What is your project, and what problem does it solve?
A decentralized tech stack for distributing videos to permissioned token-holders. Decentralized mechanisms for storing (IPFS, Arweave), access control (Lit), streaming (Livepeer) and hosting (Near, Arweave) means users will always have a way to access the content on-chain. This architecture is essentially a ‘digital dvd’: digital content that is owned and accessible by users in perpetuity.
Link to public GitHub repo (if applicable)
Link to demo website (if applicable)
Please describe in more detail why this proposal is valuable for the Livepeer ecosystem
The Digital DVD concept is something tangible that everyone can understand. It is only possible with Livepeer’s decentralized network and the concept furthers Livepeer’s goal of becoming the world’s open video infrastructure. For creators, it simplifies monetizing content and distributing directly to fans. For fans, the decentralized infrastructure ensures they always have access to the content.
Please describe in details what your final deliverable for this project will be.
We will deliver an open-sourced MVP of the experience, which will be hosted on an on-chain front-end like Near. This includes the system for token gating and streaming, as well as the ability for others to permissionlessly host the same content on their own front-ends.
How will this deliverable benefit the Livepeer ecosystem?
The Digital DVD concept is something tangible that everyone can understand. It is only possible with Livepeer’s decentralized network and the concept furthers Livepeer’s goal of becoming the world’s open video infrastructure. For creators, it simplifies monetizing content and distributing directly to fans. For fans, the decentralized infrastructure ensures they always have access to the content.
Please break up your development work into a clear set of milestones
Number
Description
Deliverable
Amount
Start Date
End Date
3
Update the website from using react components to using Near components so that others can permissionlessly host their own front end for the content.
2 people will work on this milestone. One on building and deploying Near components and one for rebuilding the website as a Near gateway and testing.
A hosted website that is publicly accessible. A github repo of the source code. All near components will be deployed to the Near blockchain so that others can use the components permissionlessly.
$4,500.00
July 1, 2024 UTC
August 1, 2024 UTC
0
Upfront payment
$3,000.00
2
An update to the website where the token gate portion is done entirely on the client side (i.e. there is no server used for access control).
2 people will be working on this milestone. One will update the front end and the access control conditions for uploading the video. The other will port the server code from milestone 1 entirely into a Lit action.
A hosted website that the public can visit with the token gated video. A github repo with the source code and documentation.
$3,000.00
June 1, 2024 UTC
July 1, 2024 UTC
1
A website hosted by the team with a token gated video player using Lit protocol for access control. Token gating uses a server-side code running on a server hosted by the team.
2 people will work on this milestone. One will be responsible for front-end development. One will be responsible for uploading the video to Livepeer with appropriate access control conditions and server-side code for token authentication.
A live website with the token gated video and a github repo with the entire source code and documentation.
$2,000.00
May 1, 2024 UTC
June 1, 2024 UTC
4
Updating the storage of the video so that it is encrypted on a permanent file storage solution. We will most likely use Arweave as the file storage solution but will investigate other options while completing the earlier milestones. This milestone ensures that both the front-end and the back-end of this product is accessible in perpetuity.
2 people will be responsible for this milestone. One will research and determine the appropriate file storage solution and the other will encrypt and upload the video as well as make any updates needed to the Near components to accommodate the change.
A website hosted by the team with the complete solution, updated near components and a document posted to the permanent file solution with the location of the archived video and any other instructions for using the near components.
$2,500.00
August 1, 2024 UTC
August 23, 2024 UTC
What is the total amount requested (in USD)?
15000
Specify your team's long-term plans to maintain this software and upgrade it over time
We aim to establish the Digital DVD as a base standard for others to build and iterate on; a simple stack with modular components that can easily be tuned or replaced by others. We do not intend to actively maintain the open-source MVP beyond basic fixes. The team will continue developing and iterating on the concept after the MVP release, but that work is outside the scope of this grant.
Please describe (in words) your team's relevant experience, and why you think you are the right team to build this project. You can cite your team's prior experience in similar domains, doing similar dev work, individual team members' backgrounds, etc.
I’m an LA-based electrical engineer who left my circuit design career in 2021 to work full-time in Web3. I came into the space because of NFTs and stayed for the decentralization.
I work on a project-by-project basis – typically coming in very early at the ideation stage working with a team through the launch. I project manage across all different aspects of the project (technical stack, partners, team, product offering, etc) and help get to launch.
A few projects I’m proud to have worked on:
Art Gobblers: a Paradigm-backed NFT project and the first to implement VRGDA in an ERC-20 token emission schedule.
MNTGE Patchwork: a physical backed token built in partnership with IYK. The first project to leverage token bound accounts (ERC 6551) in physical items.
Over the past year I have also been working with a renowned movie director on delivering content directly to his fans using NFTs. The project is currently in stealth, but will launch later this year. Through the exploration of ideas for this project and others, I have a deep understanding of the ins/outs of the video streaming tech stack and believe this specific application / use of blockchain technology can unlock something new for both creators and fans.
Prior to working in Web3, I got a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and spent 10 years in the semiconductor industry in a variety of roles from test engineering to design engineering to leading a 20+ person R&D organization.
I believe my overall technical background, project management experience and prior work building tech products in entertainment make me the right person to execute this vision.
Who is your target user group? How do you plan on getting your users to use this?
Our target user group is creators. We think this has a good product market fit with content that’s too edgy for traditional studios as well as dormant content that is currently not available on any streaming platform. Given our experience building in the entertainment industry, we have the network to get in the door with well known creators, but we need a product launched to get them interested.
How did you learn about the Livepeer Grants Program?
Through Shannon Wells.
Was this project started at a hackathon or another web3 event? Which one?
This project was not started at a hackathon or web3 event, but builds on the progress made by other Web3 entertainment projects like Stoner Cats.
Please include any additional information that you think would be useful in helping us to evaluate your proposal.
Application by: .serdave
What is your project, and what problem does it solve?
A decentralized tech stack for distributing videos to permissioned token-holders. Decentralized mechanisms for storing (IPFS, Arweave), access control (Lit), streaming (Livepeer) and hosting (Near, Arweave) means users will always have a way to access the content on-chain. This architecture is essentially a ‘digital dvd’: digital content that is owned and accessible by users in perpetuity.
Link to public GitHub repo (if applicable)
Link to demo website (if applicable)
Please describe in more detail why this proposal is valuable for the Livepeer ecosystem
The Digital DVD concept is something tangible that everyone can understand. It is only possible with Livepeer’s decentralized network and the concept furthers Livepeer’s goal of becoming the world’s open video infrastructure. For creators, it simplifies monetizing content and distributing directly to fans. For fans, the decentralized infrastructure ensures they always have access to the content.
Please describe in details what your final deliverable for this project will be.
We will deliver an open-sourced MVP of the experience, which will be hosted on an on-chain front-end like Near. This includes the system for token gating and streaming, as well as the ability for others to permissionlessly host the same content on their own front-ends.
How will this deliverable benefit the Livepeer ecosystem?
The Digital DVD concept is something tangible that everyone can understand. It is only possible with Livepeer’s decentralized network and the concept furthers Livepeer’s goal of becoming the world’s open video infrastructure. For creators, it simplifies monetizing content and distributing directly to fans. For fans, the decentralized infrastructure ensures they always have access to the content.
Please break up your development work into a clear set of milestones
Update the website from using react components to using Near components so that others can permissionlessly host their own front end for the content.
2 people will work on this milestone. One on building and deploying Near components and one for rebuilding the website as a Near gateway and testing.
A hosted website that is publicly accessible. A github repo of the source code. All near components will be deployed to the Near blockchain so that others can use the components permissionlessly.
Upfront payment
An update to the website where the token gate portion is done entirely on the client side (i.e. there is no server used for access control).
2 people will be working on this milestone. One will update the front end and the access control conditions for uploading the video. The other will port the server code from milestone 1 entirely into a Lit action.
A hosted website that the public can visit with the token gated video. A github repo with the source code and documentation.
A website hosted by the team with a token gated video player using Lit protocol for access control. Token gating uses a server-side code running on a server hosted by the team.
2 people will work on this milestone. One will be responsible for front-end development. One will be responsible for uploading the video to Livepeer with appropriate access control conditions and server-side code for token authentication.
A live website with the token gated video and a github repo with the entire source code and documentation.
Updating the storage of the video so that it is encrypted on a permanent file storage solution. We will most likely use Arweave as the file storage solution but will investigate other options while completing the earlier milestones. This milestone ensures that both the front-end and the back-end of this product is accessible in perpetuity.
2 people will be responsible for this milestone. One will research and determine the appropriate file storage solution and the other will encrypt and upload the video as well as make any updates needed to the Near components to accommodate the change.
A website hosted by the team with the complete solution, updated near components and a document posted to the permanent file solution with the location of the archived video and any other instructions for using the near components.
What is the total amount requested (in USD)?
15000
Specify your team's long-term plans to maintain this software and upgrade it over time
We aim to establish the Digital DVD as a base standard for others to build and iterate on; a simple stack with modular components that can easily be tuned or replaced by others. We do not intend to actively maintain the open-source MVP beyond basic fixes. The team will continue developing and iterating on the concept after the MVP release, but that work is outside the scope of this grant.
Please describe (in words) your team's relevant experience, and why you think you are the right team to build this project. You can cite your team's prior experience in similar domains, doing similar dev work, individual team members' backgrounds, etc.
I’m an LA-based electrical engineer who left my circuit design career in 2021 to work full-time in Web3. I came into the space because of NFTs and stayed for the decentralization.
I work on a project-by-project basis – typically coming in very early at the ideation stage working with a team through the launch. I project manage across all different aspects of the project (technical stack, partners, team, product offering, etc) and help get to launch.
A few projects I’m proud to have worked on:
Art Gobblers: a Paradigm-backed NFT project and the first to implement VRGDA in an ERC-20 token emission schedule.
MNTGE Patchwork: a physical backed token built in partnership with IYK. The first project to leverage token bound accounts (ERC 6551) in physical items.
Over the past year I have also been working with a renowned movie director on delivering content directly to his fans using NFTs. The project is currently in stealth, but will launch later this year. Through the exploration of ideas for this project and others, I have a deep understanding of the ins/outs of the video streaming tech stack and believe this specific application / use of blockchain technology can unlock something new for both creators and fans.
Prior to working in Web3, I got a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and spent 10 years in the semiconductor industry in a variety of roles from test engineering to design engineering to leading a 20+ person R&D organization.
I believe my overall technical background, project management experience and prior work building tech products in entertainment make me the right person to execute this vision.
Who is your target user group? How do you plan on getting your users to use this?
Our target user group is creators. We think this has a good product market fit with content that’s too edgy for traditional studios as well as dormant content that is currently not available on any streaming platform. Given our experience building in the entertainment industry, we have the network to get in the door with well known creators, but we need a product launched to get them interested.
How did you learn about the Livepeer Grants Program?
Through Shannon Wells.
Was this project started at a hackathon or another web3 event? Which one?
This project was not started at a hackathon or web3 event, but builds on the progress made by other Web3 entertainment projects like Stoner Cats.
Please include any additional information that you think would be useful in helping us to evaluate your proposal.