Introduction
Introducing the Aurora Community DAO (AC-DAO) officially joined NDC on November 29, 2023, embodies the essence of a community-led project within the ecosystem category. Our primary mission is to facilitate the transition into the Near Digital Collective (NDC) while embracing a new era of decentralized governance. By leveraging our unique position within the international NEAR and Aurora ecosystems, AC-DAO aims to foster a dynamic, empowered, and transparent community. This budget proposal outlines our commitment to these objectives, aligning with the broader goals of NDC for equitable power distribution and the use of decentralized technologies.
In developing the December 2024 budget for AC-DAO V1, we have identified several key challenges to address:
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Project Alignment with NDC Metrics: Ensuring that all projects within the AC-DAO ambit have clear goals and defined target audiences that align with the NEAR Digital Collective’s (NDC) accepted metrics. This alignment is crucial for the projects to contribute meaningfully to the AURORA/NEAR ecosystems
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Effective Utilization of Mini-Grants: With the initiation of the mini-grant application process, it is imperative to manage and monitor these grants effectively. They should be directed towards projects that offer tangible benefits to the AURORA/NEAR ecosystems, ensuring optimal use of resources.
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Community Engagement and Governance: Enhancing community engagement and ensuring a transparent and decentralized governance structure, aligning with AC-DAO’s commitment to equitable power distribution and use of decentralized technologies.
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Sustaining Ecosystem Growth: Addressing the need for increased transaction volumes and user retention within the Aurora Ecosystem. This involves not only attracting new users but also ensuring their sustained engagement and contribution.
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Integration and Collaboration: Reducing overlaps and fostering collaboration with other DAOs and entities within the NEAR/AURORA ecosystems. Establishing clear functions and tasks for AC-DAO in relation to other ecosystem participants to maximize efficiency and impact.
Solutions:
In addressing the challenges outlined, AC-DAO V1 proposes comprehensive solutions that extend beyond traditional measures. Our approach involves close collaboration with the House of Merit (HoM) to align with the goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the Near Digital Collective (NDC). The solutions include:
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Outreach to New Audiences: We are dedicated to expanding our reach to new and diverse audiences. This involves not only targeting existing blockchain enthusiasts but also tapping into untapped markets and demographics. Our outreach strategy includes creating awareness programs, educational initiatives, and engaging marketing campaigns that resonate with a broader audience.
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Activating Daily Protocol Usage Through Gamification Mechanics: Recognizing the power of gamification in user engagement, we plan to incorporate various game-like elements into our daily protocol usage. This approach aims to make the user experience more interactive and enjoyable, thereby increasing daily active users and enhancing user retention rates.
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Engaging Other or Local Blockchain Communities: Understanding the importance of community in the blockchain space, AC-DAO V1 intends to establish strong connections with other or local blockchain communities. This engagement will be facilitated through joint ventures, collaborative projects, and mutual support in various initiatives. By doing so, we aim to foster a sense of unity and cooperation within the broader blockchain ecosystem.
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Cross Collaboration with Other or Local Communities and Influencers in Different Languages: Recognizing the global nature of the blockchain community, AC-DAO V1 will engage in cross-collaboration with communities and influencers across different languages and regions. This approach aims to create a more inclusive and diverse community, breaking language barriers and cultural differences. We plan to leverage the influence of local and international influencers to amplify our reach and impact.
These solutions are designed to not only address the immediate challenges but also to lay a strong foundation for sustained growth and development of the Aurora Community DAO. Through these initiatives, AC-DAO V1 aspires to contribute significantly to the NDC’s broader goals of creating an equitable and accessible ecosystem.
Goals:
In light of the updated data and strategic initiatives outlined for AC-DAO V1, our goals for the December 2024 budget application are as follows:
- Effective Implementation of Mini Grants Initiative: A primary goal is to successfully launch and manage the mini grants initiative. This program will focus on supporting projects within the AURORA/NEAR ecosystems that demonstrate clear objectives and target audiences, aligning with the NDC’s metrics. We aim to use these grants to stimulate innovation, encourage community-led projects, and enhance the overall health and diversity of the ecosystem.
We have received several applications that we have reviewed and are going to support:
| Proposal | Link | Amount Requested |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Maze | Link | $3,500.00 |
| Aurora & NEAR Social Media Promotion community Crypto Gamers | Link | $2,000.00 |
| AURORA Africa Activities | Link | $2,000.00 |
| Aurora Casino’s proposal for December’s Aurora Community DAO Funding round | Link | $1,500.00 |
| TOTAL | $9,000.00 |
- Robust Marketing Initiatives: We aim to implement robust marketing initiatives to increase awareness and visibility of AC-DAO and its supported projects. This will include developing and executing targeted marketing campaigns, partnerships with key influencers, and participation in relevant events and conferences. The goal is to attract new users, retain existing ones, and enhance the overall brand value of AC-DAO in the blockchain community.
Funds for marketing will be allocated to the following activities:
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Social Media Content Creation: Development of engaging social media posts tailored to the blockchain audience across local platforms.
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Design for Posts: Crafting visually appealing graphics and multimedia content to accompany social media posts and campaigns.
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Social Media Management (SMM): Managing the presence of AC-DAO on various social media platforms to ensure consistent and strategic communication.
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AMA and Voice Sessions: Organizing Ask Me Anything and voice sessions on platforms like Twitter (X), Discord and Telegram to interact directly with the community.
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Application Analysis: Conducting thorough reviews of applications to verify the presence and functionality of claimed features.
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Testing of Supported Projects: Allocating resources to rigorously test the projects AC-DAO supports to ensure quality and reliability.
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KPI Analysis: Assessing the Key Performance Indicators of supported projects to measure their impact and success accurately.
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Media Support for Collaborative Initiatives: Creating and providing media support for initiatives arising from collaborations, ensuring maximum reach and engagement. At the moment there are strong partnerships with Trisolaris and their new initiative on the Zealy platform.
- Expansion and Enhancement of Ambassador Program: The ambassador program is a key component of our community engagement strategy. We plan to expand and enhance this program to include a wider range of activities and responsibilities. Ambassadors will play a crucial role in representing AC-DAO, facilitating community growth, and acting as a bridge between the DAO and its members. The program will focus on training, empowering, and incentivizing ambassadors to actively contribute to the community and promote AC-DAO’s vision and objectives.
The Aurora Stars Force (Ambassador) Program (part of Near Digital Collective - NDC), is a proactive initiative by the Aurora Community DAO, dedicated to maintaining our existing achievements while continuously nurturing an informed, enthusiastic, and on-chain engaged community. With a strong focus on raising transactions on the Aurora network, facilitating knowledge exchange, creating awareness, and driving the adoption of the Aurora network, this program plays a pivotal role in propelling the growth and success of the NEAR/Aurora ecosystem.
The Aurora Stars Force (Ambassador) Program has been established with the aim of cultivating a dynamic on-chain-based Aurora Community with the following core objectives:
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Increasing transactions in the NEAR/Aurora Ecosystem
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Raising awareness about NEAR and Aurora and its technological impact
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Encouraging the adoption and integration of Aurora network
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Facilitating knowledge exchange within the NEAR/Aurora Community and fostering collaboration
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Nurturing professional development among Councils, Leaders, and Ambassadors
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Driving active participation in the Ecosystem’s development
At the moment, we have already drawn up the full tasks that the ambassadors will be working on, worked out the reward system and formed the necessary number of participants.
These goals are designed to reinforce AC-DAO V1’s commitment to fostering a decentralized, empowered, and continuously improving ecosystem within the AURORA/NEAR networks. By achieving these goals, we aim to align with the broader objectives of the Near Digital Collective, contributing significantly to the growth and sustainability of the ecosystem.
Budget Breakdown:
| AURORA COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM DAO | Dec-23 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Amount | ||
| Strategic Advisor (NeuroAdvisor) | $0.00 | ||
| Ambassadors team lead (1) | $3,500.00 | ||
| Ambassadors operation team (2) | $1,500.00 | ||
| Marketing and events lead +social media (1) | $2,500.00 | ||
| Mini grants lead (1) | $2,500.00 | ||
| Aurora Stars Ambassador program | $11,000.00 | ||
| Mini-grants | $9,000.00 | ||
| Events and marketing | $5,000.00 | ||
| TOTAL | $35,000.00 |
Address: ac_dao.near
DAO URLs:
Project Longevity:
AC-DAO V1’s plan for sustainability includes:
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One-Year Continuous Funding: We will receive steady funding for a year, providing a stable financial base for our initiatives.
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Performance-Based Evaluation: After the initial year, HoM will assess our performance against KPIs to decide on further funding.
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Mid-Term KPI Review: Six months into funding, we’ll analyze operations and adjust KPI percentages as necessary, ensuring alignment with our actual performance.
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Potential Roadblocks:
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Continuous Funding: Essential for uninterrupted operations.
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Consistent and Clear KPIs: Key for effective progress measurement and strategic adjustments.
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Fair Operational Process: Crucial for maintaining trust and equitable opportunities within the community.
This approach aims to secure AC-DAO V1’s long-term effectiveness in the AURORA/NEAR ecosystems, adapting to ongoing changes and fostering sustained growth.
Team Members: