Round 16 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is September 7

ShfRyn · 8 August 2024 00:06

This thread is for applications for Rocket Pool’s August 7, 2024 - September 7, 2024 grants. Please only post grant applications in this thread. If you would like to discuss and/or ask questions about any applications you see in this thread, we ask that you do so in this separate forum thread which has been established for all community discussions related to this round of applications. Only those grant applications that are posted in this thread and timestamped by September 7, 2024 at 23:59 (11:59 PM) UTC will be considered. Any grants posted after that deadline will be carried over to the next award period.

This is the expected schedule for round 16:

Application Period (August 7 - September 7)
Scoring Deadline (September 24)
Final Voting Amendments, Discussion and Finalization (September 25 - September 28)
Award Announcement (September 29)

Differences Between Grants and Bounties

Grants are intended to be applied for by those who are wishing to carry out the work themselves. Bounties are open-ended goals that could be met by anyone, including those other than the proposing party. In other words, if I believed that Rocket Pool needed a fifty-foot paper mache orange rocket for publicity purposes and I wanted to be the one to built it, I would apply for a grant. If I instead thought Rocket Pool needed a fifty-foot paper mache orange rocket for publicity purposes but I wanted it to be open to whoever built it first to claim the reward (similar to a prize), then I’d apply for a bounty.

To guide you in your application, the GMC has established the following goals and the following scoring rubric:

GMC Goals

Grants, bounties, and retrospective awards should make it easier and/or more attractive to do one or more of the following:

become a node operator
operate a node, mint rETH
hold or use rETH
improve the quality of life for the protocol and its community.

Grants Rubric

When evaluating grant applications, the GMC takes into account the following goals:

If the application is successful, to what extent does it further the GMC goals?
To what extent can the application be feasibly carried out by the person(s) proposed to complete it?
If the application is successful, how large is the benefit to the protocol relative to the size of the proposed costs

Grant Application Template

Please copy paste the template below into a reply. Answer the questions there, feel free to remove or add sections based on relevance.

## Name of Grant

### What is the work being proposed?

### Is there any related work this builds off of?

### Will the results of this project be entirely open source ([MIT](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT), [GPL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html), [Apache](https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0), [CC BY](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) license or similar)? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

## Benefit

<please enter N/A where appropriate>

| Group | Benefits |

|---|---|

| Potential rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH? |

| rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders? |

| Potential NOs | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time? |

| NOs | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node? |

| Community | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community? |

| RPL holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders? |

### Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

## Work

### Who is doing the work?

### What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

### What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

### How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

### How will the work be maintained after delivery?

## Costs

### What is the acceptance criteria?

### What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

### Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

### How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

### What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

## 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).

### 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?

BlockworksResearch · 5 September 2024 17:56

Name of Grant

Blockworks Research <> Rocket Pool Saturn Upgrade Coverage

What is the work being proposed?

Blockworks Research will undergo a coverage campaign and release three short-form reports (named Flash Notes) covering the Rocket Pool Saturn Upgrade. These reports will reside in front of our paywall for public consumption. Blockworks Research will leverage its distribution channels (Twitter, LinkedIn, Newsletters, etc) to bring awareness to Rocketpool’s Saturn Upgrade.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

While there’s no directly related work, Blockworks Research has covered Rocketpool extensively in other pieces, and has distributed these across its subscriber base and public media. To date, we’ve had 3 pieces related to Rocketpool released:

Ethereum Liquid Staking: Cash Flow in Crypto
Rocketpool’s Atlas Upgrade
ETH Liquid Staking Derivatives Primer

We have also covered Lido in two different reports. Please see an example long-form report on Lido’s stETH below.

stETH: Ethereum’s Preeminent Institutional Grade Product

Finally, please see below for an example of Blockworks Research Flash Note.

Liquid Collective’s LsETH

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?

This project does not fall under the definition of open source because it is not a technical demand. This project will be for public use and unlocked (in front of Blockworks Research paywall) for visibility.

Benefit

| Group | Benefits |

|—|—|

| Potential rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to stake ETH for rETH? |

This helps users understand the implications of the coming Saturn upgrade while also providing marketing to make staking with Rocketpool an attractive opportunity.

| rETH holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help rETH holders? |

This helps users understand the implications of the coming Saturn upgrade while also providing marketing to make staking with Rocketpool an attractive opportunity.

| Potential NOs | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people looking to run a Rocket Pool node for the first time? |

These reports will aid Rocket Pool’s acquisition of new node operators. The reports will highlight the capabilities behind the RPL token alongside the node operator pipeline to ensure that all parties in the Rocket Pool protocol are represented accurately.

| NOs | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help people already running a Rocket Pool node? |

Successful completion of the grant will help existing node operators by providing insights into how the Saturn upgrade will affect node operations, and possible opportunities beyond. This includes possible optimizations and challenges for the node operators in the long term. The report will also highlight the responsibilities and roles of the Rocket Pool ecosystem.

| Community | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help the Rocket Pool community? |

This grant will help provide visibility to the Rocketpool DAO as the the RPL token is intrinsically tied to the health of the DAO.

| RPL holders | If the grant is successfully completed, how does this help RPL holders? |

The grant will aid in public understanding of Rocketpool and will help the protocol remain an attractive option in the highly competitive landscape of Ethereum liquid staking.

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

N/A

Work

Who is doing the work?

Blockworks Research is a team of expert analysts that delivers institutional-grade, data-driven research and analysis. Our coverage is widespread and includes L1s and L2s, DeFi, MEV, DePIN, infrastructure, and more. For this project, we will task our analysts to complete these reports for the benefit of Rocketpool.

What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

Blockworks Research has released around 240 reports covering all ecosystems, including Ethereum, Cosmos, Optimism, Arbitrum, Solana, Sui, Aptos, and many others. We also do application specific coverage, as seen with the linked Lido report.

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

The proposed milestones are the completion of each of the three reports, scheduled according to the Blockworks Research timeline. We propose the following timeline.

Flash Note #1: October or November Publication date, with the goal of inspiring new Node Operators

Flash Note #2: December or January Publication date, with the goal of driving demand for rETH.

Flash Note #3: February or March Publication date, doing a fundamental analysis of the RPL token valuation.

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

N/A

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

All sponsored work remains free for the public to read. Public reports also gain the marketing of the Blockworks platform, where we will upload threads on Twitter and posts on LinkedIn for said report.

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

Payment for this grant opportunity would be upfront prior to publishing. The policy for Blockworks Research traditionally has been to accept payment per contractual agreement prior to pursuing sponsored research. The acceptance criteria for grant completion is the publishing and marketing for all sponsored reports.

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

A one-time $45,000 upfront payment.

Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

We would like to request the $45,000 denominated in RPL.

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

The GMC will be able to verify delivery through our distribution channels, the Blockworks Research website, Blockworks Research Twitter, and the Blockworks LinkedIn.

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

N/A

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

Cyfrin · 6 September 2024 13:34

Name of Grant

Cyfrin Updraft <> Rocket Pool: Accelerate Growth of Rocket Pool’s Node Operator Community and Drive Protocol Adoption with Targeted Developer Education

What is the work being proposed?

This proposal seeks to establish a strategic collaboration between Rocket Pool and Cyfrin Updraft to feature Rocket Pool prominently in Updraft’s Node Infrastructure course and the Liquid Staking module of Updraft’s Core DeFi course. Through this collaboration, we aim to:

Conduct hands-on walkthroughs of Rocket Pool node setup and operation, generating a continuous pipeline of highly skilled node operators entering the Rocket Pool ecosystem, further contributing to the decentralization and growth of the Rocket Pool network.
Equip developers with the technical skills and deep understanding needed to Integrate Rocket Pool and rETH into their dApps and build innovative solutions on top of Rocket Pool, accelerating its adoption within the Web3 developer community.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

The Node Infrastructure and the Core DeFi courses will be newly developed from scratch. However, we’ve already created over 100 hours of video and written lessons, covering topics from basic blockchain fundamentals to advanced smart contract security.

Cyfrin Updraft, led by Patrick Collins, has collaborated with industry leaders like Chainlink, Arbitrum, zkSync, Alchemy, and many more to drive adoption among Web3 developers and users. To explore our work, you can sign up for Cyfrin Updraft or check out the revamped Solidity course we relaunched and posted on YouTube last month.

Our quality has been endorsed by prominent figures in the industry, with testimonials available on our homepage. You can also see public feedback in the YouTube comments on the example video mentioned above.

Will the results of this project be entirely open-source

Yes, all of the Cyfrin Updraft courses and educational content are publicly accessible and completely free for developers. We’ve successfully educated over 100,000 developers, with many transitioning into professional web3 roles or launching their own dApps.

Benefit

Group	Benefits
Potential rETH holders	Future rETH holders will benefit from heightened confidence in the security and reliability of the Rocket Pool network as a growing number of skilled node operators join the ecosystem. The expansion of platforms and dApps integrating rETH will further incentivize new users to adopt rETH, knowing they can leverage it across various use cases and benefit from its widespread acceptance. This strengthened ecosystem and enhanced security will make rETH a more attractive and valuable asset for future holders, driving more adoption.
rETH holders	As more dApps integrate rETH, current holders will see a broader range of use cases and platforms where rETH can be utilized. With an increasing number of skilled node operators joining the network, the ecosystem will become more robust and secure, enhancing the overall stability of the ecosystem for rETH holders.
Potential NOs	New entrants into the network will receive comprehensive training, making it easier for them to set up and manage their nodes effectively. This will help lower the barrier to entry and increase the number of qualified node operators, strengthening the network.
NOs	Existing operators will gain advanced skills and insights into optimizing their nodes, enhancing their operational efficiency, security, and performance. The courses will also provide them with updated knowledge on best practices and emerging trends.
Community	The overall health and growth of the Rocket Pool community will benefit from a more educated and engaged base of participants. As more developers and operators contribute to the ecosystem, it will lead to innovation, increased collaboration, and a stronger community.
RPL holders	As the Rocket Pool network expands and operates more efficiently with a larger and more skilled group of node operators, the value of RPL could rise. Increased demand for rETH and a stronger, more secure network can drive up the value of RPL, benefiting current holders.

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

The grant and collaboration between Rocket Pool and Cyfrin Updraft will benefit a wide range of Web3 protocols, DAOs, and projects, particularly those focused on decentralized staking, node infrastructure, and DeFi. Integrating Rocket Pool into Cyfrin Updraft’s Node Infrastructure and Core DeFi courses will not only drive Rocket Pool’s adoption and expand the node operator base but also empower developers to push the boundaries of decentralized finance.

Participants and protocols such as Ethereum validators, MEV relays, and similar liquid staking platforms will benefit from the increased expertise of developers and node operators. These participants will bring innovative solutions and optimizations to staking and node infrastructure, contributing to the security and decentralization of the broader network.

DeFi protocols will also benefit as developers gain hands-on knowledge of integrating Rocket Pool’s rETH into their projects, creating new use cases in lending, borrowing, and liquidity provision. Moreover, Updraft’s education will foster thought leadership and spark innovation across the Web3 ecosystem, encouraging developers to explore and implement new ideas. This impact will ripple across adjacent protocols and projects, enhancing the ecosystem’s overall resilience, security, and innovation potential.

Work

Our Commitment and Key Deliverables

Cyfrin Updraft will walk developers through a hands-on educational experience that prominently features Rocket Pool within its courses.

Our key deliverables and support throughout the collaboration include:

Core Educational Content and Modules

Node Infrastructure Course: Cyfrin Updraft will build the course which will equip developers with the essential tools and skills needed to set up, configure, and operate their own validator nodes. This comprehensive course covers everything from node setup and understanding Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) to securing, monitoring, and maintaining your infrastructure. Developers will gain the expertise required to successfully manage and optimize their node operations, ensuring robust, secure, and reliable performance. Throughout the course, and especially upon completion, we will emphasize the next step: becoming a node operator for Rocket Pool. We will actively promote Rocket Pool and guide our developers toward this immediate opportunity, helping to expand the network of Rocket Pool node operators and contributing to its growth.

Core DeFi Course: Cyfrin Updraft will develop comprehensive Liquid Staking modules and educational resources focused on Rocket Pool, equipping developers with in-depth knowledge of the protocol, including its deeper maths, codebase, features, capabilities, and advanced security mechanisms.

The detailed course outline will be coordinated with the Rocket Pool core team prior to launch to ensure it covers all necessary topics, equipping developers with the knowledge to leverage, develop, and safely interact with every aspect of the Rocket Pool ecosystem.

The contents will be shared with Cyfrin Updraft’s community, which includes hundreds of thousands of developers across platforms such as YouTube, the Cyfrin ecosystem, and our industry-leading smart contract development learning platform.

Educational Materials

Our comprehensive educational resources will include:

Video Content: Step-by-step walkthroughs of Rocket Pool’s contracts, maths, features, capabilities, and advanced security mechanisms.
Written Content: In-depth written materials aligned with video lessons.
Quizzes: Integrated into course modules, these optional quizzes let developers practice and reinforce their knowledge as they learn. They offer a low-pressure way to test understanding before moving on to more advanced topics.
Certifications: For those seeking formal recognition, certification exams are scheduled and monitored to ensure integrity. We implement tools to ensure a secure and credible exam environment.

Ongoing Content Updates and Maintenance

We recognize that the Web3 industry is dynamic, with protocols and client needs constantly evolving. To keep pace with these changes, Cyfrin Updraft is committed to providing ongoing updates and maintenance for the course materials. As Rocket Pool continues to evolve, our courses will be regularly updated to reflect the latest developments, ensuring that the content remains current, relevant, and aligned with the latest innovations in the protocol and ecosystem.

Developer Relations (DevRel) Support

As part of the collaboration, Cyfrin Updraft will provide Developer Relations (DevRel) support for Rocket Pool. This will include:

Feedback Management: We will actively manage feedback from developers and developers, addressing their questions, incorporating their input to improve the course experience, and sharing insights with Rocket Pool to further enhance the protocol and developer tooling.
Community Building: Our Developer Experience team will foster engagement with the developer community to ensure a continuous pipeline of new Rocket Pool node operators and widespread adoption of Rocket Pool and rETH, promoting technical education, ecosystem growth, security enhancement, and community involvement.
Community Engagement: Rocket Pool will be invited to participate in course discussion forums and community Q&A sessions with direct links to Rocket Pool’s own community engagement platforms.

Developer Ecosystem Growth

Cyfrin Updraft will contribute to growing Rocket Pool’s developer ecosystem by:

Encouraging developers to contribute to protocol enhancements, build dApps on Rocket Pool, and integrate Rocket Pool into their projects.
Promoting the immediate opportunity to become a node operator for Rocket Pool to our developers, helping to expand the network of Rocket Pool node operators, and contributing to its growth.
Promoting a deeper understanding of Rocket Pool’s security mechanisms, empowering developers and security researchers to contribute directly to protocol improvements or participate in future public audits.

Co-Marketing and Promotion

In addition to education, Rocket Pool will be included in our co-marketing efforts. These efforts include:

Displaying Rocket Pool’s logo prominently on Cyfrin Updraft’s educational site, showcasing Rocket Pool’s support for quality education and secure development.
Curating co-marketing campaigns for Rocket Pool’s Liquid Staking modules, including but not limited to pre-course launch, course launch, and post-launch campaigns. These efforts will attract new enrollments and keep current developers engaged.
Sharing Rocket Pool educational content and course promotion campaigns across Cyfrin Updraft’s marketing channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Discord, YouTube, LinkedIn, and the Updraft Newsletter.

Who is doing the work? What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

Who We Are:

Cyfrin Updraft is the leading Smart Contract development education platform, hosting over 80+ hours of step-by-step, project-based Smart Contract development and security courses. These are led by our CEO, Patrick Collins, and taught by the world’s top blockchain engineers and security researchers—all completely free for developers. We’ve successfully educated over 100,000 developers in secure Solidity Smart Contract development, with many transitioning into professional web3 roles or launching their own dApps.

Cyfrin Team:

Cyfrin is founded and operated by some of the most prominent figures in the Web3 space:

Patrick Collins: One of the top Solidity educators worldwide, with more than 6 million views on his courses and ~160,000 subscribers across platforms. Former Developer Advocate Lead for Chainlink Labs.
Alex Roan: A veteran Web3 developer who has contributed to core DeFi infrastructure such as Chainlink, GMX, and Compound, securing billions of dollars in value. Former Lead Engineer at Chainlink Labs.
Hans Friese: One of the world’s top auditors, founder, and lead engineer of Solodit—ranked the #1 auditor on Code4rena in July 2023 and a reputable judge in public competitive audits.
Vitto Rivabella: Formerly leading Developer Experience at Alchemy, the popular Web3 infrastructure provider, and Alchemy University, educating tens of thousands of Web3 developers.
Mark Scrine: Formerly the Strategic Lead for Proof of Reserve at Chainlink Labs, leading integrations with protocols such as Circle, TUSD, Matrixport, Avalanche Bridge, BackedFi, and Swell Network.
Mikhail Karan: Cyfrin’s Head of Engineering, formerly a Lead Developer at Solarians, where he designed systems for interacting with Solana.
Don Dodge: A tech veteran with a past at Google, Microsoft, Groove, Napster, AltaVista, and more. He’s a startup investor, advisor, and board member.
Tasuku Nakamura: an expert in Solidity and Vyper, is the creator of “Solidity by Example,” one of the most trusted Web3 resources that has taught thousands to build secure, scalable smart contracts.

What We Have Built:

We’ve developed over 100+ hours of video and written lessons, covering everything from basic blockchain fundamentals to advanced Smart Contract security. These courses guide users through every step of the web3 development process. Throughout our courses, we’ve been actively promoting various tech stacks, providing complete walkthroughs and links to partner ecosystems.

We have collaborated with industry leaders like Chainlink, Arbitrum, zkSync, Alchemy, and many more to drive adoption among Web3 developers and users. To explore our work, you can sign up for Cyfrin Updraft or check out the revamped Solidity course we relaunched and posted YouTube last month.

Why Our Developer Education is the Best in the Industry:

Loved by hundreds of thousands, Cyfrin Updraft courses, taught by Patrick Collins and the world’s top blockchain engineers and security researchers, have reached millions of developers worldwide. Our platform has onboarded thousands into the web3 industry, including some of today’s most prominent protocol developers and founders.

Our ecosystem attracts top Smart Contract engineers and protocols, making Updraft a highly valuable, targeted, and engaged community of developers.

Our quality has been endorsed by prominent figures in the industry, with testimonials available on our homepage. You can also see public feedback in the YouTube comments on the example video mentioned above.

We don’t just build educational content; we cultivate highly skilled and engaged developer communities that last.

We teach a range of technical languages, including Python, JavaScript, and Solidity, focusing on building and deploying on web3 following best practices. We can provide examples of our content for reference upon request; however, we are limited in the number of links we can include in this submission.

Sign up to Cyfrin Updraft to watch the recently released courses

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

Course launch timeline:

Core DeFi course: November 2024
Node Infrastructure course: March 2025

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

N/A

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

Please refer to the details outlined in “Our Commitment and Key Deliverables” section above. The following topics describe how the work is maintained after delivery:

Ongoing Content Updates and Maintenance
Developer Relations (DevRel) Support
Developer Ecosystem Growth
Co-Marketing and Promotion

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

We are requesting a grant of $200,000 to support the comprehensive efforts required for research, development, production, and ongoing developer activation support. This funding ensures that we can deliver high-quality educational content and maintain active engagement with the developer community throughout the year.

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

We request 40% of the total amount upfront ($80,000). After that, Rocket Pool has two payment options for the remaining 60%.

The first option is to pay the full 60% ($120,000) when the course is officially launched.
Alternatively, Rocket Pool can opt to break the remaining balance into monthly installments ($10,000) over 12 months, starting from the day the course is launched.

This flexibility ensures Rocket Pool can choose the payment structure that best suits its financial planning

Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

We would like to request the payment denominated in LUSD.

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

The GMC can verify our work once the courses are published. They will be hosted on the Cyfrin Updraft website and promoted through our marketing channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Discord, YouTube, LinkedIn, and the Updraft Newsletter.

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

N/A

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

Curia · 6 September 2024 15:00

Name of Grant

Rocket Pool Governance Analytics Dashboard

What is the work being proposed?

We propose building a Rocket Pool Governance Analytics Dashboard, a user-friendly tool designed to simplify understanding complex governance dynamics within Rocket Pool’s decentralized governance system. The dashboard will provide near real-time monitoring of governance activities, track delegate performance, and empower RPL token holders and node operators by offering transparent insights into governance participation. By delivering essential metrics and analytics, the platform will enhance transparency, accountability, and collaboration in Rocket Pool’s governance processes.

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?

This project is not classified as open source, as it primarily focuses on governance data analytics rather than fulfilling a technical requirement. However, the dashboard and monthly governance analytics report will be publicly accessible.

Benefit

Group	Benefits
Potential rETH holders	By improving the governance data accessibility, this tool may lead to better governance decisions, enhancing the overall experience and security for rETH holders.
rETH holders	rETH holders will benefit from a more transparent governance process, leading to improved decision-making on protocol updates and tokenomics, which directly affects their holdings.
Potential NOs	The tool will help potential node operators better understand governance and make informed decisions about participating in the Rocket Pool ecosystem.
NOs	For existing node operators, the dashboard will provide insights into governance proposals that may affect node operation, including rewards, penalties, and protocol updates.
Community	The Rocket Pool community as a whole will benefit from a governance tool that simplifies participation and ensures data-driven, transparent decision-making processes.
RPL holders	RPL holders will be able to track delegate performance and voting activity, making it easier for them to make informed decisions about delegating their tokens or participating in governance directly.

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

N/A

Work

Who is doing the work?

The work will be developed by the Curia Team. Our team has extensive experience building tools for DAO ecosystems and has previously contributed to governance and public goods funding in the space.

What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

Our team consists of blockchain developers, data analysts, and governance professionals with experience in building data-driven toolings forDAOs. We have actively served as delegates in multiple DAOs, deeply engaging in governance, data analysis, and operational activities. We have built governance data-driven tools for notable projects like the Optimism Collective and SafeDAO.

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

Milestone 1: Initial Design Mockups & Metrics (3 Weeks after grant approval)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Research & Ideation: Identify key metrics and gather community feedback.
Design & Mockups: Create initial design mockups focusing on user experience and presentation of key metrics. Share with the community for feedback.

Anticipated Outcomes:

A clear understanding of community needs and expectations.
Initial feedback on design and functionality to guide further development.

Milestone 2: Dashboard Development (11 Weeks after grant approval, 2 month period)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Development Phase: Develop an MVP featuring basic holder metrics and concentration of voting power metrics.
Integration of Additional Metrics: Based on community feedback, integrate detailed proposal and participation metrics for comprehensive insights.
Testing & Iteration: Conduct multiple rounds of testing for functionality, usability, and data accuracy. Make iterative improvements based on ongoing community feedback.
Launch the Dashboard to the Public.

Anticipated Outcomes:

A functional, user-friendly governance analytics dashboard.
Officially launch the dashboard, committing to daily updates and feature iterations based on community needs.

Milestone 3: Monthly Report 1 & Dashboard Maintenance (Month 3)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the first monthly governance analytics report.
Dashboard Maintenance: Perform regular updates and ongoing community feedback-driven improvements.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Monthly report providing insights into governance trends and metrics.
Regular updates and maintenance to ensure the dashboard remains relevant and valuable.

Milestone 4: Monthly Report 2 & Dashboard Maintenance (Month 4)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the second monthly governance analytics report.
Dashboard Maintenance: Continue regular updates and improvements.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Monthly report providing ongoing insights into governance trends and metrics.
Continued dashboard maintenance based on community feedback.

Milestone 5: Monthly Report 3 & Dashboard Maintenance (Month 5)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the third monthly governance analytics report.
Dashboard Maintenance: Ensure regular updates and performance improvements.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Monthly report offering further insights into governance trends and metrics.
Maintenance and updates to keep the dashboard functional and responsive to needs.

Milestone 6: Monthly Report 4 & Dashboard Maintenance (Month 6)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the fourth monthly governance analytics report.
Dashboard Maintenance: Continue regular updates and feature improvements.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Monthly report providing insights and updates on governance metrics.
Continued dashboard maintenance based on evolving needs.

Milestone 7: Monthly Report 5 & Dashboard Maintenance (Month 7)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the fifth monthly governance analytics report.
Dashboard Maintenance: Continue updates and improvements to ensure performance and data accuracy.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Monthly report offering updated governance insights.
Regular dashboard updates to reflect governance trends.

Milestone 8: Monthly Report 6 & Final Dashboard Maintenance (Month 8)
Tasks and Deliverables:

Monthly Reports: Produce and distribute the sixth monthly governance analytics report.
Final Dashboard Maintenance: Complete any final maintenance and ensure the dashboard is fully functional for future use.

Anticipated Outcomes:

Sixth and final monthly report providing comprehensive governance insights.
Final dashboard updates and optimizations for ongoing value to the community.

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

Yes, testing is included in the schedule. Testing will involve unit tests for the dashboard’s core functionalities, integration tests for Rocket Pool governance data, and user testing with Rocket Pool community members. Feedback from the community will be incorporated into the final version.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

After delivery, the dashboard will be maintained by our team for 6 months and we will also provide a monthly report on pDAO governance analytics.

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

The project will be considered successful if the dashboard is fully functional, provides key governance metrics (e.g., delegate performance, voting power, and proposal data), and passes user testing. The dashboard must be easy to use and integrate feedback from the Rocket Pool community.

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

We are requesting a total of $50,000 USD, to be distributed over the milestones as follows:

Milestone 1: $2,000 USD
Milestone 2: $12,000 USD
Milestone 3: $6,000 USD
Milestone 4: $6,000 USD
Milestone 5: $6,000 USD
Milestone 6: $6,000 USD
Milestone 7: $6,000 USD
Milestone 8: $6,000 USD

The payments will be made upon successful completion of each milestone, ensuring that work progresses according to the timeline and deliverables.

Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

We would like to request the $50,000 denominated in LUSD

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

We will provide progress reports tied to each milestone. These reports will include:

Public launch of the dashboard for the Rocket Pool community, ensuring that all work is completed according to the proposed schedule, and the dashboard is functional, user-friendly, and regularly updated based on evolving needs.
Milestone-based governance analytics reports detailing the insights, metrics, and governance changes throughout the period.

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

N/A

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose?

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.

SSJ2_Spartan · 7 September 2024 19:14

AlphaGrowth Proposal to GMC

Name of Grant

Rocket Pool Growth Program

What is the work being proposed?

Rocket Pool currently has scalability and growth challenges in scaling rETH. AlphaGrowth proposes a 3-month trial of a Rocket Pool Growth Program aimed at accelerating the adoption and awareness of Rocket Pool and rETH by onboarding new NO’s

Drawing from our previous experience of Business Development with validators, we’ve identified over 183 potential validator targets. Our approach will effectively communicate the value proposition of becoming a Rocket Pool NO, leading to significant protocol growth.

The program will focus on two key areas:

Business Development: Targeting and engaging potential NOs to expand Rocket Pool’s network.
Integrations: Collaborating with exchanges, wallets, chains, protocols, dApps, mobile apps, and institutions to broaden Rocket Pool’s reach and utility.

This trial will help determine the effectiveness of a dedicated growth program for the protocol, exploring various strategies to expand Rocket Pool’s reach and adoption. By the end of the trial, we aim to establish sustainable growth strategies that will propel Rocket Pool forward in the competitive staking landscape.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

This proposal builds upon AlphaGrowth’s proven expertise in driving ecosystem growth. Our team has successfully onboarded over 90 projects to the Kava ecosystem and contributed to a $300M increase in TVL for Compound Finance within the last quarter. We aim to apply these strategies to address the current slowdown in Rocket Pool’s Node Operator growth and rETH scalability. Our recent achievements are detailed in our latest quarterly report with Compound Protocol, which you can access here.

Will the results of this project be entirely open source?

The outcomes of this growth program will be fully transparent and accessible to the Rocket Pool community. All relevant information, including strategic insights, partnership details, and CRM analytical data, will be shared openly through the Discord server and governance forum. The project aims to enhance Rocket Pool’s outbound partnerships, complementing the protocol’s existing inbound collaborations. The results will be strategic and relational rather than code-based

Benefits

Group	Benefits
Potential rETH holders	Our Growth Program will directly contribute to scaling rETH. As rETH scales, it becomes more attractive for potential partnerships, creating a positive feedback loop that benefits all rETH holders.
rETH Holders	Successful completion of this grant will boost rETH liquidity and adoption, directly enhancing its utility and value for ETH stakers. This increased accessibility and demand for rETH will benefit existing holders by potentially improving market depth and stability
Potential NO	The Growth Program aims to expand the Rocket Pool network by attracting new NO’s, directly supporting Rocket Pool’s mission to enhance Ethereum’s decentralization. For first-time Node Operators, this program will provide valuable resources and incentives, making it easier and more appealing to join the network and contribute to its growth.
NO’s	Successful completion of this grant will indirectly benefit existing Rocket Pool node operators by addressing the rETH scalability issue and increasing demand for rETH. By onboarding more node operators and integrating rETH into structured products, we aim to create a more robust and liquid ecosystem, which in turn enhances the overall value proposition for all participants in the Rocket Pool network
Community	The Growth Program will significantly enhance Rocket Pool’s visibility, attracting new participants and fostering a more vibrant ecosystem. This increased engagement will strengthen the community, driving innovation and long-term sustainability for the protocol.
RPL Holders	Successful completion of this grant will enhance community engagement in the Rocket Pool ecosystem, potentially increasing RPL adoption and contributing to Ethereum’s decentralization efforts. As more community members become active participants, it’s likely to drive demand for RPL and strengthen the protocol’s position in the broader Ethereum landscape.

Which other non-RPL protocols, DAOs, projects, or individuals, would stand to benefit from this grant?

The benefits of this grant extend far beyond Rocket Pool, positively impacting the entire Ethereum ecosystem. By making ETH staking more accessible and decentralized, we’ll create value for:

Exchanges, wallets, and mobile apps: Integration of Rocket Pool will allow these platforms to offer easy staking options to their users, enhancing their product offerings.
Institutional investors: As the demand for yield-bearing ETH ETP’s grows, Rocket Pool can position itself as the premier solution for institutions looking to stake idle ETH.
The broader Ethereum community: Increased participation in staking through Rocket Pool will strengthen Ethereum’s security and decentralization, benefiting all projects and DAOs built on the network.
Individual ETH holders: By simplifying the staking process through mobile wallet integration we’ll empower more individuals to participate in network security and earn rewards on their idle ETH.

This grant will catalyze Rocket Pool’s growth, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Ethereum’s staking infrastructure and fostering a more robust, decentralized ecosystem for all.

Work

Who is doing the work?

AlphaGrowth is a team of crypto professionals with a proven track record in protocol and ecosystem growth. AlphaGrowth will be a dedicated team that will work as Business Developers for the Rocket Pool protocol. This will also help decentralize the Rocket Pool protocol by spreading the workload.

What is the background of the person(s) doing the work? What experience do they have with such projects in the past?

Operating since 2018 AlphaGrowth has half a decade experience in DeFi crypto business development. We’ve successfully driven expansion for projects like Kava, Sommelier Finance, and now Compound Finance.

Person(s)	Position	Background
Bryan Colligan	Founder, Alphagrowth	Over 10 years in the crypto industry, previously provided millions of leads and prospects to Silicon Valley saas startups and a 4 year tour of duty in investment banking Bryan has the background to lead the strategy of this task.
Joe Bjornsen	Co-founder, AlphaGrowth	Crypto native Business Development and DeFi Operations strategist with a focus on driving growth through innovative liquidity solutions and strategic partnerships. Creating value through token utility, scaling governance, and fostering relationships within DAOs.
Jonthony Aybar	Partnerships & Defi Lead	Dedicated advocate for decentralization, actively participating in various blockchain projects within the Ethereum ecosystem. My experience in collaborative development and community-driven initiatives fuels my commitment to contributing to its growth and sustainability.
Ross Gates	Operations Lead	Head of Operations Compound Protocol, previously head of Growth for NEAR protocol
Patrick Hugins	Strategic Initiatives lead	Patrick brings 14 years experience as a startup operator and executive. He is the founder of Delegate.team.
Jose Alfonso Manrique	APAC Defi Lead	10 years BD experience in Web2 CRM & loyalty programs leading teams and closing 1,000+ brick and mortar retailers & FMCGs resulting in 2M+ user base. Strong BD relationships with dozens of protocols, chains, and market-makers in the EVM landscape.
Shardul Pilley	Compound Growth Program Manager	Grants and Operations Guru, Shardul knows how to navigate ecosystems, forums and communities to accomplish whatever challenge is needed.

What is the breakdown of the proposed work, in terms of milestones and/or deadlines?

Prospect Development

Generate pipeline list on potential partners and integrations
Arrange strategic meetings with key stakeholders, i.e. Kraken wallet, Robinhood

Marketing and Partnerships

Collaborate with Maverick on targeted marketing events
Explore and facilitate restaking integrations for rETH with platforms like Mellow Finance and Karak

DeFi Ecosystem Expansion

Deliver comprehensive rETH ecosystem analysis
Identify and pursue high-impact DeFi protocol integrations as referenced above

TVL Growth Strategy

Develop and test strategies to increase rETH deposits
Implement initiatives to boost overall TVL

Institutional Outreach

Engage with large capital holders to understand their ETH LST requirements
Propose actionable steps to the Rocket Pool community for attracting institutional investors
Each milestone will be accompanied by detailed progress reports and measurable outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the grant period.
Institutional Capital: Work with large capital holders to identify their requirements in an ETH LST. Suggest actionable items to Rocket Pool community on helping migrate these large capital holders from competitors to Rocket Pool

How is the work being tested? Is testing included in the schedule?

The program’s effectiveness will be evaluated through regular updates to the GMC and Rocket Pool community. AlphaGrowth will provide CRM analysis on outreach, meetings, and partnerships. We’ll track key metrics including:

Number of active Node Operators
rETH Total Value Locked (TVL)
RPL distribution in newly active wallets

These quantifiable indicators will demonstrate the program’s impact on Rocket Pool’s growth and adoption. Our team will conduct monthly ongoing testing and refinement of outreach strategies based on these metrics, ensuring the program’s continued success and alignment with Rocket Pool’s goals.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

Following successful implementation and community endorsement, we plan to propose a one-year extension to the pDAO for review and approval. This approach ensures ongoing support and development of the project, aligning with Rocket Pool’s long-term goals.

Costs

What is the acceptance criteria?

AlphaGrowth will receive monthly payments starting on its operational launch date. Subsequent disbursements will follow on the first of each month thereafter.

What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much USD $ and over what period of time is the applicant requesting?

The project requests a total of $80,000 USD, to be disbursed in three equal installments over a 3-month period.

Is the applicant requesting RPL or LUSD?

AlphaGrowth is committed to Rocket Pool’s success and aims to demonstrate our dedication by requesting an equal split of RPL and LUSD for the grant payment. This approach aligns our interests with the protocol’s growth while ensuring operational flexibility.

How will the GMC verify that the work delivered matches the proposed cadence?

The GMC and Rocket Pool community can track progress through multiple channels:

Bi-weekly community calls on Discord
Regular CRM analysis data updates
Comprehensive quarterly reports

This approach ensures transparency and allows for continuous assessment of project milestones. We welcome feedback and are committed to open communication throughout the grant period.

What alternatives or options have been considered in order to save costs for the proposed project?

To address Rocket Pool’s current growth plateau, we’ve identified two key areas for improvement: business development execution and node operator acquisition. Our proposal aims to revitalize growth by implementing industry-leading DeFi operations and enhancing our business development strategies. This approach will not only address the immediate need for more node operators but also set the foundation for sustainable long-term expansion.

Conflict of Interest

Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose?

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

ShfRyn · 8 September 2024 13:44

Notice: This message marks the closing of the sixteenth (16) round of Rocket Pool grant applications. Any applications submitted after this will not be considered for this round. The GMC will announce the award recipients in a new thread here on the forums around September 29th. The community will then have two weeks to issue any challenges before funds are disbursed. Thank you to all who applied and thank you to everyone who has followed along. Anyone who would like to comment on existing applications is encouraged to do so in this thread