A chain can only attract more quality developers, if its current developers are treated with respect.
I really believe the current grants structure is missing a key element - a fast-track for builders which:
a) have a functional product that is beneficial for stacks for > 1 year
b) have been with stacks for > 3 years
c) are very well known in the ecosystem
d) have not had any funding rounds so far
A good example would be
@reubs_btc 's STX Tools,
@instoppabile 's BNS One or @kai_builder 's STX City amongst many others.
All three of them tick the boxes above.
The current structure of Interim Grants rewards only future milestones, with a strong bias towards opensource.
So if I was the "Grant Master", since stacks really likes to play with Communism in their wording ( Hello dear Committee) - So if I was the Grand Master I would do the following:
1/ retroactive funding. Here is a lump sum as a 'thank you' for building something everyone uses on Stacks. Buy yourself a new mouse, a new PC, get your wife out to dinner or put it on a down-payment for a car.
I don't care - it's yours, you've earned it, enjoy it. No contract (!)
2/ upkeep cost coverage: Before even talking about milestones I would make sure that any upkeep costs involved with that project are taking care of. No contract (!)
Those should include server costs and a medium salary for the team, to keep the lights running. If you think that's funny go ask how much people at the foundation make for posting on X as their main accomplishment.
3/ milestones: Now we can finally entertain talking about milestones (if there are any). Draft them up and lets discuss if a) they make sense and b) if yes - how much funding is needed.
No guarantees for this one, and mutually beneficial contracts need to be signed if funding is awarded.
That's it. Keep DeGrants for ideas, Interim Grants for a mix between ideas and mvp's and create a grant like this for people who have proven themselves on stacks.
And here comes the kicker - no fucking committee I have to apply to, as if I was a 70's middle-aged Russian steelworker applying for a toaster - enough of that shit.
The grant decision could be solely made by the
@stackslabs CEO or a future CMO on a case by case basis.
Or get the top 100 community members by mindshare and let them vote, because those are the people representing stacks - and if they are happy stacks will be at a much better place.
And before the soy-boy "uhm, bro, what about legal" boys enter the chat, yes, it's legally possible to handle #1 and #2 even without a contract so leave me alone with your number one excuse.
This is just a morning brain dump, it can be refined, polished, whatever. I just felt it's necessary to provide a solution the community would actually accept given the recent sentiment around the BNS issue.
G/