Grant Application - Marketing + Workshops at Global Conferences

[readymouse]

Zcash Community Grant Application

Application Owners: @readymouse, @fabacab

Organization Details

Organization Name: Mylo Bennett aka Ready Mouse

How did you learn about Zcash Community Grants: Active participation in Zcash Community Forums, previous attendance at Zcash community events, and engagement with the ZCG board and community members.

Project Overview

Requested Grant Amount: $75,000 USD

Category: Education, Outreach, and Marketing

Team Information

Project Lead

Name: Mylo Bennett @ReadyMouse

Role: Lead Community Ambassador and Project Manager

Background: Product Manager with 10+ years experience in technical project management. Active Zcash community member and regular attendee at Boston Zcash meetups and major crypto conferences. Successfully led grassroots outreach at DevConnect Buenos Aires, onboarding 34+ new Zashi users and making 175+ individual connections.

Responsibilities: Event coordination, community outreach strategy, workshop facilitation, budget management, and partnership development.

Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylo-mbennett/, ReadyMouse (Mylo) · GitHub , https://x.com/zReadyMouse

Additional Team Members

Name: Violet @fabacab

Role: Technical Educator and Privacy Advocate

Background: Experienced privacy technology educator. Skilled technical workshop facilitator with deep knowledge of Zcash and encrypted money concepts. Has facilitated six workshops onboarding 100+ participants from at-risk communities (sex workers, gig workers, LGBTQIA+ individuals). Made 80+ new connections during Buenos Aires outreach.

Responsibilities: Technical workshops, developer relations, privacy education, content creation, community engagement, and technical support.

Socials: @violetrollergirl.com on Bluesky , https://x.com/rollergirlVi

Note: Future team members (@cos) may be added based on funding availability and event scale. A 3-4 person team is optimal for larger conferences.

Project Details

Project Summary

Grassroots marketing initiative to build Zcash awareness and drive adoption through strategic attendance at major cryptocurrency conferences, hosting educational workshops, and creating meaningful touch points with developers, privacy advocates, and potential users across the global crypto community.

Project Description

This project extends our proven grassroots marketing approach from DevConnect Buenos Aires (34 new Zashi users, 175+ conversations, 145+ new contacts) to a strategic series of major cryptocurrency conferences throughout 2026. We combine this with direct-action educational workshops for sex workers, gig workers, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other at-risk populations who benefit from financial privacy. Our team will:

1. Attend and actively engage at at least one conference per month, targeting:

• ETHDenver (February 17-21, 2026)

• EthCC (Ethereum Community Conference) + ETHGlobal Cannes (March 2026)

• BTC Vegas (April 27-29, 2026)

• Consensus Miami (May 5-7, 2026)

• ETHConf + ETHGlobal NYC (June 2026)

2. Host at least one monthly educational workshop focused on Zcash/Zashi for both general audiences and at-risk populations who benefit from financial privacy. These workshops equip participants to extend the impact to their clients and customers, creating ripples of financial privacy awareness in their communities.

3. Build strategic partnerships with privacy-focused organizations like Web3Privacy Now, Women in Web3, and ZK AV Club.

4. Create content documenting outreach efforts through social media, recordings, and case studies.

5. Develop lasting relationships with developers, influencers, and community leaders.

The initiative focuses on creating multiple touch points with potential users, recognizing that people often need 3+ exposures to new technology before commitment. Each conference provides opportunities for both broad awareness building and deep technical engagement with developers and privacy advocates.

Note: Specific conferences may be adjusted based on community feedback and collaboration opportunities. We are open to coordinating with other Zcash marketing efforts such as ZK AV Club’s presence at Dark Prague, Berlin Blockchain Week, or ETHSafari to diversify Zcash presence across various events.

Proposed Problem

Despite Zcash’s technical superiority in privacy-preserving cryptocurrency, awareness remains limited outside core crypto circles. Specific challenges include:

1. Limited Brand Awareness: Many crypto enthusiasts, developers, and potential users have never heard of Zcash or misunderstand its capabilities as 'just another privacy coin.
2. Missed Conference Opportunities: Major crypto conferences represent concentrated opportunities to reach thousands of engaged participants, but Zcash presence has historically been limited.
3. Fragmented Touch Points: Users need multiple exposures to new technology before adoption, but current outreach lacks systematic follow-through and sustained engagement.

At a Milady side event in Buenos Aires, one meme t-shirt sporting tech bro stopped me and said, “Zcash? Oh good, I’ve been looking for someone to ask. I know about Monero’s rings but how’s Zcash different?” This exemplifies the awareness gap we aim to address.

Proposed Solution

Deploy a dedicated grassroots marketing team to systematically attend major cryptocurrency conferences throughout 2026, creating structured touch points and educational opportunities:

• Conference Presence: Active participation at 5+ major events with prepared materials, demonstration devices, and engagement strategies.

• Educational Workshops: Host hands-on Zashi workshops for general audiences and specialized sessions for at-risk populations (e.g., proposed workshop in Denver).

• Strategic Partnerships: Build ongoing relationships with privacy-focused organizations and influential developers.

• Content Creation: Document activities through social media by welcoming new users and sharing their unified addresses, creating shareable content about Zcash adoption.

• Sustained Engagement: Collect contact information (145+ contacts from Buenos Aires) and maintain relationships beyond initial conference interactions.

This approach was proven successful in Buenos Aires with 34 new users and 175+ conversations. The six NYC-based workshops have onboarded 100+ participants from gig worker and LGBTQIA+ communities. These new crypto advocates can extend impact to their clients and customers, creating ripples of financial privacy in their direct communities.

One converted user, a freedom tech advocate and speaker at the Cypherpunk Congress that coincided with DevConnect, told us: “I spoke directly with Zooko about Zcash, and I remained unwilling to install Zashi. But after speaking with you for ten minutes, I am so game to use this.”

Solution Format

Primary Deliverables:

• Conference attendance and active engagement at at least one major event per month (5+ total)

• Educational workshop at each event (e.g., proposed Denver workshop for at-risk individuals, potential Consensus Miami lunch-and-learn with WebQ)

• Monthly content reports with metrics, photos, and engagement data shared on forums

• Partnership development with privacy-focused organizations

• Documented case studies of successful onboarding experiences

Tracking and Metrics:

• Number of new Zashi downloads per event

• Individual conversations/interactions (tracked via ‘Protection is ZECsy’ condoms and other materials distributed, as well as new contacts in phone)

• New contacts and potential collaborators

• Social media engagement on @zReadyMouse Twitter

• Workshop attendance and follow-up conversions

Dependencies:

• Health and availability of team members to travel

• Coordination with local groups supporting at-risk or targeted populations

Technical Approach:

This is primarily a marketing and community engagement project rather than a technical development project. It is not a digital marketing or social media campaign, as it focuses on in-person interactions. The approach includes:

• In-person demonstrations of Zashi wallet functionality

• Hands-on onboarding assistance for new users

Upstream Merge Opportunities:

Not applicable - this is a marketing and outreach initiative, not a software development project.

Budget

Hardware/Software Costs (USD): $0

Hardware/Software Justification: No hardware or software purchases required. Team uses existing devices for demonstrations and personal phones for documentation.

Service Costs (USD): $0

Service Costs Justification: No external services required.

Compensation Costs (USD): $75,000

Compensation Costs Justification:

Event Travel, Execution, and Materials (5 events): $75,000

Cost per event: $15,000. Each event budget covers a team of 2-4 people (minimum 2, ideally 3-4 for larger events) and includes:

• Round-trip flights for team members

• Shared lodging (Airbnb/hotel, 5-8 nights depending on event)

• Per diem ($70-85/day per person for food and incidentals)

• Conference tickets (where required)

• Ground transportation (ride shares, transit)

• Marketing materials for that event (condoms, stickers, info cards)

• Event-specific costs (workshop venues, materials, etc.)

Team Composition:

Core team of @ReadyMouse (Lead Organizer) and @fabacab (Tech Educator) attend all events. Additional community ambassadors recruited for larger events, resulting in 3-4 person teams for major conferences like Consensus Miami and EthCC. Buenos Aires demonstrated that 2 people onboarded 34+ new users; scaling to 3-4 for larger conferences increases reach proportionally.

Event Breakdown:

ETHDenver (February 17-21, 2026): $15,000

• 2-3 team members

• Domestic travel, 7 nights, workshop hosting

EthCC + ETHGlobal Cannes, France (March 2026): $15,000

• 3-4 team members (maximize international trip value)

• International flights, 8 nights, dual events

• Potential overlap with ZK AV Club’s event schedule

BTC Vegas (April 27-29, 2026): $15,000

• 2-3 team members

• Conference tickets, 5 nights

Consensus Miami (May 5-7, 2026): $15,000

• 3-4 team members (largest event - 15,000 attendees)

• Conference tickets, lunch-and-learn workshop with WebQ, 6 nights

ETHConf + ETHGlobal NYC (June 2026): $15,000

• 3 team members

• Regional travel, 7 nights, hackathon engagement

The $15,000 per event average allows flexibility: lower-cost events (~$10-12K for smaller teams/shorter trips) balance higher-cost events (~$16-18K for international travel). Marketing materials are budgeted within each event allocation.

We are open to adjusting events to align with other Zcash marketing efforts (e.g., ZK AV Club’s attendance at Dark Prague, Berlin Blockchain Week, ETHSafari), but we aim to diversify and spread Zcash presence across a variety of events.

Total Budget (USD): $75,000

Budget Summary: 5 events × $15,000 per event = $75,000. Each event budget includes travel, lodging, per diem, tickets, materials, and event-specific costs.

Previous Funding: No

Previous Funding Details:

This is our first grant application to Zcash Community Grants.

Crowdfunding: DevConnect/ETHGlobal Buenos Aires (November 2025) for @zReadyMouse and @fabacab was funded via crowdsourced donations on this forum post: Proposal for Marketing Efforts at Global Conferences - #18 by readymouse

@fabacab’s previous workshops have been crowdfunded ( Supporting Financial Privacy Education for At-Risk Communities - #14 by fabacab ) as well as angel funded by those who support the mission to educate at-risk populations. The Sex Work Survival Guide of NY, The Tailor Group, and The Culte all donated volunteer effort and material support for previous workshops.

Other Funding Sources: No

Other Funding Sources Details: We are not currently pursuing or receiving funding from other sources for this grassroots marketing initiative. This proposal is exclusively for ZCG funding.

Project Schedule

Startup Funding (USD): $0

Startup Funding Justification: Not applicable. Funding is requested on a per-event basis, with each milestone payment made before the corresponding event to cover booking costs (flights, hotels, conference tickets, materials).

Milestone Details:

Milestone 1

Amount (USD): $15,000

Expected Completion Date: February 28, 2026

Payment Timing: Before event (by February 1, 2026) to book flights, hotel, and materials

User Stories:

• “As a crypto enthusiast at ETHDenver, I want to learn about encrypted money from knowledgeable advocates, so I can protect my financial privacy.”

• “As an at-risk individual in Denver, I want to attend a free workshop on financial privacy tools, so I can understand how to protect myself.”

Deliverables:

• Conference attendance (February 17-21, 2026) with 2-3 team members

• Workshop for at-risk populations (collaboration with local advocacy group)

• 40+ new Zashi downloads

• 200+ documented conversations

• Daily social media documentation on @zReadyMouse Twitter

• Trip report posted to Zcash Community Forums within 1 week of event completion

Acceptance Criteria:

• Trip report includes photos, metrics (downloads, conversations), and new user testimonials

• Minimum 40 new downloads documented with social media proof

• Workshop completion confirmed with attendance count and participant feedback

Milestone 2

Amount (USD): $15,000

Expected Completion Date: March 31, 2026

Payment Timing: Before event (by March 1, 2026) to book international flights, hotel, and conference tickets

User Stories:

• “As a European crypto developer, I want to learn about Zcash tooling at EthCC, so I can integrate privacy features.”

• “As a privacy advocate in the EU, I want to connect with Zcash community members, so I can collaborate on privacy initiatives.”

• “As an attendee, I want to see real-world Zcash usage examples, so I understand its practical applications.”

Deliverables:

• Conference attendance at EthCC + ETHGlobal Cannes with 3-4 team members

• Engagement at both main conference and hackathon

• Potential collaboration with ZK AV Club, if on-site at the time

• 50+ new Zashi downloads

• 250+ documented conversations

• European privacy community partnership development

• Trip report with EU market insights and reception analysis

Acceptance Criteria:

• Trip report documents European reception with photos and metrics

• Minimum 50 new downloads with social media documentation

• At least 2 new European partnerships/collaborations identified and documented

• Social media coverage throughout both events

Milestone 3

Amount (USD): $15,000

Expected Completion Date: April 30, 2026

Payment Timing: Before event (by April 1, 2026) to book flights, conference tickets, and hotel

User Stories:

• “As a Bitcoin maximalist at BTC Vegas, I want to understand how Zcash complements BTC’s value proposition, so I can make informed decisions about privacy.”

• “As an institutional investor, I want to learn about privacy-preserving cryptocurrencies, so I can evaluate portfolio additions.”

• “As a high-net-worth individual, I want to understand financial privacy tools, so I can protect my wealth.”

Deliverables:

• Conference attendance (April 27-29) with 2-3 team members

• Institutional and high-net-worth individual outreach focus

• Cross-community engagement (Bitcoin ↔ Zcash dialogue)

• 25+ new Zashi downloads

• 100+ documented conversations

• Trip report with institutional insights and Bitcoin community reception

Acceptance Criteria:

• Trip report analyzes Bitcoin community reception and cross-chain conversations

• Minimum 25 new downloads documented (smaller event, institutional audience)

• Institutional contact development summary

• Social media documentation of cross-community engagement

Milestone 4

Amount (USD): $15,000

Expected Completion Date: May 30, 2026

Payment Timing: Before event (by May 1, 2026) to book flights, hotel, conference tickets, and workshop venue

User Stories:

• “As an LGBTQIA+ attendee, I want to attend a lunch-and-learn about Zcash and WebQ collaboration, so I understand practical privacy applications from a trusted source within the community.”

• “As a crypto journalist/influencer at Consensus, I want to learn about Zcash developments, so I can cover it accurately.”

• “As a potential user in Miami’s crypto hub, I want to understand why privacy matters, so I can make informed wallet choices.”

Deliverables:

• Conference attendance (May 5-7) with 3-4 team members (largest event - 15,000 attendees)

• Co-hosted lunch-and-learn workshop with WebQ

• 50+ new Zashi downloads

• 250+ documented conversations

• Media and influencer engagement

• Trip report with partnership outcomes and media coverage

Acceptance Criteria:

• Trip report includes WebQ collaboration outcomes and workshop metrics

• Workshop completion with attendance count and participant feedback

• Minimum 50 new downloads documented

• Media/influencer contacts documented with follow-up plan

• Partnership development summary

Milestone 5

Amount (USD): $15,000

Expected Completion Date: June 30, 2026

Payment Timing: Before event (by June 1, 2026) to book flights, hotel, and conference tickets

User Stories:

• “As a NYC-based developer, I want to learn about Zcash at ETHConf, so I can explore privacy tech without traveling far.”

• “As an East Coast crypto community member, I want to connect with Zcash advocates, so I can stay informed about privacy developments.”

• “As an ETHGlobal hackathon participant, I want to see Zcash integration examples, so I can build privacy-preserving applications.”

Deliverables:

• Conference attendance at ETHConf + ETHGlobal NYC with 3 team members

• East Coast developer outreach and community building

• ETHGlobal hackathon engagement

• 35+ new Zashi downloads

• 200+ documented conversations

• Trip report as culminating event of 2026 campaign

• Comprehensive year-end analysis with cumulative metrics, partnership outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for future grassroots efforts

Acceptance Criteria:

• Trip report with event summary

• Minimum 35 new downloads documented

• Developer engagement metrics and technical conversations documented

• Social media coverage throughout event

• Final comprehensive report posted to Zcash Community Forums showing: cumulative metrics across all 5 events (200+ downloads, 1,000+ conversations, 500+ contacts), partnership outcomes with contact information and next steps, recommendations for Q3/Q4 of 2026 and 2027 grassroots marketing, and materials archive (photos, videos, testimonials)

Cumulative Success Metrics

Primary Metrics (Across All 5 Events):

• 200+ total new Zashi downloads

• 1,000+ documented conversations about Zcash

• 500+ new ecosystem contacts

• 5+ educational workshops/presentations

• 3+ formal partnerships with privacy organizations

Per-Event Targets:

• ETHDenver: 40+ downloads, 200+ conversations

• EthCC Cannes: 50+ downloads, 250+ conversations

• BTC Vegas: 25+ downloads, 100+ conversations

• Consensus Miami: 50+ downloads, 250+ conversations

• ETHConf NYC: 35+ downloads, 200+ conversations

Quality Metrics:

• Daily social media documentation of new users

• Partnership development at each event

• Workshop/presentation opportunities secured

• Media/influencer contacts developed

• Cross-community dialogue (ETH, BTC, privacy advocates)

Risk Assessment

Implementation Risks:

Weather/Travel Disruptions: Flights may be delayed or canceled; hotel availability may change.

Mitigation: Book refundable options where possible, build buffer time into schedule.

Conference Access: Side events may fill up or require additional tickets.

Mitigation: Early registration, maintain contact with organizers, backup event options.

Lower Than Expected Turnout: Fewer people may engage than anticipated.

Mitigation: Multi-pronged approach (main conference + side events + workshops), proven engagement strategies from Buenos Aires.

Team Availability: Team members may have competing obligations.

Mitigation: Clear advance planning, backup team members identified.

Potential Side Effects:

Onboarded users may not remain active beyond initial download.

Mitigation: Collect contact info for follow-up, create welcoming social media posts with unified addresses, pre-compose follow-up messages for timed, scheduled delivery to re-ignite interest and address any friction experienced after first contact.

Resources focused on events rather than sustained engagement.

Mitigation: This project creates initial touch points that complement (not replace) ongoing community efforts.

Geographic concentration in event cities.

Mitigation: Events selected for maximum reach across North America and Europe; attendees come from worldwide.

Supporting Documents

• Buenos Aires Crowdfunding: Proposal for Marketing Efforts at Global Conferences - #18 by readymouse

• Previous Workshop Crowdfunding: Supporting Financial Privacy Education for At-Risk Communities - #14 by fabacab

Github Issue: Grant Application - Marketing + Workshops at Global Conferences · Issue #181 · ZcashCommunityGrants/zcashcommunitygrants · GitHub

[ryan.taylor]

@readymouse and @fabacab both joined the Zk Av Club Recording Station individually at DevConnect in Buenos Aires. I totally support them and this proposal. Looking forward to meeting again and having followup conversations with both of them at future events.

[readymouse]

I want to address recent developments in the Zcash ecosystem directly and reaffirm my commitment to this grant proposal.

Regardless of organizational changes, wallet implementations, or team restructuring within the ecosystem, my support for the Zcash protocol itself remains unwavering. The fundamental technology (the ability to conduct private, encrypted financial transactions) is what matters. This capability doesn’t belong to any single company, team, or wallet. It belongs to everyone who needs financial privacy.

The workshops we’re proposing, the conferences we want to attend, and the people we want to reach (sex workers, gig workers, LGBTQIA+ individuals, freedom fighters, developers, and everyday users) all need access to financial privacy tools. That need doesn’t change based on internal ecosystem politics.

My goal with this grant remains simple: get encrypted money into people’s hands and help them understand how to be safe. Whether someone uses Zashi, YWallet, or any other Zcash-supporting wallet is less important than ensuring they know Zcash exists and understand how to use it safely.

I’m wallet-agnostic in my outreach. I’ll continue to demonstrate whichever tools best serve the people I’m talking to, and I’ll adapt as the ecosystem evolves. My focus stays on the mission: building awareness and driving real-world adoption.

The work proposed in this grant (showing up at conferences, hosting workshops, having conversations, onboarding new users) remains as valuable and necessary as ever. If anything, this is the time when grassroots marketing matters most.

I’m here for the long game, and I’m excited to keep putting Zcash in front of people who need it.

[aaal]

I’ve spoken to this type of request from this same person before, and so my reply is probably easily predicted:

ZCG, do not fund this.

Marketing + Workshops at Global Conferences (mostly expensive jet fuel and hotel accommodations, also event tickets where we’d pay to market among stiff competition) is not effective use of ZCG’s budget.

Last crowdfunded event: “34+ new users” for 50 zec. This grant is 5 cons for 178 zec (today’s current value). Expected value is about 121 new users calculated by zec, or if by con, 170. Are 121-170 new users worth $75,000 !? If you gave 1 Zec away to acquire each new user, that would be less expensive per user.

Home-made marketing could be way cheaper and probably much more effectively done online. Less high-cost physical world concerns, more impressions. Build buzz, brand recognition, online communities or projects, conversation, support.

Face to face is good, but also whoever is contacted at cons will have dozens of competing projects vying for attention in a short period of time. Theoretically, a watched educational video to introduce zashi for example, might not have that kind of distraction.

A better marketing play at conferences would be to present something, as a talk. Usually that would be the icing on the cake for success, maybe from funds spent in better ways, like new code, novel or enhanced products, research and development.

(Also, code review, refactoring and auditing is important.)

Assuming readymouse and fabacab have coding skills, I think the best thing for zcash would be to use the brain, CPU and fingers! Save on gasoline and rentals.

If marketing is really the way they want to go, please consider the cost-benefit. Are world wide con-hopping tours to meet with distracted devs is a good value?

[readymouse]

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback and for taking the time to engage with the proposal.

A few points of clarification and respectful disagreement:

On presenting talks: Great point! @fabacab presented on a panel discussion about practical uses of Zashi at Buenos Aires for DevConnect. We absolutely seek out speaking opportunities when they’re available. Secured funding helps us commit to events early, which makes it easier to propose talks and workshops. We’re very open to more of this.

On “home-made marketing” and video content: This is grassroots, home-made marketing. We’re not officially on any Zcash team. We’re community members who believe in the protocol and want to see it reach people who need it. Other incredible folks like @ryan.taylor , @zerodartz in the ZK AV Club and @ZecHub are doing video education, and that’s fantastic. For some people, that’s the perfect introduction. But I didn’t download Venmo because I watched an educational video. I downloaded it because a friend told me about it and wanted to pay me with it. I downloaded Zashi because @emersonian told me in person that it was an easy-to-use alternative to Venmo that’s actually private. Personal recommendations from trusted sources matter, especially for something as sensitive as financial privacy.

On conference attendees being distracted: You’re right that conferences are busy, competitive environments. But here’s the thing: I’m not primarily focused on devs for their development skills. Devs will build on whatever technology serves their purposes and pays them. Zcash doesn’t currently have smart contracts, so it’s never going to compete for hackathon attention the same way Ethereum does. But those devs are also regular people who split dinner with friends using Venmo and happen to be crypto-aware enough not to dismiss privacy tech as a scam. They’re exactly the kind of early adopters who can become advocates in their own circles.

On cost per user: The math on cost-per-acquisition is fair. But I’d push back on evaluating this purely as a direct acquisition cost. The value isn’t just in downloads, it’s in the 1,000+ conversations, the partnerships with privacy organizations, the presence at events where Zcash historically hasn’t shown up, and the network effects of those interactions. The person who stopped me at a Milady event asking “how’s Zcash different from Monero?” might not download that day, but they walked away knowing more about Zcash tech and that it has passionate advocates. That’s brand building that compounds over time.

I recognize that $75,000 is significant funding, and the cost-benefit analysis matters. I’m confident this approach delivers value beyond the immediate metrics, but I also respect that reasonable people can disagree on strategy. I have proposed to structure the milestone payments as per-event, so at anytime the committee can change it’s mind, and decide not to fund the next event.

[emersonian]

We need booths at conferences. I strongly support this grant, I personally know the team and they will do an incredible job.

But this grant is for presence at conferences. We need to go bigger, we need booths. I am supportive of a higher budget, to ensure that we catch the tailwinds of Zcash’s price action while we can.

There’s a ton to be excited about coming up: finalizing our Rust rewrite (deprecation), ZSAs, Crosslink, Tachyon… we need booths at conferences like our competitors have.

Marketing is expensive, let’s make sure this team shows up, but let’s also get Zcash booths at these events where still available.

[fabacab]

I think @readymouse already addressed most of @aaal’s concerns rather well so I have little to add.

What I will say is everyone who has been @-mentioned above can vouch for my coding skills, and yet I remain convinced that no code written can compete with the mind share that can be captured or devotees created in a face-to-face conversation.

If you want people to believe in your thing, put people who believe in your thing in front of them.

Code is great. Relationships are greater. Zcash has great code and great coders, probably including you. What I see it needing is greater relationships.

And not the kind of relationships formed in YouTube comments.

[pacu]

@emersonian

we need booths at conferences like our competitors have.

I think this is the most compelling argument.

I listen to concerns from @aaal and understand them. It’s important to fund both devs and communicators. Based on the costs I incurred in the last event I just attended, it seems priced accordingly and I’m not actually a “big spender” and rather a frugal person. Conferencing is inherently expensive.

@readymouse and @fabacab are great Zcashers and great communicators.

[readymouse]

In regards to costs, here is a breakdown of where I got the numbers.

Real honesty: When I priced things out back in November/December, flights and hotels were more expensive. ( Proposal for Marketing Efforts at Global Conferences - #18 by readymouse )

Cost Breakdown:

• Travel Per Person: $3,495 per person

  • Flights: East Coast → Denver: $1,200 - $1,500 per person

  • Hotel: $350 per night per two people (7 nights: $1225)

  • Food: $70/per day/pp ($490)

  • Incidentals + Ubers: $40 per day ($280)

  • ETH Denver Ticket: FREE

Team Costs:

• 4 team: $3,500 x 4 = $14,000

• Swag, Stickers, Business Cards, Info sheets: $500

• Rollover to next event: $500

• Total Costs: $15,000

UPDATE: Current Costs: Interestingly, prices have decreased.

→ Results: Add a team member and extra days to attend ETHBoulder Feb 13-15^thbefore ETHDenver Feb 17^th-22nd for an 12 day trip spanning multiple conferences, and extra side events.

Cost Breakdown:

Travel Per Person: $2,795 per person

• Flights: East Coast → Denver: $1,200 per person

• Hotel: $150 per night per two people (11 nights: $825)

• Food: $70/per day/pp ($490)

• Incidentals + Ubers: $40 per day ($280)

• ETH Denver Ticket: FREE

Team Costs:

• 5 team: $2,795 x 5 = $13,975

• Swag, Stickers, Business Cards, Info sheets: $500

• Rollover to next event: $525

• Total Costs: $15,000

For this extra team member for ETHDenver, I reached out to @BostonZcash to see if they are available to join as we are both IRL friends and I respect their technical abilities and zcash community involvement.

[ryan.taylor]

This:

@fabacab

Code is great. Relationships are greater. Zcash has great code and great coders, probably including you. What I see it needing is greater relationships.

And not the kind of relationships formed in YouTube comments.

Online is where we broadcast; in-person is where we bond. If Zcash wants durability, it needs more “meatspace” time — meetups, workshops, conferences, meals, and on and on, anon.

Trust and shared identity don’t come from the interwebs.

[ZCG]

ZCG has voted to reject this grant request in its current form. ZCG requests that the applicant re-submit a grant request that focuses on one event as a way of determining the effectiveness of the applicant and this overall approach. Thank you.

[fabacab]

Respectfully, an event to determine the effectiveness of this approach is exactly what DevConnect was. We didn’t even ask for a grant for that event, out of deference to the idea that we need to show effectiveness before we ask for grant funds. And @readymouse shared plenty of metrics regarding the effectiveness of our work. More media from that event showcasing our advocacy has yet to be released, from the ZK AV Club. Many people witnessed us succeed beyond expectations in person, some of whom have spoken in support of us in this thread.

Moreover, if I understand correctly, asking us to resubmit this grant on a per-event basis severely hobbles the effectiveness of the grant. We cannot plan workshops, side events, or as @emersonian would like to see, get booths with ~1-2 weeks lead time before each event. The purpose of the grant is to more effectively execute a long-term relationship building marketing strategy. That is not possible when the ZCG turnaround is two weeks and you expect to make decisions about milestones one month in advance.

I personally do not see the purpose of resubmitting the grant as requested.

[readymouse]

Resubmitted: Grassroots Marketing at ETHDenver 2026