Changelog
- 2023-07-12: Created initial post
- 2023-08-05: Edited ask to a 90 day trial, added summary, reduced cost to 3MM NTRN
Summary:
At AlphaGrowth We believe that the most important strategy a ecosystem can fund are dApps people want to use and dApps that make revenuw. We have optimized a hit list of 15 top dApps that will help move the needle in any ecosytem. These dApps are looking for their next chain to build on.
In the next 90 days we plan to bring at least 3 champion dApps to Neutron that will add more value and utility to Neutron than the cost. This is what we believe would be a minimum viable trial in which we can show the efficacy of AlphaGrowth and the team and platform. We are the best ecosystem growth team in the industry working with us will skyrocket Neutron’s brand and awareness to 1000’s of developers and projects as well as the quality teams that matter.
With this trial we will prove that we have the capabilities and strategies to help grow Neutron.
We look forward to working with you and the community.
Introduction:
Neutron is the first smart contract platform on the CosmosHub via ICS. Neutron is run by Web3’s best and brightest infra minds, with maximum uptime and optimized performance built into its core.
In alignment with Avril and Neutron’s presentation at the Gateway Conference(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bto-iaG0wMQ). AlphaGrowth is proposing to help deliver on the strategy and execution for Neutrons GrantsDAO.
The AlphaGrowth Team has identified multiple opportunities to help increase protocol value for both Neutron InterChain, NTRN tokens and eventually the CosmosHub.
The Neutron team, in response, has requested a proposal to help the protocol succeed and expand its footprint.
This strategy involves 4 phases of delivery and execution.
- Economic Zone Audit (redacted for trial)
- Grants Setup, Strategy & Messaging (redacted for trial)
- Ecosystem Growth
- DeFi Operations & Listings
Engagement Strategy
Overview of Engagement Strategy
History is the best teacher when looking to understand how we approach an effective engagement. We fundamentally understand what success looks like, and more importantly, how we’re going to get there.
“Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues. You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.” –Gordon B. Hinkley
Neutron Audit
Weak Infrastructure == Common Blocker
Every Blockchain we speak with boasts that “We have the best tech.”
Composable, Interoperable, Compressed, Fast Finality, Cross-chain, Secure, high TPS. Sure, these are all great features, but they are quickly becoming the status quo in the space. In other words, these features will no longer move the needle, however lacking these features will leave you out of the race entirely. Unless of course, you have your infrastructural ducks in a row.
With the right infrastructure in place, many of the advantages and disadvantages of each individual chain are muted. Without proper infrastructure, it’s tough to even have a seat at the table, let alone win the game.
Whales want to use a bridge with minimal fees and minimal risk, and that’s the narrative that Neutron can help so many blockchains offer.
We will provide a roadmap and strategy on the ideal economic zone layout. From a quick initial review there are many emergent opportunities around Shared Security, Liquid Staking, the Allocator, CosmWasm, and Neutron. Along with opportunities that identify shortfalls, we see that can benefit from the addition of multiple types of DeFi dApps, money markets (lending protocols), bonding protocols, options, yield optimizers, vaults, voter escrow DEXes, leveraged LP positions, secondary bond markets, and even another DEX or two.
We will provide an audit of all existing Neutron use cases to see what currently exists on how every user can utilize the Neutron token. We will outline a map of gaps of utility in the Neutron token.
We will provide an audit to identify common onboarding blockers and strategy on how to mitigate them. We will outline and describe many of the common onboarding blockers.
Current Use Case Mapping
Before planning for the future, it is best to understand and map out, for the community, what is available currently for Neutron and the Neutron Economic Zone.
- List of all Neutron trading pairs (CEX & DEX)
- List of Neutron Lending opportunities (money market, AMM money market)
- List of all Neutron Staking, Bonding and Liquid staking opportunities
- List of all Neutron Collateralized debt positions (CDP)
- List of all Neutron Yield aggregators and strategies
- List of all Neutron Derivatives, Perpetuals and options
Common Onboarding Blockers
Onboarding projects onto a new chain is a massive undertaking. The hub economic zone is responsible for setting up an ecosystem with infrastructure partners, developer resources, and an adequate incentive program. Unmet needs quickly become blockers to overall zone growth.
Top teams are attracted to chains with cutting-edge tech, daily active users, massive liquidity, and substantial transaction volume. However, they will prioritize chain deployments based on the state of the infrastructure, competitiveness of the program, and presence of projects to partner with.
Through onboarding countless projects onto various L1s and L2s, we’ve gathered a list of common infrastructural needs and blockers:
Common Needs:
- Trusted Oracles
- Robust DEX, Lending and options protocols native on chain
- Premier RPC node providers
- Indexer and Subgraph Solutions
- Available wallets
- Native Assets
- MPC wallets
- Multisig
- Fiat ramps (Kado, Stably, Transak, Ramp)
- Payments (Superfluid, MoonPay, Monarch)
- Off ramps for users
- Name Service
- IBC connections, Bridges and cross-chain messaging solutions
Common Blockers:
- High deployment costs
- Lack of liquidity drivers and vaults
- Project’s composability
- Initial liquidity
- Tech requirements
- Lack of marketing support
- Deployment prioritization
Stale ecosystem or lack of projects to partner with The developer’s attention will rain on the ecosystem with the most fertile soil!
Some examples of solutions we helped solve for Kava:
Grants Setup, Strategy & Messaging:
After analysis, AlphaGrowth will create a step-by-step playbook and execution plan to advance Neutron . AlphaGrowth will use its resources, push the boundaries of Core Tech available, as well as leverage the upcoming innovations within the Zone including, but not limited to: CosmWasm Module Development, Community Pool Enhancements, Governance in the Neutron Zone, Replicated Security Chains Partnerships, Liquidity Services from Hub and adjustment Neutron Tokenomics.
Ecosystem Growth
Modern portfolio theory says that by investing in more than one stock, an investor can reap a reduction in the riskiness of the portfolio. The same thing runs true in a robust Ecosystem.
DeFi Diversification
Within the context of DeFi there are 27 categories of dApps. By having a solid offering of DeFi dApps, users will be less likely to sell their token. This is the fundamental theory of token optionality. We’ve always held onto dollars, because of how much we can do with them (no matter where we are on Earth).
Some categories of DeFi include:
- DEXs
- Order books
- Lending (money market, AMM money market)
- Fixed-rate lending
- Liquid staking
- Collateralized debt positions (CDP)
- Yield aggregators and strategies
- Derivatives and options
- Algo-stables
- Synthetics
- Launchpads
- Reserve currency
- Concentrated liquidity
- Prediction markets
- Indexes (token sets)
- Privacy services
- Insurance
- Flatcoins
The more risk adjusted yield and hedge opportunities there are, the less likely the user is to sell. Having 2-3 options for each category will create market competition internally within the ecosystem as well to provide the right mix of products for the community.
Deliverables
Ecosystem Growth (BD & Marketing)
AlphaGrowth, using its Database and relationships with over 50 blockchains, will run business development efforts on behalf of Neutron Bridge. We will work with the foundation and community to identify and sort rank new and existing opportunities with various blockchains.
Using a data driven approach AlphaGrowth will create opportunities for Neutron Bridge to expand to as well as provide new revenue streams for the protocol.
Our team will begin with the warmest leads; blockchain ecosystem and foundations that we have already established partnerships with. Nearly all of these chains are hungry for high quality bridge infrastructure.
As we further open up the funnel, we will explore integration with all other EVM and Cosmos based chains that we are tracking in our database.
AlphaGrowth will play the role of the sales and marketing team along with the liaison between the chains and Neutron integration team.
In similar efforst we eecently we have helped the Kava Ecosystem bring over 83 projects to the Kava chain. This was a 7 month process where we outbound and met with over 2616 teams and projects to source the best builders for the ecosystem.
Feeding the Data Beast
Speaking of optionality, it’s crucial to note: optionality is only real if a user knows that they have it. As it stands, many of the top analytics sites do not reflect NTRN data accurately.
Part of getting more exposure to the Neutron Bridge is feeding the sites where web3 native users consume the data.
Our team will update (and keep up to date) all token terminals and aggregators with correct NTRN data. Some of these sites include DefiLlama, TokenTerminal, CoinGecko, CMC, CrunchBase, Messari, Blockworks, CoinDesk, CryptoFees, and ICO drops.
Feeding proper data into the beast will ensure ubiquitous marketing, educational and value based onboarding experiences.
Reporting
We will host weekly meetings with the Neutron community and issue monthly reports with full transparency of operations and deployments. Some of the key components of the reports include:
- Current Narratives
- Pipeline & Progress of campaigns / integrations
- New NTRN utility and listings
- Updated data on token terminals and aggregators
- New Marketing partners
- Use of funds discussions
The team will establish direct communication channels with the Neutron team to post reports and receive feedback. Neutron will always know where it stands, and more importantly, where it is going.
Team
Founded in 2018, AlphaGrowth has helped strategize, fund, and market hundreds of blockchain projects. Our mission is to help the next top 1,000 crypto projects get funding and go to market. Our DAO is led by a team of data, mathematics, economists and computer scientists with deep blockchain experience.
Previously, the founding team built a computer matching algorithm to match 80,000 fintech companies with 7,000 investors and private equity firms. AlphaGrowth is now applying these same principles to match crypto projects to corresponding ecosystem criteria and desires.
DeFi Heavy, Crypto Native
AlphaGrowth has been involved since the beginning of the DeFi revolution. From the launch of SushiSwap and the vampire attack, AlphaGrowth founders have been trading, yield farming, and lending crypto on decentralized and centralized platforms. With that background, in early 2021, AlphaGrowth helped Sommelier.finance with its entire launch and go-to-market strategy.
Throughout that experience, the team at AlphaGrowth grew and began to expand its services to other crypto projects and blockchains such as NEAR, Kava, Aurora, Dfinity, ThunderCore, and Meter who rely on AlphaGrowth’s marketing, strategy, and growth services to this day.
We have seen what works and more importantly what doesn’t. The service we offer is a mixture of strategy, brand, narrative, community, events, marketing, and tokenomics. Above all, every project we take on, we want to see exist in the world. We are your partner through the entire process, and we want to be your partner for years to come.
Why us, and why now?
- We have experience running multiple growth programs
- We are established and have been in business since 2018
- Our strategies have proven to be successful even through crypto winter
- We have met with 100+ ecosystems, and have partnered with many of them
- We have built a crypto CRM and dashboard to help quickly score, evaluate, and report progress of BD
- We have are actively tracking on and off-chain data of over 40,000 crypto projects
- We have 4,500+ relationships in crypto and have deployed projects via grants to over 100 EVM and Cosmos-based projects
- We have built the best BD team in crypto
Compensation & Commission
Neutron Audit, Grants Setup, Strategy & Messaging:
Estimated 3 months @ $90,000
Ecosystem Growth & Grants Deployment:
| Type of Grant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Integration/Launch grant | 15% minimum |
| Research grant | 15% minimum |
| RFP/Bounty | 15% minimum |
- paid a 15% performance fee on all integrations for non-dilutive capital (grants) successfully introduced by AlphaGrowth LLC
- AlphaGrowth will receive 5% of such fully funded grants for active conversations for support.
- AlphaGrowth will collect 5% marketing fee for any fully funded token swaps or OTC trades, throughout this engagement.
- AlphaGrowth will require a minimum $30,000 per month in Neutron token at contract strike price
NTRN Liquidity Incentives:
| Type of Incentive | Fee |
|---|---|
| TVL incentive | 10% |
| Transaction volume incentive/rebate | 10% |
| Unique wallet / MAU Milestone incentive | 10% |
| Trading volume incentive | 10% |
| Liquidity incentive to bootstrap / deepen pool | 10% |
- Some grants are paid in liquidity incentives for pools will this is a bit less direct than a Grant any liquidity incentives introduced by AlphaGrowth will incur compensation.
Funding and Budget
We propose to allocate 3,000,000 NTRN (~0.3% of the NeutronDAO’s overall allocation) to the Growth Program. The estimated annual operational budget (not including performance bonus) is as follows:
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Legal Expenses | $0 |
| Maximum Cost for Grants Lead | $0 |
| Maximum Cost for Reviewers | $0 |
| Operational Expenses (i.e. General Operations, Website, Social Media, Software Licenses, and Marketing) | $90,000 |
| One-off Reserve Buffer (i.e. Unexpected/Emergency Legal Expenses, Unexpected/Emergency Operational Expenses) | $0 |
| Total | $90,000 |
Initially, we anticipate that the necessary amount required (around $360,000) to cover the operational budget for one year, as well as a certain amount of USD-denominated grants, will be converted into US dollars equivalents; such transactions would be carried over-the-counter (OTC) or in private markets to minimize market impact.
Timeline
To ensure long term goal-alignment we are proposing the execution of this strategy be carried out in a 3 month proposal.
Logistics
AlphaGrowth LLC will service this proposal.
A multi-sig with the core Neutron team will ensure Neutron has custody of funds where appropriate as per Grants DAO, sub DAO structure aligned in this video (https://youtu.be/Bto-iaG0wMQ?t=697)
KPI and Bonus Structure
KPIs
- 3 top projects lined up to launch via the grants program
Bonus
We charge a 10% commission for all grants, liquidity incentives, milestone grants upon KPI success.
To be voted on by the community discussions every 6 months
Relevant Links: https://alphagrowth.io/
Target On-chain date: 14th August 2023
