1. Program Purpose Establish a Cardano-focused accelerator to identify and nurture high-potential startups in DeFi, NFTs, real-world tokenization, gaming, AI, infrastructure, and sustainability. The program will be run by Genius X, leveraging our existing network and track record.

2. Program Design Cohort Size: 5 startups per cohort Total Duration: 5 months

Phases: Phase 1 – Workshop (12 weeks): Weekly sessions on blockchain dev, product-market fit, tokenomics, fundraising, pitch training.

Phase 2 – Continuous Acceleration (3 months): Business development, IDO/TGE prep, community building, and post-Demo Day support.

3. Selection & Onboarding Selection criteria: Founding team, product viability, Cardano alignment, MVP readiness. Projects may also be sourced from existing partner portfolios.

4. Branding & Marketing Strong visibility for participating startups and the program through co-marketing, campaigns, and Demo Day event promotions.

Support & Advisory Scope Genius X will provide: Business Strategy: Ideation, market analysis, GTM strategy. Technical Guidance: Smart contracts, Cardano infra, architecture. Token Design: Tokenomics, legal frameworks, compliance. Fundraising: Pitch deck, VC intros, IDO strategy. Marketing: Branding, campaign execution, community growth. Legal & Compliance: Regulatory frameworks, KYC/AML. Post-TGE Growth: Strategic scaling, long-term support.

Impact

1. Catalyzing Ecosystem Growth Onboard startups into Cardano that are ready to launch and scale, contributing directly to ecosystem innovation.

2. Developer Attraction Encourage builders to choose Cardano through expert mentorship and network access.

3. Long-Term SustainabilityProjects receive support beyond the accelerator, improving the chances of continued success and ecosystem contribution.

4. Cross-Industry EngagementSupports diverse verticals: DeFi, NFTs, gaming, AI, tokenized assets, and more.

Capability & Feasibility 15+ startups already in Genius X's portfolio, raising over $5–7M. Active accelerator in operation since January 2022. Genius X Launchpad live on Cardano.

Trusted partners: Cardano Foundation, NMKR, Liqwid, Mlabs, dcSpark, ZkFold, FluidTokens, and more.

The Cardano ecosystem has many promising projects, but a lack of dedicated, structured support limits their ability to reach market readiness. Founders need access to expert mentorship, funding, and Cardano-specific guidance to build sustainable, scalable applications.

Launch a Cardano Accelerator Program to accelerate 5 promising startups per cohort with workshops, expert mentorship, and grants—expanding Cardano’s ecosystem with impactful projects.

5 startups onboarded into the Cardano Accelerator Program. 12-week workshop phase delivered: covering development, product-market fit, marketing, tokenomics, and pitch training. Demo Day executed with participation from Cardano community members, investors, and ecosystem leaders. $180,000 in grants distributed to 5 selected startups (with additional grants to top 2). 3-month post-acceleration phase with weekly or monthly advisory, focused on business scaling, TGE readiness, and community growth. Tracking and reporting on KPIs such as MVP delivery, user acquisition, fundraising progress, and TGE outcomes.

What the Community Receives A new cohort of 5 Cardano-native startups, each with validated business models and Cardano-aligned products. Increased ecosystem visibility and engagement through Demo Day and follow-up events. Improved access to Cardano-aligned tools, platforms, and protocols that address real-world problems. Demonstrated and measurable impact in terms of TVL, users, and dev activity from the accelerated projects. Transparent reporting and open communications on milestone outcomes.

Cohort Operational Cost (Workshops, Mentors, Logistics) = $130,000

Grants to Startups = $180,000

$30k each granted to all 5 startups upon onboarding $15k additional for 2 “winners” after Demo Day

Marketing & Services-Related Fees (Covers design, media collaborations, social pushes, plus event promotions.) = $30,000

Total = $340,000

Total Duration: 5 months

Team Size: Approximately 8–10 people 3 Program Managers & Strategic Advisors 2–3 Mentors/Subject-Matter Experts across technical, tokenomics, and legal domains 2 Community & Marketing Specialists 1 Demo Day & Events Coordinator Additional support from external mentors, investors, and partner networks on a sessional basis Time commitment varies by role, averaging 10–20 hours per month per contributor during peak delivery phases

The Genius X team has extensive experience operating accelerator programs and supporting startups in the Cardano ecosystem:

Active since 2022, Genius X has run multiple accelerator cycles supporting over 15 startups.

Portfolio projects have raised over $5–7 million USD collectively through VC funding, IDOs, and private sales.

We have supported well-known ecosystem dApps such as Maestro, SmartPlaces, FluidTokens, Ledgity, ZkFold, and others.

The Genius X Launchpad is live and successfully operating.

Our team includes serial entrepreneurs, blockchain engineers, legal and compliance experts, tokenomics specialists, and marketing strategists.

We maintain partnerships with leading Cardano stakeholders including the Cardano Foundation, NMKR, Liqwid, Mlabs, dcSpark, and others.

This proposal builds directly on Genius X's proven accelerator model, track record, and technical infrastructure to deliver sustained impact for Cardano.

This program is an extension of the existing Genius X accelerator infrastructure, which has been actively operating since 2022. The accelerator and its network will continue to provide: Post-cohort follow-up: Ongoing check-ins with cohort participants to track growth and provide additional support as needed. Access to mentors and advisors: Cohort alumni retain access to Genius X's mentor network. Launchpad integration: Projects may access Genius X's Launchpad for IDOs and further capital formation. Ecosystem matchmaking: Continued introductions to partners, tech integrators, and collaborators. The accelerator infrastructure is fully operational and sustainable through ongoing Genius X activities and service revenues, allowing long-term support beyond the initial proposal timeline.

Multiple past projects from the Genius X accelerator (e.g., Maestro, SmartPlaces, FluidTokens, Ledgity, ZkFold) have launched successfully and received Catalyst or VC backing. Collaborations with respected ecosystem leaders like Mlabs, and dcSpark provide additional trust and alignment. Demo Day events consistently attract investors, mentors, and Cardano community members, creating direct pipelines for funding and traction. Genius X regularly receives inbound applications from builders worldwide, signaling strong demand for a Cardano-native accelerator.

Ongoing alignment and collaboration with Cardano ecosystem partners . Continued access to and availability of experienced mentors and industry experts.

Stable development environment and developer tooling on the Cardano blockchain.

Community and investor engagement for Demo Day and post-acceleration support.

Grant disbursement management for early-stage startup funding.