Project Title: DeSpace Quadratic Fund

Abstract

To align the Decentralized Space Exploration Ecosystem for public goods funding, we propose the DeSpace Quadratic Funding Grants Round. This initiative aims to raise and distribute funds to support the DeSpace ecosystem.

DeSpace Examples:

• DAOs
• NFT collections
• Metaverses
• Blockchain Nodes

Background:

In the previous community-driven Decentralized Science Round on Gitcoin, there was significant demand for Hardware & Decentralized Space Exploration projects. This round also laid the groundwork for the DeSpace QF because of intense preparations that built on top of the success of DeSpace: Space Founder Circles in collaboration with ReFiDAO. With the current momentum in the Web3 market, the project aims to fund public goods related to Outer Space using Quadratic Funding.

Problem Statement:

Startups and research projects often face challenges in securing initial funding and public awareness. For Public Goods projects, such as Open Space/Lunar, funding challenges can hinder long-term independence and the acceleration of innovative space technologies.

Solution:

The rising popularity of DeSpace presents an opportunity to establish a platform that unifies the broader DeSpace ecosystem with aligned values as outlined in the DeSpace Manifesto. The DeSpace Quadratic Fund aims to achieve this.

What is Decentralized Space Exploration:

Decentralized Space Exploration is a sub-niche within web3 merging space exploration with decentralized systems. Instead of being dominated by major national space agencies or billionaires, this approach allows multiple entities or individuals to participate in space missions. Leveraging blockchain and community-driven initiatives, it promotes open-source technology, collective decision-making, and crowdfunding. This democratizes space activities, fostering inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation in Space by distributing control and participation across a broader community.

Public Good Definition:

A Public Good is non-excludable and non-rivalrous. In the context of the "DeSpace Quadratic Fund", it refers to projects that benefit the broader decentralized space exploration community.

Quadratic Funding Explanation:

Quadratic Funding (QF) is a democratic funding method for public goods. It prioritizes the number of contributors over the amount contributed, ensuring projects with broad community support receive appropriate funding.

Benefits of Quadratic Funding for Space Public Goods:

The first framework is proposed in the DeSpace QF Lightpaper. Using QF for space-related public goods ensures projects with wide community backing receive amplified funding. This approach captures the public's desires and needs, making it ideal for supporting space-related public goods projects.

Benefits:

• Attract relevant DeSpace project audiences.
• Raise awareness across the DeSpace ecosystem.
• Position as a hub for the DeSpace ecosystem.
• Provide initial funding and promotion for researchers and projects.
• Create a Proof of Concept for Public Goods funding in Space Science.

Risks:

• Insufficient initial funding.
• Funding the wrong projects.
• Potential for fraud and Sybil attacks.
• High Gas Fees.
• Challenges in KPI measurements & user onboarding.

Learnings from the Last Decentralized Science Round:

The team will leverage tools like Gitcoin’s Passport and Sybill Analysis Toolkit, switch to Optimism for low Gas Fees, and involve the B2B team for engagement.

Why this team?

We aligned leading DeSpace innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs from Space DAOs like MoonDAO, SpaceRoxDAO, Alpha Persei and SpaceDAO.AI to sit on one table, start this initiative and grow our ecosystem for the benefit of all!

We already committed advisors and supporters from Copernic Space, Lunargistics, Axiom Space and Astrocool offering special perks to grantees or donors besides the Space DAOs already involved and more to be announced soon.

Confirmed grantees are companies mentioned before, as well as, Orbuculum, MoonSociety, Lunco, Open Lunar Comms and many more to be confirmed soon.

Objectives and Key Results:

Objective #1: Conduct DeSpace QF Round on Gitcoin Grants Stack Key Results for Objective #1:

• Raise a minimum of $25k from sponsors.
• Draft Eligibility Criteria.
• Get at least 10 grantees on the platform.
• Facilitate the round.
• Plan and execute co-marketing.
• Build a DeSpace Cornerstone Fund for future Rounds

Metrics to measure success:

Matching Pool Fund size, number of grantees, number of donors, amount and number of donations, marketing engagement metrics, number of sponsors/advisors, cross-promotion activities by grantees.

Founding Stewards:

@ManuelOlariu Manuel Olariu is the founder of DeepVenture.io and with Copernic Space he is building a space asset marketplace leading Innovation and IP standards. He is responsible for MoonDAO B2B while he is supporting various Decentralized Science and Decentralized Space activities. He led the last community-driven #GitcoinBeta Decentralized Science Grants Round utilizing Gitcoin's Grants Stack where MoonDAO played a critical part as the main initial sponsor of the Round.

@Difint Rod Mamin is a systems engineer, with commercial experience building and sending robots to the Moon, Founder of LunCo.Space, Grantee on DeSci & Open Source Software Gitcoin’s GR15, Alpha Round, Beta Round and MoonDAOs Space Engineering Guild Initiator and Ex-Steward.

@PaulBurg_ Pavel Anisimov is an environmental scientist, with experience in public goods and decentralized communities. He is a Blockchain and space enthusiast and Founder of ReFi Phangan (GreenPill local chapter/ReFi DAO hub) and EcoSynthesisX

@Redotics Red Boumghar is CEO of Parametry.ai, building SpaceDAO.AI with ESA, and graduated from Creative Destruction Lab.

@Adamjboyle Adam Boyle is the founder of SpaceRoxDAO supporting public goods in Space and one of the Core members at Alpha Persei.

Multi-sig Signers: @IonRod, @ManuelOlariu, @PaulBurg, @Red, @Adam @Ballack oeth:0xde629289aBfDF973D3b845620Cf40F3c48c9627d

Estimated Project Timeline:

• Aug 3, 2023: Giveth page created.
• Aug 15, 2023: Min. 25k secured, first Round on Gitcoin announced.
• Aug 29, 2023: End of DeSpace Round.
• Sep 15, 2023: Sybill Analysis & Final results.
• Sep 30, 2023: Grantee Payouts.
• Nov 1, 2023 / Ongoing: Next DeSpace Round.