Proposal: Nouns ETHDenver Activation (Revised)
Summary
This proposal requests $16,000 to support a focused Nouns presence across the full Denver week — ETH Boulder and ETHDenver combined (Feb 13–21) — centered on builders, culture, and documentation. ETHDenver is extending specific opportunities to the nounish ecosystem in good faith without requiring a base sponsorship package. This proposal covers the practical costs needed to actually use that access well — food, space, media, operations, and community support.
What ETHDenver Is Offering in Good Faith ( Feb 17-21 )
ETHDenver has offered the following opportunities to the nounish ecosystem without requiring a traditional sponsorship tier:
- Invitations to register and speak on the ETHDenver BUIDL Mentor Stage, allowing nounish builders to host workshops publicly.
- Designated presence at the ETHDenver MakerSpace, with access to 3D printing, microcontrollers and hardware experimentation, screen printing, and physical prototyping.
- Designated presence in the ETHDenver Art Gallery, with support for artist coordination and interviews.
- Facilitation support from ETHDenver organizers to help integrate nounish programming across these spaces.
These opportunities provide access and visibility, but do not include staffing, food, or coordination.
ETH Boulder Programming (Feb 13–15)
In addition to ETHDenver, the nounish ecosystem will have an active presence at ETH Boulder (Feb 13–15), which serves as the opening chapter of the Denver week.
A submitted speaking track has been accepted for ETH Boulder and will be curated and run by the Nouns community as a half-day series of talks and workshops focused on:
- DAOs & Coordinative Tooling
- Practical governance infrastructure
- Community-owned coordination models
- Tools and experiments emerging from the nouniverse
The track will feature projects, builders, and makers from across the nounish ecosystem and is designed to be participatory and workshop-oriented rather than panel-driven. This programming sets the tone for the week and feeds directly into the ETHDenver presence that follows. Participation comes with free attendance for event participants and guest speakers, promotional support, and all venue logistics are being handled by the event.
What This Proposal Actually Funds
This proposal is not about buying a standard ETHDenver sponsorship package.
ETHDenver is already offering meaningful access and participation opportunities in good faith, including stage time and MakerSpace / Art Gallery integration. At the same time, certain high-impact elements — such as a dedicated lounge presence and on-site coordination around the Nouns Bus — are contingent on Nouns participating as a sponsor.
What ETHDenver is not providing is the operational layer that makes any of this work smoothly: feeding builders, hosting and coordinating conversations, supporting on-site activations, and documenting what happens. This budget covers that execution layer so Nouns can use both the good-faith access and the sponsor-contingent opportunities in a way that feels intentional, coordinated, and welcoming.
Budget Breakdown — $16,000 Total
1) Food Sponsorship for Hackathon Builders — $5,000 (Sponsorship Item) Meals and refreshments for builders participating in the hackathon and nounish activities. Keeps builders on-site and focused, supports BUIDL Mentor Stage participation and MakerSpace work, and signals that Nouns shows up for builders, not just logos.
2) Nouns Lounge Space — $5,000 (Sponsorship Item) Support for a Nouns Lounge used for community vibes and informal gathering, builder demos and buidl talks, small working sessions, and steward-led activations connected to the MakerSpace and Art Gallery.
3) Media Production — $2,500 Production of a ~15-minute nounish mini-documentary covering the full Denver week — ETH Boulder and ETHDenver combined (Feb 13–21). The film will document:
- BUIDL Mentor Stage talks
- MakerSpace and Art Gallery activity
- Nouns Lounge programming
- Broader nounish activity throughout the week
- Nouns Bus coverage, including interviews with builders, artists, and community members
Production Team (working at discounted community rates):
- Xtatic Productions Limited
- Executive Producer: Timothy Carter
- Director: Calib Perkins
- Production Manager: Aaden Beall
- Videographer: Douglas Cheffield
Deliverables include one polished ~15-minute film and short clips for social and community sharing.
4) Discretionary / Merch / Community Spend — $3,500 Flexible budget to support:
- Community merch and printed materials
- Operations and logistics across the Denver week
- Travel, gas, and coordination costs related to ETH Boulder, including the accepted half-day track
- Small on-site needs that arise during the week
This allows the team to stay responsive and maintain continuity across events.
Additional High-Impact Accommodation (Sponsor-Contingent)
If Nouns DAO participates as a sponsor, ETHDenver has also extended the following at no additional sponsorship cost:
- A dedicated, on-site parking space for the Nouns Bus, located directly adjacent to the main venue entrance.
- Organizers will actively facilitate Nouns Bus programming, including:
- Integrating bus activations into MakerSpace and Art Gallery mini-talks
- Supporting steward-led programming and introductions
- Coordinating logistics and venue requirements (hours ~8am–1pm)
- Integrating visits to the Nouns Bus and Lounge into the official ETHDenver scavenger hunt
This placement positions the Nouns Bus as a highly visible and easily accessible part of the overall campus experience, increasing participation and engagement.
Funds Handling & Execution
Approved funds will be held in an operational multisig vault with a 3-of-4 signing threshold to ensure transparency and shared oversight.
Multisig Signers:
- Willywonka.eth
- Bennedictvs.eth
- Gramajo.eth
- SwarthyHatter.eth
Fund Allocation
- $10,000 will be transferred to SporkDAO upon receipt of invoice (food sponsorship + Nouns Lounge space at ETHDenver).
- $2,500 will be transferred to Xtatic Productions Limited for media production, documenting the full Denver week (ETH Boulder + ETHDenver, Feb 13–21).
- $3,500 will remain in the multisig and be used for operations, logistics, merch, and incidental expenses across the full Denver week.
Discretionary multisig spending will be deployed by the signer committee to maximize the impact and continuity of the Nouns presence. A post-event summary of expenditures can be shared with the community.
Why This Makes Sense
ETHDenver is offering access, space, and facilitation — not turnkey execution. This proposal funds the practical layer that turns access into impact, keeps the focus builder-first and hands-on, integrates culture and art alongside technical work, and ensures the moment is documented so it lives beyond the conference. This isn’t about over-investing — it’s about showing up well.
Closing
ETHDenver has extended meaningful good-faith opportunities to the nounish ecosystem, including prominent on-site support for the Nouns Bus contingent on sponsorship participation. This proposal ensures Nouns can responsibly activate that access, support builders and artists, and present a cohesive, visible presence aligned with our values across the full Denver week. The requested $16,000 is a targeted, operational budget — not a traditional sponsorship buy-in. Happy to refine scope or steward roles as needed.
SporkDAO Specialty Sponsorship Offer
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N_PaxLgZ35k-L4QdZiPxScGZ6a6dfHi3-xWwbqRgD0I/edit?usp=sharing