Thank you @jengajojo for your questions and feedback. Below is our response on each line item that addresses each question and statement:
We see significant strategic value coming from developing Arbitrum as a resource for builders not only from a technical and developer community perspective but also from a fundraising and founder support perspective.
Additionally, Outlier Ventures has the longest proven track record out of our working group with 300+ investments and a 12x avg ROI per investment of which Arbitrum will have exposure to. These are the kinds of metrics we aim to achieve.
We’ve also attempted to cover some specific metrics we’ll aim to hit here:
- 1600+ applications collectively
- 30+ startups building with Arbitrum by end of 2024
- 100+ startups building with Arbitrum by end of 2025
- 10+ Orbit chain deployments by end of 2025
- Participating projects from at least 20+ countries
We are also very aligned with enabling financial returns to Arbitrum following the decisions around GCP and AVI, so we can plug into the proper legal structures once that matures. Specifically, having a conversation around how grants given to teams could be convertible into equity, allowing the DAO to own a stake in these ventures. This way we can move fast to sustain Arbitrum’s leadership in the industry, while also developing a robust setup for long-term sustainability.
Yes, we have taken note of past accelerator programs that are chain/network specific, and we believe it’s an important time for teams to focus on growth to maintain a competitive edge in the ecosystem. As long as there are clear milestones and funding shut-off valves, the more programs that are funded and tested, the more we will find what is most effective (refine what needs improvement), and collaborate to set the Arbitrum ecosystem apart.
Furthermore, the Infinite Launchpad proposal is geared to having an advantage over other ecosystems’ approaches, which is the ability to seed new projects from scratch, thanks to being a complete pipeline starting with community attraction and research.
RnDAO’s programs start with research to identify and validate new market opportunities. EVM Capital will prioritize initiatives across four key “future of work” categories: governance, on-chain reputation, AI/process automation, and financial infrastructure. Meanwhile, Outlier Ventures will tailor their program specifically for Arbitrum. They will collaborate with the DAO to design and drive the thesis and designate the focus of the program.
As such, we’ve built-in mechanisms across all programs to ensure high-impact and differentiation.
The current proposal is a one-time ask. However, our aim is to sustain the initiative in the future, contingent upon continuous evaluation from the Oversight Committee. After completion, we will submit a Milestone 2 proposal where we will present the success metrics of each program, our learnings, and ways the pathway will improve for the next funding round.
Smaller projects are welcome to apply for future iterations of the program. We will never attempt to block the efforts of other entities or create comparisons between our programs and theirs. However, we would suggest smaller projects first utilize the resources of the DAO (e.g. firestarters) to establish a proof of success. That way all programs within this larger proposal have a verified track record.
Existing developers and projects within the Arbitrum ecosystem are strongly encouraged to apply, we’ll ensure the current Arbitrum community is made well aware of the opportunities and can easily find the right program for them to apply, taking them to the next phase of growth. Ultimately, acceptance into the different programs will be meritocratic, ensuring the best results for Arbitrum.