PledgePost

PledgePost: A Quadratic Funding Media Platform

Introduction: PledgePost is a platform where writers can publish their articles, collect donations, and receive extra funds based on those donations through Quadratic Funding (QF). QF is a unique model designed to allocate funds based on both the number of contributors and the amounts they contribute. Unlike traditional funding models where every contribution is valued equally, QF amplifies the influence of each individual donation, fostering broader participation.

Objective: We envision a world where contributions to collective intelligence, a vital public good, are duly rewarded. PledgePost's primary objective is not only to promote open knowledge-sharing but also to ensure it's incentivized and esteemed. Our platform ensures writers are fairly compensated for their pivotal role in enriching our collective intelligence.

Core Features:

1. Content Creation and Management:
   • Writers can effortlessly draft and publish their articles on the platform.
   • Flexibility is offered to apply for grant rounds at any time.
2. Grant Rounds:
   • Grant rounds take place quarterly.
   • Diverse grant rounds are available each quarter, allowing writers to match their articles with the most fitting rounds.
   • At each quarter's end, funds from a matching pool are allocated according to QF principles, prioritizing both donation sizes and the number of donors.
3. Community Engagement:
   • Users can financially back articles that resonate with them or that they believe hold value.
   • Only donors have the privilege to comment on an article. This system not only uplifts the quality of discourse by ensuring engaged and invested participants but also reduces the likelihood of spam or derogatory comments. Moreover, the opportunity to engage in discussions can act as an added incentive for donations, possibly encouraging more robust participation and higher contributions.
4. Dashboard Features:
   • A detailed dashboard enables writers to draft, edit, and publish their articles.
   • It also provides insights into contribution amounts, donor counts, and comment statistics.

Technical Framework:
PledgePost’s infrastructure comprises:

• Core Contract (PledgePost.sol): Serves as the primary contract.
• Pool Contract (PoolContract.sol): Created for each grant application, ensuring dedicated grant management.
• NFT Contract: Mints an ERC721 NFT for every donation made, providing proof of support.
  Our QuadraticFunding system ensures Matching Funds calculation and Distribution are done automatically. The donation pool determines the allocation for each Round, distributing funds based on each article’s donation volume, ensuring fairness.

Tool Integration:
Beyond smart contracts, our application integrates:

• Safe AccountAbstractionSDK (AuthKit): Aids in onboarding users unfamiliar with crypto by allowing EOA creation using Google, Facebook, or traditional Ethereum wallets.
• Biconomy SDK: Facilitates ERC4337 compliant SmartWallets and ensures gas-free interactions for users with PledgePost contracts.
• Web3Storage: Stores user-generated content on IPFS, enhancing decentralization and content portability.
• Tableland Studio: Manages user comments, discussions, and drafts, serving as our database solution.
• TheGraph: Ensures front-end access to on-chain data. (Note: Our front end uses Next.js13, and integrating TheGraph posed some challenges, but we’re committed to refining this.)

Looking Ahead:
While we’ve made significant progress, the road ahead includes:

• Security: Implementing measures against Sybil attacks using Gitcoin Passport, Ethereum Attestation Service, or human verification mechanisms.
• User Interface: A dedicated front end for grant managers.
• Features: Enhanced search capabilities, shareable content on platforms like Lens and Farcaster, a notification system for content updates, and a system that evaluates and rewards high-quality comments.
  We remain open to collaboration and feedback, inviting PRs and community discussions.