To solve a problem I had.

At the time, I wanted to explore my personal hypotheses about web3, but there wasn’t a good way to do that full-time. My only choices were to be a solo researcher or work at a web3 org.

Neither of which could give me the accountability, focus, and resources to dig into my own ideas and flesh them out. The builder in me wanted to explore and experiment. I did what any DAO member would do. I wrote Orange DAO a proposal for a fellowship program to back full-time explorers and builders in web3. I would run it, as my experiment.

Little did I know what it would grow into.

The premise seemed obvious afterward. Duh, people want a safe space to explore and test their ideas. Sponsors and DAO members offered to help, yay! As the meme spread, so did excitement.

Initially, my goal was for our builders to have fun, learn from each other, and make something new. We’d all end up one step deeper into web3.

We did have fun! But also built some really amazing things. Most participants didn't have a prototype when we started. Almost everyone had a demo at the end of the program. A handful fundraised during and someone even got into YCW23.

Their outcomes made it clear, the fellowship filled a gap.

--

This all started with me trying to solve my own problem. I had to create a program I wanted to be a part of. It had to be a deal I would want to take. That was the bar.

My hope is that the fellowship can be one of those magical moments for more and more people developing their web3 ideas.

The future is here - we are building it.

To solve a problem I had.

At the time, I wanted to explore my personal hypotheses about web3, but there wasn’t a good way to do that full-time. My only choices were to be a solo researcher or work at a web3 org.

Neither of which could give me the accountability, focus, and resources to dig into my own ideas and flesh them out. The builder in me wanted to explore and experiment. I did what any DAO member would do. I wrote Orange DAO a proposal for a fellowship program to back full-time explorers and builders in web3. I would run it, as my experiment.

Little did I know what it would grow into.

The premise seemed obvious afterward. Duh, people want a safe space to explore and test their ideas. Sponsors and DAO members offered to help, yay! As the meme spread, so did excitement.

Initially, my goal was for our builders to have fun, learn from each other, and make something new. We’d all end up one step deeper into web3.

We did have fun! But also built some really amazing things. Most participants didn't have a prototype when we started. Almost everyone had a demo at the end of the program. A handful fundraised during and someone even got into YCW23.

Their outcomes made it clear, the fellowship filled a gap.

--

This all started with me trying to solve my own problem. I had to create a program I wanted to be a part of. It had to be a deal I would want to take. That was the bar.

My hope is that the fellowship can be one of those magical moments for more and more people developing their web3 ideas.

The future is here - we are building it.