AIP-178: ApeCoin Rewards App

[Grains0x]

Proposal Name: ApeCoin Rewards App

Proposal Category: Ecosystem fund allocation

Abstract:
Native apps for IOS and Android designed to give ongoing IRL rewards to holders. Rewards are dependent on the number of ApeCoin held at a given time and include POAp NFT drops at events such as concerts and discounts at major retailers in the US and Europe, both online and IRL.

Author Description

I Founded Affiliate Window (https://www.awin.com) and sold to Axel Springer in Germany in 2012 with a turnover of more than $150m. Post Awin, I managed international music artist The Australian Pink Floyd from small clubs to over 140 arenas worldwide, working with both Live Nation and UTA (United Talent Group). I founded FanCircles to bring communities together with a common interest and provides Web 2.5 rewards apps for fans of music artists, TV shows and works with labels and artist managers. Clients include UB40, Boy George, Shamanzs NFT and TV’s Most Haunted (UK equivalent to Disney’s Ghost Hunters)

Team Description

FanCircles has an internal team of developers and account managers to run apps on behalf of clients. The account management team are responsible for maintenance of the each app, and it’s content as well as sourcing retail partners and music industry partners. Access to retailers comes via Kevin and his team’s background in Awin and close connections to the music industry.

Motivation

I believe it is essential to reach outside of the Web3 community to grow the adoption of the ApeCoin ecosystem. A FanCircles powered platform allows for this by creating a Web2.5 experience that everyday web users connect with. Imagine the ApeCoin app as a Groupon for ApeCoin holders.
The app will also generate income from carefully selected sponsors and advertisers who want to reach ApeCoin holders.

Rationale

Growing the Ape community is essential for its long term success. Reaching outside of the Web3 community is paramount to achieving this. This can be achieved by providing an onboarding ramp for Web2 people via a familiar Web2 interface that can be very easily promoted with the help of the social media accounts of ApeCoin and ApeCoin holders.

Key Terms

• FanCircles provides a SaaS platform customised for each client. Our tech is tried and tested with over 1 million users across 50+ client apps.

• A senior account manager will be assigned to maintain the app

• 50% of revenue from sponsorships and advertising will be returned to the ApeCoin DAO every quarter.

• Costs are per year with a minimum of 12-month contract paid upfront in GBP*

Specifications

• IOS and Android native apps already used by over 50 clients.

• Announcements Wall

• Community Wall

• Geo Fenced POAP rewards features

• Access to real-world rewards while holding ApeCoin

• Multiple levels of rewards depending on the number of ApeCoin held at the time

• In-App wallet connection with WalletConnect

• Web app to allow for all features apart from phone specific features such as Geo-fencing

• Ability for the community to share photos, videos and questions and all feedback

• Background music streaming ability.

• VOD content for notifications of promotions from partners offering IRL discounts and offers

• Issue souvenir tickets as NFTs to the users’ connected wallet for selected events - in conjunction with music artists.

Steps to Implement

• Signed agreement for FanCircles to use ApeCoin IP (This is for Apple and Google app stores approval)*
• Agreement to include a link in the social profiles of ApeCoin accounts and on ApeCoin site.*
• Agree on 3 levels of membership and the number of tokens that are required to reach each level*
• Agree on the final artwork/branding of apps*

Timeline

As the platform is already built and used by major music artists, NFT communities and TB shows we require an 6-8 week window to build and begin sourcing rewards, offers, discounts and POA NFT partners through our current network and cooperate with the community to find new rewards.

Overall Cost

£20,000 per month (circa $24k) paid quarterly for a minimum term of 12 months.

I would love to hear your feedback and adjust the proposal as suggested by the community. This is something we know how to do and have had years of experience in building and maintaining. It will also generate income for ApeCoin DAO via sponsorships and revenue splits and grow the community outside its current reach.

[ssp1111]

Hey @Grains0x,

Thanks for posting this idea and for sharing your own efforts with FC.

I love the idea, especially as you have already built out the back-end and have metrics for previous activations.

Also a SuperFan of bridging Web2 to Web3. Okay a few questions:

• How do you envision your tech-stack and business plan working with other AIPs in process, if at all? (ThankApe, Catapult, Bluetail, Karma, ApeClub/PunksClub, ApeAccelerator - etc)

• How will you incorporate $APE into the mobile apps, given Apple’s recent moves into taxing IAPs or crypto in general?

• Do you see a benefit of going to market broadly versus focusing on a single vertical?

• How will your team market the apps to get more downloads?

• How big is your team?

Overall, love the idea, congrats. Happy to help flesh out your concepts further especially as it comes to expanding the utilization of $APE and/or increasing engagement here in the DAO.

Cheers – SSP

[Grains0x]

Thanks for the comments SSP. I think riding Web2 to Web3 is essential for the expansion of the whole ecosystem and will help promote real-world use for ApeCoin.

To answer your questions:

Blockquote * How do you envision your tech-stack and business plan working with other AIPs in process, if at all? (ThankApe, Catapult, Bluetail, Karma, ApeClub/PunksClub, ApeAccelerator - etc)

There may be scope to integrate some of these. At the very least, this project can be used to promote other AIPs in process. One of the features of a FC app is the ability to make announcements that are pushed to all users. These could be used to promote other projects. Links between projects can also be incorporated. I’d be happy to collab with these other projects for the greater good of the project.

• How will you incorporate $APE into the mobile apps, given Apple’s recent moves into taxing IAPs or crypto in general?

Due to Apple’s rules there would be no scope to use $APE to buy items, but holders would have access to exclusive offers paid in fiat. So, for example, holding specific pre defined amounts of ApeCoin would open up the offers and discounts from various retailer in the US and Europe. Coupons are much more practical and feasible in faith at this point.

• Do you see a benefit of going to market broadly versus focusing on a single vertical?

I’m not sure what these means, but a specific ApeCoin app would be very easy to market compared to a multi-coin app.

• How will your team market the apps to get more downloads?

Marketing would mainly be achieved directly through ApeCoin’s Twitter account and other community projects. This is how most of our customer promote their apps - Directly.
These is certainly scope for a marketing budget to promote this to targeted audiences on Twitter and PR articles and ads on Web3 sites as well as possibly BAYC Gazette(?)

• How big is your team?

We have a team of 9 and work with over 50 apps for music artists, NFT collections, Brands and TV Shows.

The resources to build, maintain and secure deals with retailers, as well as concert promoters from AEG to LiveNation, as well as festival promoters, would be managed by our account management team. We have vast knowledge in these areas, as well as securing preferential affiliate deals via one of my previous companies Awin.com, one of the biggest affiliate marketing companies in the world.

I’m very confident we can deliver this and give holders a multitude of reasons to use the app.
Think of this as a Groupon for APE holders with different offers depending on the quantity of holdings.

[ssp1111]

Appreciate the quick reply (it’s SSP by the way😆).

So does this fall into a Social Network-style platform, like a messaging and newsfeed service for all APECoin holders – or more like an engagement for real-world coupons where you already have the retailers onboard?

I see a place for both but still tryna wrap my head around what this is exactly and how it benefits the DAO. You mentioned marketing was done via ApeCoin Twitter and also internally via the community – will you be requesting funding or brand resources or a partnership of sorts?

---

By the way, I’m just looking for a clearer picture and happy to support the idea as I learn more.

[Grains0x]

Sorry SSP (Corrected )
It’s all of the above. It’s a communications platform to deliver special offers and updates. This could include communicating the whole ApeCoin brand as well as offers to a wide Web2 audience.
For coupons, we have real-world deals in place already with festival owners and promoters and real-world brands. We have access to over 17,000 retails, all of which we can approach directly with a unique offering to piggyback off of the back of ApeCoin’s Web3 brand. These relationships exist because I foundered and was CEO of Awin.com and have very strong connections and understanding of this industry.
In the music world, I have over 50 clients, from Boy George to UB40 to Neck Deep, as well as connections with Radiohead and their management company Courtyard/ATC.

To be clear, the benefits for the DAO and the token are real-world reasons to hold the token rather than sell, in a similar way that staking gives reason to hold. Rewards are available to holders, and the community of holders receive a “Home” for the delivery of ApeCoin news and announcements, the ability to promote brand offers and a social angle that allows holders to discuss and share their experiences. If holders sell their ApeCoin (or minimum quantity required) the opportunity to receive rewards also drops away, although use of the App doesn’t, therefore showing registered users what they are missing out on.

The best way to explain this is; ApeCoin’s own Web2/Web3 community platform with the benefits of sharing content, news and offers - all in one place that is safe and understandable to Web2 users.

I will be requesting funding to do this as well as brand IP usage to publish this to app stores.
The platform is a native app for IOS, Android and a webapp. Costs would include full management of brand relationships and offers and building and hosting the software.
There will be a few minor custom developments to our base software but our core product works in this way already. We’ve been trading for 6 years now.

I would estimate the cost would be in the region of $200k per year including a dedicated account manager and constant updates to the platform, which is required especially for native mobile apps. A team of 3 developers would also work on this.

Hope this helps, but I’m happy to set up a Zoom at some point to explain and demo the platform and include some of the team to answer questions.

[ssp1111]

Sweet!

Thanks for explaining like I’m 5 - it’s how I work.

If you’re able to deliver all that, integrate existing DAO initiatives (win-win), for the ask you just suggested – I’m all in.

Cheers

SSP

[Grains0x]

Here’s a mockup of the app showing some of the features.

[Escape]

Hi @Grains0x,

Your topic will be automatically closing in less than 24 hours. Are you content with the feedback received, or do you wish to extend community discussion for a further 7 days?

If we do not hear from you within 48 hours after your topic closes, your topic will be moved straight to the AIP Draft process.

We look forward to hearing from you.

-Escape

[Grains0x]

Please extend this a further 7 days.
Thanks

[Pearson]

Hi ApeCoin DAO Community,

@Grains0x has requested to extend the community discussion period for this AIP idea. This topic will automatically close a further 7 days from now. We encourage the community to engage in thoughtful discussions through constructive criticism, honest feedback, and helpful suggestions.

Follow this Topic as further updates will be posted here in the comments.

-Pearson

[Pearson]

Hi @Grains0x,

Your topic will be automatically closing in less than 24 hours. Are you content with the feedback received, or do you wish to extend community discussion for a further 7 days?

If we do not hear from you within 48 hours after your topic closes, your topic will be moved straight to the AIP Draft process.

We look forward to hearing from you.

-Pearson

[Grains0x]

Proposal Name: ApeCoin Rewards App

Proposal Category: Ecosystem fund allocation

Abstract:
Native apps for IOS and Android designed to give ongoing IRL rewards to holders. Rewards are dependent on the number of ApeCoin held at a given time and include POAp NFT drops at events such as concerts and discounts at major retailers in the US and Europe, both online and IRL.

Author Description

I Founded Affiliate Window (https://www.awin.com) and sold to Axel Springer in Germany in 2012 with a turnover of more than $150m. Post Awin, I managed international music artist The Australian Pink Floyd from small clubs to over 140 arenas worldwide, working with both Live Nation and UTA (United Talent Group). I founded FanCircles to bring communities together with a common interest and provides Web 2.5 rewards apps for fans of music artists, TV shows and works with labels and artist managers. Clients include UB40, Boy George, Shamanzs NFT and TV’s Most Haunted (UK equivalent to Disney’s Ghost Hunters)

Team Description

FanCircles has an internal team of developers and account managers to run apps on behalf of clients. The account management team are responsible for maintenance of the each app, and it’s content as well as sourcing retail partners and music industry partners. Access to retailers comes via Kevin and his team’s background in Awin and close connections to the music industry.

Motivation

I believe it is essential to reach outside of the Web3 community to grow the adoption of the ApeCoin ecosystem. A FanCircles powered platform allows for this by creating a Web2.5 experience that everyday web users connect with. Imagine the ApeCoin app as a Groupon for ApeCoin holders.
The app will also generate income from carefully selected sponsors and advertisers who want to reach ApeCoin holders.

Rationale

Growing the Ape community is essential for its long term success. Reaching outside of the Web3 community is paramount to achieving this. This can be achieved by providing an onboarding ramp for Web2 people via a familiar Web2 interface that can be very easily promoted with the help of the social media accounts of ApeCoin and ApeCoin holders.

Key Terms

• FanCircles provides a SaaS platform customised for each client. Our tech is tried and tested with over 1 million users across 50+ client apps.

• A senior account manager will be assigned to maintain the app
• 50% of revenue from sponsorships and advertising will be returned to the ApeCoin DAO every quarter.
• Costs are per year with a minimum of 12-month contract paid upfront in GBP*

Specifications

• IOS and Android native apps already used by over 50 clients.

• Announcements Wall
• Community Wall
• Geo Fenced POAP rewards features
• Access to real-world rewards while holding ApeCoin
• Multiple levels of rewards depending on the number of ApeCoin held at the time
• In-App wallet connection with WalletConnect
• Web app to allow for all features apart from phone specific features such as Geo-fencing
• Ability for the community to share photos, videos and questions and all feedback
• Background music streaming ability.
• VOD content for notifications of promotions from partners offering IRL discounts and offers
• Issue souvenir tickets as NFTs to the users’ connected wallet for selected events - in conjunction with music artists.

Steps to Implement

• Signed agreement for FanCircles to use ApeCoin IP (This is for Apple and Google app stores approval)*
• Agreement to include a link in the social profiles of ApeCoin accounts and on ApeCoin site.*
• Agree on 3 levels of membership and the number of tokens that are required to reach each level*
• Agree on the final artwork/branding of apps*

Timeline

As the platform is already built and used by major music artists, NFT communities and TB shows we require an 6-8 week window to build and begin sourcing rewards, offers, discounts and POA NFT partners through our current network and cooperate with the community to find new rewards.

Overall Cost

£20,000 per month (circa $24k) paid quarterly for a minimum term of 12 months.

I would love to hear your feedback and adjust the proposal as suggested by the community. This is something we know how to do and have had years of experience in building and maintaining. It will also generate income for ApeCoin DAO via sponsorships and revenue splits and grow the community outside its current reach.

[Pearson]

Hi ApeCoin DAO Community,

@Grains0x has completed editing their AIP Idea to be their AIP Draft.

Follow this Topic as further updates will be posted here in the comments.

Kind Regards,

-Pearson

[Escape]

Hi ApeCoin DAO Community,

Our team has reviewed and discussed @Grains0x’s AIP Draft and have sent a list of initial questions. We await answers.

Follow this Topic as further updates will be posted here in the comments.

Kind Regards,

-Escape