Round 7 - GMC Call for Grant Applications - Deadline is December 10

This thread is for applications for Rocket Pool’s November 11, 2023 - December 31, 2023 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 (link) 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 December 10, 2023 at 23:59 (11:59 PM) UTC will be considered. Any grants posted after that deadline will be carried over to the next grant period.

This is the expected schedule for round 7:

  • Application Period (November 11th - December 10th)
  • Application Discussion Meetings - one for each subcommittee (December 14th - December 18th)
  • Negotiation Period (December 19th - December 25th)
  • Scoring Deadline (December 26th)
  • Final Voting Amendments, Discussion and Finalization (November 27th - December 30th)
  • Award Announcement (December 31st)

Please note the following 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

The Grants rubric involves scoring each of the three categories from 1 to 5:

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

The maximum score is 15 and the minimum is 3.

Grants Application

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 Project

### 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?

## Benefits - 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? |

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

## Team

### 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?

## Payment and Verification

### 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?

### 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?

RocketPool Chat

The vast array of crucial information is currently scattered across multiple platforms such as Discord, Forum, Dune, YouTube, and official documentation. The objective for Rocket Pool, like any protocol, is to simplify access to this information in a manner that is both user-friendly and familiar. We propose that a chat interface is the ideal solution for this.

Given the anticipated surge of new Web2 users entering the crypto space in the coming years, adopting this proposal is a logical step. We believe that our chat could be a key factor in why individuals might choose Rocket Pool over its competitors. Our assessment is that the present Rocket Pool community, encompassing 10,000 RPL holders and 19,000 rETH holders, along with prospective newcomers, do not have a single point for starting out and accessing reliable information in a user-friendly manner.

Our proposal here is to create a basic version of the chat to evaluate its potential value for the community. This minimal version will serve as a test to gather feedback and gauge interest from users. If Rocket Pool finds this initial chat offering beneficial, we are open to engaging in discussions about more extensive future developments.

Expanding integration to include platforms like Discord, Forum, Medium, other cryptocurrency media channels, or market feeds managed by the RP community could enhance the amount of information available for interaction, thereby significantly improving the overall user experience.

What is the work being proposed?

Develop and maintain a chat for the Rocket Pool community.

We will exclusively utilize the selected data sources. We are confident that these can sufficiently showcase the added value of our product.

  • Official Rocket Pool Documentation: Static text sourced directly from the website.
  • Bi-weekly Updates: The latest news and developments about Rocket Pool, gathered from the community.
  • Market Feeds: Weekly updates concerning Rocket Pool. This is our proprietary solution designed to offer analytical insights into key performance metrics. This integrates blockchain data with artificial intelligence. We pledge to provide 5 market feeds, as exemplified in the link below. We are also open to sharing with the community all the queries and prompt engineering that go into the development of these feeds.
  • Snapshot: Real-time access to Rocket Pool Snapshot data. We have the capability to transform user queries into API calls, executed in real time to retrieve the latest data. This data is then processed through AI to translate the results into easily understandable, human-readable answers.

Take a look at a sneak peek of our proposed chat experience via the provided link here. We’ve also incorporated market feeds to give you a better sense of the information the chat can access, all of which have been crafted using AI.

This initial chat solution will be limited to OpenAI Pro users and will not include a dedicated user interface. Upon approval, the Rocket Pool community will be provided with a link to access the chat. We will ensure the chat is regularly updated with relevant information, as outlined in the maintenance section below.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

This chat consolidates various existing resources into a comprehensive knowledge base, which encompasses:

  • Official Rocket Pool documentation
  • Bi-weekly updates
  • Market feeds utilizing existing Dune dashboards
  • Integration with RP Snapshot

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?

The results of this project will be partially open source. The knowledge base will be released under the MIT License, contributing to the open-source community and allowing public use and modification. It includes:

  • A comprehensive knowledge base consolidated into a single document, incorporating Rocket Pool’s official documentation and bi-weekly updates.
  • Market feeds, along with the list of queries and prompts utilized for generating these feeds.

However, the rest will remain proprietary to protect our unique know-how and the specialized experience we’ve developed. This approach allows us to safeguard our intellectual property and maintain a competitive edge, while still contributing significantly to the open-source community with the other aspects of our project.

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

Group Benefits
Potential rETH holders A first-class onboarding experience.
rETH holders Improved transparency, easier access, and an enhanced user experience.
Potential NOs A first-class onboarding experience.
NOs Improved transparency, easier access, and an enhanced user experience.
Community A space for all members to learn and stay informed about Rocket Pool.
RPL holders Improved transparency, easier access, and an enhanced user experience.

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

The architecture utilized here can be adapted to multiple protocols to provide them with a similar experience.

Team

Who is doing the work?

Exponent

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

Exponent, a small team of 7 members, has been operational for several years, primarily focusing on developing products in the DeFi space. However, the events surrounding the USDC collapse this March prompted us to pivot our direction. Today Exponent integrates web3 and large language models to offer a superior chat experience to end users. Exponent is currently in the development phase of their main platform Companion, which is expected to launch in Q1/Q2 2024. Companion is designed to facilitate interaction with the cryptocurrency realm, offering both a chat interface and API functionality.

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

The link to this chat will be provided by January 31st, 2024.

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

We are continuously performing internal tests to ensure our quality standards are met.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

The chat’s knowledge base will be updated in the following manner:

  • Official Rocket Pool documentation: monthly
  • Bi-weekly community updates: bi-weekly
  • Market feeds: weekly
  • Snapshot: real-time data

Our strategy involves delivering updates for the next 3 months. This timeframe is chosen because our focus isn’t on creating a finalized product, but rather on showcasing our superior chat experience. We see this as a preliminary step, opening the door to future discussions around potential integrations, extending our market reach, and exploring additional prospects.

Payment and Verification

What is the acceptance criteria?

Receiving positive user feedback regarding their interaction with our chat.

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

We are seeking a payment of $7,000. An initial $3,500 will be paid upon delivery (Jan 31, 2024), with the remaining $3,500 due after a three-month period of testing and validation (April 30, 2024), or earlier if Rocket Pool wishes to continue enhancing the product.

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

While the quality of outputs from Large Language Models (LLMs) can be somewhat subjective, we plan to establish a benchmark by creating a set of frequently asked questions and providing manual answers to them. This will allow us to test various approaches and strive for the most optimal results.
The GMC will be given the opportunity to test our chat and personally assess the quality of its outputs.

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

We recognize that limiting our chat’s access to only OpenAI Pro subscribers restricts its availability, but this approach significantly reduces costs. We aim to avoid allocating all our resources to develop something for which existing solutions are available.
The purpose of this proposal is, upon completion and delivery of the chat, to gauge its perceived value and usefulness within the Rocket Pool community. We believe this focused approach is reasonable and fair. We have also selectively chosen specific data sources to streamline the workload for our engineering team and keep the project scope manageable.

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

Name of Project

Asian Market Staking User Education and Onboarding with HashQuark

What is the work being proposed?

HashQuark proposes to utilize its expertise in branding, marketing, and user education towards stakers to support RocketPool in the Asian market. The proposed work includes:

  • Branding: Developing a comprehensive branding strategy for RocketPool in the Asian market, including brand positioning and messaging tailored to the target audience. HashQuark will take the responsibility of educating professional investors and organizations in the Asia market to understand RocketPool’s tokenomics and design.
  • Marketing: Implementing targeted marketing campaigns to raise awareness of RocketPool among professional investors and financial organizations in Asia. This includes sponsoring events for panels and speeches, VIP client events, social media posts, and blog research articles. HashQuark will leverage HashKey‘s connections with renowned projects, professional investors, and strong partnerships with leading fintech companies, academic institutions, and industry associations to attract stakers to the liquid staking offered by RocketPool.
  • User Education: Creating educational materials and organizing workshops or webinars to educate potential stakeholders on the benefits and process of staking ETH for rETH through RocketPool. HashQuark will actively plan and conduct strategic marketing campaigns to increase understanding and adoption of RocketPool’s services.
  • Cooperation with HashKey Division: RocketPool could form more collaboration with HashKey ecosystem products. For example, to on-boarding professional investors as rETH holders, HashQuark would help to involve Xpert, a licensed custody platform, to act as custodian for rETH holds to fulfill the client’s compliance requirement.

Is there any related work this builds off of?

N/A

Will the results of this project be entirely open source? If not, which parts will not be, why, and under what license will they be published?

N/A

Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate

Group Benefits
Potential rETH holders Wider Range of Resources: The completion of the grant can result in the creation of educational materials and resources for individuals, especially professional investors, and organizations looking to stake ETH for rETH. These resources can provide clear instructions, guidelines, and support to help users understand the process, risks, and benefits of staking. This knowledge empowers users to make informed decisions and participate confidently in the staking ecosystem. Further, through potential collaboration with Xpert, the licensed custodian platform, the professional investor and organization are able to hold rETH tokens in a way that fulfills the compliance requirements.
rETH holders Growing Network and Liquidity: A successful grant completion can attract more users to the Rocket Pool platform, expanding the network of rETH holders. This increased network participation from professional investors and organizations can lead to greater liquidity for rETH, making it easier for users to enter or exit their staked positions. Improved liquidity enhances flexibility and accessibility for individuals looking to stake their ETH.
Potential NOs There is potentially less time to wait before the node is activated when starting a new minipool and, therefore, less opportunity cost of the ETH that is used to fund the minipool.
Community The successful completion of the grant will benefit the RocketPool community by enhancing branding, providing education, improving user experience, expanding the user base, and fostering community growth and engagement.
RPL holders The successful completion of the grant can benefit RPL token holders through increased adoption and demand, network security and stability, ecosystem expansion and partnerships, community growth and governance participation, and enhanced value proposition.

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

The branding, marketing campaigns, and educational initiatives targeted at the Asian market could benefit various participants in the region, including individual investors, institutional players, and blockchain startups. By promoting awareness and understanding of staking ETH for rETH through RocketPool, these participants may gain access to new opportunities and avenues for participation in the crypto ecosystem.

Team

Who is doing the work?

The proposed work will be carried out by HashQuark’s experienced team, consisting of professionals with a deep understanding of blockchain technology, marketing strategies, and user education. The team has successfully executed similar projects in the past and has a track record of delivering high-quality results.

HashQuark is a world-leading blockchain staking service provider. As a core member of Hashkey group, we support most mainstream public chains with native staking services and liquid staking services. HashQuark is committed to providing safe and reliable services for global blockchain users and developers to promote the development and application of blockchain technology.

HashKey Group is a licensed digital asset management and financial business group based in Asia. Our business covers a wide range of digital assets and blockchain ecosystems, providing innovative investment opportunities and technology solutions for large enterprise institutions, family offices, funds, and qualified investors. The HashKey Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and has operations in Singapore and Japan.

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

The team at HashQuark has a strong background in blockchain technology, marketing, and user education. They possess the necessary expertise and experience to successfully execute the proposed work. Here is an overview of their background and relevant experience:

  1. Blockchain Technology: The team members have deep knowledge and understanding of blockchain networks, including Ethereum and other blockchain protocols. As a core member of the HashKey group, HashQuark is a world-leading blockchain staking service provider. The team members support over 40 mainstream public chains with enterprise-grade staking services.
  2. Marketing: The team includes marketing professionals who have extensive experience in promoting blockchain projects and services. They have successfully executed marketing campaigns for various blockchain networks and have a comprehensive understanding of the Asian market dynamics, building upon a number of successes in the Asian market with the centerpiece of these events being the Hong Kong Web3 Festival.
  3. User Education: HashQuark has a dedicated team of experts in user education. They have developed educational materials, conducted workshops, and organized webinars to educate users about blockchain technology, staking, and related concepts. They have experience in simplifying complex processes and conveying information effectively to different target audiences.
  4. Past Projects: The team members at HashQuark have worked on similar projects in the past, collaborating with blockchain projects and organizations to drive adoption and awareness. For example, HashKey Group hosted the Web3 Festival in April every year and participated in a number of events actively in the Asian market. Hong Kong Web3 Festival is organized by Wanxiang Blockchain Lab and HashKey Group jointly. The Hong Kong Web3 Festival 2023 lasted for four days; the site area of nearly 9000 square meters, surrounding activities had more than 150 events, the offline cumulative number of participants of more than 50,000, more than 300 extremely influential speakers, and more than 100 popular projects participated.

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

Milestone 1: Development of RocketPool Branding Strategy and Campaign Plan in Asian Market

  • Deadline: Within 2 weeks of grant approval
  • Deliverables: Comprehensive branding strategy and campaign plans with at least 3 marketing events, including brand positioning, and messaging tailored to the Asian market.

Milestone 2: Creation of Educational Materials and Workshops/Webinars

  • Deadline: Within 4 weeks of grant approval
  • Deliverables: Development of educational materials, including guides, brochures, and presentation decks to educate potential stakeholders in the Asian market about staking ETH for rETH through RocketPool.

Milestone 3: Implementation of Targeted Marketing Campaigns

  • Deadline: Ongoing throughout 2024
  • Deliverables: Execution of targeted marketing campaigns to raise awareness and promote RocketPool in the Asian market. This includes off-line events, panels, speeches, social media posts, and blog research articles. The marketing campaigns will be strategically planned and executed to maximize reach and engagement.

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

  • Branding Strategy: The developed branding strategy and visual identity will be evaluated by assigned RocketPool member for alignment with RocketPool’s goals and the Asian market.

  • Educational Materials: The educational materials, including guides, brochures, and presentations deck, will undergo testing to ensure clarity, accuracy, and comprehensibility.

  • Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Key performance indicators (KPIs) will be established to measure the campaign’s reach, engagement, and conversion rates.

How will the work be maintained after delivery?

  • Ongoing Support:
    • HashQuark will allocate dedicated resources to provide ongoing support and assistance related to the implemented strategies and initiatives.
    • They will be available to address any questions, concerns, or issues that arise from RocketPool regarding the branding, marketing campaigns, educational materials, or the staking portal.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation:
    • HashQuark will continuously monitor and evaluate the performance and impact of the implemented initiatives.
    • Key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics will be tracked to assess the effectiveness of the branding, marketing campaigns, and educational efforts.
    • Regular reports will be provided to RocketPool to analyze the outcomes and identify areas for further improvement or optimization.
  • Collaboration and Collaboration with RocketPool:
    • HashQuark will maintain a close working relationship and collaborate with RocketPool to ensure that the delivered work remains aligned with their goals and objectives.
    • Regular meetings and communication channels will be established to facilitate ongoing collaboration, feedback exchange, and strategic discussions.

Payment and Verification

What is the acceptance criteria?

Milestone 1: Development of RocketPool Branding Strategy and Visual Identity - Acceptance Criteria:

  • The branding strategy aligns with RocketPool’s goals and values.
  • The messaging tailored to the Asian market effectively communicates the value proposition of RocketPool.

Milestone 2: Creation of Educational Materials and Workshops/Webinars - Acceptance Criteria:

  • The educational materials are accurate, well-structured, and tailored to the target audience in the Asian market.

Milestone 3: Implementation of Targeted Marketing Campaigns-Acceptance Criteria:

  • The targeted marketing campaigns reach the intended audience effectively in the Asian market.
  • Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as attendance, reach, engagement, and conversion rates meet or exceed predefined targets.
  • Feedback and data analysis indicate that the marketing efforts have positively impacted RocketPod’s visibility and brand recognition in the target market.

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

  • Milestone 1: Development of RocketPool Branding Strategy and Visual Identity
    • Payment: $2,000 USD (9% of the total grant amount)
    • Payment time: Upon successful completion and acceptance of Milestone 1 deliverables within 4 weeks of grant approval.
  • Milestone 2: Creation of Educational Materials and Workshops/Webinars
    • Payment: $5,000 USD (17% of the total grant amount)
    • Payment time: Upon successful completion and acceptance of Milestone 2 deliverables within 8 weeks of grant approval.
  • Milestone 3: Implementation of at least 3 Targeted Marketing Campaigns
    • Payment: $23,000 USD (74% of the total grant amount)
    • Payment time: Ongoing payments distributed throughout the grant period based on the progress and milestones achieved in the marketing campaigns.

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

  • Milestone Deliverables: The GMC will review the deliverables for each milestone as outlined in the grant proposal. They will assess whether the deliverables meet the specified requirements and align with the proposed cadence.
  • Documentation and Reports: The grant recipient may be required to submit regular progress reports, documentation, or updates on the project’s status. These reports can serve as evidence of work completed and help the GMC track progress against the proposed cadence.
  • Milestone Reviews: The GMC may conduct milestone reviews or checkpoints at specific intervals to evaluate the work completed up to that point. This can involve meetings, presentations, or demonstrations where the grant recipient showcases their progress and addresses any questions or concerns from the GMC.
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): The grant proposal may include defined KPIs or metrics to measure the project’s success and progress. The GMC can assess whether the actual results align with the proposed cadence by monitoring these KPIs and evaluating the achieved outcomes.
  • Communication and Collaboration: Regular communication between the grant recipient and the GMC is essential. This allows for continuous updates, discussions, and clarification of any questions or concerns regarding the project’s progress and adherence to the proposed cadence.

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

  • In-house Resources: Evaluating the existing resources and expertise within HashQuark and RocketPool to determine if any tasks or components of the project can be handled internally. This can help reduce external service costs.
  • Collaboration and Partnerships: Seeking collaborations or partnerships within HashKey Group and other organizations or projects in the industry that share similar goals or target audiences. This can help share costs, resources, and expertise, reducing the financial burden for both parties.
  • Resource Optimization: Carefully managing and optimizing resources such as time, personnel, and infrastructure to minimize wastage and maximize productivity. This can involve efficient resource allocation, avoiding unnecessary expenses, and leveraging existing assets effectively.
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis: Conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis for each aspect of the project to identify areas where costs can be reduced without significantly compromising the desired outcomes. This analysis can help prioritize cost-saving measures.

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 person proposing this grant has any conflicts of interest.

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?

According to the information provided, the recipient of the grant (HashQuark) and any other protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest, other than RocketPool, will not benefit financially if the grant is successful.

This message marks the closing of the seventh round of Rocket Pool grant award 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 December 31st. 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 .

@HashQuark
Unfortunately your application was 30 minutes past the submission deadline. The GMC would kindly ask you to resubmit your application within the round 8 threads which will be live shortly.

Thanks for your application @HashQuark.

We hope that you resubmit this application in Round 8 and also include answers to these questions below?

  • What examples do you have of your community following today?
  • What examples do you have of success working with other projects to do educational onboarding in Asia?
  • How many new node operators, rETH investors, and/or projects do you expect to bring to the community with this grant?
  • Have you seen the Bankless Academy Quest that was funded in Round 6? If not, can you please review and see how your grant can use measurable gamification and your grant reward to be given to new community members directly? (aka if your grant asks for RPL or LUSD, 50% of the reward goes to new community members who perform measurable tasks?

Thank you,

Hmmm… I don’t quite see how-to videos as evergreen. The web3 space moves quickly, so I would guess a shelf life of 3-6 months is about it before UX differences make people not trust it (correctly or incorrectly). But certainly has a longer life than time-specific items ofc.

We are a bit confused about the first question. Could you please better explain the first question “What examples do you have of your community following today?”

Thank you,