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[FEEDBACK REQUESTED] - POLKADOT x BLOCKCHAIN HUB ROMANIA

Ostanescu
10 months ago
events

Gm Polkadot Community,

We are excited to introduce a proposal for our initiative aimed at expanding the Polkadot ecosystem in Romania. Our proposal outlines a series of strategic events and educational programs designed to foster innovation, education, and community growth within the Polkadot network that will be conducted under the Blockchain Hub Romania's activity in the next 12 months.

Why Blockchain Hub Romania?

Romania is rapidly emerging as a significant hub for technology and innovation in Eastern Europe. With a growing interest in blockchain technology and a strong developer community, it presents a unique opportunity to cultivate a thriving Polkadot ecosystem. Our team, backed by the success of ETH Bucharest, is well-positioned to leverage this momentum to create a robust platform for networking, learning, and development.

What Do We Aim to Achieve?

Our vision is to introduce Polkadot to a new and enthusiastic audience in Romania. Through a series of hackathons, workshops, meet-ups, and the creation of educational materials, we aim to onboard new builders and contributors to the Polkadot ecosystem. Our approach is comprehensive, targeting developers, academics, startups, and potential contributors, ensuring a well-rounded and sustainable community growth.

Key Highlights of the Proposal:

  • Hackathons: Two major hackathons targeting developers and creators, focusing on Polkadot’s technology.
  • Workshops and Bootcamps: Quarterly events to educate and engage the community, providing hands-on experience with Polkadot’s tools and technologies.
  • Meet-ups: Regular meet-ups to maintain community engagement and facilitate networking.
  • Educational Materials: Development of comprehensive resources in various formats to support ongoing learning and development.

Our Commitment to the Polkadot Ecosystem:

We believe that our initiative will significantly contribute to the growth and visibility of Polkadot in Romania. By building a local community of skilled developers and enthusiastic contributors, we aim to drive the development of innovative projects and tools on Polkadot, ultimately increasing its adoption and impact.

We invite you to review our detailed proposal below and join us in the discussion. Your feedback and support are invaluable as we embark on this exciting journey to expand the Polkadot ecosystem in Romania.

POLKADOT x BLOCKCHAIN HUB ROMANIA

🪪 SECTION 1: APPLICANT INFORMATION

Community/Group/Organization Name: Blockchain Hub Romania (powered by ETH Bucharest)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 SECTION 2: TEAM AND PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Description:

Blockchain Hub Romania is dedicated to enhancing the Polkadot ecosystem in Romania by organizing hackathons, workshops, meet-ups, and educational events. Our goal is to develop a robust infrastructure for networking, learning, and brainstorming, and to onboard new builders into the blockchain industry through partner ecosystems.

Why Romania?

Safe and Secure Environment

  • Favourable tax system
  • Rapidly growing international recognition for innovation and expertise
  • IT sector contributes 7% to the GDP

STRATEGIC ADVANTAGES

  • Central hub for software development outsourcing
  • Most tech universities and graduates in the region
  • Flourishing start-up ecosystem
  • Bucharest was voted one of the best cities for remote working
  • High Speed internet services available

ABUNDANT TECH TALENT AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

  • 200,000+ skilled developers
  • 41 technical universities producing over 3,200 engineers annually
  • Reach pool of talent and academic prowess

TRIVING CRYPTO COMMUNITY

  • Home to Ethereum co-founder Mihai Alisie
  • 4 out of 10 Romanians owned or have owned cryptocurrencies
  • ETH meet-ups as early as 2014

Team Experience and Completeness:

Our team is led by co-founders with extensive experience in Web3 and Web2. We have successfully organized the ETH Bucharest Conference and Hackathon [https://linktr.ee/ethbucharest] and NFT Bucharest [https://linktr.ee/nftbucharest] in Romania, demonstrating our ability to execute large-scale events, each gathering over 1000 attendees. Our team comprises experts in event management, community building, and blockchain technology.

Team Members:

Innovation or Value to Polkadot:

Our project will introduce Polkadot to a new audience in Romania, fostering the development of innovative projects and tools using Polkadot's technology. By organizing events and creating educational materials, we will strengthen the connection between the Polkadot ecosystem and the developer community in Romania.

Current Stage of Project:

Our project is in the planning stage, with several activities already in motion, including discussions with potential partners and initial event planning.

Target Audience:

Our target audience includes developers, academics, startups, and potential contributors interested in blockchain technology.

  • Developers: Novice and intermediate developers eager to learn and create within the Polkadot ecosystem.
  • Academics: Researchers, educators, and students interested in the theoretical and practical dimensions of blockchain technology.
  • Founders: Visionary entrepreneurs looking to harness blockchain technology to drive innovation and business growth.
  • Potential Contributors: Entrepreneurs, innovators, and anyone interested in exploring opportunities within the blockchain space.

Comparable Projects:

While there are other educational and community projects within the Polkadot ecosystem, our focus on the Romanian market and our comprehensive approach to integrating Web2 developers sets us apart.

Previous Grants from Polkadot or Related Programs: N/A

Grants from Other Blockchains:

We have verbal agreements with the Ethereum Foundation, Akasha, Sablier, and Build 21 to support the activities of Blockchain Hub Romania and a few more ongoing discussions.

🔍 SECTION 3: GRANT REQUEST DETAILS

Idea/Project for Grant:

We are applying for a grant to include a series of Polkadot-focused events in the activities of Blockchain Hub Romania for the coming 12 months. Our plan includes:

  • Two hackathons targeting developers and creators
  • Quarterly workshops/bootcamps and/or meet-ups to educate and engage the community
  • Development of educational materials and resources about Polkadot

Major Deliverables:

  • Successful organization of two hackathons with at least 50 attendees each focused on Polkadot’s technology.
  • 4 workshops and/or bootcamps with at least 50 attendees.
  • 4 meet-ups with at least 50 attendees.
  • Creation and dissemination of educational materials in multiple formats (videos, articles, tutorials).

Alignment with Polkadot Ecosystem:

Our project will drive growth in the Polkadot ecosystem by fostering a community of developers and potential contributors in Romania. This will lead to the development of new projects and tools on Polkadot, increasing its adoption and visibility.

Blockchain HUB Romania Partner:

Through the acceptance of this proposal, Polkadot will also become a part of Blockchain Hub Romania, enjoying the benefits provided to our partners.

Requested Grant: USD 50,000

Budget Breakdown:

Meetup Budget - $2,500 x 4 = $10,000:

  • Venue
  • Photo/Video
  • AV infrastructure
  • F&B (finger food/snacks + drinks)
  • On-Chain Proof of Participation (e.g., POAPs)
  • Marketing Budget (communication, ads, visuals, etc.)
  • Volunteers (merch has to be provided, including preparation, scheduling, and briefing time)
  • Production (spider, roll-up, etc.)
  • Operational Costs (Luma, Stripe, Internet, etc.)
  • Administration Costs (accounting, legal, etc.)
  • Merch
  • Team Pay

Workshop/Bootcamp - $5,000 x 4 = $20,000:

  • Online infrastructure for hosting the session + technical support
  • Trainer’s pay + possible travel and accommodation costs
  • Venue (for graduation ceremony)
  • Photo/Video
  • AV infrastructure (sound + microphone + screen)
  • F&B (finger food/snacks + drinks)
  • On-Chain Proof of Participation (e.g., POAPs) - Free (time costs involved from team member)
  • Marketing Budget (communication, ads, visuals, etc.)
  • Volunteers (merch has to be provided, including preparation, scheduling, and briefing time)
  • Production (spider, roll-ups, etc.)
  • Operational Costs (Luma, Stripe, Internet, etc.)
  • Administration Costs (accounting, legal, etc.)
  • On-Chain Graduation Certificate
  • Merch
  • Team Pay

Hackathons - $10,000 x 2 = $20,000:

  • Venue
  • Photo/Video
  • AV infrastructure (sound + microphone + screen)
  • F&B (finger food/snacks + drinks)
  • On-Chain Proof of Participation (e.g., POAPs) - Free (time for setup cost)
  • Marketing Budget (communication, ads, visuals, etc.)
  • Volunteers - GRATIS (but organization costs)
  • Production (spider, roll-ups, etc.)
  • Operational Costs (Luma, Stripe, Internet, etc.)
  • Administration Costs (accounting, legal, etc.)
  • Team Pay
  • Hackathon Prizes
  • Merch

Milestones and Timeline:

September - October: Initial Planning and Preparation ($20,000 release)

  • Secure venues, sponsors, and partners for hackathons and workshops
  • Develop hackathon themes and challenges
  • Identify topics and speakers for workshops/bootcamps/meet-ups
  • Create a content plan for educational materials and outline key topics
  • Launch marketing campaigns to attract participants

**November: Content Development and Community Engagement ($3,000 release)
**

  • Continue developing additional educational materials based on feedback
  • Engage the community through follow-up meet-ups and online sessions
  • Collect and incorporate community feedback into educational resources

**December: First Workshop and Material Update ($3,000 release)
**

  • Conduct the first workshop focused on beginner topics
  • Release an updated batch of educational materials
  • Promote and gather feedback on new materials

**January - February: First Bootcamp and Hackathon ($6,000 release)
**

  • Conduct the first bootcamp focused on introductory topics
  • Host the first hackathon event
  • Provide mentorship and resources to participants
  • Evaluate submissions and announce winners
  • Publish the initial batch of educational materials about Polkadot
  • Promote materials through various channels and gather feedback

**March - April: Preparation for Second Bootcamp and Hackathon ($6,000 release)
**

  • Review feedback from the first hackathon and refine the event plan
  • Finalize details for the second hackathon, including themes and challenges
  • Continue developing advanced educational materials

**May: Second Bootcamp and Hackathon ($3,000 release)
**

  • Conduct the second bootcamp focused on intermediate topics
  • Host the second hackathon event
  • Provide mentorship and resources to participants
  • Evaluate submissions and announce winners

**June - July: Final Content Development and Community Engagement ($6,000 release)
**

  • Finalize and compile all educational resources
  • Create a comprehensive resource library for the community
  • Engage the community through additional meet-ups and online sessions
  • Gather feedback and prepare for the final workshop

August: Second Workshop and Review ($3,000 release)

  • Conduct the second workshop with a review of past activities and discussion on future trends and contributing to the DAO.
  • Review all educational materials and update based on the latest developments
  • Plan for future content updates and expansions

Estimated Completion Time: 12 months

Success Measurement:

  • Quarterly progress reports posted on the Polkadot forum
  • Final comprehensive report detailing outcomes, metrics, and impact
  • Contact information for the responsible person: [email protected]

Associations with Organizations:

We are actively engaged in discussions with several prestigious universities and institutions to foster education and community growth in the blockchain space. These include FABIZ, the business faculty of ASE University, and the Computer Science faculty at Politehnica University, both known for their strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and technical talent. Additionally, we plan to extend our partnerships to other prominent academic institutions across Romania.

Region of Development:

Our initiatives will primarily be rooted in Romania, beginning in the capital city of Bucharest. As we gain momentum, we intend to expand our efforts to other key cities, such as Cluj-Napoca, with its growing tech community and the active ETH Cluj community. By hosting events and fostering local chapters in cities like Cluj, we aim to build a decentralized network of blockchain enthusiasts and professionals, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to community growth and education throughout Romania.

Comments (4)

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DotDotApe
10 months ago

Gm guys,
happy to see more activity from eastern Europe!
It's good that you've written up the timeline, which I think is the most important aspect of building a community and getting them activated until the hackathon begins. I'm not familiar with your local community, but in general, I think it takes more meetups before a hackathon gets enough participants. Would your content creation target developers?

Partners are also essential. Will you reach out to universities and Web2 communities? What were your plans to reach the existing Eth community and win their interest for Polkadot? How many visitors were at Eth Bucharest? Is there a chance to do a Eth event together with Polkadot?

Regarding the hackathons, I wonder how high the price money would be and how many tracks it would split.

Lastly, no matter how the results of your proposal are. Check out the Distractive ERC and reach out for any co-marketing requests.

10 months ago

Supporting the initiative, nice to see increased activity and proposals connceted to face-to-face interactions within the Polkadot ecosystem!

This short comment won't do justice to your detailed proposal, but I would also propose to rethink your Milestones and kick things off using available resources in the ecosystem e.g. your initial release could be convered by the Meetups bounty, allowing you to organise a meetup to engage the local community.

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