Dear Proposer,

Trustless Core has voted AYE.

The proposal is a retroactive proposal that fills an unexplored niche for the incorporation of startups into the ecosystem based on the work done in PBA. It fills that gap between the startup project and the ecosystem.

Team experience: The team behind the project has a track record in the Polkadot community.

Budget: The budget requested is significant and could raise doubts as to its cost-effectiveness. Some members raised concerns about the cost of the proposal and the amount per hour of mentoring but the team consider it is an important first step to advance in the incorporation of new projects and integrations needed for the Polkadot ecosystem.

Transparency: As a retroactive proposal, it looks transparent and auditable.

Alignment with ecosystem objectives: The project looks very aligned with the ecosystem objectives.

Kind regards,

Trustless Core

The team has made amendments from their original proposal to better align with the community. Aye from us.

Thank you .@TheMvp07  for your comment and for actively engaging in OpenGov -  it’s truly appreciated.

But, just to clarify  -  PolkaBiz itself is not a grant program, nor do we distribute funds directly. Our role is to prepare founders as thoroughly as possible so they have a significantly higher chance of success when applying to external grant programs like those from the Web3 Foundation or others. Comparing us directly to grant programs that allocate funds is a misunderstanding of what we do -  we don’t hand out grants; we build readiness.

“Other grant programs allocate ~5% for mentoring”

You are probably referring to how much of a total grant budget (in other ecosystems or programs) is earmarked for mentorship services versus direct funding to startups or other activities. But you don’t specify which programs, how you  calculated that 5%, or what scope of mentorship those programs actually include. 

Most of the models assume minimal mentorship (often only pitch-polishing), whereas PolkaBiz is highly hands-on -  we actively guide teams through business model refinement, ecosystem fit, and grant readiness. That depth requires more time per team and naturally shifts the ratio.

Our program is built to increase the startup success rate, not just surface a few fast grant winners

hello @PolkaBiz ,

After analyzing the information provided, it is possible to find positive aspects such as the team's history and experience. However, there are elements that seem inconsistent with the requested budget, such as the website, the number of people involved, and the lack of documentation on the methodology used and justification of expenses.

There are other grant programs where the percentage for mentoring is close to 5%. However, in this case, based on the achievements presented so far, the request is for 27.5%.

In this case, it is suggested that the methodology be adjusted to a tighter budget where the associated expenses can be assessed in greater detail.

Many thanks for your proposal, PolkaBiz!

We have carefully reviewed your application and are pleased to share our assessment below, prepared using our standardized evaluation methodology.

Summary of our analysis

■ Impact on the Ecosystem

The PolkaBiz proposal supports Polkadot’s growth by mentoring 68 startups and securing 300,000 USD in grants, fostering innovation and adoption. However, the lack of long-term metrics, such as startup follow-on funding, limits evidence of sustained impact. The founder portal aids onboarding but lacks maintenance plans, reducing long-term certainty.

■ Governance Compatibility

The proposal aligns well with the MediumSpender origin, requesting 82,667 USDT within the 100,000 DOT limit, supporting ecosystem goals. A prior proposal (#1504) was rejected due to transparency issues, which PolkaBiz partially addresses with documented outcomes. The retroactive funding model risks setting a precedent, introducing governance complexity.

■ Cost-Benefit Ratio

The 82,667 USDT request is proportionate to outcomes like 300,000 USD in grants and 68 mentored startups, offering a 3.6 leverage ratio. The budget is reasonable compared to larger treasury requests, but no cheaper alternatives were considered, and long-term startup success is unquantified.

■ Transparency and Traceability

The proposal provides clear success metrics, like startups mentored and grants secured, but lacks a detailed budget breakdown, hindering financial transparency. Documentation is robust for past work, though confidential startup data limits public scrutiny, and no ongoing reporting is planned.

■ Record and Credibility

PolkaBiz has a strong track record, having mentored 68 startups and secured 300,000 USD in grants, with endorsements from Web3 Foundation and Polkadot Blockchain Academy leaders. Their completed projects, including a founder portal and a government MOU, demonstrate capability, though some data confidentiality slightly limits transparency.

Conclusion

🔹🔷🔹 vonFlandern 🔹🔷🔹 has therefore voted with: ** AYE **

Our methodology aims to analyze and evaluate OpenGov proposals objectively, effectively, and transparently, establishing clear decision-making foundations for our votes while making our process visible to the community.

Thank you @TheMvp07  for the thoughtful questions  - and for recognizing the open communication, we really appreciate it!

You asked two great questions.

(1) Links to the grants the startups received

For privacy reasons, and in line with the Web3 Foundation’s internal grant disclosure process, we’re unable to publicly share individual grant agreements.

However, we can proudly confirm that 8 out of 10 startups we mentored were accepted into the Web3 Foundation’s Fast Grants program in January alone. 

You can find the public announcement of this grant wave here:

👉 Web3 Foundation Fast Grants – Wave 25: https://medium.com/web3foundation/web3-foundation-ecodev-wave-25-300a9e0933f7

(2) Status of the founder portal after 4 months of work

The portal is currently in a functional prototype stage, with core features already in place:

• Founders can create a project profile
• Update their progress and milestones
• Allow mentors (like us) to track their journey and offer structured follow-up support.

To be clear — while the core is built, it’s not yet ready for public release. However, if you’re curious, I’m happy to give you a personal demo of what we’ve already built. Just drop me a note at [email protected], and I’ll gladly show you.

There are some topics I'd like to learn more about e @PolkaBiz 

+Could you share the links to the grants the startups received?

+After 4 months of work and $86,000 requested, what is the development status of the portal you mentioned?

Thasnk for your good communication =)

Thank you @TheMvp07 for your questions, here are the answers:

(1) Is all the work done by just two people?

Currently, the “core work” is handled by 2 people. However, when additional expertise is needed — for example, during pitch evaluations or when assessing whether a startup is a good fit for the ecosystem — we actively consult with other experts and ecosystem partners to ensure well-rounded and informed decisions.

Now, If the deeper question here is about cost versus value, it’s worth sharing more context on the results delivered:

•  8 startups secured Web3 Foundation Fast Grants, unlocking $240,000

•  3 additional startups secured grants of $20,000 each, adding $60,000

•  Total value unlocked: $300,000

Against our requested compensation of $82,666.66, this represents an ROI of 3.63x

So, for every $1 spent on PolkaBiz, $3.63 was unlocked in grants for startups.

(2) Could you share your methodology for reviewing startups? Do you have a documented framework or methodology you can share?

Our approach is based on real-world experience and tailored to two key categories:

1.  DApps (application layer)

o  Here, our focus is on helping founders articulate a clear value proposition, understand monetization strategies, and refine their go-to-market approach.

2.  Infrastructure tools (ecosystem layer)

o  For these projects, our emphasis shifts towards assessing how the tool adds value to the broader Polkadot ecosystem.

o  Mentorship here focuses on positioning the tool for ecosystem adoption and, where relevant, exploring how it could be eligible for OpenGov or Treasury support.

In both cases, the core goal is to help founders validate their ideas, sharpen their communication, and align their projects with real ecosystem needs.

(3) Could you mention the tasks you perform in the mentorships and each one's objectives?

Our mentorship process generally includes:

•  Initial discovery calls

Founders explain their ideas, and we guide them in presenting their concepts clearly and effectively.

Objective: Ensure they can confidently articulate their project to potential partners or users.

•  Categorization and strategy guidance

We help determine whether their project is a DApp or infrastructure tool.

Objective: Tailor the mentorship approach accordingly — monetization and user acquisition for DApps; ecosystem value alignment and positioning for infrastructure.

•  Pitch and grant preparation

We assist in refining their pitch decks, grant applications, and investor materials.

Objective: Improve their chances of securing funding and community support.

(4) What is the link to the founder portal you developed?

The founder portal is designed to help us track and support startups post-mentorship.

Founders can create profiles, share their current status, and update their progress within the ecosystem. This ensures that mentorship doesn’t end after the first program — we can continue to guide and assist them as they grow, so they don’t feel abandoned.

Remember: this portal is still under development.

(5) What do the mentorships consist of after startups complete the program?

After startups complete the mentorship program, we maintain ongoing engagement to ensure they stay supported as they continue their journey.

This follow-up includes:

•  Tracking their progress

•  Identifying any challenges they encounter

•  Spotting opportunities for further support, introductions, or resources

Up to now, much of this follow-up has been manual and time-intensive.

That’s precisely why we are developing the founder portal — to streamline this process, allowing founders to easily update their status and share key milestones.

This tool will help us provide more structured, efficient, and consistent post-mentorship support, ensuring no startup feels left behind, while giving us better visibility into how they’re advancing within the ecosystem.

(6) What is the selection process that startups wishing to hire your services must complete?

Just to clarify -  startups do not pay for our mentorship services.

To apply, they:

1.  Complete a simple sign-up form

2.  Undergo an initial screening call where we assess their project’s stage, fit, and readiness for mentorship

(7) Is there any payment or commission that startups must pay you for your services?

No -  we do not charge startups any payment or commission for our mentorship.

Most of these projects are at the very earliest stage of their journey and typically do not have funding available yet. Our aim is to support and empower them early, so they can grow into strong contributors to Polkadot.

Hello,

The work you do is interesting. Here are a few questions:

• Is all the work done by just two people?

• Could you share your methodology for reviewing startups? Do you have a documented framework or methodology you can share?

• Could you mention the tasks you perform in the mentorships and the objectives of each one?

• What is the link to the founder portal you developed?

• What do the mentorships consist of after startups complete the program?

• What is the selection process that startups wishing to hire your services must complete?

• Is there any payment or commission that startups must pay you for your services?