our platform will enable small-scale farmers to access loans, new markets, and fair pricing through blockchain technology

• Strengthening DeFi on Cardano: By providing a lending protocol backed by real-world assets, our project will strengthen Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem

• Supply Chain Transparency: Our integration of transparent supply chain records will set a precedent for how blockchain can solve issues of traceability, fraud, and inefficiencies in agricultural market

Measuring Impact:

We will use both quantitative and qualitative metrics to track the success of our project:

• Quantitative Metrics:

• Number of Tokenized Agricultural Assets: Measuring how many farmers tokenize their produce and use our marketplace.

• Loans Distributed and Liquidity Provided: Tracking the number of loans disbursed and the amount of ADA provided as liquidity.

• Transaction Volume: Monitoring the volume of transactions between buyers, farmers, and lenders on the platform.

• Adoption Rate: Number of farmers, investors, and buyers actively using the platform.

• Supply Chain Verifications: Number of products tracked and verified via blockchain, showing transparent supply chain engagement.

• Stake Pool Growth: Growth in stake pool delegations, contributing to continuous funding for the platform.

• Qualitative Metrics:

• Farmer Feedback: Collecting feedback from farmers about how the platform has improved their access to markets and financial tools.

• Community Engagement: Tracking how the Cardano community interacts with and supports the project, including participation in feedback loops, code contributions, and overall enthusiasm for the project.

• Investor Confidence: Gathering insights from investors on the transparency and trust enabled by the platform’s blockchain features.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Open Source Sharing: All open-source components of the project (smart contracts, blockchain integrations, APIs, and front-end code) will be shared publicly on GitHub under the MIT License

• Knowledge Sharing: We will publish case studies, whitepapers, and tutorials on how Cardano blockchain solutions can be applied to agricultural and DeFi sector

• Engaging with the Community: We will actively engage with the Cardano community through online forums, Catalyst channels, and social media to share updates, gather feedback, and create opportunities for collaboration

• Partnership Opportunities: We will explore partnerships with Cardano-based projects, especially within the DeFi and real-world asset tokenization sectors, to leverage synergies and expand the reach of our platform

Value for the Cardano Community:

• By demonstrating how blockchain can solve real-world problems in agriculture, lending, and supply chains, our project will highlight Cardano’s versatility and expand its ecosystem. The project will also foster financial inclusion, transparency, and innovation, benefiting the broader Cardano community in meaningful and sustainable ways.

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?

William Shelton and his advisory team bring extensive experience in blockchain, supply chain management, and public policy. As a successful Fund 8 recipient, William has a proven track record of delivering blockchain projects on time and within budget.

Advisory Team:

• Jeffery Sisco, MBA: Business Advisor, providing strategic guidance on marketplace development.
• Danilo Parmegiani: Nonprofit Engagement Advisor, fostering institutional partnerships.
• Seth Kaper-Dale: Social Impact Advisor, offering expertise on promoting social equity in agricultural trade.

Validation and Feasibility:

• Proof of Concept (PoC): A PoC will be demonstrated with a select group of farmers and businesses, validating the dApp’s functionalities before scaling.
• Independent Audits: All smart contracts will undergo rigorous security audits to ensure trust and functionality.

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

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: DApp Architecture and Initial Development

Timeframe: Months 1-3

Fund Allocation: 25% of total budget

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Finalized DApp architecture for tokenization and auction protocols.
• Development of the initial prototype enabling product listing and tokenization features for farmers.
• Basic marketplace functionality, including tokenized auctions for agricultural products.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• DApp architecture and backend system fully designed with Cardano integration.
• Prototype functional for listing and auctioning agricultural products.
• Early adopter feedback collected, and initial partnerships signed.

C. Evidence of Completion:

• Documentation of the DApp architecture and system design.
• Screenshots and video walkthrough of the working prototype demonstrating product listings and auction functionality.
• Signed partnership agreements or documented feedback from early adopters.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Supply Chain Integration and Business Development Support

Timeframe: Months 4-6

Fund Allocation: 25% of total budget

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Supply chain tracking system integrated with the Cardano blockchain for product traceability.
• Launch of business development services, offering market access, logistics, and investor matching tools for farmers.
• Onboarding of initial farmers and suppliers to access market and logistical support.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Supply chain tracking system operational and integrated with the platform.
• Business development services available to users, providing support in market access and logistics.
• Early adopters (farmers and suppliers) onboarded and using the platform’s services.

C. Evidence of Completion:

• Screenshots or video walkthrough of the supply chain tracking feature.
• Reports on the business development services' launch and usage.
• Testimonials or reports from farmers and suppliers using the platform.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Marketplace and Lending Protocol Development

Timeframe: Months 7-9

Fund Allocation: 25% of total budget

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Full implementation of tokenized agricultural product auctions governed by smart contracts.
• Integration of the lending protocol for farmers to secure loans using tokenized assets as collateral.
• Implementation of business development features for onboarding new farmers and suppliers.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Fully functional marketplace allowing auctions of tokenized products and access to loans through the lending protocol.
• Smart contract system for auction governance and lending operational.
• Farmers and suppliers successfully onboarded and using the platform.

C. Evidence of Completion:

• Documentation of smart contracts and lending protocol implementation.
• Video demonstrations of successful tokenized auctions and loan applications.
• Onboarding reports of new farmers and suppliers.

Final Milestone: Final Milestone: Full Platform Launch

Timeframe: Months 10-12

Fund Allocation: 25% of total budget

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Full public launch of the platform with all core functionalities, including tokenization, lending, and supply chain tracking.
• Open-source repository published with all relevant project documentation, including smart contracts and APIs.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• Platform fully launched and accessible to the public, with an active user base.
• All relevant code and documentation published and accessible for open-source collaboration.

C. Evidence of Completion:

• Usage metrics, including platform activity, number of transactions, and loans distributed.
• Publicly accessible open-source repository so the community can contribute

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

William Shelton: Project Lead. Responsible for overseeing the project’s execution and managing team operations.

LinkedIn: William Shelton

Jeffery Sisco, MBA: Business Advisor. Providing guidance on strategic development.

LinkedIn: Jeffery Sisco

Danilo Parmegiani: Nonprofit Engagement. Assisting with nonprofit and institutional outreach.

LinkedIn: Danilo Parmegiani

Seth Kaper-Dale: Social Impact Advisor. Advising on social impact initiatives and inclusion.

Wikipedia: Seth Kaper-Dale

Gary Minkoff: Public Policy Advisor. Providing insights into government partnerships.

LinkedIn: Gary Minkoff

Edward Laporte: Legal Advisor. Assisting with compliance and legal frameworks.

LinkedIn: Edward Laporte

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Funding Request: 150,000 ADA

• DApp Architecture & Backend Development

1. Cost: 45,000 ADA

• DApp architecture design and backend integration: 20,000 ADA
• Initial testing and early-stage functionality: 15,000 ADA
• Preliminary discussions with institutional partners: 10,000 ADA
• Smart Contract Development & Testing

1. Cost: 55,000 ADA

• Development of smart contracts for agricultural transactions: 40,000 ADA
• Testnet deployment and initial testing: 7,500 ADA
• Feedback sessions with institutional partners: 7,500 ADA
• Marketplace Integration & AI Analytics Development

1. Cost: 10,000 ADA

• AI development for fair pricing analytics: 10,000 ADA
• Project Management & Community Engagement

1. Cost: 15,000 ADA

• Project management and oversight: 9,000 ADA
• Community engagement, outreach, and marketing: 6,000 ADA
• Final Product Launch & Reporting

1. Cost: 15,000 ADA

• Full-scale deployment and launch activities: 10,000 ADA
• Reporting and performance review: 5,000 ADA

This budget prioritizes smart contract development and testing to ensure robust and secure operations, while still allocating resources for marketplace integration and AI analytics.

No dependencies.

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

Our project provides great value for money by focusing on essential areas that deliver real-world benefits using the Cardano blockchain. The costs are aligned with typical industry rates for blockchain and DApp development.

• DApp & Backend Development (45,000 ADA): This covers the core architecture and early testing, ensuring the platform is secure and scalable, reflecting standard development costs for similar projects.
• Smart Contract Development (55,000 ADA): Given the complexity and need for secure, tested smart contracts, we’ve allocated a significant portion here to ensure high-quality, reliable performance.
• Marketplace & AI Development (10,000 ADA): Focused on essential AI tools for fair pricing, this budget reflects a modest investment for critical features.
• Project Management & Launch (30,000 ADA): Covering management, community engagement, and final launch activities, these costs ensure the project is delivered on time and reaches users effectively.

Overall, our budget is designed to ensure efficient use of funds, delivering impactful results for the Cardano ecosystem at a reasonable cost.