Our proposal is “Boosting Developer Adoption for Polkadot Ecosystem Projects” and we are sharing it before the official submission for community input and feedback.

We are Missing Link, an established brand in web3 recruiting in Europe, to provide these services. Missing Link has a track record of providing high-quality recruiting services to the blockchain industry, as you can see from the full proposal linked below.

As the Polkadot ecosystem continues to expand, it is critical that there are enough skilled developers to support the growth. **We propose to place a total of 15 Rust developers to different companies and projects within the Polkadot ecosystem through three milestones.** Companies who qualify and are in the Polkadot ecosystem can utilize the funds from this treasury proposal to receive recruitment services for Rust developers for their project.

In total, we are requesting $360k USD from the Polkadot treasury to fund this project. We believe that this investment will have a significant impact on the Polkadot ecosystem, by ensuring that there are enough skilled developers to support the growth of the network.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal and we are looking toward the community’s feedback before submitting the proposal on-chain.

[Here is the link to the full proposal](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XQS4kebHKq5F6JJNuDZiWdmXVceiQFPVOSrZ6pcvrpY/) with all the relevant details, processes and qualifiers.

Treasury Proposal for Missing Link: Boosting Developer Adoption

<h1 id="introduction">Introduction</h1>
<p>Talent Acquisition takes a significant amount of time, resources and mental capacity from teams that should rather spend their time building. The effects of a bad hire are long lasting and can add an additional burden to teams. We propose to solve this issue by guiding teams through a streamlined, optimized hiring process and multiple workshops to demonstrate best practices, fill the talent pipeline, provide access to our hiring platform and add up to 7 high-quality hires into the ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Funds from the treasury will cover the service of sourcing, interviewing, strategizing, and placing at least 7 talent positions in key Polkadot ecosystem teams.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What each participating team gets:</p>
<ul>
<li>Consulting and support on hiring best practices, setting up best-in-class job profiles, interview processes, professional outreach and improving long-term team building strategies.</li>
<li>Free access to TrufflePig, a web3 Application Tracking System</li>
<li>Growing the Polkadot talent base by funneling talent into the ecosystem</li>
<li>At least 1 hire using Missing Link&rsquo;s guidance and expertise</li>
</ul>
<p>Each team will benefit from:</p>
<ul>
<li>A success-oriented long-term hiring strategy</li>
<li>Generating less monetary and cultural waste by avoiding bad hires</li>
<li>Boosting their output with experienced talent</li>
<li>Saving time by utilizing Missing Link&rsquo;s highly personalized sourcing, screening and pre-interview process</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="apartofthepolkadotecosystem">A part of the Polkadot Ecosystem</h2>
<p>Our journey in the Web3 space has been enriched by years of collaboration and partnership with prominent players in the Polkadot ecosystem. As a trusted ally to organizations like Parity, Web3 Foundation, and others, we have placed top-tier talent in key positions, contributing to their groundbreaking achievements. Our engagement with these projects has granted us deep insights into the unique requirements and dynamics of the ecosystem. We have honed our expertise in identifying talent that complements the values and objectives of the Polkadot community, laying the foundation for future success.</p>
<h2 id="polkadotdecoded2023acatalystforcollaboration">Polkadot Decoded 2023: A Catalyst for Collaboration</h2>
<p>In June 2023, we had the privilege of attending Polkadot Decoded, an event that served as a melting pot of leading minds in Polkadot. There, we engaged in many conversations with dozens of forward-thinking teams seeking to elevate their projects to new heights. We understood that hiring is an ongoing pain point that needs a holistic solution. Our approach of guiding companies through a hiring process, thereby teaching them best-practices along the way received overwhelming interest and support. Many teams agree with us that it would solve a problem that could unlock future growth and ensure success of the ecosystem as a whole.</p>
<h2 id="buildingasustainablefuturewithtreasuryfunds">Building a Sustainable Future with Treasury Funds</h2>
<p>Our funding request of only <strong>0.935 Treasury Income Days Spent</strong> to the Polkadot treasury is an investment in the future of the ecosystem. While we seek support upfront to initiate our talent placement program, we understand the gravity of handling treasury funds with utmost responsibility and respect. Our well-established reputation in the industry speaks for itself, backed by a history of nurturing Web3 adoption since 2017.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 id="returnoninvestment">Return on Investment</h2>
<p>Each participating team would be set up for long-term hiring success, with an actionable pipeline of candidates and best practices implemented plus the commitment to at least one hire per project. The goal is that after our engagement the hiring speed and quality will be increased and there will be less of a need for external support and resources in the future.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>We strongly believe that the gains generated by this proposal will not only surpass but endure well beyond the immediate treasury expenditure.</strong></p>
<p>We are looking forward to hearing the community&rsquo;s feedback on our proposal and working with many more teams in the Polkadot ecosystem.</p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Jx1spXTv79X_cT2ABooj6mkGd5uAoNEHt4lGQ4UknM/edit#heading=h.v6is2ta0txr1">READ THE FULL PROPOSAL HERE</a></p>

Increasing Hiring Success in Polkadot by Missing Link

<p><a href="../referenda/506">This proposal is live on-chain for voting here</a></p>
<h2 id="proposaldecentralizedbusinessdevelopmentforpolkadot"><strong>Proposal: Decentralized Business Development for Polkadot</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Proponent:</strong> 13zTcqasJT4DnDgNjmsceACcuSjt4q2geEjtMprnGXCnuuh1</p>
<p><strong>Author:</strong> Cim Topal, CEO <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing-Link.io</a></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Feb 16, 2024</p>
<p><strong>Requested: 50,000 DOT</strong>, equal to 365,000 USD per <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">7-Day SubScan EMA</a></p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EYcDfI5lLjjUZUmhNg5M6-XiMY3qdQfrQfgWV56FnVc"><strong>Full proposal in Google Docs</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Short description:</strong> Business development is essential for the expansion of web3 protocols like Polkadot, focusing on growth opportunities and strategic partnerships. Despite its potential and its BD success stories such as Mythical Games, Deloitte, and Vodafone, Polkadot's business development efforts have faced criticism for lacking effective strategies, which have hampered its adoption and visibility. We&rsquo;ve witnessed multiple wins by other BD teams in other ecosystems, the kind of actions Polkadot can benefit from<sup><a href="https://blockonomi.com/fifa-pursues-multi-chain-nft-strategy-with-polygon-matic-algorand-algo/">1,</a>&uml;NBSP;<a href="https://www.blockchain-council.org/blockchain/polygon-technology-top-10-partnerships-depicting-the-rise-of-layer-2-ethereum-scaling-solution/">2</a></sup></p>
<p>. The Web3 Foundation's Decentralized Futures program aims to attract top talent to bolster Polkadot's ecosystem, yet awareness among high-caliber candidates remains low. This issue underscores a need for broader outreach beyond the current focus on individuals with prior connections to Parity and the Polkadot community. To realize its full potential, Polkadot must engage with a diverse talent pool and establish long-term partnerships and enterprise adoption. <em>Funds from the treasury will cover the service of sourcing, interviewing, strategizing, and placing 5 experienced, world-class web3 business development executives to generate successful partnerships and key cross-ecosystem products to adopt Polkadot.</em></p>
<hr />
<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p><strong>Business Development has been key to the success of decentralized web3 protocols post-ethereum.</strong> It helps ensure a sustainable protocol by seeking opportunities for growth and partnerships that best fit the advantages of the protocol at hand, and in the case of Polkadot there are numerous advantages that can be leveraged. There is a clear cost-benefit advantage in selecting the right candidates to boost Polkadot&rsquo;s business development, adoption and growth that will far outweigh the costs not only to the treasury, but the whole community.</p>
<p>However, a common critique by the community is the lack of prioritization and execution of a proper BD strategy that brings attention and adoption to Polkadot and its ecosystem. This is not to downplay its BD success stories such as Mythical Games, Deloitte, and Vodafone, which have helped maintain the notoriety in the wider ecosystem. The <a href="https://futures.web3.foundation/">Web3 Foundation&rsquo;s Decentralized Futures</a> program is designed to bring a new wave of initiatives and success to the Polkadot ecosystem, but in order for it to succeed, we need proper outreach and headhunting to introduce and convince top-notch talent of the opportunities that Polkadot and the Web3 Foundation can provide. We at Missing Link have already begun to survey talent in this sector and have discovered that nearly no top-notch talent candidates are aware of this program, despite its obvious benefits and pioneering approach. Discussions with leading ecosystem agents and the Web3 Foundation have prompted this proposal as a crucial need for the ecosystem to take the next step in growth and exposure.</p>
<p>One issue with the Decentralized Futures program is that it has not gotten the attention beyond former employees of Parity and active ecosystem participants in the Polkadot community. The current applications hosted in the Polkadot Forum for the Decentralized Futures program reveals a clear trend that the vast majority of applicants are based in Central Europe and/or are former Parity employees. While this is expected due the decentralization plan set forth by the Web3 Foundation, it is not ideal for all verticals especially when dealing with Business Development and Product Growth.</p>
<h1 id="proposal">Proposal</h1>
<p>The purpose of this submission is to request funding for <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing Link</a> to source, screen, select, and successfully place 5 Business Development Executives with the Web3 Foundation's Decentralized Futures program.</p>
<p>Below are the steps and work that needs to take place for one such successful placement with the Decentralized Futures program:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Market Mapping:</strong> Here&rsquo;s where it all begins. We conduct market research on the most successful business development strategies and successes across all major Web3 ecosystems. Based on this intensive research, we prepare a structured mapping of companies, regions and talent pools that enable us to identify an all encompassing catalog of the best talent.</li>
<li><strong>Sourcing:</strong> Missing Link has over 7 years of experience finding the best candidates in and outside of web3. For the purposes of this proposal, we will use our team of over 15 professional recruiters to make contact with the best candidates in the field of business development for web3 protocols, whether or not they are actively seeking new employment. We have a proven track record of getting the eyes and ears of experienced, world-class talent coming from competitive industries and work environments and are prepared to meet the challenge for getting the interest of dozens of candidates for these roles.</li>
<li><strong>Screening and Selection:</strong> It&rsquo;s likely that we will find dozens of potentially qualifying individuals who appear to meet the requirements of a best-in-class BD professional on paper, but a proper screening process is required to ensure their qualifications hold up. This includes in-depth interviews as well as reference checks and other due diligence such as portfolio reviews and other &ldquo;proofs-of-work&rdquo; that allow the candidates to progress to the next level.</li>
<li><strong>Decentralized Futures Application:</strong> Once a candidate has made it through the sourcing and screening process, they will need to develop a clear proposal for for the Web3 Foundation Decentralized Futures program that showcases their previous work, proven history of success, and knowledge and dedication to succeeding in the Polkadot ecosystem. The proposal will include its own success metrics, KPIs, and milestones to ensure delivery of a successful outcome in the area of business development in Polkadot. This should include clear strategies for enterprise adoption as well as cross-protocol adoption by entities such as Dapps, Layer-1s, Layer-2s, bridges and other protocols.</li>
<li><strong>Acceptance by Web3 Foundation:</strong> The BD candidates we have sourced, selected and presented to the community and Web3 Foundation will have their proposals diligently reviewed by the Web3 Foundation board of directors. Only once they have approved a candidate&rsquo;s application will we accept this as a successful placement of a decentralized business development executive in the Polkadot Ecosystem.</li>
</ul>

<p>We are ready to identify and engage world-class talent that will finally give Polkadot the edge in BD it has been looking for. The process involves meticulous screening, in-depth interviews, and rigorous vetting to ensure candidates not only possess the necessary skills on paper but are also genuinely capable of contributing to the growth and success of Polkadot.</p>
<h1 id="milestonesandbudget">Milestones and Budget</h1>
<p>| | | | | | | | | |</p>
<h2 id="amountrequested">Amount Requested</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>One tranche of 50,000 DOT</strong></li>
<li><strong>Equal to 365,000 USD</strong> per <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">7-Day SubScan EMA</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="approximatecalculationofcost">Approximate calculation of cost</h2>
<p><strong>To help fulfill the goal of Decentralized Futures by acquiring talent, we offer a full 360&deg; approach to increasing hiring and operational efficiency including a guaranteed placement at the cost of the minimum average placement fee.</strong> We understand that hiring is a challenging process. Our approach involves a dedicated research team that performs market mapping based on every project&rsquo;s unique requirements, including experience, location, and cultural fit. While the task at-hand involving a decentralized funding program may appear radically different, the universals of good talent remain therefore we will use our proven process in this way. We leverage our extensive network, attend in-person events, and utilize various online channels such as Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Github, StackOverflow, Reddit, and Discord to identify potential candidates.</p>
<p>On average and referring to our historical numbers, we need to identify and reach out to around 400 candidates in order to find 5 who express interest in the opportunity. After pre-screening and vetting interested candidates in multiple 60-90 minute interviews, we plan on introducing approximately 20 candidates to Web3 Foundation and the community.</p>
<p>A very conservative average salary of manager-to-executive-level BD professional ranges from $300k-$800k/year, typical in the web3 industry, especially for big name protocols willing to prioritize business development. <a href="https://www.cjpi.com/insights/how-much-do-executive-search-firms-cost-vs-in-house-recruitment-risks/">The industry rate for talent headhunting firms is 25-35%</a>. Given the unique nature of this program and the decentralized treasury of Polkadot, we believe a fair cost would calculate rates based on the lowest ends of these spectrums, thereby giving us a cost of approximately 24% of a $300k/year salary, though the top-tier candidates we source likely may be asking for more. Using this very low rate and calculation, five candidates successfully placed would give us a figure of approximately $375,000 USD.</p>
<h2 id="exchangerate">Exchange Rate</h2>
<p>Exchange rate of USD:DOT is the 7-day EMA by <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">Subscan</a> taken on the day of on-chain submission, and will be used to convert the amount requested above to DOT.</p>
<h2 id="payment">Payment</h2>
<p>The payment of $365k will be disbursed upon approval by the Polkadot community via the treasury.</p>
<h2 id="beneficiaryaddress">Beneficiary address:</h2>
<p>13zTcqasJT4DnDgNjmsceACcuSjt4q2geEjtMprnGXCnuuh1</p>
<h2 id="progressupdates">Progress updates</h2>
<p>We will regularly share our progress in the original Polkassembly post as comments. Polkadot community members are welcome to join these threads and inquire further information and reach out to us. Every successful placement in the scope of this proposal will be announced.</p>
<h1 id="aboutus">About Us</h1>
<p>Cim Topal, the proposer, is the CEO and co-founder of <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing Link</a> and Heads.io, a leading web3 recruiting agency founded in Berlin in 2017. Our team comprises seasoned web3 and recruiting professionals with extensive experience in both web3 and web 2.0 industries.</p>
<p>Our impressive client roster includes renowned Polkadot ecosystem projects such as Web3 Foundation, Parity Technologies, ChainSafe Systems, Phala Network and Centrifuge, as well as other ecosystem projects through the Substrate Builders Program. Our close partnerships have resulted in high-level executive placements, such as CLO Daniel Schoenberger who testified in front of the US Congress last year. In addition, we've successfully placed numerous engineers, CFOs, CMOs, and other talented professionals across the Polkadot ecosystem.</p>
<p>For a comprehensive overview of our recent placements in the Polkadot Ecosystem, please refer to the table below:</p>
<p>| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |</p>
<p><em>Note: All individuals listed above have explicitly agreed to their name being shared here for this purpose.</em></p>
<h1 id="contact">Contact</h1>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cim-topal/">Cim Topal</a> - CEO and Co-Founder, Missing-Link.io</p>
<p><a href="mailto:hi@missing-link.io">hi@missing-link.io</a></p>
<h2 id="whoweare">Who we are</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cim-topal/">Cim Topal - CEO and Co-Founder</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-missing-link/">Michael Grohmann - COO and Co-Founder</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-fricke-265b9782/">Fabian Fricke - Managing Director</a></p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://missing-link.io">https://missing-link.io</a></p>
<h2 id="proofofwork">Proof of Work</h2>
<p>Coindesk - <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/09/07/former-libra-director-joins-polkadot-builder/">Former Libra Director Joins Polkadot Builder, Bertrand Perez is joining the Web3 Foundation</a></p>
<p>Bloomberg - <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-01/ex-diem-executive-joins-mina-blockchain-as-operating-chief#xj4y7vzkg">Ex-Diem Executive Joins Mina Blockchain as Operating Chief</a></p>
<p>Coin Republic - <a href="https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2022/07/05/creator-of-polkadot-parity-technologies-expanding-leadership-team-adding-executives/">Creator of Polkadot, Parity Technologies expanding leadership team, adding executives</a></p>

The Decentralized Future of Business Development for Polkadot

<h2 id="proposaldecentralizedbusinessdevelopmentforpolkadot"><strong>Proposal: Decentralized Business Development for Polkadot</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Proponent:</strong> 13zTcqasJT4DnDgNjmsceACcuSjt4q2geEjtMprnGXCnuuh1</p>
<p><strong>Author:</strong> Cim Topal, CEO <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing-Link.io</a></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Feb 16, 2024</p>
<p><strong>Requested: 50,000 DOT</strong>, equal to 365,000 USD per <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">7-Day SubScan EMA</a></p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EYcDfI5lLjjUZUmhNg5M6-XiMY3qdQfrQfgWV56FnVc"><strong>Full proposal in Google Docs</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Short description:</strong> Business development is essential for the expansion of web3 protocols like Polkadot, focusing on growth opportunities and strategic partnerships. Despite its potential and its BD success stories such as Mythical Games, Deloitte, and Vodafone, Polkadot's business development efforts have faced criticism for lacking effective strategies, which have hampered its adoption and visibility. We&rsquo;ve witnessed multiple wins by other BD teams in other ecosystems, the kind of actions Polkadot can benefit from<sup><a href="https://blockonomi.com/fifa-pursues-multi-chain-nft-strategy-with-polygon-matic-algorand-algo/">1,</a> <a href="https://www.blockchain-council.org/blockchain/polygon-technology-top-10-partnerships-depicting-the-rise-of-layer-2-ethereum-scaling-solution/">2</a></sup>. The Web3 Foundation's Decentralized Futures program aims to attract top talent to bolster Polkadot's ecosystem, yet awareness among high-caliber candidates remains low. This issue underscores a need for broader outreach beyond the current focus on individuals with prior connections to Parity and the Polkadot community. To realize its full potential, Polkadot must engage with a diverse talent pool and establish long-term partnerships and enterprise adoption. <em>Funds from the treasury will cover the service of sourcing, interviewing, strategizing, and placing 5 experienced, world-class web3 business development executives to generate successful partnerships and key cross-ecosystem products to adopt Polkadot.</em></p>
<hr />
<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p><strong>Business Development has been key to the success of decentralized web3 protocols post-ethereum.</strong> It helps ensure a sustainable protocol by seeking opportunities for growth and partnerships that best fit the advantages of the protocol at hand, and in the case of Polkadot there are numerous advantages that can be leveraged. There is a clear cost-benefit advantage in selecting the right candidates to boost Polkadot&rsquo;s business development, adoption and growth that will far outweigh the costs not only to the treasury, but the whole community.</p>
<p>However, a common critique by the community is the lack of prioritization and execution of a proper BD strategy that brings attention and adoption to Polkadot and its ecosystem. This is not to downplay its BD success stories such as Mythical Games, Deloitte, and Vodafone, which have helped maintain the notoriety in the wider ecosystem. The <a href="https://futures.web3.foundation/">Web3 Foundation&rsquo;s Decentralized Futures</a> program is designed to bring a new wave of initiatives and success to the Polkadot ecosystem, but in order for it to succeed, we need proper outreach and headhunting to introduce and convince top-notch talent of the opportunities that Polkadot and the Web3 Foundation can provide. We at Missing Link have already begun to survey talent in this sector and have discovered that nearly no top-notch talent candidates are aware of this program, despite its obvious benefits and pioneering approach. Discussions with leading ecosystem agents and the Web3 Foundation have prompted this proposal as a crucial need for the ecosystem to take the next step in growth and exposure.</p>
<p>One issue with the Decentralized Futures program is that it has not gotten the attention beyond former employees of Parity and active ecosystem participants in the Polkadot community. The current applications hosted in the Polkadot Forum for the Decentralized Futures program reveals a clear trend that the vast majority of applicants are based in Central Europe and/or are former Parity employees. While this is expected due the decentralization plan set forth by the Web3 Foundation, it is not ideal for all verticals especially when dealing with Business Development and Product Growth.</p>
<h1 id="proposal">Proposal</h1>
<p>The purpose of this submission is to request funding for <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing Link</a> to source, screen, select, and successfully place 5 Business Development Executives with the Web3 Foundation's Decentralized Futures program.</p>
<p>Below are the steps and work that needs to take place for one such successful placement with the Decentralized Futures program:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Market Mapping:</strong> Here&rsquo;s where it all begins. We conduct market research on the most successful business development strategies and successes across all major Web3 ecosystems. Based on this intensive research, we prepare a structured mapping of companies, regions and talent pools that enable us to identify an all encompassing catalog of the best talent.</li>
<li><strong>Sourcing:</strong> Missing Link has over 7 years of experience finding the best candidates in and outside of web3. For the purposes of this proposal, we will use our team of over 15 professional recruiters to make contact with the best candidates in the field of business development for web3 protocols, whether or not they are actively seeking new employment. We have a proven track record of getting the eyes and ears of experienced, world-class talent coming from competitive industries and work environments and are prepared to meet the challenge for getting the interest of dozens of candidates for these roles.</li>
<li><strong>Screening and Selection:</strong> It&rsquo;s likely that we will find dozens of potentially qualifying individuals who appear to meet the requirements of a best-in-class BD professional on paper, but a proper screening process is required to ensure their qualifications hold up. This includes in-depth interviews as well as reference checks and other due diligence such as portfolio reviews and other &ldquo;proofs-of-work&rdquo; that allow the candidates to progress to the next level.</li>
<li><strong>Decentralized Futures Application:</strong> Once a candidate has made it through the sourcing and screening process, they will need to develop a clear proposal for the Web3 Foundation Decentralized Futures program that showcases their previous work, proven history of success, and knowledge and dedication to succeeding in the Polkadot ecosystem. The proposal will include its own success metrics, KPIs, and milestones to ensure delivery of a successful outcome in the area of business development in Polkadot. This should include clear strategies for enterprise adoption as well as cross-protocol adoption by entities such as Dapps, Layer-1s, Layer-2s, bridges and other protocols.</li>
<li><strong>Acceptance by Web3 Foundation or via Treasury Proposal:</strong> The BD candidates we have sourced, selected and presented to the community and Web3 Foundation will have their proposals diligently reviewed by the Web3 Foundation board of directors. Only once they have approved a candidate&rsquo;s application will we accept this as a successful placement of a decentralized business development executive in the Polkadot Ecosystem. Alternatively, the BD candidate will submit a treasury proposal for equivalent BD work for Polkadot that is accepted by token holders and, if successful, will then be counted as a successful placement.&nbsp;
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial;"><span style="font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In case that less than 5 candidates are placed, we will return the proportional amount of the grant.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>We are ready to identify and engage world-class talent that will finally give Polkadot the edge in BD it has been looking for. The process involves meticulous screening, in-depth interviews, and rigorous vetting to ensure candidates not only possess the necessary skills on paper but are also genuinely capable of contributing to the growth and success of Polkadot.</p>
<h1 id="milestonesandbudget">Milestones and Budget</h1>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Milestone</strong></td>
<td><strong>Funding Tranche</strong></td>
<td><strong>Number of Accepted Decentralized Futures Applications</strong></td>
<td><strong>Running Total</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1st and only</td>
<td>$365k USD</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>$365k USD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td><strong>$365k USD</strong></td>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td><strong>$365k USD</strong></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="amountrequested">Amount Requested</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>One tranche of 50,000 DOT</strong></li>
<li><strong>Equal to 365,000 USD</strong> per <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">7-Day SubScan EMA</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="approximatecalculationofcost">Approximate calculation of cost</h2>
<p><strong>To help fulfill the goal of Decentralized Futures by acquiring talent, we offer a full 360&deg; approach to increasing hiring and operational efficiency including a guaranteed placement at the cost of the minimum average placement fee.</strong> <span style="font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We understand that hiring is a challenging process. Our approach involves a dedicated research team that performs market mapping based on every project&rsquo;s unique requirements, including experience, location, and cultural fit. On top of that, we will only approach VP, SVP &amp; C-level candidates from ecosystems, applications, companies, or exchanges comparable in size to Polkadot. If the company is significantly bigger than Polkadot we would also consider director or head of level.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">While the task at-hand involving a decentralized funding program may appear radically different, the universals of good talent remain therefore we will use our proven process in this way. We leverage our extensive network, attend in-person events, and utilize various online channels such as Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Github, StackOverflow, Reddit, and Discord to identify potential candidates.</span></p>
<p>On average and referring to our historical numbers, we need to identify and reach out to around 400 candidates in order to find 5 who express interest in the opportunity. After pre-screening and vetting interested candidates in multiple 60-90 minute interviews, we plan on introducing approximately 20 candidates to Web3 Foundation and the community.</p>
<p>A very conservative average salary of manager-to-executive-level BD professional ranges from $300k-$800k/year, typical in the web3 industry, especially for big name protocols willing to prioritize business development. <a href="https://www.cjpi.com/insights/how-much-do-executive-search-firms-cost-vs-in-house-recruitment-risks/">The industry rate for talent headhunting firms is 25-35%</a>. Given the unique nature of this program and the decentralized treasury of Polkadot, we believe a fair cost would calculate rates based on the lowest ends of these spectrums, thereby giving us a cost of approximately 24% of a $300k/year salary, though the top-tier candidates we source likely may be asking for more. Using this very low rate and calculation, five candidates successfully placed would give us a figure of approximately $375,000 USD.</p>
<h2 id="exchangerate">Exchange Rate</h2>
<p>Exchange rate of USD:DOT is the 7-day EMA by <a href="https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/charts?type=price">Subscan</a> taken on the day of on-chain submission, and will be used to convert the amount requested above to DOT.</p>
<h2 id="payment">Payment</h2>
<p>The payment of $365k will be disbursed upon approval by the Polkadot community via the treasury.</p>
<h2 id="beneficiaryaddress">Beneficiary address:</h2>
<p>13zTcqasJT4DnDgNjmsceACcuSjt4q2geEjtMprnGXCnuuh1</p>
<h2 id="progressupdates">Progress updates</h2>
<p>We will regularly share our progress in the original Polkassembly post as comments. Polkadot community members are welcome to join these threads and inquire further information and reach out to us. Every successful placement in the scope of this proposal will be announced.</p>
<h1 id="aboutus">About Us</h1>
<p>Cim Topal, the proposer, is the CEO and co-founder of <a href="https://missing-link.io">Missing Link</a> and Heads.io, a leading web3 recruiting agency founded in Berlin in 2017. Our team comprises seasoned web3 and recruiting professionals with extensive experience in both web3 and web 2.0 industries.</p>
<p>Our impressive client roster includes renowned Polkadot ecosystem projects such as Web3 Foundation, Parity Technologies, ChainSafe Systems, Phala Network and Centrifuge, as well as other ecosystem projects through the Substrate Builders Program. Our close partnerships have resulted in high-level executive placements, such as CLO Daniel Schoenberger who testified in front of the US Congress last year. In addition, we've successfully placed numerous engineers, CFOs, CMOs, and other talented professionals across the Polkadot ecosystem.</p>
<p>For a comprehensive overview of our recent placements in the Polkadot Ecosystem, please refer to the table below:</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Company/Project</strong></td>
<td><strong>Position</strong></td>
<td><strong>Name</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Web3 Foundation</td>
<td>CLO</td>
<td>Daniel Sch&ouml;nberger</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Web3 Foundation</td>
<td>CFO</td>
<td>Thomas Fecker Boxler</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>VP Engineering</td>
<td>Pierre Aubert</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>VP People</td>
<td>S&ouml;ren Winter</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>Director Special Projects</td>
<td>Florian Jodl</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>Head of Polkadot Blockchain Academy</td>
<td>Pauline Cohen Vorms</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>Ecosystem Growth</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parity</td>
<td>2 Rust Engineers</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bit.Country</td>
<td>Rust Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aria Health</td>
<td>Rust Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ajuna Network</td>
<td>Senior Game Developer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Freelance (Polkadot Eco)</td>
<td>Rust Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Centrifuge</td>
<td>UX Designer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Centrifuge</td>
<td>6 Rust Engineers</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Centrifuge</td>
<td>CFO</td>
<td>Romina Bungert</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chainsafe</td>
<td>Rust Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chainsafe</td>
<td>Go Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chainsafe</td>
<td>LibP2P Networking Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grid Singularity</td>
<td>R&amp;D Engineer</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grid Singularity</td>
<td>DevOps</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Energy Web Foundation</td>
<td>Rust Engineer (Wasm)</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Energy Web Foundation</td>
<td>Technical Architect</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phala Network</td>
<td>Head of Marketing</td>
<td>--</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>Note: All individuals listed above have explicitly agreed to their name being shared here for this purpose.</em></p>
<h1 id="contact">Contact</h1>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cim-topal/">Cim Topal</a> - CEO and Co-Founder, Missing-Link.io</p>
<p><a href="mailto:hi@missing-link.io">hi@missing-link.io</a></p>
<h2 id="whoweare">Who we are</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cim-topal/">Cim Topal - CEO and Co-Founder</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-missing-link/">Michael Grohmann - COO and Co-Founder</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-fricke-265b9782/">Fabian Fricke - Managing Director</a></p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://missing-link.io">https://missing-link.io</a></p>
<h2 id="proofofwork">Proof of Work</h2>
<p>Coindesk - <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/09/07/former-libra-director-joins-polkadot-builder/">Former Libra Director Joins Polkadot Builder, Bertrand Perez is joining the Web3 Foundation</a></p>
<p>Bloomberg - <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-01/ex-diem-executive-joins-mina-blockchain-as-operating-chief#xj4y7vzkg">Ex-Diem Executive Joins Mina Blockchain as Operating Chief</a></p>
<p>Coin Republic - <a href="https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2022/07/05/creator-of-polkadot-parity-technologies-expanding-leadership-team-adding-executives/">Creator of Polkadot, Parity Technologies expanding leadership team, adding executives</a></p>

<h1 id="introduction">Introduction</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Jx1spXTv79X_cT2ABooj6mkGd5uAoNEHt4lGQ4UknM/edit#heading=h.v6is2ta0txr1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ THE FULL PROPOSAL HERE</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/KUP7k5GzuE4?si=XyD413ti_XrcdN9J&amp;t=4724" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Attempts At Governance - Interview</a></p>
<p>Talent Acquisition takes a significant amount of time, resources and mental capacity from teams that should rather spend their time building. The effects of a bad hire are long lasting and can add an additional burden to teams. We propose to solve this issue by guiding teams through a streamlined, optimized hiring process and multiple workshops to demonstrate best practices, fill the talent pipeline, provide access to our hiring platform and add up to 7 high-quality hires into the ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Funds from the treasury will cover the service of sourcing, interviewing, strategizing, and placing at least 7 talent positions in key Polkadot ecosystem teams.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What each participating team gets:</p>
<ul>
<li>Consulting and support on hiring best practices, setting up best-in-class job profiles, interview processes, professional outreach and improving long-term team building strategies.</li>
<li>Free access to TrufflePig, a web3 Application Tracking System</li>
<li>Growing the Polkadot talent base by funneling talent into the ecosystem</li>
<li>At least 1 hire using Missing Link&rsquo;s guidance and expertise</li>
</ul>
<p>Each team will benefit from:</p>
<ul>
<li>A success-oriented long-term hiring strategy</li>
<li>Generating less monetary and cultural waste by avoiding bad hires</li>
<li>Boosting their output with experienced talent</li>
<li>Saving time by utilizing Missing Link&rsquo;s highly personalized sourcing, screening and pre-interview process</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="apartofthepolkadotecosystem">A part of the Polkadot Ecosystem</h2>
<p>Our journey in the Web3 space has been enriched by years of collaboration and partnership with prominent players in the Polkadot ecosystem. As a trusted ally to organizations like Parity, Web3 Foundation, and others, we have placed top-tier talent in key positions, contributing to their groundbreaking achievements. Our engagement with these projects has granted us deep insights into the unique requirements and dynamics of the ecosystem. We have honed our expertise in identifying talent that complements the values and objectives of the Polkadot community, laying the foundation for future success.</p>
<h2 id="polkadotdecoded2023acatalystforcollaboration">Polkadot Decoded 2023: A Catalyst for Collaboration</h2>
<p>In June 2023, we had the privilege of attending Polkadot Decoded, an event that served as a melting pot of leading minds in Polkadot. There, we engaged in many conversations with dozens of forward-thinking teams seeking to elevate their projects to new heights. We understood that hiring is an ongoing pain point that needs a holistic solution. Our approach of guiding companies through a hiring process, thereby teaching them best-practices along the way received overwhelming interest and support. Many teams agree with us that it would solve a problem that could unlock future growth and ensure success of the ecosystem as a whole.</p>
<h2 id="buildingasustainablefuturewithtreasuryfunds">Building a Sustainable Future with Treasury Funds</h2>
<p>Our funding request of only <strong>1.6 Treasury Income Days Spent</strong> to the Polkadot treasury is an investment in the future of the ecosystem. While we seek support upfront to initiate our talent placement program, we understand the gravity of handling treasury funds with utmost responsibility and respect. Our well-established reputation in the industry speaks for itself, backed by a history of nurturing Web3 adoption since 2017.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 id="returnoninvestment">Return on Investment</h2>
<p>Each participating team would be set up for long-term hiring success, with an actionable pipeline of candidates and best practices implemented plus the commitment to at least one hire per project. The goal is that after our engagement the hiring speed and quality will be increased and there will be less of a need for external support and resources in the future.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>We strongly believe that the gains generated by this proposal will not only surpass but endure well beyond the immediate treasury expenditure.</strong></p>
<p>We are looking forward to hearing the community&rsquo;s feedback on our proposal and working with many more teams in the Polkadot ecosystem.</p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Jx1spXTv79X_cT2ABooj6mkGd5uAoNEHt4lGQ4UknM/edit#heading=h.v6is2ta0txr1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ THE FULL PROPOSAL HERE </a></p>

Our proposal is “Boosting Developer Adoption for Polkadot Ecosystem Projects” and we are sharing it before the official submission for community input and feedback.

We are Missing Link, an established brand in web3 recruiting in Europe, to provide these services. Missing Link has a track record of providing high-quality recruiting services to the blockchain industry, as you can see from the full proposal linked below.

As the Polkadot ecosystem continues to expand, it is critical that there are enough skilled developers to support the growth. **We propose to place a total of 15 Rust developers to different companies and projects within the Polkadot ecosystem through three milestones.** Companies who qualify and are in the Polkadot ecosystem can utilize the funds from this treasury proposal to receive recruitment services for Rust developers for their project.

In total, we are requesting three tranches of $120k USD for a total of $360k USD from the Polkadot treasury to fund this project, with each tranche being awarded before each milestone. We believe that this investment will have a significant impact on the Polkadot ecosystem, by ensuring that there are enough skilled developers to support the growth of the network.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal and we have incorporated the community’s feedback before submitting this proposal on-chain.

[Here is the link to the full proposal](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zON3bX38D1MXLjaIIdc0aioosxmbQ2IDlMSouM2TLHo) with all the relevant details, processes and qualifiers.