Proposal Title: [Quadratic Funding Round #1] ODTU Blockchain
Application Questions:
Please provide an overview of the project:
Established in 2021 at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, ODTU Blockchain is a dynamic community driven by a passion for blockchain education and innovation. Over the past three years, we have evolved into a leading educational hub, attracting individuals from diverse backgrounds to learn and collaborate in the field of blockchain technology.
Educational Focus 
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Our primary commitment lies in providing unparalleled educational opportunities to students and enthusiasts interested in blockchain. Through workshops and seminars, we empower our members to deepen their understanding and practical skills in blockchain development and application.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Developers 
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With a seasoned team of developers and educators, we are uniquely positioned to nurture the next generation of blockchain talent in Turkey. Our curriculum goes beyond theory, equipping participants with real-world skills and experiences that are highly sought after in today’s digital economy.
Collaborative Spirit 
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While education is our core focus, we recognize the importance of community in driving collective progress. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with industry leaders, academic institutions, and fellow communities, we enrich our educational offerings and amplify our impact on the blockchain ecosystem.
Mission and Vision 
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Our mission is to democratize access to blockchain education and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within Turkey and beyond. By empowering individuals with knowledge and skills, we aim to shape a future where blockchain technology drives positive change and creates opportunities for all.
As students of METU, we are committed to leading the way in blockchain education and innovation, paving the path for a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.
Target Audience 
Our initiatives cater to the following groups:
- Blockchain communities of universities and students interested in blockchain technology.
- Academics interested in cryptography, finance, and blockchain development.
- Blockchain and Web3 startups seeking consulting or development assistance in the blockchain field.
Please explain how your project meets the round eligibility criteria:
As ODTÜ Blockchain, we organize various events and create many resources to educate blockchain enthusiasts. Here are some examples of what we’ve done to provide education.
Blockchain Fundamentals: We have successfully conducted numerous educational sessions on blockchain fundamentals, attracting many students and individuals interested in the subject. To make these resources accessible to the public, we have uploaded the session recordings to our YouTube channel.
Blockchain Days 2022: In December 2022, we organized a two-day blockchain summit in Ankara, which was the largest of its kind in the city. More than 1000 people attended, and the event featured 18 different subject headings, including finance, law, and cryptology. We hosted 41 expert speakers who shared their knowledge and insights. We uploaded all panel videos from the summit to our YouTube channel, making them accessible to thousands of people. Additionally, we organized 4 workshops during the summit, allowing our participants to engage with the showcased products and applications.- Blockchain Days 2024: In March 2024, Blockchain Days, which attracted more than 1000 participants, brought together 33 expert speakers with 25 different panel topics. At this summit, where we discussed Blockchain technology in various fields such as law, security, design, and more, participants not only enhanced their knowledge but also had the opportunity to get to know top-level projects in the market.We will upload all panel videos from the summit to our YouTube channel soon, making them accessible to thousands of people. Additionally, with a total of 3 workshops, including one on ‘Avalanche Subnets,’ participants had the opportunity to further develop themselves. In addition, by hosting the second day of our summit online, we enabled blockchain enthusiasts who couldn’t be physically present to watch our panels.
Workshops: We have conducted more than 15 workshops so far. Among them, we offered our developers the opportunity to improve themselves on various topics, including a workshop on ‘Avalanche Subnets’.
ranDEVu: We hold monthly developer meet-ups in Ankara, providing a platform for open discussions and networking opportunities among developers in the blockchain ecosystem.
dApp Development Series: In our DApp development series on YouTube, we have created comprehensive step-by-step tutorials covering various cutting-edge concepts in the Web3 ecosystem.
Using our community Twitter account, we organized discussions on Twitter Spaces with many experienced individuals, aiming to broaden people’s horizons.
Besides our own hosted events, we contributed to people’s education by attending as speakers at various events.
Written sources: We published 22 Medium articles covering various topics, providing them for people to use. Among them, one of the most engaging articles was our piece titled ‘DAG, Avalanche & Node,’ where we explained how to set up an Avalanche Node.
Hackathon Achievements: ODTU Blockchain has consistently excelled in various prestigious hackathons, demonstrating our team’s technical expertise, innovative thinking, and dedication to solving real-world challenges. We have received notable prizes and recognition from renowned hackathon events, showcasing our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions in the Web3 space.
Here are some highlights of our remarkable achievements 
:
Avalanche Barcelona Hackathon 2022 – Best Use of Covalent API : At the Avalanche Barcelona Hackathon, our team leveraged Covalent’s powerful API to enhance the functionality of decentralized applications on the Avalanche blockchain.
ETHGlobal Amsterdam 2022 – Mina Protocol – Third Place : In the ETHAmsterdam 2022 Hackathon, we secured the third-place position by creating a novel application(ERC721-like standard) for the Mina Protocol.
ETHPrague Hackathon 2022 – Hacker’s Favorite Award : At ETHPrague Hackathon 2022, our project received the prestigious Hacker’s Favorite Award, recognizing the popularity and positive feedback from fellow participants and judges.
ETHBerlin Hackathon 2022 – Lens Protocol Pool Prize : During ETHBerlin Hackathon 2022, our team was honored with the Lens Protocol Pool Prize for developing an encrypted messaging platform.
EnerjiSA Hackathon 2022 – First Place : At the EnerjiSA hackathon, centered around ReFi, our team secured the top position with our innovative project on carbon credits and energy trading.
ETHPrivacy & Scaling Explorations 2023 – First Place : In the ETHPrivacy & Scaling Explorations Hackathon 2023, we claimed the coveted first-place position by presenting a privacy-focused solution.
ETHGlobal Paris 2023 – 4 Prizes : Most recently, at ETHParis 2023, we secured four prizes from different sponsors (UMA, zkBob, Push Protocol, Neon EVM).
ETHGlobal Istanbul 2023 Hackathon: Participating with 4 teams, we achieved significant success by winning numerous awards and ranking high in the competition. (Arbitrum, Chiliz, Filecoin, Scroll, Worldcoin)
How does your project benefit the Avalanche Ecosystem? Please mention any existing or upcoming partnerships:
Our project aligns perfectly with the round-specific eligibility criteria for the Education grants. We have a proven track record of contributing to the education sector by establishing and supporting new communities through our events, educational initiatives, and workshops. Our efforts in providing educational resources, fostering socialization among blockchain enthusiasts through events like Blockchain Days and ranDEVu, and creating content on our YouTube channel demonstrate our commitment to advancing the education ecosystem.
Furthermore, our dedication to inclusion and diversity is evident in our active engagement with academics, web3 protocols, and various educational institutions. We acknowledge the importance of education in shaping the development of future generations and strive to offer comprehensive educational opportunities to everyone through our initiatives.
By granting us the Education grant, you would be supporting an organization with a strong passion for education, community building, and advocating for the growth and inclusivity of the education ecosystem.
A few examples of how we have contributed to the Avalanche community:
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Avalanche Validator Node: We have deployed and run an Avalanche Node! On August 22, 2022, we became the first university blockchain community in the world to achieve this milestone. While we are not currently actively validating, we are planning to activate it again in the near future! -
With our Medium article titled ‘DAG, Avalanche & Node,’ we showed people how they could set up an Avalanche Node and encouraged them to do so.
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Organizing Workshop: We encouraged developers to enter the Avalanche ecosystem by organizing a workshop called ‘Avalanche Subnets’ -
We attended many events in the Avalanche ecosystem besides our own hosted events such as Avalanche Summit II, and Avalanche House Istanbul 2023. -
In our Medium article titled ‘Consensus Protocols,’ we discussed Avalanche Consensus. With this article, which is the most detailed Turkish resource on Avalanche Consensus, we contributed to the Avalanche ecosystem.
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Hackathon Achievement: Avalanche Barcelona Hackathon 2022 – Best Use of Covalent API : At the Avalanche Barcelona Hackathon, our team leveraged Covalent’s powerful API to enhance the functionality of decentralized applications on the Avalanche blockchain.
Hold old is the project?
3 years old
Please outline any prior funding sources:
- Total prior funding in USD: N/A
- Grants: 10k opt from Optimism
- VC: 0
- Token Launch: 0
- Sales: 0
Please provide a link to your public group chat (Discord or Telegram) if applicable:
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your project, previous work, or other affiliations?
As ODTÜ Blockchain, we have organized numerous events and education sessions to enhance the Avalanche ecosystem, as mentioned above, and we will continue to do so. We extend our thanks to all our supporters in advance.
Telegram Handle (you can answer N/A):
@Canbazyusuf
@memduhbayram
Profiles or socials of other main team members publicly associated with the project:
Email Address(es):
odtubct@gmail.com
canbazyusuf24@gmail.com
memduhbayram0@gmail.com
Payout Wallet Address (Payment on Avalanche C-Chain):
0x07fA3338a53CFAA1911A255F0c3054E800873e77