Kernel: A Peer-Learning Environment

Public Good Projects Discussion
5

Hi Octant Community,

Kernel is happy to be re-engaging with Octant in Epoch 6 after being an initial participant in Epoch 1 and 2. Here is our LF Report sharing what has been happening in Kernel since Oct '23.

  • Total Funds Received from Octant so far: 6.911 ETH
  • Funds Spent: 0 ETH
  • Detailed Utilization: The Kernel Treasury is diversified from a variety of funding sources. The use of ETH from Epoch 0 was not immediately required, though it represented a meaningful addition to our treasury.

Milestones and Deliverables

  • Milestone 1:

    • Description: KB8 + KB9 Completed. KBX Launched!
    • Immediate Outcome: A total of 332 new Kernel Fellows joined us for KB8 & KB9, affiliated with organizations Optimism, Scroll, Safe, Bain, BoA, Yale, Google, NYU, and LSE. Beyond affiliations, it’s a really wonderful collection of humans – many who are finding their footing in the industry.
    • Funding Used: $299,491

  • Karma GAP: Kernel’s Karma GAP Page (to add Milestones).

Challenges

  • Previous Challenges: Challenges of note in Kernel include 1) recruiting great Kernel Fellows, 2) engaging deeply on Kernel projects (making a tangible, measurable impact on their stated goals) and 3) hosting a healthy amount (~50-75) learning events during a Kernel Block.

    • Description: Given a peer-to-peer learning environment is dependent on great cohort-mates, Kernel is dependent on a strong set of Kernel Fellows to improve the experience for all.

    • Going deep with each Kernel Fellow on their chosen project is the second challenge. We want to attract Fellows with clear ideas or goals they can implement, as their work will most benefit from the web of fellows around them.

    • Lastly, we want to host dialogues around topics of depth, learning together. The learning focuses mostly on crypto and in the broader web, but can relate to any discipline a Kernel Fellow is interested in exploring in depth. Whether the topic is cutting edge cryptography, L2s, artificial intelligence, finance, or mindful movement – Kernel wants to be a place where it is easy to “find the others” when you are trying to learn something in earnest. We write more about this here.

    • Updates: While these challenges remain ever-present, we have activated a referral network from the 2,200 past Kernel Fellows who are both helping us find KBX and, in special cases, being asked to re-engage in Kernel with their projects / as mentors to the current block. They are also being asked to host learning topics on their projects or practice areas within crypto and beyond.

    • Lessons Learned: 1) We expect to move closer to an ‘always on’ application process for Kernel, so great referrals / interest always has a place to go. 2) We will be tracking more closely how all projects in Kernel are progressing. 3) We are inviting high quality speakers to share their ongoing work, and by extension, sharing Kernel with their peers and networks.

At this moment, we have 64 applications to Kernel Block X. This is a low number for us. We, however, remain optimistic that we’ll come together with a great group, as always, starting January 31st. We also feel like the momentum for KB11 is just beginning. If you’re interested, consider applying to KBX here here.

Outputs and Outcomes

Outputs (Last Epoch):

  • Output 1: 332 new Kernel Fellows
  • Output 2: 80 Kernel Projects Participated In Expo (showcasing their work in a Kernel Block)
  • Output 3: Hosted two 9 week blocks of programming, including guests like Anjan Katta, Eva Beylin, Sam Williams, Aaron Lewis, and Lisa Tan.
  • Output 4: Announced Kernel Block X, our 10th block and newest iteration of Kernel, starting January 31st.

Short-term Outcomes:

  • Outcome 1: Another ~300+ Kernel Fellows join the program with ~80 projects,
  • Outcome 2: Another ~20+ Kernel affiliated projects are active across the spectrum of crypto, including a variety of public goods projects.

Long-term Outcomes:

  • Outcome 1: Kernel reached the 2,000 Fellow milestone. This network is one of the single strongest collections of people in crypto (and by extension, technology) on the internet today. Kernel Alumni are staying close to each other, and thereby strengthening our collective intelligence.

    Metrics for Outcomes:

    Innovation and Development: The only metric not listed above that we’d like to share is a total of 2,021 Convo’s have been posted on our events platform, Convo. You log into convo with Dynamic and can, by default, post a conversation you’d like to have in Kernel.

Plans for Potential Funds Raised in the Next Octant Allocation Window

  • Goal 1: Run Kernel Block X, with improved programming

    • Description: Kernel Block X is running January 31st to April 14th, inviting ~100 technologists from around the internet to engage with peer-to-peer and decentralized technologies as they see fit. KBX will be marked by an improved mentorship program, office hours, and overall support for the top stated goal of each Kernel Fellow.
    • Expected Outcome: 100 KBX Fellows with ~40 projects built towards a better web.
    • Funding Needed: $ 75,000

  • Goal 2*: Qualitative & Quantitative Metrics on Kernel Outputs

    • Track 1) activity, 2) engagement and 3) impact by KBX projects, and other Kernel Fellows who are active during KBX in three buckets: 1) Individual high-quality activity, 2) Kernel Project Progress, and 3) Learning topics shared and explored. Create a system to easily track across all categories (People, Projects, Conversations).

Other Funding

  • Grant Funding Received Since the Last Epoch: N/A, no grant funding received in 2024.

  • Other Non-Grant Funding Sources: User payments in 2024 totaled roughly $25,000, dues for Kernel Block 8 and 9.

Future Plans for Financial Sustainability

Our main sources of funding were from grants in 2022 - 2023. These were from Gitcoin, Filecoin, The Graph, Anoma, Octant, and Optimism – the last two via RetroPGF.

Short term, our goal is to keep our costs reasonable, continue to collect Kernel Dues, and apply for grants on an as-needed basis.

Our long term goal remains a Kernel Endowment - where projects who are successful and protocol tier sponsors who benefit from or value Kernel give back a % advisory share or donations to Kernel’s treasury. This allows Kernel to continue into perpetuity in a more sustainable fashion. The first two examples of this are currently in progress, and we hope to share more in the next epoch.