*"Mario and Christian formed an alliance following their time at PBA in Hong Kong. Since then, PolkaBiz has become a great tool to identify and nurture entrepreneurs for the Polkadot ecosystem. We’re really keen to keep working with them."* **- Tim Dobie, Director of Polkadot Blockchain Academy**

PolkaBiz has been quietly but effectively building the foundation for the next generation of startups within Polkadot.  In ref [<u>1504</u>](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/1504), which received strong support from the majority of the community, we wanted to continue this kind of work. However, during the confirmation period, the proposal was unexpectedly rejected. 

After consulting W3F and some community members, we have therefore decided to present a retroactive funding proposal for the past 4 months (January - April).

 Here’s what we *already achieved*  -  **verifiable results** from January to April 2025:

* 100+ startup applications screened
* 68 startups mentored with 1:1 coaching on product-market fit, go-to-market strategies, business models, and pitching
* 8 startups secured Web3 Foundation grants in January alone, receiving $240,000 in total funding
* 3 additional startups funded via PBA-X, securing another $60,000 in grants
* Founder portal to track, guide, and support project onboarding within the ecosystem
* G6Networks signed an MOU with a national government, a deal facilitated through PolkaBiz connections
* A 100+ FTE Web2 development company introduced to the Web3 Deal Desk through our mentorship program

This work has been recognized not only by startups but by major ecosystem leaders such as the Web3 Foundation and the Polkadot Blockchain Academy.

This proposal only seeks **fair retroactive compensation** for 4 months of hard work:

* Originally $62,000 per quarter (approx. $20,666/month)
* Now $82,666.66 total including April

If Polkadot wants more applications, more builders, and more real usage, **programs like PolkaBiz are essential**. Together with the community, we are actively exploring the best ways to sustainably fund our efforts.

**Here is the link to the full proposal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/142EZKo4CKbwIlGQklGl1MaIBT3qdMEDQHATro9UOiZI/edit?usp=sharing**

Thank you all for your trust and support! 🙏

Propose and approve a spend of treasury funds.

## Dispatch Origin

Must be [`Config::SpendOrigin`] with the `Success` value being at least
`amount` of `asset_kind` in the native asset. The amount of `asset_kind` is converted
for assertion using the [`Config::BalanceConverter`].

## Details

Create an approved spend for transferring a specific `amount` of `asset_kind` to a
designated beneficiary. The spend must be claimed using the `payout` dispatchable within
the [`Config::PayoutPeriod`].

### Parameters
- `asset_kind`: An indicator of the specific asset class to be spent.
- `amount`: The amount to be transferred from the treasury to the `beneficiary`.
- `beneficiary`: The beneficiary of the spend.
- `valid_from`: The block number from which the spend can be claimed. It can refer to
  the past if the resulting spend has not yet expired according to the
  [`Config::PayoutPeriod`]. If `None`, the spend can be claimed immediately after
  approval.

## Events

Emits [`Event::AssetSpendApproved`] if successful.

- **Problem Statement:** Proposal for retroactive funding for PolkaBiz's work from January to April 2025 was unexpectedly rejected, seeking fair compensation.
- **Significance:** PolkaBiz has successfully mentored startups, secured grants, facilitated deals, and gained recognition from major ecosystem leaders.
- **Proposed Solution:** Requesting retroactive compensation of $82,666.66 for 4 months of work.
- **Expected Outcomes:** Sustainably fund programs like PolkaBiz to attract more applications, builders, and real usage within the Polkadot ecosystem.

#1544 PolkaBiz Retroactive Treasury Request January - April 2025

No Active Proposals