[PROPOSAL] 0xCastle Research Retreat

NDC Community and nodes Aurora Community DAO
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Section 1 - DAO/Project Information

  • Organization Name: 0xCastle
  • Establishment Date: 15.01.2024
  • DAO’s Category: Ecosystem
  • Project’s Category: Community Led, Education, Research

Section 2. Previous Funding

  • Yes, Avalanche and Aeternity. We are also finilizing the contracts with Ethereum Foundation and 1inch.

Section 3. DAO URLs

Section 4. Applicant Information

  • Name of Point of Contact: @mil43, @Tsatsch
  • Governance Forum/near.social Profile: thebafnetwork.near , mila-brajkovska.near, tsatsch.near
  • NEAR Wallet ID: thebafnetwork.near
  • Wallet ID for funds: thebafnetwork.near
  • Country of Residence: Germany
  • Twitter, Telegram:
  • Additional Relevant Links:

Section 5. Team Members

Section 6. Experience

  • General: Our team has extensive experience in web3, with both academic and professional backgrounds. We’ve graduated from top universities with computer science degrees, specializing in blockchain-related fields. Professionally, we’ve worked at leading blockchain companies like Quantstamp and Staking Facilities, contributing as developers, researchers, and thought leaders. Outside of formal education and careers, we’re actively involved in the web3 community through non-profit organizations like TUM Blockchain Club and Blockchain Acceleration Foundation , bettering our understanding of both technical and societal aspects of blockchain. Every team member has a solid grasp of web3 technologies, with most excelling in technical development and others knowledgeable in blockchain theory. Have attended countless of hackathons and won many prizes there, web3 conferences and been part of various hands on workshops during those. Many of the team members have also been part of research teams in academia in web3 and blockchain.
  • Past events: Some of the previous events of members:

Section 7. DAO/Project Charter/White or Litepaper and Goals

  • Mission and Vision:
    0xCastle is a groundbreaking, 5 day blockchain education and research retreat hosted in the historic CryptoCastle of Burgscheidungen, near Leipzig, Germany, following ETHBerlin from May 26-31. This exclusive event gathers 50 researchers, developers, and blockchain enthusiasts from both academia (40%) and the industry (60%) to delve into critical topics of privacy, scalability, and interoperability in blockchain technology. Through a unique blend of talks, workshops, and research sessions, participants will engage in comprehensive learning and collaborative research efforts. The program is participant-driven, encouraging attendees to propose and lead discussions on topics they are passionate about, fostering an environment of knowledge exchange and collective problem-solving. Content ranges from introductory talks to in-depth discussions on cutting-edge subjects such as cryptography (Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Multi-Party Computation, Fully Homomorphic Encryption), layer 2 solutions & rollups, and mechanism design. Logistics include all-inclusive meals and accommodations, facilitating an immersive and uninterrupted experience. 0xCastle is crafted not only for educational purposes, it’s also aimed at promoting collaboration across different fields and exploring the fundamentals of blockchain technology. See our vision and more information about the event on the website: https://0xcastle.xyz/

  • Core Programs And How They Align With NDC’s NDC CoA Vision:
    A five-day immersive program featuring talks, workshops, and research sessions on pivotal blockchain topics, promoting interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving. Our goal is to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and skill exchange among participants and create opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration to address pressing research questions in blockchain technology. Our core programs align with NDC’s vision by promoting blockchain education, research, and collaboration, contributing to developing a more transparent and privacy-oriented digital ecosystem. Furthermore, we aim to simplify the usability and interaction with the web3 world and enable continuous growth for the developers, researchers, and end-users.

  • Team:
    Experienced organizers with a proven track record in event management and blockchain education, committed to fostering impactful experiences and community growth.

  • Requested Budget:
    We request a budget of $10,000 to enable students to attend this event at low cost/for free. Those students will come from blockchain clubs at top universities that are our educational partners like such as Cambridge Blockchain Society, Cornell Blockchain, Blockchain at Berkeley, TUM Blockchain Club and many more or organisations like Kryptosphere, Blockchain Acceleration Foundation and European Blockchain Assosiation.

  • What Problem We Are Aiming to Solve?
    Currently, there is a gap in collaborative, in-depth learning experiences in the blockchain sector. Many ecosystems redundantly develop by themselves and there is little exchange between their communities.

  • Project Charter:
    Our pitch deck represents the objectives, scope and responsibilities of our project. Please have a look at 0xCastle Research Retreat Grant Application

  • How Can The Project Achieve NDC Priorities, Goals, and KPIs?
    The 0xCastle Research Retreat, in collaboration with NEAR, will unite brilliant minds from diverse ecosystems, fostering in-depth collaboration and education in blockchain technology. This initiative will ignite fresh ideas, drive innovation, and generate solutions beneficial to the NEAR community and the broader blockchain landscape. Our events agenda mainly focuses on questions like privacy, scalability, and interoperability. NEAR has implemented a unique scaling solution with sharding technology, the Nightshade. We would love to hear about NEAR’s work as an example of the scalability problem solution. In addition, we are interested in talking about how to simplify the user experience and make interacting with the blockchain more intuitive. NEAR’s built-in readable usernames (NEAR accounts) are an example of how to take a step forward in this direction. The inclusion of NEAR workshops will enrich participants’ understanding of NEAR’s technology stack and its applications, offering hands-on experience in development and implementation. Moreover, NEAR will gain visibility through prominent placement on the event website, acknowledgements, and branding throughout the retreat. The presence of blockchain clubs such as Cambridge Blockchain Society, Cornell Blockchain, Blockchain at Berkeley, TUM Blockchain Club, KRYPTOSPHERE, and many more will offer many opportunities to expand the ecosystem and collaborate within the NEAR framework.

  • Roadmap Of Our Project, Milestones, And Achievements:

    • Phase 0 - Resources (January - February):
      • Milestone 1: Completion of Pitch Deck, Website, Team Structure, and Application Form.
      • Deliverable: Fully developed Pitch Deck, Website launched, Team Structure finalized, Application Form ready for use.
      • Milestone 2: Finalization of venue selection.
      • Deliverable: Confirmed venue for the event.
    • Phase 1 - Outreach (Feburary - March):
      • Milestone 3: Engagement with potential sponsors, partners, and speakers.
      • Deliverable: Agreements or commitments from sponsors, partners, and speakers to participate in the event.
      • Milestone 4: Launch of the application campaign.
      • Deliverable: Application campaign initiated, with applications starting to come in.
    • Phase 2 - Attendees (March - April):
      • Milestone 5: Finalization of sponsor contracts.
      • Deliverable: Signed contracts with sponsors.
      • Milestone 6: Processing of applications.
      • Deliverable: Applications reviewed and accepted/rejected accordingly.
      • Milestone 7: Ticket sales commence.
      • Deliverable: Tickets available for purchase.
    • Phase 3 - Logistics (April - May):
      • Milestone 8: Development of event content.
      • Deliverable: Event agenda and content finalized based on applications and sponsor requirements.
      • Milestone 9: Finalization of event logistics.
      • Deliverable: Event logistics such as venue setup, equipment rental, and catering

Section 8. Budget

Milestone # Description Deliverables Completion Date Funding in $
1 Completion of Pitch Deck, Website, Team Structure, and Application Form Fully developed Pitch Deck, Website launched, Team Structure finalized, Application Form ready for use. 0
2 Finalization of venue selection. Confirmed venue for the event. 0
3 Engagement with potential sponsors, partners, and speakers. Agreements or commitments from sponsors, partners, and speakers to participate in the event. 0
4 Launch of the application campaign. Application campaign initiated, with applications starting to come in. 0
5 Finalization of sponsor contracts. Deliverable: Signed contracts with sponsors. 0
6 Processing of applications. Applications reviewed and accepted/rejected accordingly. 0
7 Ticket sales commence. Tickets available for purchase. 0
8 Development of event content. Event agenda and content finalized based on applications and sponsor requirements. 0
9 Finalization of event logistics. Event logistics such as venue setup, equipment rental, and catering 45,000

  • Total Cost: 45.000 EUR

    • Accommodation: 13k
    • Event: 10k
    • Catering: 17k
    • Cost Shuttle: 2.000 EUR
    • Cost Drinks: 3.000 EUR

  • Similar Proposals: NO

  • Commitment Length:

    • Phase 0: 150 hrs.
    • Phase 1: 350 hrs.
    • Phase 2: 200 hrs.
    • Phase 3: 120 hrs.
    • Total Estimated Team Hours: 820 hrs.
      • Our team consists of students and individuals who have a full time job but commit their free time to make sure this project is a success, just like the numerous previous projects they have organized

  • Team Remuneration: Both co-hosts, Blockchain Acceleration Foundation and TUM Blockchain Club, are non-profit organizations. The organizing team is not remunerated. The budget is calculated to cover the essential costs to make the event happen, including logistics, food, and accommodation. Furthermore, the additional funding will go to the student grant, allowing students from other countries to attend this event at a low cost or completely free.

Section 9. Project/DAO Longevity

  • Funding Requirements: one-time
  • Sustainability: An event kind like 0xCastle can be extended to a further series of such research retreats. The partnership with NEAR ecosystems can lead to shared initiatives that provide mutual benefits.
  • Possible Roadblocks: While aiming for impactful results, challenges in aligning diverse research interests when encouraging collaborative research and education across ecosystems may arise. Furthermore, the cost of the venue may hinder the independent structuring of the event.
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