Dream DAO: Generation Accelerator

Public Good Projects Discussion
1

Project Name:

Dream DAO

Describe your project and why you classify it as a Public Good:

Dream DAO is an innovative DAO founded in late 2021 to train Gen Z to use web3 for good. Powered by Civics Unplugged, Dream DAO operates as an international, youth-led organization that empowers young people to harness the potential of web3 technologies for social impact. We focus on three primary areas to achieve this: education, internships, and gatherings.

  • Educational Resources (Bootcamp): The bootcamp, learning materials, and knowledge-sharing sessions we offer are public goods. They are non-rivalrous because one person’s use of the material doesn’t diminish its availability to others, and non-excludable because we aim to make these resources accessible to all members and the broader community interested in youth empowerment and web3.
  • Community Support & Mentorship: The mentorship and community support structures we have in place are also public goods. These are available to everyone within the DAO, focusing on collaboration and growth without restricting access.
  • Generation Accelerator (gen/acc): The gen/acc project that we are working on and for which we are seeking funding is itself a public good. It creates a structured environment for young innovators to bring their ideas to life. By supporting these projects through mentorship, resources, and funding opportunities, we are cultivating a culture of building and innovation that benefits participants and society as a whole. The outcomes and learnings from these projects will be shared openly, ensuring that the benefits extend beyond individual participants to the entire ecosystem.

Our ultimate goal is to create a future where communities worldwide benefit from capable builders who use their web3 skills to regenerate their environments and address global challenges. By 2030, Dream DAO aims to have directly supported thousands of Gen Z builders in leveraging web3 to accelerate the flourishing of their communities and the world. We classify Dream DAO as a Public Good because it focuses on creating long-term societal benefits by equipping the youth with the skills and resources needed to solve pressing issues through decentralized and inclusive innovation.

Share your project roadmap:

We are working on a Generation Accelerator (gen/acc) project, which seeks to empower and inspire the next generation of builders and innovators by providing the resources, mentorship, and support necessary to transform their dreams into reality. The funding we are requesting is to launch a pilot for this project.

  • Objective: To launch a pilot version of the Generation Accelerator (gen/acc) program, focusing on enabling a culture of building among youth. This pilot will be an offline initiative, limited to 15 participants, to closely assess and refine the program.
  • Project Description: gen/acc aims to nurture young innovators by connecting curiosity with opportunities and support. The pilot project will provide a structured environment for 15 university students to engage in impactful building projects, with a focus on technological fluency and societal understanding.
  • Roadmap:
    • Phase 1: Pilot Launch (gen/acc 0.5) - Initiating with a small group of 10-15 participants to refine our process and gather initial feedback.
    • Phase 2: Expansion - Based on the pilot’s success, scale the program to include more participants across different regions, focusing on youth in underrepresented areas and this time, it will be remote.
    • Phase 3: Global Integration - Establish partnerships with other DAOs and educational institutions globally to broaden our impact.
    • Phase 4: Long-term Sustainability - Develop self-sustaining models through community-driven contributions and decentralized governance, ensuring the longevity of the project.

What milestones have you achieved?

  • The DAO has built a community of over 109 builders across 18+ countries, with hotspots in the USA, India, and Mexico.
  • The DAO offers curated “Learning Together” sessions led by web3 leaders, which are part of the core educational strategy.
  • Builders have been provided with hands-on experiences through DAO governance, working groups, bounties, internships, and attending major web3 conferences.
  • Dream DAO has received support from organizations like the Ethereum Foundation, NEAR, Celo, and Coinbase, facilitating learning resources, bounties, and sponsorships for builders to attend IRL (real life) conferences and hackathons.
  • The DAO has been able to pay Gen-Z builders for their contributions, ensuring ongoing support for DAO operations.
  • Dream DAO builders have won awards, including ‘Best Public Goods’ by Polygon and ‘Best UX and User Onboarding’ at ETH Mexico.
  • Builders have been involved in various web3 ecosystems and conferences such as Devcon VI, NFT NYC, and WEB3 Conference GOA.

Please give a detailed budget breakdown showing how the funds will be used, including specific milestones and deliverables.

  • Total Funding Requested: $3,000
  1. Participant Resources and Materials: $1,500
  • Participant Compensation: $1,500
    • Details:
      • Number of Participants: 15
      • Compensation per Participant: $100
      • Purpose: This fund compensates participants for their time, effort, and active engagement in the pilot program. It ensures that participants are valued and incentivized to contribute effectively to the activities and discussions during the building day.
  1. Coordination and Operational Costs: $1,000
  • Coordinator Compensation: $800
    • Details: This will be used to compensate the project coordinators, who will oversee the planning, logistics, execution, and follow-up of the event.
  • Administrative Costs: $200
    • Details:
      • Communication Costs: $100
        • Purpose: Covers the cost of communication tools and platforms used to coordinate with participants and other stakeholders before, during, and after the event. This includes phone calls, emails, and any digital tools required for seamless communication.
      • Transportation: $50
        • Purpose: Provide transportation allowances for coordinators to travel to and from the co-working space, ensuring they are present to set up and oversee the event.
      • Miscellaneous Operational Expenses: $50
        • Purpose: This fund is reserved for any unforeseen operational expenses that may arise, such as last-minute purchases, printing costs, or other small logistical needs.
  1. Full-Day Building Session at Co-Working Space: $500
  • Space Rental: $300
    • Details:
      • Location: Co-working space equipped with necessary amenities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, comfortable seating, and workstations.
      • Duration: Full day (8-10 hours)
      • Purpose: Provide a conducive collaboration, innovation, and productivity environment during the building session. The space rental ensures all participants have a professional setting to work in, enhancing the quality of the outcomes.
  • Refreshments: $150
    • Details:
      • Meals Provided: Light lunch, snacks, and beverages throughout the day.
      • Purpose: Ensures participants remain energized and focused by providing them with nutritious and convenient meal options. This helps maintain a high level of engagement and productivity during the session.
  • Miscellaneous Supplies: $50
    • Details:
      • Items Included: Flip charts, markers, sticky notes, pens, and other stationery or materials needed for brainstorming sessions and collaborative work.
      • Purpose: Provide participants with the tools and materials needed to contribute to the building session effectively. These supplies are essential for capturing ideas, organizing thoughts, and facilitating group activities.

Funding Goal, Budget, and Justification:

Our funding goal for the pilot program is $3,000. This budget is crucial for covering the resources, mentorship, and operational costs needed to execute the gen/acc pilot project successfully. Securing this funding will allow us to establish a strong foundation for future phases of the initiative, ensuring that our program can have a lasting and meaningful impact on the youth we aim to empower.

Tell us more about your team:

Our team comprises experienced Gen Z leaders in the web3 space, educators, and young innovators passionate about creating a positive impact. We have a diverse team with decentralized governance, community building, and educational development expertise. Our core team members include:

  • Adarsh: Founding Member and Co-Steward for season 5. He has been involved with various web3 organizations like WaterDAO (or WaterLAB), BASIN, etc. He has successfully managed public relations and represented Dream DAO at significant events like Web3Conf India and the GreenPill Festival. Adarsh has been instrumental in contributing to the growth and impact of Dream DAO in the web3 and social impact space.
  • Joshua: Founding member of Dream DAO and Co-Steward for season 5. He played a crucial role in designing the DAO’s processes and systems, managing people operations, and overseeing budget management. Santiago also led the Governance Working Group, enhancing the DAO’s governance and operational efficiency, which has been vital to the success and growth of Dream DAO in the web3 and social impact space.

Social Credibility:

We have received endorsements from recognized figures in the Ethereum and web3 community.

Why’s your project important?

Dream DAO and its “generation accelerator” initiative address the critical need for youth empowerment and innovation in developing regions. By providing the tools, resources, and support necessary to harness web3 technologies, we are enabling the next generation to contribute to solving global challenges. This project is essential for fostering creativity, technological fluency, and societal understanding among youth, leading to long-term benefits for society as a whole.

Social Media and Contact Information:

Anything else you’d like us to know?

As this funding is for a pilot project for Generation Accelerator, please read this to understand the logic and philosophy behind Generation Accelerator; this will help you understand better what we are doing: Generation Accelerator Pilot Program

How do you define impact for your project? What metrics are you tracking?

For the Generation Accelerator (gen/acc) Pilot Project, we define impact as the tangible progress and positive outcomes achieved by participants as they engage in building innovative projects. The focus is on fostering creativity, enhancing skills, and supporting the development of impactful ideas within a limited timeframe.

Metrics We Are Tracking:

  • Participant Engagement:
    • Daily Update Compliance: Tracking the number of participants who consistently submit daily updates on their project progress.
    • Participation Rate: The percentage of participants actively engaging in all required activities throughout the pilot project.
  • Project Development:
    • Project Completion Rate: The number of projects completed during the pilot out of the total projects started.
    • Project Quality: An assessment of the final outcomes of each project, including innovation, feasibility, and potential impact, based on predefined criteria.
  • Skill and Knowledge Enhancement:
    • Skill Acquisition: Measurement of new skills gained by participants, assessed through pre- and post-pilot surveys.
    • Mentor Feedback: Evaluation from mentors on the growth and learning progress of participants during the pilot.
  • Resource Utilization:
    • Budget Efficiency: Analysis of how effectively the allocated budget is used to support participant activities and project development.
    • Material Usage: Tracking the use of provided resources and materials to assess their effectiveness in supporting project completion.
  • Community and Networking:
    • Collaboration Frequency: The number of collaborative efforts between participants during the pilot.
    • New Connections: The number of new professional or peer connections participants establish during the pilot.

Short-Term Impact:

  • Pilot Success Stories: Documentation of successful projects or significant milestones achieved by participants during the pilot.
  • Immediate Application: Instances where participants apply the skills or knowledge gained from the pilot to real-world scenarios.