Enhancing Web3 Governance and Grant Decision-making

Executive Summary

This grant seeks to:

1. Propel Ethelo's integration with Gitcoin's Allo Protocol, elevating collective decision-making and participatory grantmaking capabilities.
2. Facilitating the release of the Ethelo platform for free to the public
3. Facilitating the transition of the Ethelo platform into an open-source software project

Ethelo, a pioneering figure in digital governance, seeks a Gitcoin Grant to seamlessly integrate its multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) functionality into the Gitcoin Allo Protocol and to facilitate Ethelo's platform release as open-source software, providing widespread access across the Web3 community and fostering greater participation in grantmaking and governance.

Gitcoin has used Ethelo for a number of previous grants rounds (GR13 to GR15), in particular for assessing collective eligibility assessments (cause rounds as well as ecosystem) in addition to appeals and disputes. Gitcoin also used Ethelo for a research project around metrics of participation for inclusion in the Passport system.

Read more about Ethelo’s history with Gitcoin!! (https://gov.gitcoin.co/search?q=ethelo)

An integration between Allo and Ethelo will provide the Gitcoin ecosystem by leveraging the objectivity and fairness of Ethelo’s unique group decision making technology at critical points in the granting process. In particular, Allo can benefit from using Ethelo for grant eligibility assessments as well as direct grantmaking.

Ethelo has been a fee-for-service technology to this point, but we will be releasing the technology for free in the early fall and this funding will support the open-sourcing of the platform, which will benefit Gitcoin, Allo and the Web3 community as a whole.

This grant will support making Ethelo’s group decision tools available for anyone that wants to make more meaningful group decisions. It will set the stage for a groundbreaking partnership that aligns with Gitcoin's mission and furthers Ethelo's legacy of empowering communities through advanced digital democracy solutions. Ultimately, this partnership will benefit the web3 governance space by offering a cutting-edge, versatile solution for various types of group decisions, including, budgeting, grantmaking, planning, design, elections, conflict resolution, impact evaluations, and eligibility assessments.

Company Overview

Ethelo is a battle-hardened company with a web3 vision for social change through digital democracy. We’ve been operating in the governance space for over a decade, working to onboard communities of all kinds into digital decision-making systems. The advance of web3 has opened a new era in digital governance, one where the vast experience of Ethelo and the accelerating power of web3 can come together to create transformational impact.

So, who are we and what do we do?

Ethelo helps simplify and gamify complex decision making processes. You can read case studies, interact with live demos and watch videos at our website! See (https://www.ethelo.com/case-studies)

Ethelo is globally recognized for its ability to empower communities to solve complex problems in a fair and democratic way. We were named “Best for the World” for governance by a B Corp in 2021 and 2022 and our decision-making engine has been used by over 400 organizations, including 150 cities to distribute $10B and engage over 250K stakeholders. Last month, the United Nations Development Program approved Ethelo as one of its recommended “Digital X” Solutions for developing countries around the world.

Link to video: (https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/225593470)

Over the past decade, Ethelo has been utilized by governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations and has gained increasing traction with DAOs. We have worked with various DAOs along with GitCoin, such as Big Green DAO.

Ethelo is currently undergoing an expansion of its leadership team, with Mathew Markman of Big Green DAO (http://dao.biggreen.org/) coming in as Ethelo’s new CEO. Markman brings with him a wealth of experience in traditional and web3 governance design. Along with being the Co-creator and Lead Operator of Big Green DAO, Markman is the DAO Facilitation Team Lead for Decentraland, the largest Metaverse on the Ethereum blockchain. Previously, Markman held positions as Director of Programs and Research for Proximity International, working on peace projects in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

Project Roadmap

Building on the foundation of Ethelo's existing web2 platform integration with web3 protocols, this grant marks a pivotal juncture. Ethelo's recent collaboration with Gitcoin, aiding in grantees' eligibility assessment, serves as a testament to the potential synergy. The engineering sprint aims to expand the accessibility of the grant eligibility feature, ensuring its integration into both Gitcoin-run and community-run granting rounds.

Allo Protocol Integration: Innovating the Future of Web3 Governance

As part of our forward-looking strategy, Ethelo is committed to embracing the Allo Protocol, a groundbreaking innovation from Gitcoin. Allo Protocol unlocks a diverse range of fund allocation mechanisms, enabling communities to tailor fund distribution strategies to their unique goals. Our partnership aims to synergize Ethelo's decision-making prowess with Allo's modular structure, empowering DAOs to implement sophisticated decision frameworks for grants, policies, and more. By integrating Ethelo's MCDM capabilities with Allo's flexible mechanisms, we envision a future where decentralized governance reaches new heights of efficiency and inclusivity.

Platform Accessibility: Empowering Wider Participation

Ethelo is dedicated to democratizing decision-making. To drive accessibility and participation, we're committed to releasing our platform for free to the public. This strategic move ensures that organizations, DAOs, and communities of all sizes can benefit from Ethelo's robust features. Our goal is to nurture a culture of shared resources and collaborative decision-making, reinforcing Gitcoin's ethos.

Open-Source Commitment: Cultivating a Collaborative Ecosystem

Looking ahead, Ethelo aspires to extend its impact by transitioning the platform into an open-source software project. This strategic step aligns with the principles of transparency, collaboration, and community-driven development. As an open-source project, Ethelo will invite contributions from a global community of developers, ensuring ongoing innovation, customization, and continuous improvement.

Request for Support

Ethelo's journey is intricately tied to its commitment to the collective betterment of the web3 landscape. We invite the Gitcoin community to be a cornerstone of this journey, fostering an environment where Ethelo's technology aligns seamlessly with values of empowerment, inclusivity, and positive impact. This grant proposal represents a crucial step in Ethelo's larger web3 roadmap, with far-reaching implications for decentralized governance, participatory grantmaking, and equitable decision-making.