PolkArena: Revolutionizing Events for the Polkadot Era

Summary

We propose to develop a comprehensive universal events portal specifically designed for the Polkadot ecosystem, serving as the decentralized amalgamation of Luma and DoraHacks while introducing unique on-chain features that will revolutionize how events/hackathons are conducted! This platform will fulfil the complete spectrum of event needs - from simple community meetups and networking sessions to sophisticated multi-track hackathons with integrated judging, funding, and project submission systems. By combining the user-friendly interface and broad appeal of mainstream event platforms with unique web3-native features, PolkArena will revolutionize how events are conducted and experienced.

The platform will serve as the premier destination for all Polkadot ecosystem participants - event attendees, organizers, developers, investors, and community members. Unlike traditional centralized platforms that charge significant fees (Luma charges 5% platform fees for paid events) and lack transparency, PolkArena will leverage Polkadot's infrastructure to provide unprecedented transparency, immutable records, utilisation of Polkadot-exclusive features and no-cost event management tools for Polkadot contributors and all the attendees of the ecosystem events.

Why Kusama?

As we develop the PolkArena in phases, we will be aiming to roll out the miniature event hosting portal first which will run on Kusama AssetHub’s PolkaVM, ready to use for the small scale meetups and non-hackathon events, way before the whole development scope is achieved.

Project Overview

Vision

Building on our experience hosting the AssetHub Hackathon, we (Edgetributor SubDAO and MontaQ Labs) identified the critical need for a unified, web3-native events platform that could handle everything from casual community gatherings to complex multi-day hackathons with sophisticated judging mechanisms and on-chain funding distribution.

The aim is to create the most advanced blockchain-native universal events platform that seamlessly integrates with Polkadot's infrastructure, serving as the decentralized equivalent of Luma while incorporating DoraHacks' sophisticated hackathon capabilities, especially the capabilities often missing from fragmented event management across different platforms.

Core Value Proposition

Unlike traditional event platforms such as Luma (which offers basic event management with limited blockchain integration) or specialized hackathon platforms like DoraHacks (which focuses primarily on developer competitions), PolkArena will be the first platform to combine universal event management capabilities with deep blockchain integrations. Our solution will store critical event data on-chain on PolkaVM, provide native Polkadot tooling integration, and offer features specifically tailored to serve both the technical and non-technical members of the Polkadot community.
Even competitor ecosystems lack such comprehensive on-chain event infrastructure. For example, while Solana has the Colosseum platform for hackathons, it lacks web3-native features and universal event management capabilities.

Ecosystem Benefits

• Universal Event Portal: From 10-person meetups to 1000+ participant hackathons
• Blockchain-native Architecture: Built on PolkaVM for enhanced performance
• Developer Onboarding: Streamlined entry point for new Polkadot developers
• Innovation Catalyst: Platform for showcasing cutting-edge Polkadot capabilities
• Community Growth: Enhanced engagement through gamification and social features
• Talent Hub: Go to place for talent identification, development, and ecosystem onboarding by anyone

Feature Set

Unique Core Features:

• On-Chain Data Storage
  • Event/hackathon details, configurations, and metadata stored immutably on-chain
  • Registrations and check-ins
  • Hackathon project submissions with cryptographic proof of timing and authenticity
  • Participant feedback and judging scores with transparent tracking
  • Complete project changelog history with version control on-chain
  • Live scoring tracker with real-time updates and dispute resolution
• StorageHub Integration
  • Seamless project video and source code storage when StorageHub launches
  • Decentralized file management with content addressing
  • Automatic backup and versioning of project assets
• Developer Experience Tools
  • 1-click local pre-configured devnet deployment using chopsticks for rapid prototyping
  • Chain state snapshot functionality for testing and development (tentative)
  • Universal faucet integration supporting all Polkadot parachains
• Gamification & Learning
  • On-chain quizzes with verifiable completion certificates as NFTs
  • Task-based leaderboards with skill progression tracking
  • Side quests and assignments with automated validation
  • Achievement NFT system for skill milestones
• Advanced Reward System
  • Native DOT distribution with programmable vesting
  • Multi-token support (ERC20/ERC721/ERC1155) for diverse reward structures
  • Automated prize distribution based on smart contract conditions
  • Cross-chain reward compatibility through XCM
• Social & Collaboration Features
  • Grill Chat integration for decentralized communication
  • AI-powered team matching based on complementary skills
  • Mentor network with reputation-based matching
  • Real-time collaboration tools with on-chain coordination
• Event Management
  • Integrated calendar with Luma API for seamless event scheduling
  • Side event coordination with automatic notifications
  • Cross-platform event synchronization
  • Community-driven event discovery
• Recognition & Credentials
  • dotMemo integration for proof of attendance
  • Skill-based achievement system with verifiable credentials
  • Portfolio generation with project showcase capabilities
  • Community reputation scoring with on-chain verification

Additional Features:

• Advanced Analytics Dashboard
  • Real-time participation metrics and engagement tracking
  • Project quality assessment with AI-powered insights
  • Ecosystem health monitoring and trend analysis
  • Predictive analytics for hackathon success factors
• Cross-Chain Compatibility
  • Seamless integration with other Substrate-based chains
  • Cross-parachain project deployment capabilities
  • Universal identity management across the ecosystem
• Enterprise Integration
  • Corporate sponsor dashboards with detailed ROI tracking
  • Advanced filtering and search capabilities for talent recruitment
  • Automated compliance reporting and audit trails
  • Custom branding and white-label solutions
• AI-Powered Features
  • Intelligent project categorization and tagging
  • Automated code quality assessment and feedback
  • Smart matching algorithms for optimal team formation
  • Predictive prize allocation recommendations

Technical Architecture:

The platform will be built using a modular architecture that leverages Polkadot ecosystem's unique capabilities while ensuring scalability and maintainability. Core components include:

• Smart Contract Layer: PolkaVM contracts for complex business logic
• Storage Layer: Hybrid approach using on-chain and StorageHub storage
• Integration Layer: APIs for seamless third-party integrations
• Frontend: Modern React/Nextjs-based interface with Web3 wallet integration

Development Phases

Phase 1: Core Platform Foundation (320 hours - $19,200)

Duration: 18 working days

• Basic hackathon portal infrastructure development
• User authentication system with Web3 wallet integration
• Hackathon creation and management interface
• Basic project submission system
• Foundation admin dashboard with essential controls

Phase 2: Social & Integration Features (280 hours - $16,800)

Duration: 16 working days

• Grill Chat integration for decentralized communication
• Calendar system with Luma API integration
• Side event management with automated coordination
• dotMemo integration for proof of attendance

Phase 3: On-chain Integration & Storage (330 hours - $19,800)

Duration: 19 working days

• Smart contract development for core platform logic
• On-chain storage implementation for hackathon details and configurations
• Blockchain integration layer with Polkadot SDK
• On-chain project submission system
• User feedback and rating system with immutable records

Phase 4: Advanced Features & Tools (240 hours - $14,400)

Duration: 14 working days

• 1-click local devnet deployment functionality
• Universal faucet integration with multi-parachain support
• Leaderboard implementation with real-time updates

Phase 5: Scoring & Rewards System (225 hours - $13,500)

Duration: 13 working days

• Live scoring tracker with transparent judging interface
• On-chain score storage with tie-breaker round(s)
• Automated DOT and multi-token reward distribution system
• NFT reward system supporting ERC721/ERC1155 standards
• On-chain check-in system with attendance verification
• AI based code quality checker and Plagiarism checker to help judges

Phase 6: StorageHub & Advanced Storage (160 hours - $9,600)

Duration: 9 working days

• StorageHub integration framework preparation
• Source code storage system with version control
• Project changelog tracking with comprehensive history
• Advanced file management with content addressing

Phase 7: Testing, Documentation & Launch (140 hours - $8,400)

Duration: 8 working days

• Comprehensive testing suite including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests wherever required
• Security audit and vulnerability assessment
• Complete documentation including developer guides and tutorials
• Community onboarding tools and educational resources
• Production deployment with monitoring and alerting systems

Maintenance: (360 hours across a year - $23,600)

Duration: 12 months

Storage costs (StorageHub/IPFS), instance costs, domain cost and unforeseen expenses: ~ 2000 USD

Maintenance hours: 30 per month

Total Maintenance for 1 year = [{(30 hours * 60$ per hour) * 12months} + 2000] = 23600 USD

Budget Summary

Total Development Hours: 1695 hours
Development budget: 101700 USD

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): 3.09
Contributors involved: 8 (6 from Edgetributor SubDAO + 2 from MontaQ Labs)

Total Maintenance hours for 12 months: 360 hours
Total Maintenance cost for 12 months: 23600 USD

Total Budget: 125300 USD
Total Timeline: 4-5 months (96 working days)

Multisig details

Address: GoPvcf5ZGCkXDejHarXszX1hD1fM5bDmiXDKH6JwAciq2wn
Threshold: 4/6

About MontaQ Labs and Edgetributor SubDAO

MontaQ Labs is an organization dedicated to advancing the future of Web3 technology across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The company operates under the motto "Ideas. Code. Impact" and focuses on fostering innovation through open-source development, community-driven education, and practical tool creation.

Edgetributor SubDAO is a collective of active solo contributors from the Edgeware DAO, one of the oldest substrate projects from the Polkadot ecosystem. Edgetributor SubDAO is currently the maintainer of the treasury-funded Universal Hybrid Substrate Faucet. The SubDAO members bring 3-4 years of Polkadot/Substrate ecosystem experience and expertise from different domains.
Edgetributor SubDAO also curated OpenGov/bounty proposals like development/audit of Paul Miller’s sr25519 package, as well as projects such as Rarible, Studio 54, SolidityScan, etc.
Pioneered Polkadot’s presence in India by successfully representing Polkadot at ETHIndia 2024, hosted the beloved AssetHub Hackathon, Polkadot India IIT Roorkee workshops series, Polkadot India IIT Bombay workshops series, partnered with Pala Labs for volunteering in JAM Tour Mumbai & JAM Tour HongKong.
We Build, We Curate & We Educate!

Conclusion

The PolkArena represents a transformative opportunity to create the most advanced blockchain-native universal events platform which will subliminally capture mindshare for Kusama in all the Polkadot events. By combining proven event management functionalities with innovative on-chain features, we will deliver a platform that serves as the go-to destination for all types of events within the Polkadot community, from simple meetups to complex hackathons.

This development will yield benefits through increased developer adoption especially on Kusama AssetHub, enhanced community engagement in a more structured/unified format, broader event analysis/accessibility/management for hosts of Polkadot events, and more seamless onchain activations.