Cardano Catalyst - Proposal Checklist

Foundational Work

The selfdriven Foundation has spent five years developing a structured operating system for community self-actuation, built on decentralised identity, Cardano governance principles, and real-world impact design.

Core R&D includes:

• A framework for human–AI–organisation co-evolution
• Eight modular “selfdriven Network Interfaces” that allow any community to progressively self-govern and self-resource
• Research prjects across education, insurance, cooperative governance, and health.
• SSI-anchored proof-of-work for human contribution (Octomics) and community trust.
• Applied experience and teams across multiple countries.

This foundation ensures that the Cardano deployment of selfdriven is building on proven systems rather than speculative ideas.

Ecosystem Value Proposition

Cardano benefits by becoming the root-of-trust for communities organising themselves.

selfdriven brings:

• Everyday communities entering Web3 without needing crypto literacy.
• Verifiable Contribution → Tokenised Utility → Long-term Value.
• A pipeline for Cardano-native SSI, governance, reputation and on-chain services.
• Open frameworks communities can adopt today (not hypothetical).
• A path for Cardano to support governments, universities, not-for-profits and mutuals.

In short: Cardano becomes the chain people use to improve their lives, not just speculate.

Builder Credentials

The selfdriven team includes:

• Engineers & founders with active Cardano governance roles (MCC, dGov SIGs)
• Experienced system designers with real deployments in cooperatives, insurance, higher education, health and community development
• Teams integrating Lucid, Plutus, Midnight, and zk-proof architectures

Collectively: deep Cardano alignment + proven delivery history in real-world sectors.

Catalyst Standing

• Long-standing contributors across Cardano governance and ecosystem working groups.
• Previously funded Catalyst proposal delivered successfully.
• Active involvement in CC, and community leadership roles.
• Track record of build-share-document execution rather than “paper projects”

The team is known for over-delivery and ecosystem contribution, not extractive funding cycles.

Problem & Use Case

Communities everywhere want to organise, govern, and resource themselves — but lack trusted digital infrastructure.

Today the options are:

• Centralised platforms that extract data & value.
• Web3 tooling built for traders, not communities.
• Government systems that move too slowly.

Use Case: a community wants to run programs, support members, share resources, and reward contribution.

With selfdriven on Cardano they can:

1. Issue SSI credentials to establish trusted identity
2. Capture contribution & participation (Octomics)
3. Access on-chain governance & decision-making
4. Create pathways to shared resourcing (mutual funds / co-ops / nodes / projects)

One pattern unlocks dozens of verticals — education, cooperatives, sport, health, housing, mutual insurance, and more.

Tangible Prototype

Already running live components:

• selfdriven Network interfaces deployed in real organisations
• SSI credential flows for contributors and organisations
• Human interfaces (apps) built
• Pilot programs in BioHub, education, and mutualisation models
• Community charter + progressive governance templates

This Catalyst proposal enhances and connects these components to Cardano, not starts from scratch.

Technical Approach

1. SSI + Cardano
   • DID issuance (did:key + did:web → upgrade path to Identus)
   • Credential proofs streamed to Cardano
2. Contribution Proof Layer (Octomics)
   • Verifiable contribution events (KERI chains)
   • Gov metadata & service authorisation
3. On-chain Services
   • Payment flows for access to community services (Lucid + CIP-68)
   • DAO starter-kit patterns for community governance
4. Midnight / ZK optionality
   • Private proofs of contribution & credential validity

Design philosophy: progressively decentralised — start usable, then add cryptography and tokenomics when the community is ready.

Realistic Scope

10 month delivery with milestone-based releases:

• 1: Project Management Plan - 10%
• 2: Design & Build - 40%
• 3: Use / Test - Pilot - 30%
• 4: Document / Socialise / Publish - 20%

Risk-controlled, production-minded, user-first.

Community Engagement

• Monthly open community calls
• Build-with-us rather than build-for-you (co-design process)
• Documentation + open templates for replication
• Pilot programs with multiple communities
• Workshops and video walkthroughs for adoption
• Social & governance SIG alignment (Cardano in Oceania, education CoP, BioHub)

Outcome: dozens of communities prepared to grow inside Cardano, not just one.

Budget Compliance

• No inflated headcounts or speculative costs
• Budget tied strictly to milestones + deliverables
• Open-source outputs and public reporting
• Clear licensing ensuring Cardano retains ecosystem value
• Zero lock-in — everything is shareable as open-source.

The funding requested accelerates delivery already in motion and demonstrably lowers future grant dependence.