[Proposal] Near - Blockathon DAO Sponsorship
Metaverse Blockathon - NEAR learning track for builders
[Please view the following document link for a full copy of this proposal with ALL links embedded, as this proposal post is limited to only 2 embedded links
A track record of our previous Blockathons we have hosted(with links) since 2016 is also provided at the end of the linked document.]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qLAO9GypfPBaveXOGYaoXHMGQ6kM_dj0e3mQKtIROM0/edit?usp=sharing
Proponents:
- Daniel Bar founding core contributor @ [Blockathon DAO, public good Learn2Earn], founder of [Bifwd Capital, boutique venture builder + hedge fund firm] and contributor to several projects across multiple blockchain networks since 2016
- [Paul Pounendis], core contributor @ [Blockathon DAO, public good Learn2Earn ], founder of [Adelaide Blockchain ] and contributor to several projects across multiple blockchain networks since 2016
Recent Cohort B.22
A video covering our most Recent Cohort in March - Genesis Blockathon B.22 
Event Dates:
- May 9th - June 8th 2022 (1 month)
- Continuous Learn-2-Earn Entrepreneurial education program with bounties and workshops: Q2-Q3 2022
- Metaverse Summit July 16-17th (1-2 conference tickets provided to sponsor)
Requested amount:
One time payment, equivalent in $NEAR. Our EPIC sponsorship is 10,000USD. With our interest in expediting the initiation of our relationship with NEAR, we are happy to accommodate the 10,000USD cap instituted in the MarketingDAO
Receival Address
blockathon.near
Short description:
The Metaverse Blockathon is an online + offline hackathon that will take place as a lead up to the Metaverse Summit in Paris, held mid July.
The hackathon is run by the Blockathon DAO, a Public goods initiative: Open source entrepreneurial, Learn-2-Earn.
We would like to bring Near as a main learning track in a 4 weeks long builders learning program with a final competitive Blockathon.
This will serve for Near to grow and nurture the developer ecosystem. It will serve developers in skilling and finding relevant opportunities using Near in projects who are looking to build UX focussed, Metaverse, NFT, DeFI, DAO and other web3 based applications. The Blockathon and our ongoing facilitation of public goods funding for the Near ecosystem, will also increase awareness to Near amongst a high quality curated audience.
Grant topic: Near ecosystem track in the Metaverse Blockathon
Organizing: Blockathon DAO (Multichain Metaverse) Bitfwd 比特未来 (Australia / Singapore / China), Metaverse Summit (France)
Dates: May 9th - June 8th 2022
The program is set to support learning tracks across online + some offline venues in Australian cities and Paris.
BlockathonDAO public good, learn2earn, entrepreneurial platform is composed of two main components, Blockathon Cohorts and our Bounty Platform, for ongoing, rolling basis bounties that BlockathonDAO will facilitate for the Near learning track and ecosystem projects, on a long term, continual basis.
Bounty Platform
BlockathonDAO will continually facilitate the creation, maintenance and completion of bounties issued for Near ecosystem projects and applications looking to fund designers and developers to contribute to their open source projects. BlockathonDAO will facilitate Near projects and applications with their bounties long term, on a continual basis.
Blockathon Cohorts
Blockathon Cohorts provide opportunities for hackers to ideate, build teams, work with mentorship from industry experts, compete for prize money in a focussed timeline, to innovate for the future.
In these cohorts, scheduled technical and entrepreneurial workshops are planned on a weekly basis. They will occur during the Metaverse Blockathon and in the lead up to the Metaverse Summit.
The Blockathon DAO initiated by Bitfwd has joined forces with the Metaverse Summit as a core hackathon partner and a number of grassroots communities to deliver a community experience “learn + build 2 earn” public good platform.
Pre-registered participants:
900
Online component:
20+ sessions that will facilitate remote onboarding and participation for hackers that will join the Blockathon and work toward bounties and competitions.
Audience:
We are anticipating 300-500 online participants + 100 offline participants. With a blend of developers, designers, entrepreneurs and art / content creators.
Events:
Offline:
-
2-3 community meetups + workshops in-person in Sydney, Melbourne and Paris, with potentially more cities in Australia and New Zealand.
-
Each event will include 3 or more sessions with duration of 3-4 hours:
- Keynote speaker
- Technical / UX workshop
- Ecosystem Design workshops.
We would request Near to recommend a mentor / speaker to deliver a workshop and join our Discord server as a mentor for teams, if possible offline presence will be appreciated as well
Online:
Similar format with 2 days space and time that accommodates for APAC / Europe timezone.
Final Hackathon Competition
- 2.5 days of final event as a standard hackathon format as a celebratory finale of the 1 month long program.
The final agenda schedule is currently being built, scheduled to be released to the public as workshops are scheduled in. and will be influenced by added partners we’re currently in discussions with.
Value add to Near ecosystem:
Success: dozens of new developers will be involved in the Near ecosystem in capacity of founders, hires, partnered projects or creators using Near in their stack for their creative web3 work.
Funds requested:
10,000USD equivalent in $NEAR.
Payment condition
Since we are going to incur cost upfront, we will request that the funds be given upfront in good faith as we’ve previously delivered multiple open source community initiatives and have years of track record.
The following is a delineation of the estimated May 9th - June 8th Metaverse Blockathon B.22 cohort cost. Note, this table outlines the total cost of operations and expenses for the 4 weeks, where sponsorship funding from Near will help contribute.
| Item | Estimated cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Hackers swag pack | 15,000 | 300 times 50$ for themed garment, stickers, international shipping for online participants |
| Food for 3 days final competition | 18,000 | 2.5 days worth of food + drinks: 60$ per person, 120 people in person (hackers + mentors + staff) |
| Production team + venue hire | 10,000 | Mixed with volunteers + professionals for AV, video production for promotion and after the event conclusion. Video: 5k + Venues 5k |
| Traveling cost for in person meetups outside of Sydney where we are based | 5,400 | 2 people, 3 cities estimated, 6 night in accommodation Flights: 600x3x2 = 3600 Accommodation 100x6x2 = 1200 Transport local: 100x6 = 600 |
| Prize pool contribution | ~6,000 | Allocate for winning teams |
| Total | 55,000 | Overall cost |
About the Metaverse Blockathon:
We are an open source grassroots crypto community that started with the activities organized by Bitfwd in Australia since 2015/16 who have been facilitating collaborations between academics, entrepreneurs, advisory to governments (in Australia and New Zealand) and supporting numerous startups across multiple ecosystems) . Members in the Blockathon team are experienced in running events, producing content and we are very excited to contribute to the Near ecosystem by organizing and hosting these series of events.
[Please refer to google link at top of proposal post to view information on previous Blockathons]
Track record Since 2016:
- Write up describing the inspiration for “why” Blockathon DAO:
medium(dot)com/bitfwd/fractal-commons-why-blockathon-dao-85a481af21a9
- That’s how it works for Blockathon DAO, V1:
medium(dot)com/bitfwd/blockathon-dao-v1-357c2716e323
- Historic record of our first Blockahton:
2017 1st Blockathon:
medium(dot)com/bitfwd/recap-of-australias-biggest-blockchain-hackathon-e6d48828355d
- In 2018 we taught kids Blockchain:
medium(dot)com/bitfwd/why-we-taught-kids-about-blockchain-a5c924c5111b
- In 2019 we contributed to refugees Blockchain literacy:
medium(dot)com/bitfwd/social-impact-through-blockchain-literacy-eb9d84e049ca
We have also facilitated a 3 event series about DeFi and DAOs and hosted Multiple Blockchain hackathons in China and Australia universities (example: youtu(dot)be/eHsdvfZ4QOU)
Numerous Meetup events: meetup(dot)com/en-AU/bitfwd/
Government advisory: Australian treasury (FED equivalent) and National blockchain Roadmap
happy to see this , bigger up