[Looking for Sponsor] Optimism Innovation Hubs in partnership with Universities

Delegate Mission Request Summary: Build Optimism Innovation Hubs and organize courses and Hacker House editions in partnership with University professors, aiming to attract and support application developers on Optimism, fostering a robust and innovative developer community.

S6 Intent : Intent 3A: Grow Application Developers on the Superchain

Proposing Delegate/Citizen: @amrdavila

Total grant amount: 150k OP

Should this Mission be fulfilled by one or multiple applicants: Multiple

How will this Mission Request help accomplish the above Intent?

This Mission Request will help grow application developers on the Superchain by contributing to the following:

Skill Development and Knowledge Expansion: Through comprehensive courses and hands-on Hacker House editions, developers will gain a deep understanding of Optimism’s tools and best practices. This immersive learning experience will equip them to build more impactful and innovative applications on the Superchain.

Lowering Barriers to Entry: Tailored educational resources, including step-by-step guides, tutorials, and detailed documentation, will simplify the learning curve for new developers. These materials will make it easier for newcomers to confidently start building on Optimism, accelerating their onboarding process.

Community Building: By organizing webinars, workshops, and interactive courses, the Innovation Hub will cultivate a vibrant developer community within Optimism. These activities will foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship, creating a supportive network that drives collective growth and innovation.

Encouraging Innovation: The Hub’s educational initiatives will inspire developers by demonstrating the vast potential of Optimism and showcasing successful projects. This exposure will fuel creativity, leading to the development of diverse and pioneering applications that will further enhance the ecosystem.

Supporting Continuous Learning: The Innovation Hub will offer a continuous stream of updated educational content, ensuring developers stay informed about the latest features and advancements on Optimism. This ongoing support will maintain a dynamic and evolving developer community, always at the forefront of blockchain innovation.

Increasing Retention Rates: By providing well-structured educational programs and practical learning opportunities, the Hub will improve developer satisfaction and retention. The resources offered will empower developers to overcome challenges efficiently and achieve their goals, solidifying their commitment to the Optimism ecosystem.

By addressing these aspects, the mission request for creating educational resources will directly contribute to achieving the Intent to grow the community of application developers on the OP Mainnet.

What is required to execute this Mission Request?

To execute this Mission Request, the following responsibilities and expected deliverables are required:

1. Partnership with University Professors:

  • Minimum of three academics at three different universities collaborating on open source syllabus for the courses and Hacker House editions.

2. Content Development:

  • Create and curate comprehensive educational materials, including tutorials, guides, and documentation, specifically designed for developers building on Optimism.

3. Optimism Integration:

  • Implement onchain engagement tools, such as issuing attestations via the Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS), onchain quizzes, or claimable NFTs, to incentivize participation, reinforce learning, and track developer progress.

4. Community Engagement:

  • Organize and facilitate interactive courses, workshops, and Hacker House editions to encourage community interaction and collaboration. Include opportunities for mentorship and ongoing support through community forums and live sessions.

5. Measurement and Improvement:

  • Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of educational materials and programs, making data-driven adjustments to enhance learning outcomes. Regularly update and expand resources based on developer feedback and the latest advancements in blockchain technology.

By fulfilling these responsibilities and delivering these components, the mission will effectively grow the community of application developers on the Superchain.

How should governance participants measure impact upon completion of this Mission?

Milestones:

Governance participants should measure impact upon completion of this Mission through the following milestones:

Milestone 1: Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Setup (Month 1-2)

  • Define the mission objectives for the Optimism Innovation Hub, create a detailed project roadmap, and develop foundational educational content. Establish the platform and logistics for delivering courses and organizing Hacker House editions.

Milestone 2: Launch and Initial Community Engagement (Month 3)

  • Roll out the first batch of educational resources and host initial Hacker House events to kickstart developer onboarding. Collect feedback from participants to refine content and engagement strategies.

Milestone 3: Mid-Term Assessment and Iteration (6-Month Review)

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the courses and Hacker House editions in building the developer community. Present interim findings to stakeholders and implement improvements based on insights gained.

Milestone 4: Comprehensive Impact Review and Strategic Planning (1-Year Review)

  • Conduct a thorough review of the Innovation Hub’s impact on the Optimism developer ecosystem. Analyze outcomes, compile a detailed report, and plan future initiatives to further enhance developer engagement and innovation.

These milestones ensure structured progress, allowing for continuous improvement in cultivating a vibrant community of Optimism blockchain developers.

Metrics:

Governance participants should measure impact upon completion of this Mission using the following metrics:
1. Developer Engagement:

  • Track the number of developers enrolling in courses and actively engaging with the educational resources provided by the Innovation Hub.
  • Measure the growth in active developers building on the Optimism blockchain.

2. Onchain Activity:

  • Monitor the number of onchain interactions, such as EAS attestations and claimable NFTs, generated through educational initiatives and Hacker House events.
  • Evaluate the quantity and quality of onchain transactions from contracts deployed by students and alumni.

3. Retro Funding and Ecosystem Contribution:

  • Count the number of educational program participants who successfully apply for Retro Funding or contribute to Optimism missions, showcasing their impact on the ecosystem.

4. Feedback and Continuous Improvement:

  • Collect and analyze participant feedback on educational resources through surveys and other feedback mechanisms to refine and enhance the content and delivery methods.

5. Developer Retention and Impact:

  • Track long-term retention and ongoing activity levels of developers who participate in the Hub’s programs.
  • Assess the number and quality of new applications developed by participants, reflecting the Innovation Hub’s success in fostering innovative projects on Optimism.

These metrics will provide a comprehensive assessment of the Innovation Hub’s effectiveness in expanding and nurturing the developer community within the Optimism ecosystem.

Impact:

Governance participants should measure impact upon completion of this Mission using the following performance-focused metrics:

  1. Developer Growth and Engagement: Increase in active developers on Optimism and developer retention rates over time.
  2. Quality and Quantity of Projects: Number and quality of new applications developed.
  3. Onchain Activity: Volume of onchain interactions (EAS attestations, claimable NFTs, etc.)
  4. Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Feedback on educational experience from students or alumni’s.

These metrics will help assess the mission’s impact and performance for future Retro Funding evaluations.

Has anyone other than the proposer contributed to this Mission Request?

No

Which metric will the success of this Mission Request be evaluated against?

The North star metric against which this Mission Request should be evaluated is # of transactions emitting event logs, as it tracks the aggregated onchain activity that this program facilitates. This metric was suggested by the Foundation and approved by the Grants Council.

This mission seems to overlap with the already-passed Integration into University Courses, which hasn’t seen any accepted proposal yet. Maybe it is better to submit it there?

Hi @LuukDAO , thanks for the feedback ! Actually it is quite a different MR. The one you mention is only centered on Optimism Government and RetroPGF (I am actually coordinating a project approved for that MR: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5dr-3NL6H0dzamjtZrQUUNUzCi62VQJN&feature=shared).

The MR I am proposing for S6, cycle-27 is specifically to onboard developers into Superchain in partnership with Universities, in an Optimism Innovation Hub context.