Introduction

The first PolkaBiz retroactive proposal for January-April 2025 (ref 1544) was already approved by the community. 

The current, second,  retroactive proposal is for the months of May to July. 

PolkaBiz fills a critical gap in the Polkadot ecosystem by scouting, curating, and accelerating early-stage Web3 startups. Where other ecosystems often throw money at the problem, PolkaBiz brings structure, quality, and hands-on mentorship to unlock real potential.

At the end of this quarter, PolkaBiz reviewed over 30 startup applications for the founders' grant for the Web3Foundation, selected 15 promising teams for intensive support, and concluded the program with a high-energy pitch contest judged by industry experts.

Beyond mentorship, PolkaBiz also introduced post-program follow-ups and successfully launched the Founders Portal  -  a dedicated space for builders to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

To date, over 30 individuals have signed up and created accounts, with several already showcasing their startups on the platform. The goal is simple: create a dynamic hub where founders building on Polkadot can discover synergies and share progress.

PolkaBiz plays an essential role in strengthening the Polkadot ecosystem by mentoring founders, guiding startups, and supporting flagship initiatives such as PBA, PBA-X, Web3 Foundation's Founders Grant Program etc.

The results speak for themselves: we consistently receive strong feedback from both partners and the startups we work with. Our team is deeply passionate about driving ecosystem growth and remains committed to this mission.

This proposal seeks retroactive compensation for the significant efforts and outcomes delivered during this period,  recognizing both the operational execution and the direct impact made.

Work Completed (May–July 2025)

1. Web3 Foundation Founders Program

   • Reviewed over 30+ applications for the invite-only Founders Grant
   • Selected and mentored 15 promising teams
   • Organized a professional pitch event with community judges. See snippets of all the pitches here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_8FVl5sQhnffeXoiG7He6KjkCykiQQhK

2. Portal Development - now live!

   • Launched the PolkaBiz Founders Portal, an open-access hub where founders connect, learn, and showcase their projects
   • Between May and July, we developed and fine-tuned this. It required significantly more work than anticipated.
   • Over 30 registered builders, with multiple startups already listed

3. Continued 1:1 Mentorship

   • Provided post-program support to selected teams
   • Helped startups iterate, refine, and prepare for grants and accelerators

All of this, including the administrative efforts to manage startup cohorts and program logistics,  was delivered without upfront funding, to prove our impact and create a long-term value funnel for Polkadot.

Requested Budget

In the original proposal, we outlined a retroactive compensation model of $62,000 per quarter. Based on that structure, this request covers the months of May, June, and July 2025, totaling $62,000 for the work delivered during that period. 

Here is the full document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D0FfnsJpQwx_Evap4vwjOI2cQhwzBR7PB57PTFDLijE/edit?usp=sharing