Cardano’s $5 Million Events Proposal Faces Its First Deadline in Nairobi

The Cardano Foundation is aiming to open applications in December for projects seeking travel support to attend Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi. Laura Mattiucci, the Foundation’s director of marketing and communications, outlined the timing during the second November 9 Q&A with delegated representatives, known as DReps. Nairobi would open a 12-conference program for which the Foundation is seeking $4,999,155 from the Cardano treasury.

Singapore Provides a Model for Selecting Cardano Projects

The Foundation plans to invite applications ahead of each quarter’s events and involve Intersect’s Growth and Marketing Committee in selecting teams. The application process is still being refined, including how to handle teams that want to attend more than one conference.

Mattiucci pointed to TOKEN2049 Singapore as a model. The selection process there considered whether a project was live on mainnet and what it planned to demonstrate at the shared Cardano booth. Treasury funding supported 20 teams at that event, according to Mattiucci.

For 2027, selected teams would receive airfare and hotel accommodation. They would be able to demonstrate products and hold meetings at the shared booth. For Nairobi, the Foundation plans to work with local partners to reach developers in the region ahead of the conference and its accompanying hackathon.

Hackathons Would Connect Developers With Ongoing Support

The proposal includes four hackathons. Mattiucci told DReps that developers in earlier programs had to navigate scattered documentation and had few clear routes to continue building after a hackathon.

She described a follow-up process that would direct participants to developer documentation through Discover Cardano, office hours with technical teams, and community Discord channels. For teams that continue developing their projects, she cited Venture Hub and accelerator programs as potential next steps.

When asked about regional coverage in Latin America, Mattiucci pointed to the hackathon planned alongside LABITCONF in Buenos Aires. She also cited Blockchain.RIO as an example of an event the Foundation would support separately from the treasury request.

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Quarterly Reporting Would Track Conference Results

The Foundation would oversee all 12 events and publish quarterly updates through its treasury reporting portal. Participating projects would also report on their results. The proposal sets targets of 9,520 booth contacts, 137 workshops and builder presentations, and 4,750 registrations for side events. The Foundation plans to publish an event-by-event report within 90 days of the program’s end.

The proposed calendar starts with Africa Tech Summit on February 10 and 11, 2027. Mattiucci told DReps that the Foundation’s participation in Nairobi under the program depends on the treasury withdrawal passing. The published proposal also allows for changes to the conference lineup if approval comes after the end of December.