[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

PositiveBlockchain is a non-profit association curating a Project Directory of impact blockchain projects, aiming to use the technology for social and environmental impact. This is used by various stakeholders in the blockchain and impact spaces for education, investment, collaboration, publications, academic research, benchmark, and others.

This year, the association celebrates its 5 years of impact in the space. It has also co-launched the BC100+, a leading initiative under the UN Charter of values bringing organizations to sign a Manifesto in support of blockchain for the SDGs.

The database has been established by own researches, web scrapping, partner contributions or submission by project owners directly. Every submission or edit of a database is reviewed by a qualified member from PositiveBlockchain or a partner organization, which ensures high quality and consistency of the database. This is very important when it comes to writing report or doing academic and qualitative research. The system is working well but can have limitation in scale as there are low incentives for data contributors and verifiers - beyond their belief and support in the positive impact for the ecosystem.

Previously, a Project Catalyst fund has supported the revamping the database tooling of PositiveBlockchain: improved database search, web interface, new API, custom forms, download options. This was a great improvement for the administration of the database and also for users on the interface. We are now ready to scale the activity on the Project Directory and create the missing incentives.

To increase our impact, we would like to boost incentives and rewards for more Data Contributions for two categories of contributions

1. From individual contributors, whether they are member of the PositiveBlockchain association of not
2. From Universities and researches which represents the main user group downloading our database on the website

This experimentation is the first stage leading to a possible future PositiveBlockchain DAO, whereby Data Contributors would receive governance tokens in order to participate in the DAO and make collective decisions for the evolution of the Project Directory.

Stages of this granted Project:

Stage 1: Concept

• Finalize the reward concept, types of tokens in the reward pool, documentation and communication (Milestones 1-2)
• Research the design of the reward concept and create documentation and communicate with the PB community to receive support in this area.

Stage 2: Constitute a Reward Pool with different types of assets

• Environmental Credit Tokens which could be used for emission compensation, as symbolic reward generating a positive impact - rather than a pure financial reward. We are here considering carbon tokens issues by web3 players in the growing ReFi and carbon markets, especially those built on Cardano such as Block Carbon, Carboono, CarbonFi or Veritree.
• Tokens giving access to Vouchers for online education, courses, books or other resources relevant for students within participating universities.

Stage 3: Define Rules of Data Contributions:

• At least 20 projects added or edited with at least 5 data sets filled out per project
• Establishing mature contact with a university or research organizations interested to bring Data Contributors (eg students getting involved in this role) - we will come up with a clear process to verify/justify a meaningful contribution here.
• These contributions need to be “claimed” through a form and validated by a qualified member of the PositiveBlockchain association - avoiding false claims and bad quality contributions

Stage 4: Transferring token to Data Contributor claimees

• Transferring tokens to the contributors for their contributions to the PB database via wallet transaction

• Finalise integration of tools to provide a seamless token claim process. We will look into possibility and potential benefits of using tools like Tosi Drop, and Drip Dropz.

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

This will help sustain and scale the effort of mapping the Cardano and overall impact blockchain ecosystem, creating incentives for knowledge capture and sharing through the open data platform of PositiveBlockchain.

It will also help mobilize more universities, researchers, and qualitative studies around the work and impact of the projects listed in the project Directory.

Finally, it will help understand how such reward system can be optimally design, focusing of a utility token reward (not a direct monetary compensation) as part of a DAO concept.

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

We will be looking to measure the following KPIs:

• Number of Individual Data Contributors

• Number of Data Contributors involved in creating relationships with universities

• Number of contributions done

• Number of new projects listed by Data Contributors

• Number of project edits by Data Contributors

• Number of data points on average Data Contributors add/update in the database

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

The project will directly engage communities, individual and universities external to PositiveBlockchain. The available fund in the pool will be visible for everyone, so will be the Data Contributions.

The results and also feedbacks from the Data Contributors will be used to further refine this system as part of a possible future PositiveBlockchain DAO.

One of the learnings we are looking to develope, is to understand what would have the biggest impact versus effort ratio: incentivizing individual Data Contributor, or recruiting universities and research partners which could be in lower number but have a much bigger and more sustainable capacity to contribute on data. This is why we split the token pool in 2 categories (see above)

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

PositiveBlockchain has been around for already 5 years. We are an association registered in Paris, France and active globally. We have justed renewed our Board in July 2023 with 6 board members for the new one-year term. There is a great momentum around our work to make this project happen.

The Project Directory has been our core activity since the start. It is the most complete, neutral, high-quality database in this area, focusing on multiple chains.

All our work in open-source and in open data, under CC4 license.

We are currently finalizing a previous Project Catalyst grant project which has delivered its results.

Many organizations are recognizing the quality and role of the database in the ecosystem, hence its use as essential registry for the BC100 + initiative for example.

Sustainable ADA:

We have been a part of the Cardano ecosystem since 2020 and helping educate community members on the connections Cardano has to sustainability and social and environmental impact.

The Cardano Impact Report 2023 is a testament to how dedicated the Sustainable ADA team is to helping grow and expand the Cardano ecosystem.

https://sustainableada.com/cardano-impact-report

Sustainable ADA are a registered LLP in USA

Sustainable ADA is expanding under the framework of Impact Web3. Sustainable ADA will be an educational partner and key part of the Impact Web3 ecosystem.

Pre-funding activities:

We have had a lot of success while growing Sustainable ADA over the last few years. We have been closely connected to the Cardano community through our Project Catalyst proposing experience.

Learn more about all of our past funded projects here: <https://sustainableada.com/catalyst/>

Sustainable ADA has created: 48 individual stories on projects building in the Cardano community and making the world a better place.

More info here: <https://sustainableada.com/news/>

Sustainable ADA also created the Cardano Impact Report where they highlighted over 65+ Impact Project buildings on Cardano to make the world more sustainable and equitable for all.

Free Version can be found here: <https://sustainableada.com/cardano-impact-report/>

More work we have taken part in:

Impact Measurement research: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFC7zRNrdg/em1s_yQDnNU6sPW6KJ8hnA/view?utm_content=DAFC7zRNrdg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Positive Blockchain Cardano integration and Project Catalyst Support:

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

Our first goal is to create effective incentives for increased and more decentralized Data Contributions.

This results in Increased number of projects sourced, edited, reviewed on the database, improved quality and therefore better knowledge for all user of open data.

In fine, the Project Directory and knowledge created around this is essential to democratize and expand the use of decentralized technologies for a more sustainable world.

By doing this project, our objective is to validate learnings and designs of the reward concept, in order to prepare the implementation of further stages of the PositiveBlockchain DAO.

In the longer-run, the DAO is intended to function as a democratic, transparent, and incentivized data and rating “agency”. We seek to facilitate trust, foster innovation, and promote best practices across the board.

[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.

Month 1-2 Milestone #1:

Refinement of reward concept/protocol

Month 3-4 Milestone #2

Based on the concept: implement processes, missing forms and launch communication campaign

• Create missing forms
• Create documentation pages (eg. Notion, web pages) and training (eg. video recording)

Month 5-6 Milestone #3:

• Adapt PositiveBlockchain’s web interface or back-end system where required
• Launch communication campaign

Month 7-8 Milestone #4:

• Onboarding and training first Data Contributors
• Start of the program

Month 9-10 Milestone #5:

• Continuous program execution, verification of contributions and distribution of rewards

Month 11-12 Milestone #6:

• Final report based on KPIs and outcomes

• Recommendations for further implementation

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

Month 1-2 Milestone #1:

Refinement of reward protocol:

• Finalized overall reward concept
• List of tokens constituting the reward
• Documentation with minimal requirements for rewards linked to data contributions
• Onboarding flow of data contributors
• List of required Instructions and training materials for data contributors

Month 3-4 Milestone #2:

• Links of forms, trainings and documentation created

Month 5-6 Milestone #3:

• Web changes completed
• Links of communication elements: social media posts, blog post..

Month 7-8 Milestone #4:

• List of Data Contributors
• Rewards distributed

Month 9-10 Milestone #5:

• List of Data Contributors
• Rewards distributed

Month 11-12 Milestone #6:

• List of Data Contributors

• Rewards distributed

• Final report based on KPIs and outcomes

• Recommendations for further implementation

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

Budget:

• Web adjustments (for specifications and implementation in milestones 1-2: 5k ADA)
• Token Pool for rewards to be distributed in Milestones 3-6, and until all funds have been used by Data Contributors: 20k
• 10k for Individual Data Contributions
• 10k for Research institution incentives
• Contributors helping create partnerships with research institutions
• Universities and Researchers themselves for their Data Contributions

TOTAL: 25k

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

Team Info:

Impact Web3 & Sustainable ADA

Cole Bartlett and Razali Samsudin Co-founded Sustainable ADA and Impact Web 3, and have been shaping it into what it is today.

It all started with the initial idea for Sustainable ADA back on April 20th of 2021 (Sustainable ADA 2021). Together, we co-founded it in June of 2021. We have backgrounds, professional experiences, and knowledge in education, economics, sustainability, and how blockchain technologies can be harnessed for good.

Cole Bartlett:

Co-Author of Recalibrating Value, Identity & Impact Through the Blockchain Cardano Impact Report 2023 | Bachelors in Economics and Sustainability | Blockchain/Sustainability Researcher | Social Entrepreneur | Co-Founder of Impact Web 3 & Sustainable ADA | Positive Blockchain Contributor | Impact Measurement Expertise | US Director for Yagazie Foundation | Blockchain Learning Center Core Member | Co-Founder of Vermont Fishing | Decentralized Lead Generation | UNITE 2030 Youth Delegate | Photographer, Videographer, Editor | Content Creation

Additional Activities by Cole:

• Member of SmartHubs and Founding member of P-Gen. The decentralized partnership generation model was designed by Cardano community members and first funded through Project Catalyst in Fund 8.

• <https://linktr.ee/smarthubs>

• Live Twitter Space Host every Thursday at 4pm UTC. Cardano For Good - We bring impact project in the Cardano community to the stage and talk about all the good happening in the Cardano Community.

• <https://twitter.com/CardanoSpot/status/1679222635891400704?s=20>

• Took part in the very first Catalyst Boost Camp held by Entreprenerdy.

• Experience: <https://sustainableada.com/news/cardano-catalyst-boost-camp-providing-invaluable-guidance-and-resources-for-funded-proposals/>

• Took part in a course by Grace Rachmany at DAO Leadership called "THE FUTURE AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE:

• <https://www.daoleadership.com/future-course/>

• Active Member of Cardano For Climate

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-bartlett>

https://twitter.com/cole_vt

Razali Samsudin:

Co-Founder of Sustainable ADA, Impact Web3, Streets of ADA - A Samsudin Brothers Projek

15 years of experience as an interdisciplinary Educator from early years settings to postgraduate level, with a background in social sciences, humanities, and sustainability. Author, Writer, Editor, Digital Economy, Blockchain, Sustainability and Impact Measurements, Researcher (Research Lead Connecting SDGs to Project Catalyst and lead on the SDG Proposer Tool and SDG Search Tool with Cardano AIM #Blockchain4Good, #Cardano4Good, #NFT4Good). Social Entrepreneur, Catalyst Proposal Mentor. Wada UN SDG and Education Coordinator, Contributor at Cardano AIM, PositiveBlockchain, Cardano4Climate, Catalyst School, Adafilms.

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/razali-samsudin>

<https://twitter.com/Razlosophy>

Lucas Zaehringer

Founder of PositiveBlockchain and Lead Europe at Verity Tracking, a startup using blockchain for collecting, tracking and tokenization sustainable attributes along bio-based value chains in agriculture, biofuels and renewables.

<https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-zaehringer-65725145/>

Catalyst Journey:

We joined Project Catalyst, Cardano’s decentralized innovation fund, during fund 4. After applying and learning from both funds 4 and 5 along with lots of support from Cardano community members and teams, we were able to construct a strong proposal together that focused on our goals and ambitions for Sustainable ADA, and the Cardano community’s goals. We submitted a proposal focused on helping Grow Cardano, and Grow Africa.

With this funding, we had more capacity to focus on researching and sharing stories from change-makers in Africa and the diaspora, who are engaging with Cardano, creating a better tomorrow, today.

Thanks to the Cardano community and the use of their voting power from holding and staking ADA, we successfully secured the funding we were seeking. This helped us to take significant steps towards fulfilling our vision and mission having secured these crucial and helpful funds.

Through our time in the Project Catalyst ecosystem, we have been able to create a lot of strong and exciting partnerships with projects and businesses all across the world. This has led us to develop new ambitions for the work we do and to expand beyond education.

More about the projects we have been involved in: <https://sustainableada.com/catalyst/>

Experience and Expertise

The Sustainable ADA team has experience working with Figma, Canva, Wix, Final Cut Pro, Da Vinci Resolve 17, Adobe CC, Microsoft Products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc).

Sustainable ADA has experience and backgrounds in Sustainability, Economics, Humanities, Social Sciences. Along with work with NGOs, Social Enterprises, Freelance journalism, and blogging.

The team has been a part of the Cardano ecosystem since 2020 and is very dedicated to the Cardano ecosystem. We created Recalibrating Value, Identity & Impact Through the Blockchain: Cardano Impact Report 2023“.

The team also has undertaken the first of its kind Cardano Impact Report.

The Cardano Impact Report is a comprehensive publication that aims to capture and showcase the positive impact generated by the Cardano community. It is designed as a book NFT (Non-Fungible Token) to leverage the unique features of blockchain technology, ensuring authenticity, transparency, and immutability of the content.

<https://sustainableada.com/cardano-impact-report/>

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

The cost of the project represents value for money as it enables the first stage in forming a DAO around the PB community. The DAO will allow for us to create a stronger relationship with the Cardano ecosystem and will also bring more visibility and recognition of impactful projects building on Cardano. By investing in the Positive Blockchain DAO.

The community will gain access to valuable insights, collaboration opportunities, and inspiration to drive positive change.

The costs are justified and a modest ask given the average salaries for a graduate, and postgraduate researcher and Teacher in our sectors, and given our track record in and out of the Cardano community to date based out of USA (Salt Lake City), and western Europe (London and Paris).