{"signature": "0x9bd194259f59234e8623393bcb25e03e6921d48c7bf25da07a34d7e20986434d71169c86838e6570d429518c960b550aae6a6d4803d6516d7a016b61fa25ff041c", "application": {"round": "0x0d1bab6d06e5059f4abc6034809aa2fb74aa13a6", "answers": [{"type": "email", "answer": "bilal@vrtuhub.com", "hidden": true, "question": "Email Address", "questionId": 0}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "We empower crypto projects, communities and ambassadors to build real brand awareness and engagement through a unique combination of tech reviews and community-driven competitive gaming, both virtually and through real-world events.\n\nYou can watch a video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlHE5S-383E&t\n", "hidden": false, "question": "Provide a brief description of your project", "questionId": 1}, {"type": "checkbox", "answer": ["On-Chain Society", "Games"], "hidden": true, "question": "Which of the following Metis ecosystem themes does your project focus on? (Select all that apply)", "questionId": 2}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Brand association & product placement: Having a highly SEO-optimised platform that associates crypto with something other than crypto. This allows us to reach new communities and potential users to onboard. As a new platform, without a massive existing fan base, we are unbounded by the concerns existing platforms have over crypto-adverting, which is generally their existing users will call them a ‘sell-out’ and abandon them. These platforms may have more relaxed regulations and a more receptive audience.\nContent Marketing: Focus on creating high-quality, informative content and make use of product placement, reviews,  events and tournaments that enable you to extend your reach beyond your current Discord/X communities. This improves SEO rankings and attracts organic traffic.\nSEO Optimization: Optimized platform and content for keywords using best practices. This includes creating high-quality backlinks and associating your product with gaming & tech which are both big web traffic generators. \nCommunity Building: Foster a strong and engaged community around your project & ecosystem. A loyal and active community can help amplify your message and improve search engine visibility.\nTech Reviews with Credibility: Our platform leverages crypto communities to generate honest and SEO-optimized tech reviews. Project ambassadors can become side reviewers, promoting your projects through strategic placements and banner ads. If an ambassador needs tech something to boost the quality, of work they can request funding for it from the project and produce a genuine review for the internet and community which builds trust and brand association while enhancing SEO visibility.\nAI-Assisted Content Creation: We simplify article creation for existing YouTubers by converting their video reviews into written content using our AI tool. This expands their reach and allows crypto projects to leverage it for ads without compromising existing audience relationships on platforms such as YouTube.\nCommunity-driven eSports: Vrtuhub fosters collaboration by hosting eSports tournaments featuring crypto project communities. This creates a dynamic and engaging marketing experience, attracting a vast and enthusiastic audience.\nCommunity-backed Sports: Vrtuhub fosters collaboration by hosting sporting tournaments such as paintballing and karting, featuring crypto project communities. This creates a dynamic and engaging marketing experience, attracting a vast and enthusiastic audience.", "hidden": true, "question": "Describe your project's approach to community engagement and self-marketing", "questionId": 3}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Community-first Approach: We prioritize community engagement over unsustainable VC-backed models.\nCost-effective Marketing: Our model minimizes costs for projects by leveraging existing communities and bringing multiple projects to contribute together.\nSustainable Prize Pools: Entry fees from participating projects create substantial prize pools, attracting professional gamers and boosting competition.\nFocus on Authenticity: We utilize genuine content creation by crypto ambassadors, ensuring brand trust and credibility.", "hidden": true, "question": "How do you plan to drive user adoption and a supportive environment within the Metis ecosystem?", "questionId": 4}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Our Progress Current Achievements:\nA developed Web 2 platform.\nFull native Video on demand, and Live streaming integration.\nWorking Real-time chat functionality. \nDeveloped team dashboard, with a rich text editor for content publishing.\nDeveloped match/tournament creator.\nGrowing YouTube channel with healthy engagement and affiliate revenue.\nGained interest in various crypto projects.#\nMayhem which is one of the biggest paintballing venues in the UK, London and gets around 2000 weekly users has expressed interest in joining our platform and having tournaments broadcast there. \niRacing, which has the largest PRO SIM Racing Community has granted us permission to organise and broadcast tournaments with our own crypto sponsors. \nvrtuhub.com is for consuming content, and team.vrtuhub.com is for publishing. managing and creating content. \n", "hidden": true, "question": "Provide a clear roadmap of your project, including key milestones and deliverables.  You may provide a link to an accompanying document or sheet if needed.", "questionId": 5}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Boot strapped project with the web 2 element built and operating. YouTube channel with almost 3k subs and generating over 13k viewers on a monthly basis \n\nMy background or experience may not be the best this is my first business and first startup but I've independently built out a platform that is already making revenue now (around $300 a month and growing) which speaks about my belief and determination to get this out there and make it big.", "hidden": true, "question": "How does your team's expertise contribute to the successful execution of the project? Please provide relevant background information", "questionId": 6}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "What We Need and How You Can Help:\nWe are seeking funding to develop Vrtuhubs web 3 side and execute some marketing strategies. Your contribution will enable us to:\nThis has been broken down into milestone achievements however I am flexible with the allocation. \nThe Web 3 side is to publish content which is tech reviews, blogs, dev journals, match results & NFT that act as ‘proof’ cards directly to the blockchain. This can be either through IPFS or I am exploring options to have the text content directly on the blockchain as text. There are also intends to build a DAO, that will act as the governing body of vrtuhub web 3 and handle prize pool distribution, cheating or other pleas/requests.\nFunding Milestone 1: $2,000\nGoal: Increase brand awareness for Vrtuhub and Metis.\nMilestones:\nLaunch a social media marketing campaign targeting crypto enthusiasts and influencers.\nCreate engaging content, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, to educate the audience about Vrtuhub and Metis.\nCollaborate with relevant crypto communities and influencers to promote Vrtuhub and Metis.\nOrganise some eSport events to showcase the possibilities\nFunding Milestone 2: $8,000\nGoal: Develop and finalise our plans for the Web3 rollout.\nMilestones:\nConduct market research to identify the most suitable blockchain technology for Vrtuhub's needs.\nDevelop diagrams outlining the key components and functionalities of the Web3 structure.\nAssess the viability of our plan and address any concerns or shortcomings.\nConsult with blockchain experts to validate the proposed approach and identify potential challenges and any legal hurdles.\nCreate a roadmap outlining the development timeline and resource requirements.\nFunding Milestone 3: $15,000\nGoal: Produce concepts and working smart contracts.\nMilestones:\nDevelop detailed specifications for the smart contracts required for the Web3 structure.\nWrite and test the smart contracts written in solitary and have workable prototypes.\nFunding Milestone 4: $25,000\nGoal: Develop functional prototypes.\nMilestones:\nBuild interactive prototypes demonstrating the key features and functionalities of the Web3 structure.\nRefine the prototypes based on user feedback and testing results.\nFunding Milestone 5: $25,000+\nThis would be used for further development needs", "hidden": true, "question": "Provide a breakdown of how you plan to utilize the funds in increments (e.g., first $2k, next $2k, etc.) to maximize your project's impact within the Metis ecosystem. Also, explain how you would adjust your plans if you still need to meet your full funding target and raise meaningful funds.", "questionId": 7}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "It's a new project not currently deployed onto any chains however I am exploring options to make it crosschain or support other blockchains.\n\nAn idea I have is to have separate content managers and publishers for each blockchain and project sign on and publish on a single blockchain, them and viewers access all chains from one viewing platform.\n\nAlternatively, I can explore options such as sticking to a single blockchain and using bridging/layer zero.  I cannot commit to this right now, not knowing how much funding, if any vrtuhub may get. Convincing projects deployed on other chains such as BNBChain, Abrithum, Matic etc to come to Metis to get involved with us is going to be a huge barrier for them. If the vision and the demand out there is as big as I believe it is,  putting up barriers makes little sense.  I am open to exploring options that can make this work.\n\nThere are other chains that may be interested in finding a path to make this work, get funding and get the web 3 development going will still need to be worked out. I am aware Metis has a grant framework for additional funding which I can apply to after I've gone through the bitcoin stages, where I will be required to make commitments. and I am confident something can be worked out to get this out there and take it to the top/", "hidden": true, "question": "Is this a new or ongoing project? If ongoing, briefly describe your past contributions to the Metis ecosystem, including any CVP approval, supplemental support received, and specific results achieved.", "questionId": 8}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Unofficially partnered with Venus Protocol, which is the largest lending platform in BNBChain, that will help bring Vrtuhub to market. They have a vast network of partners and contacts to help with the marketing. \n\nThe biggest PRO SIM Racing game, iRacing has granted us permission to organise and broadcast tournaments with our own crypto sponsors.\n\nOne of UK's biggest paintballing Venues wishes to partner with us, in creating a crypto-friendly paintballing tournaments broadcasted live on vrtuhub with crypto-backed teams and advertising. They have around 2000 non-crypto players/visitors a week and the paintballing community in general is huge. \n\nThe platform already has support for live streaming, Broadcasting, Real-time Chat, users and sign/up. \n\nBlast, another ERC Layer 2 has expressed some interest in this project but nothing has been agreed. ", "hidden": true, "question": "Is there anything else you'd like to share about your project, previous work, or other affiliations that may help determine project eligibility?", "questionId": 9}, {"type": "dropdown", "answer": " Yes, I have read the entire Code of Conduct and additional points and agree to follow these standards.", "hidden": true, "question": "Do you confirm that you have read the entire Code of Conduct (https://support.gitcoin.co/gitcoin-knowledge-base/about-gitcoin/code-of-conduct) including the additional emphasis on collaboration and prohibition of quid pro quo, and agree to abide by these standards?", "questionId": 10}, {"type": "dropdown", "answer": " Yes, I commit to upholding these principles.", "hidden": true, "question": "Do you commit to upholding these collaboration principles and prohibiting quid pro quo (https://support.gitcoin.co/gitcoin-knowledge-base/gitcoin-grants/general-questions/what-is-our-quid-pro-quo-policy) practices?", "questionId": 11}], "project": {"id": "0x00711440f0bc5c68eaed62150a7cc20070aada3902128c6507e55479cc02b4d7", "title": "vrtuhub ltd", "logoImg": "bafkreib3vjonzt2hraxu7sgqsvioekssz4df7flwhhwt4csa5o4cztbqpi", "metaPtr": {"pointer": "bafkreifmc6on5xwb352dzpvuvswjflz4b7fysvbhl7upbrtq6266ygfozm", "protocol": "undefined"}, "website": "https://www.vrtuhub.com", "bannerImg": "bafkreiadl6rlile5bcsdg7c2kygwejl6trqak52iw6zyulkneqcynpxdhq", "createdAt": 1726222102733, "credentials": {"twitter": {"type": ["VerifiableCredential"], "proof": {"jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il0sImI2NCI6ZmFsc2V9..BmMKssiwtrpxIasstO7mi4SJtsyChDZyzuMpJGDBlsARYuhbWU-aoUp9GfkimeygjUHr0zgaFco-1HhNRjpvDA", "type": "Ed25519Signature2018", "created": "2024-09-13T09:43:32.656Z", "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod", "verificationMethod": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC#z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC"}, "issuer": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC", "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"], "issuanceDate": "2024-09-13T09:43:32.656Z", "expirationDate": "2024-12-12T09:43:32.656Z", "credentialSubject": {"id": "did:pkh:eip155:1:0x47cf4BA3eA1C45509b119F25d519aa263439E1dA", "hash": "v0.0.0:xtmMtU+mvCog8Me9DHoQfIQYbZSxy4iSGvJWxhu2zIg=", "@context": [{"hash": "https://schema.org/Text", "provider": "https://schema.org/Text"}], "provider": "ClearTextTwitter#VRTUHUB"}}}, "description": "Vrtuhub is an innovative platform that tackles ineffective marketing strategies in the crypto space. This does not help with adoption. Projects often rely on bots and fake followers, organising competitions to inflate their follower counts on platforms like Twitter, Telegram, and Discord. This practice creates an illusion of popularity but fails to build genuine engagement. We empower crypto projects to build genuine brand awareness and engagement through a unique combination of tech reviews and community-driven competitive gaming both virtually and real-world events. Reaching and building a brand outside the crypto crowd is challenging, and vrtuhub directly addresses this by giving crypto platforms control over advertising, content and reaching out crypto and non-crypto communities alike.\n\nWe empower crypto projects to build real brand awareness and engagement through a unique combination of tech reviews and community-driven competitive gaming, both virtually and through real-world events. Reaching beyond the crypto community is challenging, and Vrtuhub addresses this by giving crypto platforms control over their advertising and content, helping them reach both crypto and non-crypto audiences alike. \n\n**Main website:** [vrtuhub.com](https://www.vrtuhub.com) \n**Team dashboard (content manager and publisher):** [team.vrtuhub.com](https://www.team.vrtuhub.com) \n**Short video overview:** [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlHE5S-383E&t=2s)\n\n## Challenges in Crypto Marketing \n![enter image description here](https://d112y698adiu2z.cloudfront.net/photos/production/software_photos/002/961/626/datas/gallery.jpg)\n\n### Ineffective Traditional Marketing\n\n-   Platform Restrictions: Many major platforms, like Google and Facebook, have imposed strict regulations on crypto advertising. This limits the reach and visibility of crypto projects.\n    \n-   Consumer Skepticism: The complexity and all the scams and rug pulls happening in this space often lead to consumer skepticism and distrust.\n    \n-   Misaligned Target Audience:  Many crypto projects promote crypto with crypto & crypto to other crypto users. This does not help with adoption.\n    \n\n### SEO Challenges\n![enter image description here](https://d112y698adiu2z.cloudfront.net/photos/production/software_photos/002/961/640/datas/gallery.jpg)\n\n![enter image description here](https://d112y698adiu2z.cloudfront.net/photos/production/software_photos/002/961/625/datas/gallery.jpg)\n\n-   Algorithm Bias: Search engine algorithms are heavily reliant on keyboards used, and posting content, articles or even videos fully focused on crypto narrows your target group to those looking for crypto, and those crypto-related keywords, making it difficult for projects to rank high in search results.\n    \n-   Competition: The crowded crypto market can make it challenging to stand out and compete for top search engine rankings. To get discovered audiences have to already know you exist either through expensive marketing or word-of-mouth exchange.\n    \n-   Lack of Quality Content: Many crypto projects struggle to produce high-quality, informative content that search engines value. The content they produce seems to target their existing communities, like saying read what we’ve published on the discord but this doesn't attract new users.\n    \n\n### Vrtuhub Solutions:\n\n-   Brand association & product placement: Having a highly SEO-optimised platform that associates crypto with something other than crypto. This allows us to reach new communities and potential users to onboard. As a new platform, without a massive existing fan base, we are unbounded by the concerns existing platforms have over crypto-adverting, which is generally their existing users will call them a ‘sell-out’ and abandon them. These platforms may have more relaxed regulations and a more receptive audience.\n    \n-   Content Marketing: Focus on creating high-quality, informative content and make use of product placement, reviews, events and tournaments that enable you to extend your reach beyond your current Discord/X communities. This improves SEO rankings and attract organic traffic.\n    \n-   SEO Optimization: Optimized platform and content for keywords using best practices. This includes creating high-quality backlinks and associating your product with gaming & tech which are both big web traffic generators.\n    \n-   Community Building: Foster a strong and engaged community around your project & ecosystem. A loyal and active community can help amplify your message and improve search engine visibility.\n    \n\n-   Tech Reviews with Credibility: Our platform leverages crypto communities to generate honest and SEO-optimized tech reviews. Project ambassadors can become side reviewers, promoting your projects through strategic placements and banner ads. If an ambassador needs tech something to boost the quality, of work they can request funding for it from the project and produce a genuine review for the internet and community which builds trust and brand association while enhancing SEO visibility.\n    \n-   AI-Assisted Content Creation: We simplify article creation for existing YouTubers by converting their video reviews into written content using our AI tool. This expands their reach and allows crypto projects to leverage it for ads without compromising existing audience relationships on platforms such as YouTube.\n    \n-   Community-driven eSports: Vrtuhub fosters collaboration by hosting eSports tournaments featuring crypto project communities. This creates a dynamic and engaging marketing experience, attracting a vast and enthusiastic audience.\n    \n-   Community-backed Sports: Vrtuhub fosters collaboration by hosting sporting tournaments such as paintballing and karting, featuring crypto project communities. This creates a dynamic and engaging marketing experience, attracting a vast and enthusiastic audience.\n    \n\n### Key Features:\n\n-   Tech Reviews: Publish high-quality tech reviews (video & articles) with strategic product placement and banner ads.\n    \n-   AI Review Generator: Convert video reviews into written content for improved SEO and marketing reach.\n    \n-   Theta Edge Cloud Integration: Broadcast eSports and sporting events live with professional commentary, leveraging Theta's technology for efficient broadcasting.\n    \n-   Community esports/events: Organize and participate in eSports tournaments with crypto project communities.\n    \n-   Real-time Chat: Enhance audience engagement during live-streamed events with a real-time chat feature.\n    \n\n### Why Vrtuhub is Different:\n\n-   Community-first Approach: We prioritize community engagement over unsustainable VC-backed models.\n    \n-   Cost-effective Marketing: Our model minimizes costs for projects by leveraging existing communities and bringing multiple projects to contribute together.\n    \n-   Sustainable Prize Pools: Entry fees from participating projects create substantial prize pools, attracting professional gamers and boosting competition.\n    \n-   Focus on Authenticity: We utilize genuine content creation by crypto ambassadors, ensuring brand trust and credibility.\n    \n\n### Our Progress and Achievements:\n\n![enter image description here](https://d112y698adiu2z.cloudfront.net/photos/production/software_photos/002/968/808/datas/gallery.jpg)\n\n\n-   A developed Web 2 platform.\n    \n-   Full native Video on demand, and Live streaming integration.\n    \n-   Working Real-time chat functionality.\n    \n-   Developed team dashboard, with a rich text editor for content publishing.\n    \n-   Developed match/tournament creator.\n    \n-   Growing YouTube channel with healthy engagement and affiliate revenue.\n    \n-   Gained interest in various crypto projects.#\n    \n-   Mayhem which is one of the biggest paintballing venues in the UK, London and gets around 2000 weekly users has expressed interest in joining our platform and having tournaments broadcast there.\n    \n-   iRacing, which has the largest PRO SIM Racing Community has granted us permission to organise and broadcast tournaments with our own crypto sponsors.\n    \n\nvrtuhub.com is for consuming content, and team.vrtuhub.com is for publishing. managing and creating content.\n\n## What We Need and How You Can Help:\n\nWe are seeking funding to develop Vrtuhubs web 3 side and execute some marketing strategies. Your contribution will enable us to:\n\nThis has been broken down into milestone achievements however I am flexible with the allocation.\n\nThe Web 3 side is to publish content which is tech reviews, blogs, dev journals, match results & NFT that act as ‘proof’ cards directly to the blockchain. This can be either through IPFS or I am exploring options to have the text content directly on the blockchain as text. There are also intends to build a DAO, that will act as the governing body of vrtuhub web 3 and handle prize pool distribution, cheating or other pleas/requests.\n\n**Funding Milestone 1: $2,000**\n\n-   Goal: Increase brand awareness for Vrtuhub and Metis.\n    \n-   Milestones:\n    \n\n-   Launch a social media marketing campaign targeting crypto enthusiasts and influencers.\n    \n-   Create engaging content, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, to educate the audience about Vrtuhub and Metis.\n    \n-   Collaborate with relevant crypto communities and influencers to promote Vrtuhub and Metis.\n    \n-   Organise some eSport events to showcase the possibilities\n    \n\n**Funding Milestone 2: $8,000**\n\n-   Goal: Develop and finalise our plans for the Web3 rollout.\n    \n-   Milestones:\n    \n\n-   Conduct market research to identify the most suitable blockchain technology for Vrtuhub's needs.\n    \n-   Develop diagrams outlining the key components and functionalities of the Web3 structure.\n    \n-   Assess the viability of our plan and address any concerns or shortcomings.\n    \n-   Consult with blockchain experts to validate the proposed approach and identify potential challenges and any legal hurdles.\n    \n-   Create a roadmap outlining the development timeline and resource requirements.\n    \n\n**Funding Milestone 3: $15,000**\n\n-   Goal: Produce concepts and working smart contracts.\n    \n-   Milestones:\n    \n\n-   Develop detailed specifications for the smart contracts required for the Web3 structure.\n    \n-   Write and test the smart contracts written in solitary and have workable prototypes.\n    \n\n**Funding Milestone 4: $25,000**\n\n-   Goal: Develop functional prototypes.\n    \n-   Milestones:\n    \n\n-   Build interactive prototypes demonstrating the key features and functionalities of the Web3 structure.\n    \n-   Refine the prototypes based on user feedback and testing results.\n    \n\n**Funding Milestone 5: $25,000+**\n\n-   This would be used for further development needs\n    \n\n## Join the Vrtuhub Revolution:\n\nBy supporting Vrtuhub, you're contributing to a disruptive shift in crypto marketing. Let's build a vibrant ecosystem where crypto projects can thrive through authentic engagement and community-driven initiatives. As a bootstrapped project I've been developing independently for a year, I'm at a point where much of the Web 2 development is done and I want to get things rolling through marketing and focus on building the web 3 side", "lastUpdated": 0, "projectTwitter": "VRTUHUB"}, "recipient": "0x47cf4BA3eA1C45509b119F25d519aa263439E1dA"}}