Please describe your proposed solution.

Provide token gating as-a-service to NMKR with a partner API library. Each NMKR campaign will feature a new Functionality menu where on-page utility can be designed without code, for any website.

There is an existing app created from a prior Catalyst funding round, that provides token-gating as a service and at the time of this writing, can create token-gated videos, video playlists, live streams, QR codes, discount codes (plaintext) and automatic redirection as gate functionality, without the user needing to know how to code or possess advanced blockchain knowledge.

This proposal suggests creating an open-source API library that services users of third-party apps like NMKR, and to build an interface within NMKR for token-gating options. A native integration between a minting service and a utility service makes the most sense from an onboarding perspective; project creators and entrepreneurs new to blockchain will visit NMKR to design a token, and seamlessly apply their desired on-page functionality to the minting campaign.

The functionality can be changed at any time, and will work on any website. This is ideal because a creator will want to have a website with a minting campaign embedded, as well as the utility, so that users only need to visit the creator’s website to purchase and use the token.

We seriously hope that as advancements like this integration continue to launch, Cardano gets closer to providing the web2 business world with realistic options for taking advantage of the unique benefits of blockchain in their daily business. With the work outlined in this proposal, specifically, we hope to engage real-world filmmakers, performers and other video-based content creators to engage with Cardano for the first time, and monetize their profession.

This is a unique solution that, aside from website design, eliminates the tech barrier for potential new creators to create NFTs, sell NFTs, and now provide on-page functionality for those NFTs, all without the need to pay a developer team and all in one workflow. The intent is to reinvigorate favorite CNFT projects of the past, empower existing projects with an evergreen engagement solution, and provide an onboarding mechanism for the web2 business world.

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

The intent of this proposal is to take code-as-a-service to the next level for Cardano, in the hopes that this is the path to mainstream business adoption. A functionality integration with NMKR closes the loop in the NFT project life cycle; all that is needed is a website to copy/paste the universal script where token functionality is desired.

We are hoping to see many creative uses for this project by business owners who are completely new to blockchain and we particularly have the features that would attract filmmakers, performers, and event companies. NFTs with an image can only benefit a real-world company so much, and it is often too much trouble to pay a developer team for a proprietary solution. The ease of use this project brings into the process should attract entirely new audiences of entrepreneurs to Cardano, knowing that it is possible to monetize content through NFTs without needing coding knowledge through the entire process.

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

The KPIs that we will want to track post launch are:

• NFT Projects with an active token gate
• Unique NMKR users with at least one token gate
• Monthly aggregate gates fired
• Percent increase in NMKR project and account creation, comparing same month prior calendar year, and month-over-month.

We hope that this project will impact Cardano at large in the following ways:

• More new investor/consumers buying NFTs for the first time
• New creators, performers, entrepreneurs starting CNFT projects
• More mainstream exposure of Cardano through this web3/web2 bridge

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

Development updates will be posted in detail on a blog and shared on social media, as well as monthly and milestone reporting for Catalyst. Once certain functional deliverables are working, prototype demonstrations will be added to YouTube. As usual, when NMKR adds a new feature they will release an introduction to it. The author will create a series of how-to videos so all non-technical creators can take advantage of the feature with the least amount of friction.

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

The team involved in this project has already created Cardano apps in prior funds and are looking to expand on what we have learned along the same theme of token-gating as a service. The app described in this proposal is already online and working, and is missing only the components listed in this proposal to be a full-fledged application for the in-person event space.

We have already set up our UML diagramming, shared drives, and project management through ClickUp. Top-level work-sprints were made to assess the time and cost of this project, and once funded will be broken down into smaller tasks for assignment.

We have already communicated with NMKR about integrating our service layer as a new NMKR feature, and have provided NMKR with a detailed breakdown of the suggested API routes between our two systems.

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

Provide a one-stop shop for NFT project owners and complete beginners to make a business on Cardano with a minting service integrated with a utility service, as a fully codeless solution.

Provide outreach and support until at least 5% of the NMKR user base has one active token gate project.

Attract more mainstream filmmakers and live performers to come and stay on Cardano, who will then onboard their audience.

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.

• Q1
• Cross-Platform Preparation: UML diagramming and discussion between app teams, the setup of test environments, work sprint assignment.
• 3 work sprints totalling estimated 130 hours
• Starting 10/1/23, target launch 10/16/23
• Projected cost: ₳ 38,380 ($9,595)
• Open Source Partner API Library: Create the open-source version of the gate resource server that will service outside requests to modify user information in the token-gating service layer through third parties like NMKR. Involves registering NMKR accounts with token-gating accounts using a wallet connection and login token. Allows the creation, editing and deletion of gates associated with NMKR projects.
• 5 work sprints totalling estimated 465 hours
• Starting 10/23/23, target launch 12/15/23
• Projected cost: ₳ 29,676 ($7,419)
• Q2
• NMKR Functionality Front-End: Create a Functionality UI under the Manage Project menu of each NMKR campaign. Combine form input and campaign details to remotely add token gates to the API service. Add a wallet connection mechanism for the Functionality page to associate NMKR customer IDs with token-gating app accounts in a registration process to receive the user ID of the token-gating app.
• 4 work sprints totalling estimated 215 hours
• Starting 12/22/23, target launch 1/16/24
• Projected cost: ₳ 13,720 ($3,430)
• Beta Testing & Outreach: Perform a period of group beta testing and troubleshooting between app teams. Work with existing NMKR customers to add functionality to existing NFT collections and offer free video content to holders.
• 2 work sprints totalling estimated 210 hours
• Starting 1/23/24, target launch 2/16/24
• Projected cost: ₳ 13,400 ($3,350)
• Feature Launch: Prepare for the public release of the new NMKR feature. Consider server requirements for high-volume registration. Collaborate with upcoming NFT projects to coordinate functionality with the mint date.
• 2 work sprints totalling estimated 30 hours
• Starting 1/23/24, target launch 2/16/24
• Projected cost: ₳ 1,912 ($478)
• Q4
• Continue offering support to NMKR customers on Youtube, Discord and Twitter

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

1. Cross-Platform Preparation
2. Prep For Collaboration: Begin meeting between teams to initialize shared work folders, project workspaces and team assignments. Finalize the scope of work and ensure it matches the proposal definition of complete.
3. UML Diagramming & Mockups: Open Source Partner API: Define all new object classes and API calls from the gate resource server perspective. Translate API routes into use-case diagrams for cross-team understanding.
4. UML Diagramming & Mockups: NMKR Functionality Menu: Mockup new interfaces for the NMKR Functionality menu. Determine technical steps for collecting user input and generating new token gates through the service layer.
5. Open Source Partner API Library
6. API Route: Partner Customer Registration: Create an API route for registering a customer ID belonging to NMKR with an account ID belonging to the token-gating service. Perform security checks and return a user data object.
7. Partner API Key Configuration: Create a new data table referencing access codes to the API for different third party entities. Refactor gate object data to indicate whether it was made internally by the token-gating app or by a remote origin. Integrate all secret API keys into process environment variables and ensure Netlify and Render hosting systems are processing production environment code correctly.
8. API Route: Partner Gate Creation: Securely allow third parties like NMKR to modify existing token gates. Create a new creator-origin concept to track the origins of gate creation, allowing third parties to only edit or delete gates they have created themselves.
9. API Route: Partner Gate Edit: Provide a partner version of editing token gates associated with users who have integrated / registered with NMKR.
10. API Route: Partner Gate Delete: Modify the gate deletion API for a partner-friendly version including
11. NMKR Functionality Front-End
12. Functionality Menu: Wallet Connection: Add a wallet connection mechanism on the Functionality menu in order to obtain a user's wallet related to the token-gating service, and perform a third-party customer registration.
13. Functionality Menu: Create + Edit Form: Load existing token gate details if a gate was already created for this project. Editing a gate is accomplished by modifying the fields and clicking Save. Perform a Create Gate and a Edit Gate API call.
14. Functionality Menu: Gate Statistics: Create a section of the Functionality menu that reveals gate usage statistics for the particular project the user is looking at.
15. Dashboard Menu: Gate Statistics: Create a section of the main account dashboard for aggregated gate usage statistics across all projects.
16. Beta Testing & Outreach
17. Beta Test Announcement Prep: Prep a suite of communications to announce the launch of a beta testing round through social media channels and email campaigns, inviting NMKR users to beta test this new feature.
18. Beta Testing Period: The prototype solution must endure an elongated period of beta testing to ensure both platforms are communicating with each other securely.
19. Feature Launch
20. Promoted Concert One: Work with a popular live performer to create an NFT collection or modify their existing one with the new Functionality feature and a token-gated live-stream performance.
21. Promoted Concert Two: Work with a popular live performer to create an NFT collection or modify their existing one with the new Functionality feature and a token-gated live-stream performance.

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

• Project Team: $30,467
• Lead Developer (author): $13,562 for 850 hours, ~$16 per hour
• NMKR Team: $16,905 for 200 hours, ~$84 per hour
• Hardware: none
• Marketing: none
• Contractors: none
• Consultants: none
• Services:
• MongoDB Atlas Dedicated Cluster, GCP Tier M30, 12 Months, $4,665
• Netlify, 12 Months of Pro Tier, Web App, $228
• Netlify, 12 Months of Enterprise, Oauth App, $1,800
• Render, 12 Months of Team Plan, $228
• Render, 12 Months Standard Tier Node Service, Web App, $300
• Render, 12 Months Standard Tier Node Service, OAuth App, $300

True hard costs are researched in their native currency, dollars, then translated to ADA with a conservative guess to ADA market price, 0.25 cents.

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

Dane McBride

Fullstack developer and project manager

Dane creates operational business strategies from competitive and internal analyses of e-commerce brands. As a Plutus Pioneer student he devotes his time to learning smart contracts for use in B2B services to grow utility and tooling on Cardano.

Relevant Experience: In over 14 years of experience in competitive consumer industries, Dane was in charge of strategy development and execution, managing large-scale technical projects with teams of up to thirty-five people. Dane is bringing a mix of Cardano blockchain experience, self-taught coding skills and digital marketing background to the project. Dane was in the Plutus Pioneer Program to lead Haskell development for Cardano projects.

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

This proposal will allow the majority of CNFT projects, artists and performers who do not know how to code, to sell NFTs that have objective value through their utility, beyond speculation and current popularity.

Once online, Cardano community can begin reaching out to web2 event companies with a new reason to use Cardano for more secure and more engaging events.

All team members have committed to a baseline cost of living for the duration of the project. All hard costs have been plotted out, and the hourly rate for labor amounts to approximately $15 per hour. We do not plan to outsource development work, and this proposal will allow the team to focus on the project around the clock until it is completed.