⌐◨-◨ Nounish Consultants: Pilot Cohort

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⌐◨-◨ Nounish Consultants Pilot Update ⌐◨-◨

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⌐◨-◨ tl:dr: Offering a valuable new benefit to builders in the Nouns ecosystem supporting their efforts proliferating the meme by providing resources and support in the areas of business strategy and development, legal and tax, mental health and navigating the nounish ecosystem.

As the Nouns ecosystem expands, especially with the success of Prop House, we see nounish builders struggle with business aspects, strategy, management, legal and tax issues, mental health and more. We’ve also seen builders who have won grants get stuck in moving forward or those who have created proposals and drop off the radar after not winning.

The idea was to create a support network specifically for nounish builders, creating a Nouns version of an incubator/accelerator. A four-week pilot funded at 2 ETH with positive results and a better understanding of builder needs. We present some key findings and recommended next steps below.

Supertight Woody:

“Nounish Consultants have created a niche community that harbors healthy, sustainable growth within NounsDAO. I’m looking forward to see where Emma and Prof take this project and excited to contribute however I can!”

Key Findings:

  1. Mental Health - Burnout is real and everyone is struggling with mental health. The resources provided and small group session was beneficial and seen as something we need more of, via professional assistance and community support.
  2. Intimate conversations in a less chaotic environment made it easier to meet people, build relationships and collaborate. We need a virtual Coffee Shop.
  3. Need more proposal guidance and feedback and recommend creating some resources such as templates and best practices tips, as well as sessions with community mentors who have successfully gotten props passed.
  4. Expert Professionals were helpful and more are needed.

Although many entrepreneurial people manage to connect easily in the Nouns Discord or via Twitter, others get lost and find it hard to cut through the noise. Creating a smaller environment where everyone was coming in at the same time and introducing themselves, made for an easier approach. Rekola noted the “warmness and openness we established,” made it a safe place to come freely and propelled him in moving forward to having a virtual coffee with Woody. This gave us an idea to create a virtual coffee shop as we move forward that could also serve to match up individuals who may have needs in common.

Cryptasha:

Loved the 5-minute gratitude and reflection journal that Emma recommended and uses it. She has been getting more connections and help through the program.

“I absolutely think this is worthwhile to continue. A place like this where people can come to for specific advice is valuable. The first mental health talk I went to has been helpful in jumpstarting some good habits like journaling and working on how I phrase things. I also think networking within a small group like this is helpful for direct feedback on proposals and how to share them.”

Virtual Coffee Shop examples:

  • Emma and Woody connected re: props and other discussions about doing a Nouns Rap song together
  • Rekola and Laplace connected for PR props
  • Gogo and Cryptasha connected for building Media Lists for marketing

Deeper conversations also have a chance to flourish outside of the daily grind of project Discords and Discourse.

⌐◨-◨ Weekly Highlights

Week 1 Highlights:

  • Tips on growing social media userbase for a Nouns project
  • Discussion on utility for projects
  • Soundboard and advice calls with Emma
  • Negotiation and confidence chat with Emma
  • Office hour calls with Emma and Prof Werder
  • Legal Chat with a lawyer (note: .2 eth sent as a thank you from grant funds)

Week 2 Highlights:

  • Additional legal chat with an IP attorney
  • Strategy call with Emma
  • Branding advice
  • NFT trends call with Emma
  • Prop advice
  • Mental Health resources

Week 3 Highlights:

  • Burnout and mental health chats with a mental health professional note: ( .2 eth sent as a thank you from grant funds)
  • Additional mental health resources posted
  • Group Proposal Tips Call with Woody whose prop passed

Week 4 Highlights:

  • Marketing Call with Emma
  • Proposal tips and CC0 Benefits
  • Nouns Incubator discussions
  • Office hours with Prof and Emma

Example Highlights:

Monday, August 29th

  1. Discussion on utility for NFT projects.

Emma Asked: What are some of your favorite types of utility that you’ve come across?

  1. Seva’s Take:
  • Providing IRL value
  • Royalties are one of my favorite utilities so far. But I don’t think the value is just there. Thinking of NFTs/CC0/DAOS/Treasury/Privacy… It is a new dawn of organizations and networks wasn’t possible before. What could we do with 10, 20, 100s of NounsDAOs?
  1. Klim’s Take:
  • The idea of perpetual royalties for the work that are on chain and can transfer to your kids and grandkids.
  1. Office Hours - Voice Call

Emma provided a one-hour call with SuperWoody and byRekola

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  1. Key Takeaways:
  • Soundboarding - A desire to chat with people who understand nouns and NFTs
  • Helping provide advice/templates for folks with their proposals

Book Recommendations For Negotiating: Never Split the Difference

Tuesday, August 30th

Highlights:

  1. Discussion on projects scaling too fast with Prof Werder and Emma
  • Lil Nouns dropping of price, trouble reaching quorum, etc.

How can these lessons be helpful to Nouns DAO if they run into these issues later?

  • 15 min auctions (Lil Nouns) vs 3 auctions a day (Food Nouns)
  • Discussion of pros and cons
  1. Proposal advice
  • Develop MVP first
  • Create a video and include it in prop
  1. Mental Health Resources
  • Books, podcasts, meditations posted
  1. Trademark and IP Q&A with two lawyers during Office Hours

Wednesday, August 31st

Highlights:

  1. Discussion on Negotiating with Emma
  • Doing your research (finding comparables, reaching out to folks if not publically available)
  • Being patient and also try not to have all your eggs in one basket
  • Being assertive and persistent. Follow up with the next steps and send concise messages.
  • “Everything is negotiable”
  • Don’t be afraid to ask.

Example: If the price goes up $100, ask if they can do $30 instead. You may be surprised!

  • Have boundaries and be careful of people pleasing.
  • Be confident and positive. Have a good self-care plan. Know your worth and stick to it! If you’re going to do something for free or less than your rate, try to have a plan in place if “x happens, you get y” or ask yourself if you do this for a discount, will it be worth your time still, if it may lead to more experience and more business in the future, etc.
  • Listen to the other party’s concerns if there is pushback and make sure to address the concerns and find a solution.
  • Write down your success story - Pick a few things you’re proud of and read them as a reminder
  • If you’re having a bad day, good to journal out how you feel and tear the paper up after. Also know feelings are temporary and many folks go through similar experiences. Good to have someone you can soundboard with
  1. Meditation for Confidence

Thursday, September 1

  • Planning

Friday, September 2

  • Voice Discussion on utilities, noun sounds prop, IRL events, royalties, avoiding burnout, strategy, IP rights, CC0

Monday, September 5

  • Planning legal discussion for Friday
  • Articles on negotiating and mental health resources

Tuesday, September 6

Highlights - Emma’s Strategy Call with Klim and Super Woody:

  • Discussion on Rugrats creator PFP project and learning where things could have gone better with the community and how it can apply to a nounish pfp project

Takeaways: Free mint, lower supply

  • IRL events with Klim’s Toys - Get the word out there outside of Twitter
  • Create buzz, awareness, and engagement at DesignerCon
  • Klim is working on a proposal for Designer Con https://www.designercon.com/

Wednesday, September 7

Highlights

  1. Branding Advice (Example below)

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Thursday, September 8

  • Creative discussion on a Nouns Rap Song with Emma and Woody

Friday, September 9

  • Discussion with IP Lawyer where folks asked questions and resources were posted

Monday, September 12

  • Discussion on burnout and mental health resources posted
  • Scheduled call with a mental health professional

Tuesday, September 13

Wednesday, September 14

  • Proposal planning

Thursday, September 15

  • Planning

Friday, September 16

  • Proposal Tips Call with Woody
  • 1.5 hour Mental Health Chat and resources with a professional
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Incubator ideas discussion

Monday, September 19

Tuesday, September 20

  • Marketing Chat with Emma - Toys (Klim), Comics (Gogo), and Cryptasha
  • NFT Media List - Gogo and Cryptasha to collaborate
  • Discussion on proposal feedback and more of a discussion for mental health so folks don’t feel alone
  • Royalties Discussion

Wednesday, September 21

  • Mental Health Resources
  • Prop feedback chat

Thursday, September 22

  • Office hours call with Prof and Emma
  • Chat about the needs of the ecosystem and how to support nounish builders (community mentors, experts)

Friday, September 23

  • Prop Feedback
  • Office hours call with Prof and Emma
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⌐◨-◨ What comes next? ⌐◨-◨

There is value in an effort like this but we are still in the MVP/development stage. We propose an additional 2 month trial with additional structure and larger reach. We would like to still bring people in as cohorts but open it at the beginning of each month to any Nounish builders, Nouncillors, Nouners or Nounders.

  • Open up to new cohort —applications would open to any nounish builders
  • Applications just to vet so we make sure we have the right folks in there who are actually building in the ecosystem
  • Daily Accountability Topics
  • Virtual coffee shop connecting builders
  • Weekly Business Development/Strategy Sessions and Office Hours w/Emma
  • Business Resources and Discussion Topics of Interest w/Emma
  • Weekly office hours w/prof
  • Emma & prof to organize experts, add resources, daily contact in discord, etc
  • Weekly expert session
  • Mental health session/resources
  • Bring in 2–4 community mentors to focus on prop development and similar nounish specific stuff
  • Use this platform to build connections between builders and identify needs within the ecosystem

New budget for 2 month trial:

  • Emma: 3 eth/month (15hrs/wk approx-primary admin/comm manager)
  • Prof: 1 eth/month (5 hrs/wk approx, backup admin/mod)
  • Experts: .5 /month of direct via retro (max 4 per month —legal, tax, mental health etc)
  • Community mentors: .5 /mo retro (max 4 per month) — They would have specific area they would do a session on & be available for an assigned week.

Let us know what you think! :slight_smile:

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As a participant in the first cohort, I for one found this program extremely valuable and highly encourage further funding. I was able to focus on building Noun Dust and Nouns Press Corps with this program. Emma and Prof were open, transparent, helpful, and extremely insightful.

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I had a wonderful experience with Emma and Prof in the Nounish Consultants Discord. I see a lot of value in the nurturing and assisting builders in an uplifting and healthy way here. I’m very much looking forward to see where this can go :slight_smile:

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Thank you for the kind words! We both appreciate it and are glad it was helpful!

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Thank you so much! It was great getting to know you during the pilot and I’m excited that it’s led us to collaborating on a nounish project together :notes:

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Was great having you in this cohort and seeing you connect with other builders to see how you could assist them. This is the nounish way!

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Thanks for being a part of this initial pilot. And thank you for sharing your experience with on chain proposals and providing some pointers for those who are working on props. Very much appreciated!

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I’m a huge fan of anything that is deepening genuine human relationships in Nouns. Would have loved this if it had been here when I first entered the ecosystem. Excited to see where this goes.

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Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to getting to know you :grinning:

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I can’t wait to be a part of this program and support it’s growth. Lucky you if you join Nouns and connect with this knowledgeable and welcoming crew.

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Just a quick update: we would still like to continue and expand this effort. But we understand that NSFW team is re-organizing so we hope to chat more soon!

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Wow this would be amazing!

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Hi! This is amazing! I would like to join the cohort or get some feedback if still possible, I am starting a project and starting it with Nouns will be great! I don’t know if i am late, or is it still possible to join the discord?

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Hi ferrodi - we put this on hold since it wasn’t funded for another round. We are exploring other options but in the meantime, the discord is open and I’d be happy to chat with you and see how I can assist!

Nounish Consultants discord: Nounish Consultants

Prof Werder

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Great idea. I’m sure bc of who you are it will be approved. I am for sure interested in this…it would add great value but would you plz give more detail on this “⌐◨-◨ Experts in the area of business, strategy, law, tax, marketing, and other areas as requested will hold workshops and office hours to assist both the group as a whole as well as one-on-one.” as it is pretty much the whole backbone of this prop so to speak.

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Great, thank you so much!

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For the pilot we did have a session with an IP attorney and also did a mental health session with a licensed professional and you can see some of the resources and information in the discord. If we did revive this specific prop and if funding was found, we could be a bit more specific but did not engage beyond this since no funding to move to the next phase was approved.

I do see this becoming a part of a larger initiative that I am working on so please stay tuned and I will update at a later time. For now, please pop by the discord: Nounish Consultants

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I could use the support on what I’m working on!

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unfortunately we put this on hold but may revive down the road