aitbc/docs/ecosystem/grants/grant-program.md

# AITBC Grant Program

## Overview

The AITBC Grant Program provides funding to developers and teams building high-impact projects that strengthen the AITBC ecosystem. Our hybrid approach combines accessible micro-grants with strategic funding for major initiatives, ensuring both experimentation and execution.

## Program Structure

### Hybrid Grant Types

#### 1. Rolling Micro-Grants
- **Amount**: $1,000 - $5,000
- **Review**: Lightweight (48-hour decision)
- **Disbursement**: 100% upfront
- **Eligibility**: Individuals and teams
- **Application**: Simple form (30 minutes)

#### 2. Quarterly Standard Grants
- **Amount**: $10,000 - $50,000
- **Review**: Comprehensive (2-week process)
- **Disbursement**: 50% upfront, 50% on milestone completion
- **Eligibility**: Teams and organizations only
- **Application**: Detailed proposal (2-4 hours)

#### 3. Strategic Grants
- **Amount**: $100,000+
- **Review**: Rigorous (4-week process)
- **Disbursement**: Milestone-based (3+ payments)
- **Eligibility**: Established organizations
- **Application**: Full business case (8+ hours)

#### 4. Retroactive Grants
- **Amount**: $5,000 - $25,000
- **Review**: Adoption-based verification
- **Disbursement**: 100% upfront
- **Eligibility**: Shipped projects with proven usage
- **Application**: Impact report (1 hour)

## Funding Categories

### Marketplace Extensions (40% of budget)
- **ERP Connectors**: SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Workday
- **Payment Processors**: PayPal, Square, Adyen, Braintree
- **Analytics Platforms**: Tableau, Power BI, Looker
- **Developer Tools**: IDE plugins, testing frameworks
- **Infrastructure**: Monitoring, logging, deployment tools

### Analytics Tools (30% of budget)
- **Network Analytics**: Transaction flows, user behavior
- **DeFi Analytics**: Yield tracking, risk assessment
- **Cross-Chain Analytics**: Bridge monitoring, arbitrage
- **Real-time Dashboards**: Custom metrics, alerts
- **Data Visualization**: Interactive charts, reports

### Developer Experience (20% of budget)
- **SDK Improvements**: New language support, optimizations
- **Documentation**: Interactive tutorials, examples
- **Testing Tools**: Automated testing, testnets
- **Development Environments**: Docker images, cloud templates
- **Educational Content**: Courses, workshops, tutorials

### Research & Innovation (10% of budget)
- **Protocol Research**: New consensus mechanisms, scaling
- **Security Research**: Audits, vulnerability research
- **Economic Research**: Tokenomics, mechanism design
- **Academic Partnerships**: University collaborations
- **Thought Leadership**: Whitepapers, presentations

## Application Process

### Micro-Grant Application (30 minutes)
1. **Basic Information**
   - Project name and description
   - Team member profiles
   - GitHub repository link

2. **Project Details**
   - Problem statement (100 words)
   - Solution overview (200 words)
   - Implementation plan (100 words)
   - Timeline (2 weeks)

3. **Budget Justification**
   - Cost breakdown
   - Resource requirements
   - Expected deliverables

### Standard Grant Application (2-4 hours)
1. **Executive Summary**
   - Project vision and mission
   - Team qualifications
   - Success metrics

2. **Technical Proposal**
   - Architecture design
   - Implementation details
   - Technical risks
   - Security considerations

3. **Ecosystem Impact**
   - Target users
   - Adoption strategy
   - Network effects
   - Competitive analysis

4. **Business Plan**
   - Sustainability model
   - Revenue potential
   - Growth projections
   - Partnership strategy

5. **Detailed Budget**
   - Personnel costs
   - Infrastructure costs
   - Marketing expenses
   - Contingency planning

### Strategic Grant Application (8+ hours)
All Standard Grant requirements plus:
- Financial projections (3 years)
- Legal structure documentation
- Advisory board information
- Detailed milestone definitions
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Exit strategy

## Evaluation Criteria

### Micro-Grant Evaluation (48-hour decision)
- **Technical Feasibility** (40%)
  - Clear implementation plan
  - Appropriate technology choices
  - Realistic timeline

- **Ecosystem Value** (35%)
  - Addresses real need
  - Potential user base
  - Community interest

- **Team Capability** (25%)
  - Relevant experience
  - Technical skills
  - Track record

### Standard Grant Evaluation (2-week process)
- **Ecosystem Impact** (60%)
  - Network effects created
  - User adoption potential
  - Marketplace value
  - Strategic alignment

- **Technical Excellence** (40%)
  - Innovation level
  - Architecture quality
  - Security posture
  - Scalability design

### Strategic Grant Evaluation (4-week process)
- **Strategic Value** (50%)
  - Long-term ecosystem impact
  - Market opportunity
  - Competitive advantage
  - Partnership potential

- **Execution Capability** (30%)
  - Team experience
  - Resource adequacy
  - Project management
  - Risk mitigation

- **Financial Viability** (20%)
  - Sustainability model
  - Revenue potential
  - Cost efficiency
  - Return on investment

## Milestone Management

### Standard Grant Milestones
- **Milestone 1 (30%)**: Technical architecture complete
- **Milestone 2 (30%)**: MVP functionality delivered
- **Milestone 3 (40%)**: Production-ready with users

### Strategic Grant Milestones
- **Phase 1**: Research and design (20%)
- **Phase 2**: Prototype development (20%)
- **Phase 3**: Beta testing (30%)
- **Phase 4**: Production launch (30%)

### Milestone Review Process
1. **Submission**: Milestone report with evidence
2. **Review**: Technical and business evaluation
3. **Decision**: Approved/needs revision/rejected
4. **Payment**: Disbursement within 7 days

## Retroactive Grants

### Eligibility Criteria
- Project shipped > 3 months ago
- Active user base > 100 users
- Open source with permissive license
- Not previously funded by AITBC

### Application Requirements
- Project metrics and analytics
- User testimonials
- Code quality assessment
- Community engagement data

### Evaluation Factors
- User adoption rate
- Code quality
- Documentation completeness
- Community contributions
- Innovation level

## Support Services

### Technical Support
- **Office Hours**: Weekly 1-hour sessions
- **Code Reviews**: Monthly deep dives
- **Architecture Guidance**: On-demand consulting
- **Security Audits**: Discounted professional audits

### Business Support
- **Go-to-Market Strategy**: Marketing guidance
- **Partnership Introductions**: Ecosystem connections
- **Legal Support**: Compliance guidance
- **Financial Advisory**: Sustainability planning

### Community Support
- **Promotion**: Blog features, social media
- **Showcases**: Conference presentations
- **Networking**: Private Discord channel
- **Alumni Program**: Ongoing engagement

## Compliance Requirements

### Legal Requirements
- **KYC/AML**: Identity verification for $10k+
- **Tax Forms**: W-9/W-8BEN for US entities
- **Reporting**: Quarterly progress reports
- **Audits**: Right to audit financial records

### Technical Requirements
- **Open Source**: MIT/Apache 2.0 license
- **Documentation**: Comprehensive user guides
- **Testing**: Minimum 80% test coverage
- **Security**: Security audit for $50k+

### Community Requirements
- **Communication**: Regular updates
- **Support**: User support channels
- **Contributions**: Accept community PRs
- **Recognition**: AITBC branding

## Funding Timeline

### Micro-Grants
- **Application**: Anytime
- **Review**: 48 hours
- **Decision**: Immediate
- **Payment**: Within 7 days

### Standard Grants
- **Application**: Quarterly deadlines (Mar 1, Jun 1, Sep 1, Dec 1)
- **Review**: 2 weeks
- **Interview**: Week 3
- **Decision**: Week 4
- **Payment**: Within 14 days

### Strategic Grants
- **Application**: By invitation only
- **Review**: 4 weeks
- **Due Diligence**: Week 5
- **Decision**: Week 6
- **Payment**: Within 21 days

## Success Metrics

### Project Success Metrics
- **Technical Delivery**: On-time, on-budget completion
- **User Adoption**: Active users, transaction volume
- **Ecosystem Impact**: Network effects, integrations
- **Sustainability**: Ongoing maintenance, community

### Program Success Metrics
- **Application Quality**: Improvement over time
- **Success Rate**: Projects achieving goals
- **ROI**: Ecosystem value per dollar
- **Diversity**: Geographic, demographic, technical

## Risk Management

### Common Risks
1. **Project Failure**
   - Mitigation: Milestone-based funding
   - Recovery: Partial repayment, IP rights

2. **Scope Creep**
   - Mitigation: Clear milestone definitions
   - Recovery: Scope adjustment, additional funding

3. **Team Issues**
   - Mitigation: Team vetting, backup plans
   - Recovery: Team replacement, project transfer

4. **Market Changes**
   - Mitigation: Regular market analysis
   - Recovery: Pivot support, strategy adjustment

### Contingency Planning
- **Reserve Fund**: 20% of annual budget
- **Emergency Grants**: For critical ecosystem needs
- **Project Rescue**: For failing high-value projects
- **Legal Support**: For disputes and compliance

## Governance

### Grant Committee
- **Composition**: 5-7 members
  - 2 AITBC Foundation representatives
  - 2 technical experts
  - 2 community representatives
  - 1 independent advisor

### Decision Process
- **Micro-Grants**: Committee chair approval
- **Standard Grants**: Majority vote
- **Strategic Grants**: Supermajority (75%)
- **Conflicts**: Recusal policy

### Transparency
- **Public Registry**: All grants listed
- **Progress Reports**: Quarterly updates
- **Financial Reports**: Annual disclosure
- **Decision Rationale**: Published when appropriate

## Application Templates

### Micro-Grant Template
```markdown
# Project Name
## Team
- Lead: [Name, GitHub, LinkedIn]
- Members: [List]

## Problem
[100 words describing the problem]

## Solution
[200 words describing your solution]

## Implementation
[100 words on how you'll build it]

## Timeline
- Week 1: [Tasks]
- Week 2: [Tasks]

## Budget
- Development: $X
- Infrastructure: $Y
- Total: $Z
```

### Standard Grant Template
[Full template available in grants repository]

## Contact Information

- **Applications**: grants@aitbc.io
- **Questions**: info@aitbc.io
- **Technical Support**: support@aitbc.io
- **Media**: media@aitbc.io

## FAQ

### Q: Can I apply for multiple grants?
A: Yes, but only one active grant per team at a time.

### Q: Do I need to be a US entity?
A: No, we fund globally. KYC required for $10k+.

### Q: Can grants be renewed?
A: Yes, based on milestone completion and impact.

### Q: What happens to IP?
A: Grantee retains IP, AITBC gets usage rights.

### Q: How is success measured?
A: Through milestone completion and ecosystem metrics.

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*Last updated: 2024-01-15*