GWG Delegate Accelerator (Phase 1)
Program Overview
The ApeCoin DAO Governance Working Group (GWG) is pleased to announce the Delegate Accelerator Program. This initiative aims to onboard and integrate diverse communities into the ApeCoin ecosystem by offering delegated APE voting rights to expand active and functional delegations, further decentralize voting power, provide education and training for efficient and effective delegation operations, and implement incentive models to reward communities for their growth and contributions.
The ApeCoin DAO faces the challenge of expanding delegations beyond the initial BAYC/MAYC communities, who received airdropped ApeCoin, and launch partners, such as Animoca. To address this, the GWG will proactively share the value proposition of becoming an ApeCoin Delegation and offer incentives to encourage new delegations, even for those communities that need to purchase ApeCoin to participate.
The Delegation Program is envisioned to become integral to the new ApeCoin Charter, where new innovations in Governance, such as On-Chain Voting using Tally on ApeChain, are being explored, following best practices from leading global DAOs.
Becoming a Delegation
Why become an ApeCoin Delegation?
- Increase your influence: Bring in more people to ask for votes from your community, and potentially gain new supporters or members who purchase your project’s NFT.
- Gain visibility: Get your community noticed among Tier A holders and communities in the NFT and Web3 space.
- Encourage participation: More members may delegate to your community, showing broad participation.
- Enhance governance: Communities with more voters are likely to receive more matched funds, increasing the weight of their vote within the ApeCoin community.
- Pass proposals: Actively participating communities are more likely to get proposals passed in the upcoming small grants UMA program.
- Save time and enhance projects: If you hold APE and are a large holder in a community, delegation can save you time voting while still allowing you to override votes on issues you care deeply about.
- Collaborate: Benefit from potential collaborations with accepted AIP projects.
Benefits for the ApeCoin DAO
- Increased DAO participation through more active and functional delegations.
- Improved public perception of ApeCoin as the Coin of Culture.
- Broader exposure for approved AIP authors.
- More discussions in communities and on social media about ApeCoin.
- Increased delegation voter transparency.
- More sources of talent as potential contractors to Working Groups.
Program Structure
Objectives
- Enable communities to actively participate in ApeCoin governance by enhancing their influence and voting power through the program’s matching fund.
- Provide comprehensive education and support for operating a delegation.
- Incentivize activity with access to Bespoke Cross-Community Grants.
Key Activities
- Education & Training
- Matching Funds
- Incentive Program
Program Incentives
Participants have the opportunity to unlock incentives that will benefit their own delegations.
Phase 1: Pilot
- APE delegated to your community: Up to 50,000 APE.
- APE rewards to be given to your community: Up to 2,000 APE per month.
- Dedicated Program Coordinator: Assistance to help you set up quickly.
- Better access to AIP authors.
| Level | Number of Delegations | Initial Matching Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 0 | 50,000 APE |
| Gold | 2 | 35,000 APE |
| Silver | 2 | 25,000 APE |
| Bronze | 1 | 15,000 APE |
Every 2 weeks, the APE allocation can be increased or decreased based on performance. If a community is allocated 50,000 APE, it will reach the platinum category. The GWG Delegate Accelerator management will decide allocations internally.
Future Phases
- Phase 2: Systemic Development
- Phase 3: Scaling Up
- Phase 4: AI Delegation
Program Operations
Eligibility Criteria
Core Criteria (not all required, but the more criteria met, the higher the selection ranking):
- Alignment with ApeCoin’s guiding values.
- Community activity as reflected by engagement metrics (e.g., Twitter following, Discord activity).
- Historic trading volume on OpenSea (for NFT projects).
- Ownership of ApeCoin in their treasury (not 100% necessary, but a bonus).
- Community participation in Thankape.
Does the community have?
- An anchor delegator in their community with sufficient APE delegated.
- A volunteer from the community willing to set up and manage their Snapshot.
- Buy-in from the project owner.
- Buy-in from community representatives.
Expectations for Participating Delegations
Participating delegations must set up the following for their community & the ApeCoin DAO:
- A Gnosis SAFE Multi-sig wallet with ENS for Voting.
- A Gnosis SAFE Multi-sig wallet with ENS for hosting Snapshot.
- Transparent voting on AIPs on a Snapshot Space that mirrors the ApeCoin DAO Snapshot Space.
- A Discord channel dedicated to ApeCoin DAO activity.
- A Community X Space that allows AIP Authors to discuss their proposals for the DAO.
How To Apply 
Communities interested in participating can fill out the GWG Delegate Accelerator Application Form.
This document serves as both an informational resource and an open invitation for communities to join and benefit from these programs.
For questions or clarifications, direct them in the replies to this Forum post, or reach out to the GWG.
The GWG Delegate Accelerator Notion Site
Information and updates in relation to the Program and its participants can be found in the GWG Delegate Accelerator Notion Site: https://gwgdelegateaccelerator.notion.site/.
Further information can be found here including:
- Meeting and Workshops overview
- Educational Materials
- Delegate Performance Metrics
- Project Team details
- Program Participant information
