Grant ID: 8688462k3
Summary:
The Blockchain Acceleration Foundation (BAF) is a non-profit organization focused on accelerating the education and adoption of blockchain and Web3. We support the development of university curricula, organize conferences, offer free online courses, and foster a global community to address significant issues in the blockchain space.
Consensus is the world’s largest influential gathering that brings all sides of Web3. Consensus is the leading blockchain technology summit gathering innovators, thought leaders, academics, and enthusiasts annually.
For the third consecutive year, BAF has been selected by Coindesk as its official university partner. During the conference, the BAF University Summit is an event organized by the Blockchain Acceleration Foundation (BAF) that brings together university students and professionals from the blockchain ecosystem to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and promote the growth of blockchain technology in the academic sphere.
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Describe what your project does or is aiming to do in 50 characters or less:
Create a transformative blockchain summit, fostering education, inclusivity, and innovation by uniting students and leaders, with scholarships for Latin American talent.
If available, please enter a link to your project below:
How far along are you?:
We have secured a space for the summit, 100+ complimentary ticket codes for the Conference to be distributed to the university community, secured partners/sponsors, and subsidized housing for the attendees. We’ve also solidified plans for the Latin America scholarship, which can be viewed here: Notion – The all-in-one workspace for your notes, tasks, wikis, and databases.
Why did you pick this idea to work on? Do you have domain expertise in this area? How do you know people need what you’re making?:
Our drive to launch the BAF University Summit stems from a clear vision and a solid foundation of success in connecting academia with the blockchain industry. Our expertise is proven through impactful initiatives like student activations at Consensus 2022 and 2023 and the highly successful ETHDenver Hacker House in 2024, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, where every project presented by our participants won a prize.
These achievements underscore our ability to meet the real needs of the blockchain community: educating, empowering, and connecting a diverse new wave of professionals. The demand for such talent in the blockchain space is undeniable, and our past successes offer concrete evidence of our effectiveness in responding to this demand. Through the BAF University Summit and our various programs, we’re not just envisioning a future for blockchain technology—we’re actively building it, drawing on our history of making a real impact.
What’s new about what you’re making? What substitutes do people resort to because it doesn’t exist yet (or they don’t know about it)?:
As the Official University Partner for CoinDesk at Consensus, The Blockchain Acceleration Foundation (BAF) holds a unique position, including a dedicated room at the conference, offering sponsors an unparalleled opportunity for brand exposure, networking, and direct interaction with a vibrant and dedicated blockchain community. This partnership highlights our dedication to narrowing the divide between academia and the blockchain industry, enhancing innovation and collaboration.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Our biggest initiative is our Latin American Diversity Scholarship for travel. We are establishing a full travel scholarship for five high-performing students from Latin America to attend Consensus at no cost.
In exchange for student help with marketing and promoting the conference we are offering 100+ free student tickets to Consensus, Pro passes for student leaders, and complimentary housing for 100 students in the heart of Austin, Texas. We strive to open opportunities for all students to learn and grow here at Consensus with The BAF University Summit.
People resort to other subsitutes such as not attending the conference because of cost restraint, or accepting lackluster help from supposed industry partners. BAF exists as an entity that solves these issues by providing visionary scholarships and exclusive opportunities that may not have originally been accessible to the student community.
What’s your vision for how your project will impact The Graph and/or web3?:
Our vision with the BAF University Summit is to catalyze growth within The Graph and the wider web3 community by nurturing a new generation of blockchain-savvy professionals. Through a unique blend of education, inclusivity, and innovation, we aim to bridge the academia-industry divide, bringing fresh talent and diverse perspectives to the forefront. Our partnership with CoinDesk, the Latin American Diversity Scholarship, and tailored activities at the Summit, like skill-based matchmaking and inclusion-focused events, are designed to not only educate but also to inspire attendees. We believe that by empowering students and young professionals from various backgrounds, we can inject new energy and ideas into The Graph and the broader web3 ecosystem, fostering a more robust, inclusive, and dynamic future for decentralized technology.
How will you measure success?:
Success will be measured in numbers mainly, our KPIs for the event are:
- Event RSVPs vs Actual Attendance Ratio
1a. Students vs Professors vs Industry attendees - Amount of university partners we are able to bring to the conference
- Conversion rate of students who take further steps with ecosystem partners to get involved
What milestones will you achieve in the coming weeks/months, with or without the grant?:
In the coming weeks/months, we will achieve the following, regardless of grant status:
- Successfully allocate all tickets received by Coindesk
- Allocate housing to students attending
- Identify high-performing Latin American students who are a good fit for the LatAm scholarship
- Receive quotes from vendors for operational costs related to hosting the conference
- Onboard and partner with various community, university, and ecosystem partners to bring max visibility to the Summit.
Please select who you think will benefit from your project?:
Curators, Delegators, Other
How much funding are you looking for? (USD):
5000
Provide a breakdown of your requested funding:
$1,500 to cover housing expenses
$2,500 to cover logistic/operation costs such as facility management and catering.
$1,000 to cover costs associated with the Latin America scholarship
This will, in exchange, offer The Graph:
- A feature on the Student Guide to Consensus
- Branding + PR on Twitter and Newsletters showcasing your sponsorship funding
- Opportunities to provide promotional materials for attendees
- Join in on a panel or co-organize events with BAF at Consensus
Have you applied for (or already received) funding from somewhere else?:
Yes
If yes, please describe where you’ve received funding from and how much you have, or will, receive:
10.000 from Hedera
10.000 from Arbitrum
Can you share any information about current/past web3 experience?:
Since 2019, BAF has bridged academia and industry through impactful events, research, and education. This year, we bring together hundreds at the Summit to engage with top protocols and industry leaders. Our ultimate goal is to create an International Scholarship Fund, empowering five exceptional Latin American students to attend the event and nurture the next generation of blockchain leaders. In past years, including Consensus 2022 and 2023, we’ve held similar student activations meant to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Collaborating with protocols such as Hedera, Algorand, NEAR, and Arbitrum, education remains at the forefront of what we at BAF are all about and it is our mission to replicate similar successes again at Consensus 2024.
Testimonials from past attendees are as follows:
Sriram Vishwanath | BAF Advisor, Professor at UT Austin, President of ChainHub Foundation (2023) - “BAF’s support was crucial in developing my blockchain development course at UT Austin, connecting us with industry experts, and securing student housing for 100+ students at Consensus. This partnership has enriched our curriculum and helped us bridge the gap between academia and the blockchain industry.”
khushii_w | Blockchain at Carnegie Mellon, and Prev Investor at Geometry (2023)
“BAF’s Student Housing enabled me to attend Consensus in 2022, marking the beginning of my journey into web3. The following year, at the BAF Research Symposium, I had the chance to interview leading researchers. These opportunities not only empowered me but also allowed me to connect with some of the smartest people I know.”
Aiden0x4 | Blockchain at Northwestern, Founder of WalletLabels (2022):
Through BAF initiatives, I was able to attend conferences around the world and landed jobs at top protocols. BAF is a great group of people!
Why are you interested in contributing to The Graph and/or web3?:
Our interest in contributing to The Graph and the wider web3 ecosystem stems from a genuine belief in the revolutionary potential of decentralized technologies to reshape how we interact with digital information and value. The Graph, with its pivotal role in providing open, accessible, and reliable data for the decentralized web, represents the foundational principles we hold dear: transparency, inclusivity, and empowerment.
We’re drawn to The Graph’s mission because it aligns with our core objective of democratizing access to blockchain technology and education. By supporting The Graph, we see an opportunity to amplify these values, ensuring that the future digital economy is built on principles of openness and accessibility. Our enthusiasm is fueled not just by the technical innovations that The Graph and web3 bring to the fore but also by the promise they hold for creating more equitable and decentralized systems of information and value exchange.
Moreover, our commitment to this space is evidenced by our track record of fostering meaningful educational experiences and connections within the blockchain community. We believe that by contributing to The Graph and web3, we’re not only participating in the technological revolution but also in a cultural and economic shift towards more democratic and decentralized forms of governance and business. Our genuine interest lies in being at the forefront of this change, helping to shape it in a way that ensures the benefits of blockchain technology are accessible and beneficial to all.
Are you applying as a team or individual?:
Team
What type of grant are you pursuing?:
Project (one-off)
Please select the category your project best fits into:
Education
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