Ink!ubator 2.0 – Change of curators for bounty #19

Strategy update:

Given that the execution of ref#1160 failed and bounty #19 is still open, we have decided to take a different approach to execute this proposal. We're moving away from opening a new bounty, which now clearly feels unnecessary, and instead pursuing the substitution of the current curator set.

We have communicated our intentions to the current curator set. It's also worth noting that the main motivation for closing bounty #19 seemed to be the lack of activity. We believe that refreshing the set with a group of passionate and involved agents will have a positive effect on both the application developers using ink! and the ecosystem as a whole.

The change of curators won't be accompanied by a top-up. We will focus on leveraging the existing funds and demonstrating demand.

The action plan will unfold as follows:

A referendum proposing the new curator set will be opened.
Once the decision deposit for the above referendum is paid, the current curator set will sign and submit unassign_curator().
The referendum will be executed.
The newly proposed curator will sign and submit accept_curator().
ink!ubator will reopen its doors. The website will be updated, and new applicants will be welcomed.

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Hey community! 👋

We've decided to move our discussion from the Polkadot Forum to this platform to continue our conversation here.

We are presenting ink!ubator 2.0 as a proposal to the Polkadot Treasury for continued innovation within the Polkadot ecosystem through projects utilizing ink! smart contracts. and ofc, we would like to hear the community thoughts first!

We have recently posted the ink!ubator 1.0 report and it is already finalised. But we would like to continue this initiative with the feedback and comments from the community.

We are aware of the existing proposal to return funds from ink!ubator 1.0 to the Treasury; however, given the recent failure of ref#1160 and the continued status of bounty #19, we are pivoting towards a different strategy. Instead of opening a new bounty, which now seems redundant, we have decided to refresh the existing curator set to reinvigorate the initiative.

We have communicated this decision to the current curator set and believe that bringing in a new, more engaged group will drive renewed interest among developers using ink! and strengthen the ecosystem.

Key highlights of the proposal:
🔶 Ecosystem grants focus: We aim to incubate around 10+ high-potential projects, with each project receiving a grant in the range of $50,000 - $60,000. These funds will enable developers to focus on delivering innovative products that contribute to the Polkadot and ink! smart contract ecosystems.

🔶 Mentorship and guidance: ink!ubator 2.0 will provide professional mentorship through active curators who will guide projects in the creation of ideas from inception to completion. The selection criteria for curators are stringent, based on deep technical and ecosystem development experience; hence, supported teams will be able to get the best resources possible.

What will be different from ink!ubator 1.0:
🔶 The experience gained from ink!ubator 1.0 has deeply influenced the development of ink!ubator 2.0. We have reimagined our curator selection process in such a way that the curators remain motivated and on board during the whole project life cycle. Second, the incubator has been streamlined because now it will focus only on ecosystem grants since those have been most productive concerning the effort and resource involved.

Also, we understand the issue of Transparency in the ink!ubator 1.0, so we aim to do even more frequent reports and post more detailed feedback on the GitHun for each application!

💎 Curators panel:
Selection for our project is secured at the highest possible level of quality and innovation, hence we have reserved a panel of experienced curators bringing along wealth and hands-on experience from across Polkadot and ink! ecosystems:

Michi (ex-Parity)
W3F (Web3 Foundation)
David Semakula
R0GUE
Sam Ruberti
and Facilitator: Toma Sadova

🔶Why treasury support is critical:
Funding from the Polkadot Treasury is needed to both enable developers and ensure continued growth within the Polkadot network. Investments in ink! smart contracts are funding projects in the Treasury that have real value-add for Polkadot by empowering its technology and attracting new waves of innovating developers.

The requested support of 600,000 - 1,000,000 USD will enable ink!ubator 2.0 to:

Deliver impactful projects that align with Polkadot’s vision.
Empower developers to push the limits of decentralized technology.
Strengthen Polkadot’s position as a leader in blockchain innovation.

What the future holds: Through ink!ubator 2.0, we aim to:

Expand the reach and influence of ink! within the Polkadot ecosystem.
Foster the development of scalable and sustainable decentralized solutions.
Bring innovative tools and frameworks that contribute to Web3 and blockchain technology on a global scale.
Together, with the Polkadot Treasury’s support, we can lay the foundation for the next era of decentralized innovation.

📜 You can find the full proposal document below for a detailed breakdown: