Grants Application
Project
What is the work being proposed?
The proposed work is to continue hosting bi-weekly twitter space calls of 1-2 hrs in length in which we regularly feature a business/marketing partner and also inform the community on major news topics with weigh-in from the core Rocket Pool team.
Is there any related work this builds off of?
-N/A-
Will the results of this project be entirely open source (MIT, GPL, Apache, CC BY license or similar)? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?
All Twitter spaces are re-uploaded on YouTube by @maverick.
Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate
How does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH?
Increases awareness of rETH and what users can do with it.
How does this help rETH holders?
Keeps holders up to date with the protocol and ecosystem so that they can make informed decisions. A majority of guest protocols are protocols that either allow or will allow the use of rETH within them.
How does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time?
Provides an avenue for users to engage with the team and informed speakers to ask questions as well as provides a regular space for interaction.
How does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node?
Keeps node operators informed on protocol updates as they pertain to the Smartnode and smart contracts.
How does this help the Rocket Pool community?
It is one of the largest and only regular forms of engagement between the community. Further, Twitter Spaces represent official forums to talk to the core developer team about the protocol.
How does this help RPL holders?
They can learn what RPL is used for and potential new DeFi developments.
What other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?
Many teams approach Nick for Twitter Spaces and gain value through our audience. These protocols in the ecosystem use us as a conduit for updates.
Will the resulting project be open source?
Yes
Team
Who is doing the work?
Myself
What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?
We have been doing these Twitter Spaces since Feb of 2022. Occasionally, one fills in when the other cannot host, but we’ve by and large been very consistent. For qualifications, I have worked on a majority of rETH’s DeFi integrations in some capacity and have become very familiar with the entire ecosystem stack. See my RA history for more.
What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?
I do 1 Space on alternating weeks, optionally covering for the other until such a time as it is no longer valuable. Sometimes Nick will have bonus calls and I will join if I have the availability and it can go above the regular cadence, however, this is rare.
How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?
How badly #trading dunks on us.
How will the work be maintained after delivery?
YouTube hosting on the official channel.
Payment and Verification
What is the acceptance criteria?
Hosting a well-prepared Twitter Space of approximately 1-2 hrs length that focuses on educating the community.
What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much RPL and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?
The average payment the RP core team gave me was 9 RPL every other week. During this time period, the value of RPL was, on average, $30 USD. As such, a quoted rate of $270 per Twitter Space is what I am requesting moving forward.
With an avg. length of 3 hrs including preparation per Twitter Space, this amounts to $90/hr. Relative to the very niche skill set of being intimately familiar with Rocket Pool’s DeFi ecosystem, I believe this is fair as consulting rates in the industry are quite high, regularly in the $200/hr range.
I would like to lock this in for 6 months and then review it at the end. As I am beginning medical school I may or may not be able to renew it at the end.
How will the GMC verify that the work deliveries match the proposed cadence?
Twitter Spaces are scheduled in advance and can be verified on the Discord events page.
What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?
It would be more expensive to hire someone professionally who has the requisite knowledge. Consulting rates would be even more expensive.
Conflict of Interest
Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if any member of the GMC would benefit directly financially from the grant).
No.
Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?
No.