Q&A Find Out More About NFTxExplore's AIP And Her Plan To Expand Access To Web3 Worldwide
The ApeCoin DAO is currently voting on an Ape Improvement Proposal that aims to bring web3 and $Ape to underrepresented communities around the globe via local outreach and hackathons.
AIP-187 titled “Expanding web3 Access,” in an Ecosystem Allocation Fund Proposal written by Bored Ape Yacht Club Member NFTxExplore.
“We seek to increase equity and access at the local level, continue to build web3 skillsets, and enhance a creative and digital economy,” NFTxExplore wrote in AIP-187. “Additionally, building on the success of our initial web3 Hackathon, we seek to replicate and scale the experience to 3 other locations in 2023 in order to promote web3 solutions to authentic problems and expand career pathways / opportunities. In particular, as web3 grows and more people “ape into” the space, the ApeCoin DAO can lead the onboarding charge in historically underrepresented places.”
As the Bored Ape Gazette previously reported, NFTxExplore held a hackathon in Chisinau, Moldova in October 2022.
This AIP aims expand on her previous event and help the citizens of Moldova, and world, ape into Web3.
In total, NFTxExplore is asking the ApeCoin DAO to allocate $71,400 so she can build upon the work she did in Moldova last year and also launch three additional hackathons in 2023, according to her proposal. Take a look at the budget below:
To find out more about AIP-187 and expanding access to Web3, the Bored Ape Gazette reached out to NFTxExplore. Take a look at the full interview below:
Tell me a bit about you. How’d you join the BAYC?
"I had been in crypto for a couple of years, and then got into NFTs via Topshot; a couple of my family members were also into it, and it was fun to open packs and compare the cards we pulled. I bought my MAYC in the fall of 2021 and was stoked to be a part of the BAYC ecosystem and join this incredible community of people. I've made lots of connections in the BAYC, in particular via the @LadiesofBAYC group chat. Since the ApeCoin Dao started, it's also been exciting to see the creativity and contributions of DAO members to amplify ApeCoin and build together. As mentioned in my proposal, I'm the Chief Learning Officer for a non-profit organization that focuses on STEAM and entrepreneurship - mindsets and skills - as a lever for economic equity. I have a Ph.D. in Education and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and have been in the field of education - in the USA and internationally - for 25+ years. Web3 offers opportunities and access, and I'm seeking to deepen ApeCoin's reach and support skill-building and innovation across the world."
Tell me a bit about your proposal how did you come up with this idea?
“My proposal idea builds off of a successful Hackathon and series of learning experiences that I designed and launched in Chisinau, Moldova in the fall of 2022. At that time, I had connected with colleagues in Moldova at USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and local organizations that promote STEAM and digital literacy. There's a strong focus on technology to advance skill-building and career readiness for educators and students. Moldova, like many countries, has experienced "brain drain," in which young professionals leave the country seeking opportunities in other locations. Web3 provides promising career pathways without having to seek jobs elsewhere.
Because the initial Hackathon and learning experiences had such a positive impact - over 500 participants, 3 winning teams, and an overall electric, innovative energy that was sparked - I am inspired to return and to a) sustain and expand impact in Moldova, and b) bring the Hackathon and learning experience framework to 3 other underrepresented locations in 2023. I seek to promote ApeCoin and the DAO as engines for social impact, as prior proposals have positioned them to do (e.g.: AIP-96, Finding for Public Goods).”
Why should the DAO fund hackathons and expand access to web3?
“ApeCoin DAO has previously funded public good and social impact efforts within the broader crypto ecosystem. Hackathons are hubs of innovation that encourage ideation, open source building, and entrepreneurial skill-building. In the spirit of AIP-96, the ApeCoin Dao can support creators and builders to push us - and the web3 space - forward. This positions the DAO to impact thousands of people, and in the spirit of a virtuous circle, those people then feed ideas and contribute back into the space. Additionally, I plan to tap into ApeCoin Dao members to serve as mentors and/or facilitate workshops, which can also have a positive bi-directional impact: we can build skills and share expertise with others and they can use those skills to access opportunities and generate ideas to drive innovation in the web3 space.”
Tell me a bit about your first hackathon in September. How’d it go? What happened?
"It was amazing! Over the course of five-days, we offered targeted workshops for educators and students on web3 and blockchain technology. We also had an industry event to bring together a panel of local and international experts to discuss digital identity and digital security. The Hackathon itself received over 500 applications for 100 spots, and participants engaged in workshops on:
designing SMART contracts
developing web3 community
market conditions and launching web3 projects
creating DAOs
pitching ideas
There were 3 winning teams, and they received the opportunity for continued mentorships and marketing support via a leading web3 accelerator. People can see video clips and read more about the experience at the links below:
"Success will be the AIP passing, and having the opportunity to collaborate with ApeCoin DAO members and be an ambassador for the DAO to continue this impactful global web3 innovation and social impact work. I would be thrilled to return to Moldova and scale this Hackathon format to other locations around the globe, particularly in areas that might often be overlooked. "
Where do you see your AIP going a year from now?
"This AIP provides an opportunity for the DAO to scale Hackathons, innovation, and skill-building experiences across geographies. making a broader mark in web3. What started in Moldova is designed to be replicated and adapted to other locations globally, and to expand the DAOs reach and impact for social good. A year from now, I will have replicated this at least 3x in various countries and envision refining the architecture and infrastructure for an ApeCoin DAO Hackathon such that any DAO members interested in spearheading a local experience could implement it. Together, we will have impacted thousands of people across the world, helping to build skills, expand networks, and provide potential career pathways."
How can $Ape holders get involved?
"Once locations and dates are solidified, I will reach out to ApeCoin DAO members via the Discourse and other channels (e.g.: The Bored Ape Gazette and Ladies of BAYC chat, and the WG0 IRL Events channel), to invite participation via: mentorship and/or to facilitate workshops. I'll ask those interested to complete a brief Google Form and share particular skill sets they would share. I'll then work with folks to shape workshops. Honorariums are built into the proposal, so mentors and facilitators would receive compensation for their time."
Do you have anything else you’d like to add?
"The ApeCoin DAO has so many extraordinary people and can have a strong impact on the broader web3 space. I hope to be an ambassador of the DAO to ignite innovation, support skill-building, and extend the reach of our community to underrepresented locations."
