[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Problem:

Within Cardano's Project Catalyst governance model, community members encounter challenges in comprehending and evaluating the multitude of proposals submitted. Additionally, managing and keeping track of important dates and tasks related to these proposals can prove to be difficult.

Solution:

Catalyst Central acts as an all-inclusive platform that equips users with the necessary resources to improve their understanding of proposals submitted in Project Catalyst, while also offering tools to effectively organize and monitor crucial dates and tasks.

By presenting proposal information in an easily accessible manner, Catalyst Central enables users to easily explore and evaluate proposals with clarity. The platform provides comprehensive summaries, categorization options, and search features to streamline the process of discovering relevant proposals. Users can delve into proposal details, including documentation, budget breakdowns, and implementation plans, empowering them to make well-informed decisions.

Moreover, Catalyst Central offers functionality to track vital dates and tasks associated with the proposals. A personalized dashboard presents users with a clear overview of upcoming deadlines, voting periods, and significant milestones. Timely reminders and notifications ensure that users remain informed and never miss critical events. Additionally, integrated task management tools enable users to create, assign, and track their own tasks related to the proposals, facilitating efficient collaboration and follow-through.

Through these combined features, Catalyst Central empowers users to enhance their comprehension of Project Catalyst proposals, make informed assessments, and maintain organization throughout the entire process. Ultimately, this platform promotes active engagement and facilitates effective participation in Cardano's decentralized governance.

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

We are addressing the Products and Integrations challenge by bringing more builders into the ecosystem and creating high-quality platforms built for the community. This proposal aligns with the Challenge category as it provides a resource to facilitate events taking place within the ecosystem. Many projects are building within the space and new users coming into the community need a way to stay updated with everything taking place. This will allow for a better experience for newcomers joining the community.

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

The project's success would signify a trusted source of information related to Project Catalyst that allows users to gain insights that help their decision making process when voting on proposals.

1. User Engagement: Success can be determined by analyzing the level of user interaction on the Catalyst Central platform. This includes metrics such as the number of active users, frequency and duration of user sessions, and the extent of engagement with features like proposal exploration, task management, and community forums.
2. Proposal Evaluation: Success can be assessed by evaluating the quantity and quality of evaluations and assessments provided by users for Project Catalyst proposals. Monitoring the number of well-informed evaluations, constructive feedback, and evidence-based voting can indicate how effectively the platform improves users' understanding of proposals and their ability to make informed decisions.
3. Community Collaboration: Success can be measured by gauging the level of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the Catalyst community. Tracking metrics such as the number of mentorship connections, participation in collaborative projects, and active engagement in discussions and forums can reflect the platform's ability to foster collaboration and promote a cohesive community.
4. Proposal Impact: Success can be determined by evaluating the impact of proposals that receive support and guidance through Catalyst Central. Assessing the implementation and outcomes of proposals that gained traction within the platform can demonstrate the platform's effectiveness in guiding users towards making impactful contributions to the Cardano ecosystem.

Benefits to the Cardano Ecosystem:

1. Increased Participation: Catalyst Central will drive higher levels of participation in Cardano's decentralized governance by reducing barriers to entry, providing comprehensive guidance, and simplifying the onboarding process. This increased participation will bring a wider range of perspectives and expertise to the decision-making processes within Project Catalyst.
2. Improved Proposal Quality: By equipping users with better tools to understand and evaluate proposals, Catalyst Central will contribute to the enhancement of proposal quality. Users will be empowered to provide more informed assessments, resulting in higher-quality proposals and more effective decision-making.
3. Efficient Resource Allocation: Through a more informed and engaged community, Catalyst Central will facilitate the efficient allocation of resources within the Cardano ecosystem. Users will be able to identify and support proposals aligned with the community's priorities, ensuring that resources are directed towards projects with the greatest potential for impact.
4. Inclusive Community Development: Catalyst Central will actively promote inclusivity and diversity within the Cardano community. By offering multilingual support, reaching out to underrepresented communities, and providing educational initiatives, the platform will foster an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can contribute and thrive.
5. Strengthened Ecosystem Bonds: Emphasizing collaboration, mentorship, and networking, Catalyst Central will strengthen the bonds within the Cardano ecosystem. The platform will facilitate connections between experienced contributors and newcomers, creating a supportive and interconnected community that drives the sustainable growth of Cardano.

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

The progress of our project will be shared with the community via social media and other popular outlets. Our goal is to engage users and increase awareness as our development continues.

1. Establish Reporting Framework: Create a framework that defines the metrics, milestones, and objectives to be tracked and reported on, aligning them with Catalyst Central's goals and community expectations.
2. Determine Reporting Intervals: Decide on the frequency of reporting, such as monthly, quarterly, or milestone-based updates, to provide meaningful and regular information to the community.
3. Collect Data and Progress Updates: Continuously gather data and progress updates from the Catalyst Central team through internal assessments, surveys, feedback collection, and platform analytics, focusing on user engagement, proposal evaluations, and community collaboration.
4. Analyze and Consolidate Information: Analyze the collected data and progress updates to identify trends and insights. Consolidate this information into comprehensive progress reports that highlight achievements, challenges, and noteworthy developments since the previous reporting period.
5. Prepare Visual and Written Reports: Create visually appealing and concise progress reports, utilizing charts, graphs, and infographics to enhance understanding. Accompany these visual reports with written summaries that provide context, explain the significance of the findings, and address community concerns or questions.
6. Share Reports with the Community: Distribute the progress reports across relevant channels, including the Catalyst Central platform, community forums, and social media. Notify the community about the reports' availability, encouraging engagement, feedback, and discussion.
7. Seek Community Feedback: Actively solicit feedback from the community regarding the progress reports and outputs, providing channels for questions, suggestions, and perspectives. Incorporate community feedback into future reports to ensure transparency and accountability.
8. Iterative Improvement: Continuously refine the reporting process based on community feedback and evolving project requirements. Enhance the reporting framework, adjust metrics if necessary, and improve the clarity and relevance of the progress reports to better meet community needs.

By implementing this process, Catalyst Central will consistently provide progress reports, share outputs, and encourage community involvement. This transparent and iterative approach will foster trust, engagement, and collaboration within the Cardano community, ensuring that the project remains accountable and responsive to community expectations.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our project is being managed the Kaizen Crypto team, a well-established brand with the Cardano ecosystem. The progress of the Catalyst Central will be documented and publicly available for the community.

Our team has been previously funded in Catalyst funding rounds, and we continue to find new solutions to existing problems. Our efforts to build on Cardano demonstrate a strong desire to continue pushing the ecosystem forward.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

Main Goals

Goal: Enhance Accessibility and Understanding of Proposal Information

Timeline: Ongoing

Deliverables:

• Launch a knowledge base with comprehensive proposal overviews and documentation.
• Improve search functionality and categorization options for easier access.
• Provide interactive tutorials and videos to assist users in understanding proposal submission processes.

Goal: Facilitate Effective Evaluation and Decision-Making

Timeline: Ongoing

Deliverables:

• Develop features for users to provide evaluations, feedback, and comments on proposals.
• Introduce a reputation system or voting mechanism to highlight quality evaluations and community consensus.
• Enhance the platform with data-driven insights and visualizations to aid in proposal evaluation.

Goal: Enable Efficient Task and Deadline Management

Timeline: Ongoing

Deliverables:

• Implement a personalized dashboard for users to track important dates, deadlines, and voting periods.
• Introduce notifications and reminders to keep users updated on crucial events.
• Enhance task management functionality, allowing users to create, assign, and track proposal-related tasks.

Goal: Foster Collaboration and Community Engagement

Timeline: Ongoing

Deliverables:

• Establish community forums and discussion boards for users to engage in conversations and share insights.
• Launch mentorship programs connecting experienced contributors with newcomers for guidance and support.
• Organize online events, workshops, and networking opportunities to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Please note that the specific timeline and deliverables may be subject to adjustments as Catalyst Central develops and evolves. The goals and associated timeframes provide a general framework for the platform's objectives and expected outcomes.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] 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: Creation of the UI (Month 1-2)

Acceptance Criteria: All front end designs for the web interface are completed in Figma

Our graphic designer and front-end developer will work to complete the UI and begin coding the logic required to bring the platform to life.

Budget: 75,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Completion of Frontend & Backend Components (Month 3-4)

Acceptance Criteria: Code of frontend & backend logic is completed

Our front-end and back-end developer will work to bring both parts of the platform together. We will ensure that our logic is compatible with all popular search engines.

Budget: 75,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Feature Improvements and Bug Fixes (Month 5-6)

Acceptance Criteria: Platform is tested for functionality and bug fixes are implemented

Our internal team will test the functionality of the code and ensure that everything is working correctly. Any bug fixes and improvements will be implemented and checked again for quality assurance.

Budget: 75,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Integrations with third-party sites and APIs to query Catalyst data (Month 7-8)

Acceptance Criteria: Users can see Catalyst proposals, important deadlines, and find helpful resources

The platform will allow users to create a profile, gain social credibility, view proposals, and see helpful resources related to participating in Project Catalyst.

Budget: 75,000 ADA

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: Creation of the UI (Month 1-2)

Acceptance Criteria: All front end designs for the web interface are completed in Figma

Outputs:

• wireframe in Figma for UI
• templates for email notifications and popups
• UI kit includes colors, logos, buttons, and fonts

Milestone 2: Completion of Frontend & Backend Components (Month 3-4)

Acceptance Criteria: Code of frontend & backend logic is completed

Outputs:

• staging server of web-based mockup
• working logic of frontend and backend
• verification of code repo that includes all development tasks

Milestone 3: Feature Improvements and Bug Fixes (Month 5-6)

Acceptance Criteria: Platform is tested for functionality and bug fixes are implemented

Outputs:

• Feedback from internal team to test functionality
• Bug fixes implemented and checked for correctness

Milestone 4: Integrations with third-party sites and APIs to query Catalyst data (Month 7-8)

Acceptance Criteria: Users can see Catalyst proposals, important deadlines, and find helpful resources

Outputs:

• users can sort Catalyst proposals using filters

• the platform shows important deadlines related to specific Catalyst funds

• helpful resources and content is referenced to provide quality information to users

  [RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

The funding requested is needed to pay for the development budget of building the platform. We also need to cover the costs of marketing, educational materials, onboarding content, and platform maintenance.

Proposed Budget For Team Salary:

Front End Developer - 75,000 ADA / 8 months

Back End Developer - 75,000 ADA / 8 months

Blockchain Developer - 75,000 ADA / 8 months

Graphic Designer - 25,000 ADA / 2 months

Social Media Manager - 25,000 / 8 months

One Time Expenses:

Platform Maintenance - 2,500 ADA

Server Hosting - 2,500 ADA

Proposed Budget For Education and Marketing:

Educational Videos - 2,500 ADA

Marketing - 2,500 ADA

Miscellaneous:

ADA Valuation Contingency (Savings) - 10,000 ADA

Fees and Costs - 5,000 ADA

Total Cost: 300,000 ADA

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Pritesh Gosai - Kaizen Crypto

Pritesh is a long-time Cardano community member who has been contributing to the ecosystem since 2017. He began creating educational content for the Cardano ecosystem in 2019 and has operated Kaizen stakepools since the Incentivized Testnet. Since then, he has gone on to create one of the most well established brands in the Cardano community with a Youtube channel that has over 1M views and 30k subscribers. He operates several stakepools and contributes to charity in India and Sri Lanka with operator rewards from Krishna stakepool. The Kaizen Crypto brand is now supported by several community members who span across the entire globe to continue the ethos of continuous improvement for Cardano. The Kaizen Crypto team has previously been funded through Catalyst for Lovelace Saga, Cardano Calendar, and the Cardano 101 Course.

<https://twitter.com/KaizenCrypto>

Development Team - DevTeam.Space

DevTeam.Space is a vetted community of expert development teams supported by an AI-powered agile process. Companies like Disney, Airbus, NEC, and startups rely on us to build great online products.

<https://www.devteam.space/>

Alex Sk - Account Manager (5 years)

Gleb Zadorozhnyy - Project Manager (4 years)

Valeria Bogdanova - Designer / Illustrator (7 years)

Denys Popov - Backend Developer (6 years)

Artem Marfuta - Blockchain Developer (3 years)

Yulya Krivson - Frontend Developer (3 years)

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of this project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem due to our team's commitment to ecosystem growth and ability to deliver useful products that increase efficiency.

In order to build this platform, we have onboarded several developers to be apart of the Cardano ecosystem. The budget has been determined considering the average wages for software professionals in North America, reflecting the high level of expertise and quality assurance that we bring to this project.

Attached is the invoicing spreadsheet created for the development costs of the Cardano Calendar web platform (A separate platform built by the Kaizen Crypto team). This breakdown shows the number of hours and the cost in USD. This is intended to provide an example of development costs of the platform.