Tldr; Powerhouse delivered operational software, ArbGrants.com and live program support across a 6 month project term. We successfully supported LTIPP operations and are now asking to defray a minor portion of these costs through a RPGF grant.
ArbGrants was a grassroots initiative created to address the need for scalable incentive program management through custom open-source software. Powerhouse developed ArbGrants, an alpha build that helped structure, surface, and securely submit LTIPP program data. This software also allowed the Program Manager to audit the data efficiently and community members to explore project data.
In addition to developing the software, Powerhouse provided full-time operational support and customer service (CS/CX) to over 80 participating projects, supporting the workload of both the Council and the Program Manager. This support resulted in faster service lead times and a premium user experience for Arbitrum ecosystem partners.
Throughout the project, Powerhouse covered all costs independently, preferring to demonstrate competence and value upfront. Now, through the proposal below, we are requesting a modest retroactive funding grant to help offset a portion of these costs.
Key Outcomes of ArbGrants
Arbitrum can differentiate itself and attract high quality projects through superior organization and grantee experience. Powerhouse delivered the following outcomes for Arbitrum:
- Custom Software Solution: ArbGrants successfully supported LTIPP data reporting and auditing using Powerhouse Connect.
- Operational Support: Full-time assistance to projects reduced the burden on the Program Manager and improved efficiency.
- Enhanced User Experience: Powerhouseâs support led to faster service and a high-quality experience for Arbitrum ecosystem partners.
- Open Source Contribution: All Powerhouse software is open-source and licensed under AGPL3.0, making it free to use and expand upon.
- Future Contributions: Insights and learnings from this project can be applied to future Arbitrum programs and working groups.
The ArbGrants Project Team is Substantial
Powerhouse retains all the staff required to deliver on large operations initiatives, including full stack development, business analysis, customer support, marketing, and more. This project involved four primary roles in addition to ancillary and back office support staff: an Operations Principal, a Product Manager, a Sr. Full Stack Engineer, and a Sr. Backend Engineer. This staff of four was able to implement a custom software product upon our core technology, which is supported by an engineering team of 10.
The project team was led by @Lumen who has, among other graduate degrees, an R1 PhD in judgement and decision making, as well as executive operations experience at MakerDAO and prior startup/FAANG operations roles.
Powerhouse Delivered a Six Month Project with Significant Resource Utilization
The ArbGrants project consisted of three phases: Discovery and Scoping, Development and Implementation, and Live Operations. Work cadence involved weekly stakeholder meetings with the Program Manager and daily internal Powerhouse standups regarding project for open project support tickets. Below we denote the average weekly contribution of each role within a phase and then across the entire project term, Table 1.
Phase 1: Discovery and Scoping (Late Feb - Early April; 6 Weeks)
Discovery and Scoping involved meeting with stakeholders to identify the existing workflows and identify how they should be translated into software.
Principal, Operations Lead; 20 hours/wk * 6 weeks = 120 hours
Product Manager; 10 hrs/wk * 6 weeks = 60 hours
Sr Full Stack; 30 hrs/wk * 6 weeks = 180 hours
Phase 2: Development and Implementation (Mid April - Mid June; 8 Weeks)
Development and implementation consisted of designing and developing the ArbGrants workflows and front-ends.
Principal, Operations, 15 hours wk * 8 weeks = 120 hours
Product Manager, 15 hrs wk * 8 weeks = 120 hours
Sr Full Stack, 30 hrs wk * 8 weeks = 240 hours
Sr Backend, 15 Hrs wk * 8 weeks = 120 hours
Phase 3: Live Operations (Mid June - Mid September; 12 Weeks)
Live operations including iterative QA development, communications, and ongoing customer (grantee) support.
Principal, Operations, 15 hours wk * 12 weeks = 180 hours
Product Manager, 10 hrs wk * 12 weeks = 120 hours
Sr Full Stack, 10 hrs wk * 12 weeks = 120 hours
Sr Backend, 5 Hrs wk * 12 weeks = 60 hours
ArbGrants RPGF Request
Powerhouse agrees to complete the Arbitrum Compliance process prior to any reward of funds. The project cost and term above was significant and is an open source public good. We humbly request an award of 100,000 ARB for ArbGrants, approximately $50,000.00 USD to help offset the cost and past six months of services we provided to Arbitrum and LTIPP. While these funds only address a modest portion of the costs, it will help us continue to support Arbitrum into the future. We hope to continue our work with Arbitrum and appreciate the consideration of this request.
Please feel free to leave any comments or questions regarding ArbGrants or our LTIPP support operations.